Ahead of training camp, here is a list of undrafted free agents to follow throughout this years training camp.

Matthew Thomas – ILB – Florida State

What is interesing to note, Thomas recorded the highest SPARQ score among available linebackers in this year’s NFL Draft. To say the least, he is an incredible athlete with natural abilities, which were on full display during the NFL Combine, the type of abilities which should have made him a first round pick at one time. The biggest obstacle Thomas will be facing during this training camp will be himself, a struggle which he openly admitted in his interview in May  Thomas’ collegiate career had been plagued by personal issues and injuries, yet his measurables were desirable enough for the Steelers to take notice and sign him as an undrafted free agent. Considering the Steelers failed to draft a true mack linebacker, Thomas’ possesses the type of athleticism missing in both free agent signee Jon Bostic and third-year players Tyler Matakavich. Of all the players to follow, Thomas is definitely the most intriguing one because of his story, as high expectations has been set for him to make the active roster. The question is whether or not Thomas will rise to occasion.

Quadree Henderson – WR/KR/PR – Pitt

For a few seasons, the Steelers have been trying to find the right punt and kick returner that could be the type of game-breaking player Antonio Brown was early in his career this position. Enter Quadree Henderson. Though he clocked a seemingly mediocre 40-time of 4.5s,  Henderson is one of those players who play much faster than his time suggests when viewing him on film. In 2016, Henderson was both first team All-ACC and consensus All-American, as he led the nation with 1,166 return yards; one year later, he led his team with 1,204. On offense, Henderson was primarily used in gadget plays, yet he finished his career with 473 receiving yards and 887 rushing yards. For Henderson, his best chance of making the main roster is by the displaying the return abilities that gave him All-American status a couple of years ago.

Damoun Patterson – WR – Youngtown State

Patterson is arguably the biggest sleeper coming into training camp. With the Steelers roster spoiled with wealth of talent at wide receiver, Patterson’s presence to many seems unnecessary; after all, he was only signed after rookie minicamp back in May. At 6’0 190lbs, Patterson is a quick-twitched, effective route runner with deep-threat abilities. In his two years at Youngstown State, Patterson accumulated 1,039 receiving yards on just 52 receptions; his junior year, he averaged over 24 yards per catch, which ranked him among the best in his conference. Though it seems unlikely for Patterson to make the main roster, considering the possibility that long-time practice squad receiver Marcus Tucker could graduate, it could leave a spot open for Patterson to make the practice squad if all works out well.

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi – OLB – Toledo

At 6’1, 250lbs, Adeniyi’s compact frame may remind fans of another all-time Steelers great that played at his position, James Harrison. Adeniyi is one of those players that plays faster than his 40-time suggests, possesses underrated quickness, great use of hands and football IQ that made him one of the best defensive players in the MAC conference. As it stands, the competition standing in his way of a potential backup spot on the main roster are 2017 seventh round pick Keion Adams, practice squad player Farrington Huguenin, and current roster backup Anthony Chickillo. Though it is unlikely that he will beat out Chickillo for his spot, his skillset could make him a more desirable fit for the practice squad than Huguenin.

Jarvion Franklin – RB/KR – Western Michigan

Franklin is one of the most accomplished undrafted free agents the Steelers have had in a long time. As a freshman, he was awarded Freshman All-American, MAC Offensive Player of the Year, and MAC Rookie of year by accumulating 1,551 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. In three of of his four year with the Broncos, Franklin rushed for over 1,000 yards. By the time he ended his collegiate career, Franklin had accumulated 4,867 rushing yards and 52 rushing touchdowns. With all these accolades, part of why he went undrafted was due to his combine performance. The other reasons related to his lack of physical play, despite his size, and lack of explosiveness. The competition at running back is likely to be the most fierce, as he will be going up against backup running back James Conner, 5th round pick Jaylen Samuels, veteran running back Stevan Ridley, and practice roster player Fitzgerald Toussaint.  The realistic path for Franklin to take is making the practice squad, yet he will definitely try to show the Steelers coaches that he is durable and that he can play at a higher tempo.

Jamar Summers – DB – Connecticut

In his sophomore year,  Summers gained national attention by leading his conference with eight interceptions, along with 59 total tackles and three pass defenses. Though Summers never reached those numbers for the remainder of his collegiate career, he gained the reputation as one of the best press coverage cornerbacks in his conference. In addition to playing cornerback, Summers played at safety in certain games and represented himself well in those games. The biggest concern with Summers was related to his lack of size ( 6’0, 185 lbs) and physicality; Summers may not the ideal defensive back to play in the slot or in the box. For Summers, his best path to the main roster or even the practice squad is at safety.

Other Notable UDFAs:

Christian Scotland-Williamson – TE –  Loughborough

Greg Gilmore – DE – LSU

Rj Prince – OT – North Carolina

Kendal Vickers – DE – Tennessee

The post Steelers Training Camp 2018 Preview – Undrafted Free Agents To Watch appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Reaching the 300-tackle mark in a collegiate career is no easy feat, a feat which Allen was able to accomplish by the time he ended his career with the Nittany Lions. In his freshman year, Allen played in 10 of 13 games and made seven starts. Twice that season, he registered double-digit tackles while collecting a pass defended. His most notable game came in week 8 against the Maryland Terrapins, where he accounted for 11 total tackles, a sack and a pass defended. He finished that season with 58 total tackles, a sack and three passes defended.

In his sophomore year, when he was given All-Big Ten honorable mention, Allen started all games but one due to an injury prior to their contest against Army. His most notable performances came against Maryland, where he recorded 9 total tackles and a sack, and against the Michigan Wolverines, where he accounted for 12 total tackles and a pass defended in a 28-16 loss. Allen ended his season with 81 total tackles, a sack, two passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Allen’s true breakout year would come his junior year. By all accounts, Allen was one of the premier defensive players in the Big Ten Conference that season. His trademark performance that season would come in week 5 against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he accounted for 22 total tackles, the most made by a Penn State defensive player since 2005 when Paul Posluszny made 22 stops against Northwestern. Twice more that year he would collect double-digit tackles and played a vital role in the Nittany Lions having one of the top defensive units in the nation. Allen would finish the year with an incredible 110 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble. For his efforts, Allen was given several All-Big Ten designations, including Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his peformance against the Golden Gophers.

