Tempers begin to flare in the trenches
The first fight of training camp took place Saturday afternoon. Actually, the first two fights took place on consecutive snaps.
And both involved rookie offensive tackle Dan Moore, Jr.
Moore got into a scrap with second-year defensive tackle Carlos Davis during a team period. Both players ended up on the ground and several teammates had to separate them. On the next play, Moore got into a fight with veteran defensive end Cam Heyward.
Moore was pulled away from that altercation as well and did not return to take reps during that team period.
Fights between players are common during training camp, but coach Mike Tomlin was not pleased with the development.
“I’m not interested in coaching that, to be honest with you,” he said. “We work our tails off to compete but keep it professional. We acknowledge sometimes tempers are going to flare and those things are going to happen, but we’re not wasting one iota of our time coaching it. We’re putting together a rough and tumble football group, not an MMA squad, so we’re not coaching it.”
First depth chart released
Tomlin unveiled his first depth chart of the season and J.C. Hassenauer is listed as the starting center. Rookie Kendrick Green is next with B.J. Finney listed as third-string. Hassenauer made four starts last season, with three coming at center when Maurkice Pouncey was out of the lineup.
There were no other surprises on the offensive line with Chukwuma Okorafor at left tackle, Kevin Dotson at left guard, Trai Turner at right guard and Zach Banner at right tackle.
Rookie first-round pick Najee Harris, to no one’s surprise, is listed as the starter at running back.
At quarterback, Dwayne Haskins is listed ahead of veteran Josh Dobbs as No. 3 behind Mason Rudolph and Ben Roethlisberger.
On defense, Alex Highsmith is listed as the starter at right outside linebacker with Melvin Ingram behind him. The starting slot corner is Antoine Brooks with Anthony Maulet behind him.
Injuries hit the line hard
Hassenauer and Finney left practice early with injuries, leaving John Leglue and Anthony Coyle to finish practice. Green was given the day off to deal with a personal matter.
“We’ve always got little projects going on the side,” Tomlin said. “We’ve got
guys prepared to play. If you’re not working four or five snappers you’re less than professional.”
Roethlisberger did not practice after being limited in practice on Friday. It was nothing out of the ordinary for Roethlisberger, who has kept a similar routine for the past several years.
“Ben’s had this schedule, from my understanding, for seven or eight years,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “You guys would know better than I would, you’ve been here longer.”
Roethlisberger’s absence left plenty of work for Rudolph, Haskins and Dobbs.
“This schedule allows Mason to get reps with the ones, for Dwayne to go with the twos, Josh and Dwayne twos and threes,” Canada said. “The more reps the better. And obviously, this is the schedule that Ben’s had for a long time and been very productive with.”