Steelers OTAs Takeaways: Pittsburgh Ends on High Note
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up Week 1 of Organized Team Activities, with plenty of headlines being made over the last three days.
While players were excited to hit the road and spend the holiday weekend off the field, they made sure to leave everything they had on it before finishing off the week.
Football is a week deep at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, with the Steelers ending on some high notes.
Full House
If you add all of the attendance together throughout the week, the Steelers had everyone at least practice once during the opening week of OTAs. With Larry Ogunjobi showing up on the final day of Week 1, Pittsburgh's defense was filled - with T.J. Watt and Armon Watts arriving to the field the day before.
Players, especially veterans, tend to miss a practice or two throughout the three weeks of OTAs. It being voluntary, and really just shorts and helmets, it's not always needed for established players to show up and get accustomed to another season.
Still, it's always good to see starters there to help the younger players.
Allen Robinson Sees Younger Self in George Pickens
In 2015, Allen Robinson finished the season with 1,400 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and a Pro Bowl selection. It was his best year as a pro, and one that he believes could be on the horizon for Pittsburgh's second-year wideout, George Pickens.
Robinson spoke about the small sample size he's seen in Pickens so far and said he believes he can help him reach the same level Robinson did as an NFl sophomore.
"I see a lot of myself in George, as far as an ascending player coming into his second year," Robinson said. "My second year in the league was one of my best years of my career. Being able to look back at it, where I was in my second year, there still was a ton of football that I didn't know, and still was a lot of things that I didn't know. So, being able to share that knowledge and that experience, going and thinking about that early time in my career, certain things that I didn't know that I wish I had known. I definitely can relate to where he's at."
Pickens said he's hunting for 1,000 yards this season, and if he finishes with 1,400 and 14 touchdowns, two more TDs than Pittsburgh threw for a year ago, the offense should be in pretty good shape.
Isaac Seumalo Sees Steelers as Championship Team
The Steelers made plenty of changes this offseason, and by many, including us at All Steelers, they're viewed as a team ready for a run. Of those who see the potential is a player who just played in a Super Bowl, new left guard Isaac Seumalo.
"This is a Super Bowl organization, so there’s no doubt about that. The team is solid," Seumalo told iHeart Radio during OTAs.
Winning has to be done as a team in the NFL, and the Steelers made sure not just to add talent but players who are willing to form a bond. Saumalo knows what it takes to get to a Super Bowl, and believes Pittsburgh's atmosphere is just that.
"It’s a family organization. It’s been run by the Rooneys for a long time. They embrace that. Guys reached out when I signed, which was really cool, and I’ve had nothing but warm welcomes from everybody on the team, in the front office," Seumalo told reporters. "Talking to Andy and Casey Weidl, too, was great. But it’s definitely a family. Everybody wants to win, and everybody is hungry to win, so I’m happy about that, too."
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren Highlights
The end of Week 1 is upon us. The Steelers touched on plenty, from Patrick Peterson starting to mentor Joey Porter Jr. to all the changes that have been made in the last few months.
It's a new team in Pittsburgh, but the backfield remains the same, with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren only looking better by the day as the tandem for the Steelers.
They took over the highlights on Day 3.
The Steelers return to the field next Tuesday, May 30, for Week 2 of OTAs.
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