In Allen’s senior year, he was awarded third-team All-America defensive back and safety, as well several first team and second team All-Big Ten designations. In addition, he was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and quarter finalist for the LOTT Impact Trophy. He finished his season with 71 total tackles, a sack, an interception, and two passes defended. His 321 career tackles currently ranks him 5th on Penn State’s all-time tackles chart.

If there is one aspect that defines Allen, it is his versatility. When viewing him on film, there were very few instances that he stayed at the strong safety spot. In certain packages, he would be seen at the left or right linebacker spot. On certain run plays, he was seen on either end of the outside linebacker spot. Instances with multiple receivers, he would be seen at the free safety position alongside teammate Troy Apke. Aside from defensive line, Allen showed the capability to play in different areas of the field. For someone like Steelers defense coordinator Keith Butler, his position flexibility will more than likely make it easy to add him in different defensive packages.

Downhill From The Free Safety spot

Positionally speaking, Allen is labeled as a strong safety. In this clip, even though the Pitt Panthers offense is showing run with the half back positioned behind the quarterback, Allen’s placement at free safety was likely to due to the presence of both the slot left wide receiver and left wide receiver. Predictably from the snap, the Panthers quarterback hands the ball off to the Panther half back. Allen accelerates from his spot and makes a textbook tackle to prevent the half back from getting any additional yards. What makes this hit impressive is the fact that while Allen was able to make a hit while in full stride and have the presence of mind to hit with his shoulder and wrap. Much of the time when we see these type of hits from safeties, it generally results in a missed tackle; these type of hits were a norm for Allen and part of why he was one of the best in Big Ten at doing so.

Sack from the Outside linebacker Spot

In this clip, Allen is now seen in the outside linebacker spot on the left side. One may be wondering why Allen would be designated as a linebacker if he is a strong safety. For starters, his distance from the line of scrimmage determines much of this, as he is approximately 1.5 yards from the line in a 2-point stance; as well the fact that he is situated beside the left outer defensive end.  From the snap, Allen blitzes from the edge, where it seemed that he was successfully pushed off the arc by the Iowa Hawkeyes half back. Similar to TJ Watt‘s sack against the Cleveland Browns in week 1, he spins outside and is able to close in on the Hawkeyes quarterback and make the sack. If the Steelers defense were to use dime packages such as seen here, Allen has the size and moves to be an effective rusher from the edge.

Downhill from the Strong Safety Spot

In this clip against the Maryland Terrapins, Allen is seen in his traditional strong safety spot on the left side (known as the SSL position).  With the Terrapins half back positioned on left side of the quarterback, in all likelihood this will end up being a run play, despite the receivers on the both sides. When the ball is snapped, the Terrapins quarterback hands off the ball. As in the first clip, Allen times his move perfectly and lays a nice hit on the Terrapins half back, stopping him in his tracks. As noted earlier, this is Allen at his best; when he is coming downhill he rarely missed a tackle. Again notice the impact of the hit, along with the form used to make the tackle.

Overall Assessment:

Marcus Allen is the type of player that needs to be placed in situations where his coverage deficiencies can be hidden.  For instance, the free safety position is one that he should play sparingly, as I noted he has difficulty with single-high duties; his instincts are questionable at times. Allen in my opinion should not play press coverage on a receiver, as he does not possess the type of speed and hips necessary to do so effectively. From everything I have viewed, Allen is at his best when he is going downhill making hits, blitzing off the edge or supporting the run. If used correctly, Allen can be the type of defender that could accumulate tackle numbers similar to what he achieved with Penn State. Under new defensive back coach Tom Bradley, Allen has his best opportunity to learn the type of details of his position, that will allow him to someday become an all-around proficient defender.

The post Analyzing 5th Round Pick Marcus Allen: Everywhere and Anywhere appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

The Injury Bug Hits the Steelers at OTAs

Generally when we think of injuries during the offseason, we associate them with full contact practices during training camp in late July. For third year tackle Jerald Hawkins and last season’s UDFA tight end signee Jake McGee, both their seasons ended even before it got started. Hawkins’ injury was especially damaging, as he was expected to play a huge role as backup offensive lineman. Coming off injured reserve in his rookie season, Hawkins was looking to take that next step from the limited role he had last season. Senior Steelers writer Mark Kaboly detailed Hawkins’ knee injury according to veteran offensive lineman Ramon Foster.

Ramon Foster on Jerald Hawkins knee injury: "All I heard was him screaming."

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 30, 2018

With Hawkins lost for the season, this sets the stage for this year’s third round pick, offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, to step up and play the role of backup to Marcus Gilbert. For tight end Jake McGee, his Achilles tendon injury effectively ended his season. Though McGee was not noted as playing a big part in the Steelers offense, any loss of depth could affect them later in the season.

Killers ‘B’s NOT present at OTA

In the first three days of OTAs, both Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown were very much involved in team drills and other activities. As of Tuesday, it was reported by several sources that Roethlisberger was away on family vacation, and opted not to attend OTAs. In the case of Brown, his reported absence was due to his preference of working “with his starting QB”.

Maurkice Pouncey said Ben Roethlisberger has been on a family vacation, thus his absence from OTAs. Multiple #Steelers said Antonio Brown's absence is only b/c of his preference to work w/ his starting QB. Players uniformly said this isn't holding back any "install" of new OC's O

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) May 31, 2018

Though OTAs are not mandatory, considering they have a new offensive coordinator for the upcoming season, their absences could have an effect on the cohesiveness of the entire unit with the new tweaks in the offense. Also taken in consideration were the comments made by Brown to All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell‘s decision not to attend OTAs. It was reported that Brown was still in the Pittsburgh area and still training intensely with his personal trainers.

Cameron Sutton Displaying His Versatility 

One of the many reasons why the Steelers selected cornerback Cameron Sutton in last year’s draft was due to his ability to play multiple positions on the field. In addition to playing in multiple spots at cornerback with the Tennessee Volunteers, he also played safety and was a respectable kickoff/punt returner. According to Penn Live reporter Lauren Kirschman, Sutton was seen playing in three spots; safety, corner and nickel. At this point Sutton has not played dime, but that is likely to change with the way things are trending. Sutton, who played in a handful of games last season, notably against the New England Patriots in December, is slated to play bigger role in the defense this upcoming season.

