Offensive line imposes their will on defensive unit

Be it the influence of new coordinator Arthur Smith, the culmination of two full years of the Omar Khan-Andy Weidl regime or just where the pendulum is swinging with these Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s become a trend that when the pads come on during training camp, so does an effective running game.

Wednesday’s final padded practice at Saint Vincent College before the preseason games begin started with a “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation in which the offense managed five rushing touchdowns among the seven snaps.

The offensive line getting push (and backs finding holes) continued during ensuing 11-on-11 periods when Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris and Daijun Edwards each had at least one long run.

Harris scored on the first “seven shots” snap, going in over the left side with ease. Warren “scored” up the middle three snaps later, the line pushing star linebacker Patrick Queen back as he made a futile attempt to stop Warren. La’Mical Perine shortly thereafter followed fullback Jack Colletto into the end zone, and Aaron Shampkin “ran up the score” when he finished out the drill with a power run that made the tally 6-1 for the offense.

Generally, when the firstand second-team offensive lines have been in 11-on-11 play, they have gotten push and the Steelers have found a way to run the ball.

Other highlights from Wednesday’s practice:

• Two other results from “seven shots” were a Justin Fields scramble up the middle into the end zone and a pass from Russell Wilson to Van Jefferson failing to connect in back left corner of the end zone.

• First-round pick Troy Fautanu again took exclusively first-team snaps at right tackle. Generally, Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. shared time at left tackle, though Jones took some snaps on the right side with the second-teamers.

• Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens each made his claim for the unofficial catch of the day. Freiermuth reached up with one hand to corral a ball from Fields more than 20 yards downfield at the right sideline during a full team period. Pickens later made a more traditional one-handed catch off a bubble screen from Fields.

• On the snap after the catch by Pickens, Fields, while scrambling to his right, dropped to a sidearm to avoid a pass rusher. Fields delivered on target to Freiermuth, who deftly caught the ball and established two feet in bounds before sliding into a pair of coolers on the sideline. Safety DeShon Elliott was in tight coverage and appeared slightly injured during the sequence.

• Quez Watkins has seemed to lose ground to Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller for a “starting” WR spot. Watkins had a drop on a short ball over the middle Wednesday, though he did make a nice play in 11-on-11 action soon afterward.

• Reserve tight end Rodney “Hot Rod” Williams had a catch-and-run along the left sideline that gained more than 40 yards, drawing a loud cheer from fans on hand. Fellow tight end Darnell Washington was particularly excited, loudly shouting, “U-T Martin’s finest!”

• Austin made a handful of plays Wednesday. During a late red-zone 7-on-7 period, he had a pair of nice “touchdown” catches in quick succession from Wilson.

During one of the aforementioned plays by Austin, he beat Beanie Bishop. That wasn’t the only play the rookie starting nickel gave up: Miller had a “touchdown” reception with Bishop in coverage during that drill, too.

• Special teams coordinator Danny Smith ran a pair of kickoff drills, focusing one each on the coverage and return units (a “scout team” served as opponents). Backup kicker Matthew Wright handled kickoffs for both periods, and he usually “played it straight” by kicking off a tee with the ball in a traditional sitting position.

Among those on both kickoff units (an indication they are de facto “starting” core special-teamers) were Tyler Matakevich, Miles Killebrew, Darius Rush, Ryan Watts and Connor Heyward.

Though Smith cycled through several returners, No. 4 quarterback John Rhys Plumlee fielded the first kickoff and managed a long return to the right side, using his speed to turn the corner and race down the sidelines.

• Practice ended with a mock 2-minute drill. Plumlee served as quarterback, a strong indication coach Mike Tomlin envisions him playing during Friday’s preseason opener. The Plumlee-led offense, though, stalled on downs on a drive that began with 1 minute, 50 seconds on the clock.