Fan Friday: 4 big Steelers updates

“Friday Night Lights” not on queue

The Steelers announced their official training camp dates so that fans can make arrangements to attend and get a first-hand look at the team. One tradition, it seems, will be unavailable: Friday Night Lights.

Instead, the highly-anticipated practice game the Steelers put on for fans is scheduled for Saturday, August 8. With Mike McCarthy in his first year as head coach with the franchise, the move may signal a desire to create some new experiences for fans. The Steelers will still hold camp at Saint Vincent’s in Latrobe (PA), so not everything is out of sorts. Tickets for training camp can be reserved beginning on Friday, May 22.

Offensive line versatility being tested

Rookie Max Iheanachor has been the only offensive lineman that has yet to be tested outside of his position at right tackle, but offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio has not ruled out that Iheanachor will be given snaps on the left side of the line. Angelichio did confirm that they will not ask him to move to guard.

Meanwhile, movement of other linemen has been underway to test and maximize the versatility each player possesses.

“We’re trying to train them all to have the versatility to play right and left throughout a season. Unfortunately, if you can keep five guys, it’s great, but usually you’re having to mix and match offensive line combinations and move guys around, so that’s something we’ll take a look at with all our guys,” Angelichio stated early in the week.

Familiarity brought Rodgers back

Aaron Rodgers ‘ return to Pittsburgh nearly did not take place once former head coach Mike Tomlin stepped away. Per Rodgers, he put a bug into the franchise’s ear to consider hiring McCarthy as their next head coach. The thought of returning was more appealing.

“I had a conversation with Omar [Khan] at the end of last year. I encouraged him, from an outside perspective, to interview Mike [McCarthy], not thinking that he even would, honestly… but then when it became more serious, I was thinking, wow, that would be a really interesting thought to come back and play with Mike,” Rodgers said.

“It’s nice to come back, and it felt different than last year ’cause I knew some of the guys and some of the people who work here and stuff, so it felt good coming in.”

Receivers making impressions

With the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. next to D.K. Metcalf, the Steelers receivers group looks bigger, but the play of rookie Germie Bernard has caught the attention of beat writers. Mark Kaboly said on Kaboly and Mack that Bernard appears to be taking the transition into the NFL in stride.

“Normally, there’s receivers that come in, rookies that think they’re in shape, that think that they can make that transition quickly, are pretty much shocked for the first couple of days or first couple of weeks or months,” Kaboly stated. “He seems like he’s picking [things] up really, really quickly.”

A potential combo of Metcalf, Pittman, and Bernard is enough to get any Steelers fan drooling for the regular season, but there is still a lot of gelling left to do. With four quarterbacks taking snaps, the group – as well as Roman Wilson – will need to learn the nuances of each signal caller’s play.