Second Year Players Motivated By Adversity

The 2017 season was not an ideal one for both outside linebacker Keion Adams and running back James Conner. Both suffered injuries during training camp, and in the case of Adams, his shoulder injury was serious enough to require surgery and effectively end his season on Injured Reserve. For Conner, his season came to end as a result of an MCL injury suffered in December against the Patriots.

Motivated by redeeming themselves from injury plagued seasons, both Adams and James Conner have been taking full advantage of OTAs, taking as many reps as they can handle. When asked by Steelers.com host/ team reporter Missi Matthews about the mental process in dealing with an injury plagued season, Adams spoke of the importance of staying mentally active throughout.

I had to go out there and mentally prepare as far as just learning how to watch film, learning the small things, not just running through plays and things of that nature.

For Conner, though he is anxious to make his imprint this upcoming season, he talked about taking things “one game at a time” and showing up. Adams is coming into this season with the opportunity of playing an important role in the Steelers pass rushing defense. With the absence of Bell in these OTAs, Conner is taking as many reps as he can; this upcoming training camp is looking to be very competitive at the running back position.

Steelers Unveil New Throwback Jerseys

To commemorate the Steelers back-to-back Super Bowl teams from 1978 and 1979, Dan Rooney II alongside Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, unvailed this year’s throwback jersey, which will make an appearance in their October 28th matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The design was made with the purpose of capturing that era in Steelers history.

The strength of the 1970's.
The fire of 2018. pic.twitter.com/WSndRMi2uo

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 30, 2018

The post 2018 Steelers Offseason: OTAs Recap Part 2 appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

In his freshman year, it was destined to be a redshirt one; that was until a sudden injury to then-starting quarterback Daxx Garman before their week 11 game against Baylor thrust him in as the starting quarterback. With little expectations, Rudolph not only excelled, but he set his first of many school records, by throwing for 281 yards in a 49-28 loss against the Bears — the most by any Oklahoma State quarterback playing their first game in their program’s history. A week later, Rudolph engineered the second-largest fourth quarter comeback victory in their program’s history against the Oklahoma Sooners, in a 38-35 overtime victory. It took only three weeks for Rudolph to amass 853 passing yards and six touchdowns. It may have been a small sample size, but the legend of Mason Rudolph was just beginning.

After former starter Garman decided to transfer in March 2015, Rudolph was expected to be the starting quarterback for his sophomore year, splitting reps with backup J.W. Walsh. Though his first game was a modest one, he came back the following week going 23 for 35, 405 passing yards and two touchdowns. With Rudolph and Walsh, the Cowboys won ten straight games and were undefeated until their week 11 loss to Baylor. Rudolph grew a propensity for throwing the deep ball, as he tied future Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff for the nation’s lead with 40 completions of at least 20 yards. Rudolph ended this season with 3770 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Rudolph’s breakout season came in his junior year. His notable performance came in week 3 against the University of Pittsburgh, when he completed 26 of 46 passes for 504 yards. At one point, Rudolph had 164 consecutive completions without an interception. In week 9 against Kansas State, he threw for 457 yards and five touchdowns.  Rudolph was arguably the best in the nation at throwing the deep ball, as his 36 completions of 30 yards or more, ranked him among the best in the nation. He completed his year with 4091 yards, 28 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

Rudolph’s senior year was undoubtedly a ‘golden’ one. In week one, he passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns against Tulsa. From that point, Rudolph went on to pass for 300+ yards for five straight weeks. His most notable performance once again came against the University of Pittsburgh, when he completed 23 passes for 497 yards and five touchdowns. Rudolph led his Cowboys to a 10 – 3 record, which culminated with a 30 – 21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Camping World Bowl. In total, Rudolph finished the season with an incredible 4553 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. He helped his Cowboys offense become the first in Big 12 history to produce two 1000-yard receivers, and a 4000-yard passing quarterback. He led all quarterbacks in the nation in passing yards and was awarded the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and the Sammy Baugh Award. He was voted to several All-American teams and was even a semifinalist for the prestigious Walter Camp Award. In totality, Rudolph became arguably the greatest quarterback in Cowboys’ history.

With all these incredible passing statistics in mind, it was clear that the area of focus would be on Rudolph’s ability to throw the deep ball. When evaluating this aspect on film, I came to the realization that his throwing ability was comparable to Steelers second round pick and teammate James Washington‘s ability to run deep routes; it is not spectacular to look at but is incredibly effective. If we were to compare his deep throwing ability to Buffalo Bills first round pick Joshua Allen for instance, there is really no comparison. Rudolph does not possess the type of throwing velocity and strength which Allen possesses; however, he was able to deliver the ball more quickly and accurately downfield than Allen and many of the other quarterbacks in his draft class. Through his deep ball is not considered elite-level, it gets the job done which counts in the end.

30-yard Touchdown Throw vs Iowa State

In this game against the Iowa State, the Oklahoma State offense is seen in an 01 package, showing four wide receivers (three of them to the right and one positioned as the left wide receiver); the tight end represents the fifth receiver in this concept. Running back Justice Hill (wearing #5) at this point is the only one seen in the backfield next to Rudolph. Before the ball is snapped, Hill motions right behind Rudolph; as soon as the ball is snapped, Rudolph sells the idea that it is going to pass on Hill’s side, then turns to look downfield. When he sees his man open, receiver Marcell Ateman in this case, he throws a deep pass to his side.

Aspects to note in this case: Firstly, there is little to no exaggerated arm motion or wind up. Secondly, he does not quite throw it off his back leg; rather, he puts much of his body into it making the motion a little unnatural. Thirdly, his release is impressively quick. Fourthly, he gets the right amount of velocity for the ball to travel, seemingly not much effort needed in this aspect. The pass from first view did not seem promising, but the fact that he able to place the ball where Ateman could grab it between two defenders was quite amazing.

