Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. — Even as DK Metcalf dressed in joggers, a long-sleeved shirt and a vest-styled hoodie, young fans lined the fence by the practice field at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, desperate to meet him.
“D! K! D! K! D! K!” They chanted, holding memorabilia they hoped would soon be covered by the standout receiver’s signature.
Metcalf tuned out the cheers while retrieving footballs and handing them back to a JUGS machine operator to shoot at his lesser-adored teammates.
“Deeeee Kayyyyy! Deeeee Kayyyyyy!” The throng belted out in unison, still trying to catch Metcalf’s attention minutes later.
Roc Taylor, Roman Wilson and Robert Woods went ignored while talking to one another nearby. As Metcalf and Calvin Austin III sat out, the trio had made its fair share of plays — and adjustments — during the Thursday practice at St. Vincent College. The collection isn’t the deepest in the NFL, but if the session is any indication, things are coming together for Rodgers’ targets.
Two plays after diving and narrowly missing an Aaron Rodgers fade pass during the final team session, Woods went deep down the left sideline again and laid out to make the grab, beating safety Sebastian Castro for a 40-yard gain. Wilson greeted the 13th-year veteran downfield to celebrate, an example of the impact Woods is making with the knowledge he’s gained over a handful of previous stops.
“I always tell them, ‘We’re only as good as you (are),'” Woods said. “That’s like, ‘We’re only gonna go as far as you go, as far as you train.’ (If) you keep pushing yourself and everybody has that mentality … I think the whole team gets better.”
Taylor starred during the second and final two-minute drill to cap Steelers practice. From the 26-yard line, the undrafted rookie got behind the defense on a go route and hauled in a Skylar Thompson pass in the back of the end zone. However, he couldn’t stab both feet down before crashing into an advertisement board.
“I was pretty close,” Taylor said. “I was focused on the ball, but trying to get my feet down at the same time.”
The next play, Taylor sold a deep pattern again before twisting past Kyler McMichael to grab a back-shoulder throw. The catch got the offense to the four-yard line, and Lew Nichols polished the scoring march off by barging in on the next snap.
“The one’s just a go ball and then wherever he places the ball, just adjust to it,” Taylor said. “Just making a play, that’s all it was. … Just mainly sell the first route. You can’t ever look back too early, give the route up. Just run straight and, last minute, adjust to it.
“The DB doesn’t know where the ball is at. I do.”
Woods believes the oft-doubted group is improving by the day, showcased by its solid performance as the more entrenched pass-catchers are out. After most everyone had dissipated, he was one of the few remaining on the...
