Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. — Brandin Echols played against Aaron Rodgers in practice all of last season. As part of the team’s influx of talent, the cornerback joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason alongside the future Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller.
Echols was asked after Monday’s training camp practice at St. Vincent College if this offense suits Rodgers better than the New York Jets’ a year ago.
“No comment,” Echols said with a laugh. “No comment.”
Sometimes say nothing’s saying something.
Rodgers and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are working hand-in-hand. The 21st-year passer has made sure to praise the coach, who’s crafting an attack that should go a long way in ensuring Rodgers stays upright and, if Monday’s practice was any indication, the unit produces.
Of course, general manager Omar Khan had laid the groundwork for that using two of his past three first-round draft picks — and another second-rounder — on offensive linemen. Right tackle Troy Fautanu, the Steelers’ 2024 No. 1 pick, spoke on Monday afternoon, and, to Rodgers, the young blocker’s comments should sound like the music piping through his wired earbuds.
“Obviously, there’s a little bit of nerves, but once I got out there, I started to get a lot more comfortable and got confident,” Fautanu said. “I wish we were able to get a couple more drives, because it felt like I was getting into a rhythm.”
The Steelers’ recipe will be to keep Rodgers’ uniform clean and for him to get the ball to his playmakers quickly. He used outs, slants and screens to his advantage during a combo route drill, 7-on-7 and team portions. While the profits from the dinks and dunks will keep the offense in business, there’s another huge factor to the equation.
Wasting Rodgers’ deep ball ability would be akin to skipping a slice of triple chocolate cake after a plate of vegetables. He sprinkled in a handful of spiraling rainbows, including an unguardable one to DK Metcalf that dropped in expertly between James Pierre and Juan Thornhill.
Be prepared to see a good chunk of the short, quick stuff, but Khan didn’t trade for Metcalf and pair him with Rodgers not to see the most exciting play in football. The former is necessary to provide the latter.
During the Steelers’ combo route drill, second-year receiver Roman Wilson lined up in the slot with Scotty Miller to his left. James Pierre played press on Miller, who slanted in under Wilson. Brandin Echols kept near Wilson as he traced a wheel route, but couldn’t get his head around quickly enough to get a full hand on Rodgers’ pass, which Wilson hauled in 25 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Rodgers also went Wilson’s way on a corner during a team session, but Pierre got handsy and never found the ball on what would’ve been flagged as a defensive pass interference.
The Steelers’ defense got its hands up and in for a 4-3 win...