Rudolph’s Deep Pass Attempt vs Pitt

The staple of Oklahoma’s State’s offense is unquestionably the Run Pass Option (known as RPO), a spread concept Rudolph ran primarily during his collegiate career. In this sequence, Rudolph will use this concept against the Panthers on the first possession of the game. Note in this case, Rudolph has both a fullback to his left and a running back behind if he chooses to use the run option. When the ball is snapped, Rudolph will fake the handoff to Hill and look down field. When viewing the video paused, one can see his intention is to throw deep to one of his receivers. The second pause displays his throwing motion. I noted that he got more velocity on the throw, in contrast to the previous clip. As is his trademark, he does not display an exaggerated arm motion. The one aspect I saw here was how much air time this deep pass received. In my opinion, the ball’s trajectory was too high, which likely explains why the Panthers defensive back had time to catch up to receiver Chris Lacy, and make a play which should have resulted in a pass interference call. If there is one area that Rudolph needs to correct, it is the amount of air his deep passes get, otherwise this would have been a perfect throw.

Deep Pass Attempt To James Washington

As in the previous clip, the RPO was in full effect in this sequence. When the ball is snapped, Rudolph fakes the handoff; noted on this play, the Texas Tech middle linebacker coming in on a blitz, which is picked up by the Cowboys’ center. As seen when the video is paused, Rudolph is already looking downfield, his feet are almost shoulder width apart. His throw is smooth as he is able to throw off his back leg. The ball in this case had the right amount of air time and is accurate, as he is able to hit Washington in full stride. Though Washington was unable to complete the reception, I found this to be one of Rudolph’s better throws and the type of deep ball that is very catchable.

Conclusion

With Rudolph, the Steelers received a quarterback with all the physical and mental attributes a team looks for in a quarterback. Coming into this draft, Rudolph’s name was listed alongside the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft such as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. For the longest time, many wondered if the Steelers would be able to find a quarterback with the potential of becoming the heir apparent to future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Perhaps the fact that he was not well received from Roethlisberger serves as indication that he has never had any real competition, until now. In my estimation, Rudolph was the most complete quarterback in this draft. With time, I believe he will make all the teams who passed over him regret not taking him.

The post Analyzing 3rd Round Pick Mason Rudolph: The Man With The Golden Arm appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

This past Tuesday marked the first day of organized team activities, as part of the second phase of the 2018 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though the players did not wear pads or make contact, it gave the coaches and the players the opportunity to set the groundwork for their mandatory training camp in late July, and the upcoming NFL season. Here are some of the storylines for the first three days of OTAs.

Day 1 OTAs:

Ben Roethisberger and Mason Rudolph building a connection

No question, the biggest story coming into OTAs was Ben Roethisberger. With the circus surrounding his controversial comments towards the Steelers selecting quarterback Mason Rudolph in last month’s NFL Draft, much of the media in attendance wondered how he and Rudolph could co-exist. Pittsburgh Tribune reporter Joe Rutter noted that Roethlisberger went out of his way to help Rudolph after a throw he made during the first day of OTAs. In the meantime, Roethlisberger took the time to clarify his comments toward Rudolph to the media in attendance. He when on to explain how his comments were taken out of context, and it was not intended to insult Rudolph in any way.  Things were seemingly harmonious between the two during this day of OTAs, but it will be interesting to follow their status once the competition heats up.

Tyler Matakevich Atop the ‘Mack’ Linebacker Pecking Order

When former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jon Bostic was signed by the Steelers in March, the expectation was for Bostic to start alongside follow ‘buck’ linebacker Vince Williams. At the beginning of this particular day however, it was third year linebacker Tyler Matakevich who was selected as starter. Matakevich, a seventh round pick out of Temple in 2016, was slated to be the starter opposite Williams after All-Pro linebacker Ryan Shazier fell to a serious spinal contusion against the Cincinnati Bengals back on December 19th. Due to a shoulder injury sustained later in that game, Matakevich was shelved for the remainder of the season; the Steelers in turn signed former Tennessee Titans linebacker Sean Spence. For an athleticism point of view which is required for the ‘mack’ linebacker spot, Bostic is better suited than Matakevich; however, Matakevich does bring familiarity with Keith Butler‘s system and a high-level football intelligence. When asked by report Jacob Klinger, Williams was very complimentary of these aspects of Matakevich.

Tyler [Matakevich] is a very intelligent person. He doesn’t make mistakes. He plays the game really, really hard.

Though no confirmation has been regarding Matakevich as this season’s starter, this could potentially set up and intriguing battle between him and Bostic during mandatory training camp in late July.

Day 2 OTAs:

Antonio Brown Leads by Example

It is no secret that All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown is a consummate professional. On a yearly basis, his worth ethic and dedication to his craft are one of many reasons why he is not only considered the best at his position, but one of best overall players the NFL. Coming into his ninth OTAs, Brown made it a priority to lead by both words and actions. Following the trade of deep threat receiver Martavis Bryant, Brown is aware that he could be shouldering much of the offensive burden this upcoming season. When asked by ESPN NFL Analyst Jeremy Fowler how he felt about the current roster of receivers, he stated that he had faith that all of them could produce at a high level. If all else fails, Brown noted “just throw me all the passes”. When the topic of All-Pro running back Le’veon Bell‘s absence from OTA was brought up, Brown was straightforward in his response, urging Bell to “show up” despite the ongoing contract dispute between him the Steelers organization.

The first rule of getting better is showing up. You can’t make anything better without showing up

Brown further stressed the importance of making a presence, in order to make it known to everyone that he wants to be a part of the organization for the remainder of his career. As it stands, Bell is slated to come back when the season begins on September 9th.

TJ Watt Looking To Make a Splash

After an impressive rookie campaign, second year outside linebacker TJ Watt is looking to take his game to the next level. According to Fowler, Watt is looking to make “more splash plays” this upcoming season. He was seen on this day working with linebacker coach Joey Porter.

Day 3 OTAs:

Vance McDonald and His Featured Role in the Steelers Offense

For sixth-year tight end Vance McDonald, he would like nothing more than to materialize the offensive potential that compelled the Steelers to trade for him last August. Despite the Steelers losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in last season’s AFC Divisional Playoff match, McDonald’s 110 receiving yards on 10 receptions, is the type of performance that he can build upon this upcoming season. With the departure of Bryant to the Oakland Raiders, McDonald is slated to play a larger role in the Steelers offense. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, offensive coordinator Randy Fitchner‘s offense will likely feature a heavy dose of McDonald. When asked, McDonald himself was very clear what his intentions were for this upcoming season; “It will be my breakthrough season,” he told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With the myriad of injuries behind him and with a year under his belt, McDonald feels that he was ready to finally contribute, as he the Steelers transition their offense to Fitchner’s system.

It’s good, just being able to take the time and slow things down in terms of the mental load and get details of all the routes and stuff.

No mention has been made concerning fellow tight end Jesse James‘ contribution to the offense, but if it similar to last season, it would likely involve 3rd down and red zone situations.

Rookies Making An Impression

This particular day saw many of the rookies tuning up their skills and impressing the Steelers coaches in attendance. One rookie that made a big impression was second round pick James Washington. According to Fowler, was seen making some acrobatic-type catches, involving “contorting his body”.  The other rookie that was at the center of focus was fifth round pick Jaylen Samuels, who took full advantage of Bell’s absence to make an impression. First round pick Terrell Edmunds was seen doing one-on-one drills, displaying his footwork and his ability to flip his hips. For each of these rookies, the next set of OTAs may present the opportunity to test their abilities against some of the veterans, as they resume again this coming Tuesday.

The post 2018 Steelers Offseason: OTAs Recap appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Coming into Western Michigan in 2014, Okorafor was noted as one of the best overall recruits in the state of Michigan. In his freshman year, Okorafor did not make any starts but played in 12 games. In his sophomore year, Okorafor started all 13 games at right tackle and was an essential piece in the Broncos’ rushing attack, which was one of the best in the conference. His most notable performance came in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, as he and the offensive line contributed to freshman running back Jamauri Bogan’s MVP performance. By his junior year, Okorafor became a household name in the Mid-American Conference. In this particular season, he moved to left tackle where he played all 14 games. Okorafor was a major contributor in the Broncos offensive line that was one of the best in all of college football (ranked 4th by Pro Football Focus) and made it possible for star running back Jarvion Franklin to rush for over 1,300 yards that season. For his efforts, Okorafor was selected to the First-Team All-MAC team. Okorafor’s senior year was a culmination of his hard work and consistency displayed throughout his collegiate career. He was selected to several All-American teams, given First Team All-MAC status, and was one of 6 semifinalists for the prestigious Outland Trophy awarded to the nation’s top lineman.

Pass Protection Technique

• Great feet and lateral movement
• Effective use of hands
• Has natural strength and often wins one-on-one battles
• Uses effective movement to seal defenders
• Pad level is a concern

The aspect that stands out with Okorafor is his feet and lateral movement; movements are fluid and seem very effortless, which was one of many reasons why he was one of the best in respect to pass protection. His use of hands, particularly his initial punch, tends to send opposing defensive linemen off balance, a key factor to his success in winning one-on-one battles. What defines him though is the fact that he does have an aggressive disposition.

The biggest concern with Okorafor is without question his pad level. In almost all the clips I viewed, he had this tendency of standing upright as his first move. The importance in all this has to do with the idea of playing with leverage. Playing with leverage entails keeping a low pad-level. For an offensive lineman like Okorafor, this is key since it allows him to keep his size and strength at a base, as opposed to his upper body. This tendency of staying too high is keeping him from reaching the full potential of his strength.

In this example shown against Toledo, when the ball is snapped, Okorafor’s first move is upright; as the play continues, he is able to use quick feet, lateral movement, and proper placement of hands to force the Rockets off the arc. Against this type of lineman, Okorafor is likely to win this type of battle the majority of the time. If presented with a linemen that has a quicker first step and bend, he may not be so lucky.

Speaking of bend, this is one aspect that needs work. As noted in his NFL Draft profile, Okorafor is noted to have “limited lower body bend”.  In order for Okorafor to get the pad level necessary to win one-on-one battles in the NFL, this has to become an element of his blocking. When done correctly (as shown in the diagram below), Okorafor’s natural strength and other techniques can shine through.

 Run Blocking Technique

• Uses his strength effectively to redirect defenders
• Displays excellent lateral movement and use of hands
• At times is off balance and gets knocked over unnecessarily
• At times looks unsure who to block.

When it comes to this aspect, there exists little to no median. Simply put, Okorafor displayed both extremes of proficiency; he can either be very good or very bad. When Okorafor is at his best, he exhibited the ability to explode off the ball into the opponent and keep a relatively low pad level. The key to his success is when he uses his strength to redirect linemen, and his size and width to protect the ball carrier.

In this particular clip against Michigan State, the Broncos offense is going to run one of their trademark zone blocking schemes. Okorafor from the snap explodes into the Spartans defensive lineman, uses his feet to drive him outside, leaving a gaping hole for the Broncos ball carrier to run through. Note how at one point, he uses his raw strength to drive him away from the ball carrier, a small sample of Okorafor natural strength. As seen here, he has the ability to impose his will on defenders, and create opportunities for ball carriers.

Okorafor’s deficiency in run blocking can be summarized in one word — “balance”.  What was interesting to watch was how he was easily taken off balance when attempting to pull, or when trying to block at the second level.  One thing I noted is that his head is often down, impeding him from viewing the defender he is blocking; as a result, he topples off balance. At times when watching him in certain run blocking situations, it almost seemed a little lost.

Early in this game, when Okorafor attempted to pull and block the defensive lineman on his side, he pulled but did not properly locate the lineman. The result is seen in the photo below as he defensive lineman was able to evade him, sending him to the ground. For Okorafor, his ability to locate his target should start before he even pulls. The hope is that with offensive line coach Mike Munchak, this can be corrected so he can become a reliable asset in the Steelers ground game.

Conclusion

Okorafor has all the physical attibutes to be a top-level offensive lineman in the NFL, if he is able to correct the technical flaws in his game. For Okorafor, his timing could not be any better, as the departure of long-time backup Chris Hubbard to the Cleveland Browns has opened the window of opportunity for him or third-year offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins to take over one of the backup spots. Considering how late Okorafor started playing football, he has the tools necessary to make the Steelers roster.

The post Analyzing Steelers 3rd Round Pick Chukwuma Okorafor: Finding the Right Balance appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Washington was an impact player from the time he stepped onto Oklahoma State in 2014. As a true freshman, he accumulated 456 yards on only 28 receptions, giving him an average of 16.3 yards per reception. His six touchdown receptions not only led his team that year, but it also ranked him fourth among true freshmen in the nation. He followed up a strong freshman season with a stronger sophomore season. That year saw him account for 1,087 receiving yards on 53 receptions. He became only one of four underclassmen in Cowboys history to record 1000 receiving yards in a season. For his efforts, he was given a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Once again, Washington followed up his strong sophomore season, with an even better junior season, by recording his second straight 1000-yard receiving season. On top of being selected team captain, he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. His 296 receiving yards in a game against the University of Pittsburgh in week 3 that year was the second-highest in school history and the fourth-most in Big 12 history. To cap off an exceptional career with the Cowboys, Washington became the nation’s leading receiver with 1,596 yards on 74 receptions. His mark of 20.93 average yards per receptions led all receivers in the FBS. Alongside teammates, Oakland Raiders selection Marcell Ateman and Steelers third round selection quarterback Mason Rudolph, they helped give the Cowboys’ offense the distinction of having two 1000-yard receivers and a 4000-yard passer for the first time in Big-12 conference history. To add to his many accolades, he was given the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

One may wonder how a receiver with seemingly moderate-looking speed can produce at a high level throughout his collegiate career? The aspect to understand is this — there is speed and there is functional speed. What makes Washington unique is the fact that he possesses deceptive speed which may not time well, but is functional enough to beat defensive backs consistently.

Straight Line Speed

When watching Washington run Go routes, it seems as if he is not putting much effort to it; then after a short period of time, you realize that he’s wide open. As noted, Washington does not have the type of speed that will jump out at you, but he had great acceleration and kept a consistent pace. One thing I have learned is that some of the best runners are the ones that do not look like they are actually running, it seems like they are gliding. Washington’s running style is deceptively faster than what it appears on screen and I believe that defensive backs underestimate its effectiveness; hence the reason why they are always getting beat.

In this clip against Virginia Tech, Washington is seen at the top, and runs a Go route. At first glance, one would wonder how a seemingly lackadaisical-looking route is able to get behind an entire defense. From viewing the play from a different perspective, you will see that Washington sells the route quite well; in other words, he makes it look unsuspecting until he gets by the Hokies defender that was trailing him. In addition, it appeared that the speed of the route also caught the Hokies defender off guard, as Washington utilizes long strides, allowing him to cover a large amount of distance quickly.

Here is another view of that route:

Combat Catches

A combat catch can be defined as a receiver’s ability to make a reception while being physically confronted by a defensive player (i.e.: arm pulled, bumped). Washington has a top-heavy frame which allows him to fight off defenders in order to complete a catch.  One of the reasons he is able to make combat catches is due to his ability to create enough separation to do so. With Washington, he often does not engage in too much hand play or bumping. What makes him successful in this regard is what he does before he breaks into his route.

In this particular clip against Pitt, he and the Panthers’ defender are seen lined up opposite each other. The thing to note when the clip plays is the subtle stutter step he executes shortly after he comes off the line; that step was enough to get the separation he needed before he broke into his route. What was encouraging to see during the video pause, was how he never allowed the Panthers’ defender to crowd him against the sidelines and force him out of bounds. Lastly, he displayed great concentration even though the Panthers’ defender had him well-covered and was trying to pull on his arm. One of things head coach Mike Tomlin loves in receivers is the ability to make combat catches. Washington made a habit of this throughout his collegiate career and there is no reason to think this will stop anytime soon.

Ball Control Issues

For a long period of time, the rules pertaining to what constituted a catch in the NFL had been marred in confusion and controversy. One of the noted precepts in the new simplified catching rules entails ball control. For the most part, Washington has not issues making the initial reception, but I noted on several occasions where he would fail the secure the ball. This could be attributed to lack of concentration, or when he was trying to fight through a defender. In either sense, Washington’s ball control can be inconsistent at times.

In this clip seen here against Baylor, Washington ended the game with 235 yards on just six receptions. Yet even with this impressive performance, he left a lot of plays out on the field. In this instance, Washington runs a Go route and is once again able to beat the defensive back covering him. Though Rudolph slightly underthrew the ball, he was able to adjust and make the catch. All seemed good at this point, yet when the video is paused one can see that part of the football is not fully secured. As the play continues, Washington is surrounded by two Baylor defenders, in which one of them is able to knock the ball out of Washington’s hands and recover the ball. As noted earlier, the initial reception was fine but the ball security was questionable.

Conclusion

The Steelers organization has proven to be excellent at finding receivers late in the draft, and grooming them into productive and impactful players. James Washington is different in the sense that he was selected earlier than their usual area, and he comes in a little more polished than previous drafted receivers such as Sammie Coates, Martavis Bryant, and even All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks has already predicted big things for Washington, as he placed him all his 2018 NFL All-Rookie.

AFC North opponents quickly learn that Washington is more than capable of torching one-on-one coverage as an explosive big-play threat.

With newly hired wide receiver coach Darryl Drake, it will interesting to see what he can do to enhance is strengths and correct his weaknesses. If all works out, Washington should become the Steelers next big time, playmaking offensive threat for the NFL to take notice.

The post Analyzing Steelers 2nd Round Pick James Washington: A Deceptively Productive Deep Threat appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Steelers Rookie Minicamp Roster

From: Steelers.com Click to enlarge

The Mason Rudolph Story

With much of the attention surrounding the rookie quarterback and his unexpected rivalry with starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Rudolph not only showed his maturity throughout the situation, he also displayed that he is a legitimate threat to take over the backup spot, currently occupied by quarterback Landry Jones. In an added twist to this unusual saga, ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler reported that prior to rookie camp, Roethlisberger had reached out to Rudolph by way of text.

Mason Rudolph said Ben Roethlisberger texted him Thursday to wish him good luck and looked forward to meeting him. “It meant a lot,” Rudolph said.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 11, 2018

This gesture may be interpreted as a sign of goodwill, but considering the comments made by Roethlisberger regarding the selection of Rudolph in the draft, it is likely that Roethlisberger is very much threatened by Rudolph’s presence, as he represents the first quarterback qualified to be the heir apparent to the coveted Steelers’ starting quarterback throne.

Throughout the controversy which was part of this weekend’s camp, Rudolph displayed professionalism well beyond his years, as he acknowledged the situation and believed that much of the controversy was perpetuated by the media’s interpretation of what was said. In addition, he expressed that both he and Roethlisberger would be friends once the football season is in full swing.

“I think the media got it kind of twisted around a little bit. He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. He’s a competitive guy. That’s what I would expect. He’s a longtime starter.”

“I’m sure when we get in this building, in this room, we’re going to be friends, and I’m going to let him do his thing and pick up what I can from him but not bother him.”

Rudolph also made his statement on the field displaying his throwing and leadership abilities. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that Rudolph “made some plays”, despite some fumbling issues under center. The highest praise, according to Fowler, came courtesy of practice squad receiver Marcus Tucker. Tucker had noted that Rudolph had seven straight completions in team drills, and raved about Rudolph’s natural leadership abilities. One thing that is for certain, the battle at quarterback is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years when official training camp begins in late July.

Steelers receiver Marcus Tucker on Mason Rudolph: "He has a really big arm, strong arm. throws a great ball. Also pointed out his leadership, which he can pick up even in two days of minicamp: "Certain guys just have a command of the huddle."

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 12, 2018

Terrell Edmunds Displaying His Versatility

When the Steelers drafted Terrell Edmunds with the first round pick, part of the reason they selected him was due to his versitility. Part of what made him appealling was not just his ability to play safety but linebacker as well. Even with the addition of linebacker Jon Bostic during free agency, the Steelers are still absent a true Mack inside linebacker. Edmunds spent much of this minicamp taking snaps at both safety and linebacker. As noted in my film analysis on him, it is likely that Edmunds will be used in different defensive packages (specifically Dime packages) as a linebacker. At this point, one should not be surprised if Edmunds adds more weight before the beginning of training camp in late July.

In additon to his versility, a point of emphasis during minicamp was communication, an aspect that was seemingly deficient with the safeties last season. Tomlin noted that both Edmunds and fellow rookie safety Marcus Allen were taking turns making some of the defensive calls during their first practice. From what was noted, both Edmunds and Allen had quickly established a connection which could pay dividends during training camp, and their first preseason game.

The Steelers putting Terrell Edmunds’ versatility to the test early in minicamp. Edmunds (No. 34), who looks every bit of 217 pounds, said he played safety and linebacker snaps for the defense on Day 1. pic.twitter.com/ztXXEW2xEl

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 11, 2018

Steelers Sign Damoun Patterson and RJ Prince

As a player coming in on a tryout basis, one hopes to make a big enough impression the coaches to gain a rookie contract. The reality is that for many at this minicamp, this may represent their one and only opportunity to fulfill their NFL dreams. For Division II receiver Damoun Patterson and offensive tackle RJ Prince, their respective performances earned them rookie contracts, and the chance at making the roster at Steelers training camp in late July.

Patterson is a relatively unknown player but in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) last season, he was one of the best deep threats around. The 6’2″ receiver transferred from Utah State in 2016 and quickly established himself as Youngstown State‘s most reliable deep threat. He finished that year with 484 receiving yards on 20 catches, and followed it up with 555 receiving yards on 32 catches. Patterson faces some difficult competition as he is vying a receiver spot alongside Eli Rogers (currently rehabbing his ACL injury), Marcus Tucker, Justin Hunter, Tevin Jones, and Justin Thomas.

I can’t write in cursive but I just signed my rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. God be the glory pic.twitter.com/IxqG7rrzSW

— Damoun Patterson (@chasing_8) May 13, 2018

Prince went undrafted after playing a total of 45 games, starting each game in his junior and senior seasons with North Carolina. Back in April, the 6’6″, 320 lb tackle met with the Steelers following his Pro Day workout, so it appeared Prince was on their radar. What is interesting to note, with former backup Chris Hubbard signed with the Cleveland Browns, the backup spots behind veteran tackles Marcus Gilbert and Alejandro Villanueva are up for grabs. If Prince is able to impress during training camp, he could possibly gain a spot on the roster.

Truly appreciative of the staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity! Officially a Pittsburgh Steeler! Time to get to work pic.twitter.com/6Kr1FLbeLt

— RJ Prince (@rdprince71) May 13, 2018

Jaylen Samuels Feels Disrespected

Coming into this year’s draft, Samuels was noted as being the most versatile player available; perhaps this is why he felt slighted being chosen in the 5th round by the Steelers. According to Fowler, despite accumulating 1080 rushing yards, 1809 receiving yards, 47 touchdowns, along with eight total tackles on defense; Samuels believed that his versatility merited “better draft footing”. He went on to state how he had “always been underestimated all my life”. Going into training camp in late July, Samuels will be someone to follow as he will look to make a statement, and establish himself as a viable asset to the Steelers offense.

The post 2018 Steelers Rookie Minicamp Roundup appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

In high school, Terrell was All-State in two positions; at running back and defensive back. In his senior year, he accounted for 1,753 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. At the same time on defense, he recorded 53 tackles and two touchdowns.

His freshman year at Virginia Tech was a forgettable one, as he was redshirted and demoted to the scout team. In his redshirt freshman year, he played a total of 13 games in which he started in eight of them. He recorded 18 total tackles to go with seven passes defended and a blocked kick. In his sophomore year, Terrell took a giant leap forward with his best season as a Hokie. He recorded 89 total tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defended. His most notable game that year came against Duke where he recorded 14 total tackles. For his efforts that season, he was named to Campus Insiders Sophomore All-American team. His junior year was unfortunately plagued by an injured shoulder relegated him to just 10 games. Even in his shortened season, he was highly productive and played on every defensive snap including special teams. He ended the season with 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four pass breakups.

For all that is said about Terrell, he is not a flashy player by any means. At times he was often unnoticeable, since his brother and defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. were often making splash plays. When given his chance, Terrell displayed many of the attributes which appealed to the Steelers brass — quick to read and anticipate, lots of speed and good at using his hands to make plays. The areas of concern with Terrell relate to ball tracking and covering receivers deep. As you will see in this film session, Terrell’s athleticism is good enough to be a potential difference-maker in games.

Read and Reaction

From what I observed, this was an area of strength for Terrell. As noted before, there is nothing fancy about what he does in this respect; he continuously has his eyes on the backfield, reads the quarterback and reacts to where the ball is going. What is noticeable, though, is his quick movement. One of the attributes noted in his NFL Draft Profile, was how quick-twiched he was. From what I viewed, this was quite true. Another plus was his hips. In addition to demonstrating quick feet, he is very good at flipping his hips and changing direction to follow the play. When it came to covering receivers deep, he was not as strong as with the aspects that I noted, but since Terrell played mainly in the box, his read and reaction ability was very promising.

In this clip against West Virginia, Terrell is seen in this nickel set seemingly in the strong side linebacker spot.  What impressed in this clip was how Terrell was continuously reading the quarterback in this sequence. Once he assessed where the play was going, he flips his hips and changes direction to shadow the Mountaineer receiver. When the ball is thrown, he times his move perfectly to break up the pass. When it comes to covering in shallow parts of the field, Terrell is proficient in this area.

Questionable Ball Skills

Defensive backs who excel in this area are proficient at tracking the ball in the air. When it comes to covering the shallow part of the field, Terrell has little to no issues with tracking; however when it comes to deep coverage, this a definite weakness. From my observation, Terrell’s weakness at tracking the ball is derived from the fact he often had his back to the ball when covering receivers deep. Instead of turning to make a play, he would continuously focus on the receiver and as a consequence, he would miss making a play when it came his direction.

In this sequence, Terrell is seen in relatively the same spot as the previous clip.  The player to note in this case is Mountaineer receiver #12 Gary Jennings, positioned closer inside to the right of Terrell. When the ball is snapped, Jennings will run a simple inside post route. At first, Terrell is positioned correctly, but as you will see when the clip is paused, Terrell has his back turned away from the ball. From reviewing this clip a few more times, Terrell either did not flip his hips in time, or he flip his hips in the wrong direction. As result, Terrell could not turn around in time to play the ball. Jennings, on the other hand, was able to make the reception and score a touchdown in the process. This play in many ways also exposes another area of weakness for Terrell, which are his instincts. I believe at this point, his instincts are most effective when covering the shallow areas of the field. So when it comes to covering receivers deep, Terrell is likely not the defensive back that you want taking that assignment.

Tackling

This aspect in my opinion represented an area of confusion with Terrell. From my study, it was difficult to assess this aspect as an area of strength or weakness, due to the inconsistencies surrounding it. When it came to supporting the run, Terrell was mostly strong in this aspect; he displayed proper timing and control to make a tackle in these circumstances. When tackling in open field, the results varied. At points, Terrell was able to get the right angle on the ball carrier and make the tackle as seen in this clip against Clemson.

Equally there have been instances, as in this example against Duke, where he missed tackles that he should be able to make. As the ball is snapped, Terrell has already read where the ball is going and breaks from his backpedal. Here is the problem, as you will see when the clip is paused, the angle taken by Terrell was too wide. As a result, he is unable to adjust when the Blue Devils receiver cuts inside. In addition, he used a little too much speed which did not allow him the chance to establish a base to make the tackle. As a result, the receiver is able to make the catch and get the first down. One of the conclusions I drew from watching Terrell is that he is more adept to making tackles from a straight line. When it comes to angles, he has difficulty judging the right speed and distance needed. The good news is that with time and coaching, this can be corrected.

Conclusion:

Of players selected in this year’s draft class for the Steelers, Terrell Edmunds is unquestionably the biggest enigma.  There are many of the opinion that the should have not been drafted as high as he was, and there is much evidence to support this idea. At the same time, there is proof of the contrary, as he ranked in the top percentile in several measurables for his position — vertical jump, broad jump, and hand size. To put into perspective, his overall performance score equaled that of Derwin James with 76.2%.

Many in the fanbase anticipated a linebacker as a first round pick and perhaps are not ready to embrace him at this point. It is likely that defensive coordinator Keith Butler will take advantage of Terrell’s athleticism and diverse skillset, and add him in different sub-packages as a linebacker. Terrell is the type of player that may not come with much fanfare, but I believe he will eventually prove that he was worth the first round selection.

The post Analyzing Steelers 1st Round Pick Terrell Edmunds: The Underappreciated Athlete appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

I had the opportunity to chat with Thomas about his passion for the game and the obstacles he had to overcome in his life. One thing is for certain, this motivated young man ready to make an impact right away.

You are one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. When looking at your measurables, you seemed to have checked all the boxes. Why do you believe teams passed up the chance to draft you?

Thomas: I mean it’s obvious, I had some issues and made some mistakes in college. There were questions if I loved ball. Most felt as if they couldn’t trust me based off my history and all the concerns determined the outcome.

In terms of your skillset as a linebacker, what attributes do you bring to the table that sets you apart from the other linebackers you’ll be competing against for a roster spot with the Steelers?

Thomas: As far as my skillset, I’m the type of linebacker who shouldn’t come off the field. I can stop the run, play in space, cover backs & tight ends in coverage, rush the passer situationally and blitz.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 21: Jackie Wilson #5 of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats is sacked by Matthew Thomas #12 of the Florida State Seminoles during a game at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 21, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Growing up, which player/athlete was your biggest influence and why?

Thomas: Growing up I admired, rest in heaven, Sean Taylor because of his relentlessness and how he played the game. Deion Sanders as well, because of how confident he was with his game.

The Steelers as you know are a franchise with a storied history of winning championships. In what ways can you contribute to helping this team win a Super Bowl?

Thomas: Well before I can help I’ll need to know what I’m doing. I’m a fast learner so I’ll pick up quick, but immediately I know I can contribute on special teams.

What obstacles (mental or physical), do you believe that you need to overcome, in order to make the Steelers roster?

Thomas: Just have my mind right and be in the best shape.

What were your emotions when you were informed that the Steelers were going to sign you?

Thomas: I was very emotional, I actually thought I would be drafted at least. Not being drafted lit a fire under me so I’m that much [more] motivated to being great in this league.

Your mother, as it has been documented, passed away back in 2015 a lung disease. I can only imagine how much this affected you. How did you manage to persevere, and how do you continue to use her as motivation?

Thomas: It was a hard time for me, but growing up I saw how my mother fought for her family to survive. Embracing the struggle, doing whatever she had to. She fought day in and out working numerous jobs to support us. She was the perfect role model. Even if I wanted to quit it’s not in me to, I wasn’t raised like that. It took a lot but I reached deep down and fought through all the adversity. I always been a fighter regardless of the situation. You have to fight for what you love. I have my own family now and I’m extremely motivated to take care of them. All I needed was an opportunity and I got one so I’m excited, truly thankful and ready to go.

***

You can follow Thomas through his Twitter profile, @6FromOvertown

The post The Long Road Ahead – An Exclusive Interview with Steelers UDFA Matthew Thomas appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.