LATROBE, Pa. -- Two days after the Steelers opened their preseason slate against the Texans, Mike Tomlin sure seemed ready to see what his younger players had to offer.
With Donte Jackson on the sideline in street clothes for a veteran maintenance day, Cory Trice Jr. and Darius Rush took snaps opposite Joey Porter Jr. and Zach Frazier slotted in at center with the first team for several snaps.
Prime opportunities like this took place all over the field on Sunday and Tomlin was waiting to see who took advantage.
"We minimized some guys today like we do in the process to give them some rest," Tomlin said. "But more important than that, to provide opportunity and elevated opportunities for others."
Part of Tomlin's process is seeing players improve from their first time playing in a stadium to the next and Frazier, Trice and others experienced their first game in Acrisure Stadium on Friday. According to Pro Football Focus, Frazier played on 19 pass block snaps, allowed zero pressures and earned a run block grade of 72.2. Trice, while playing 18 defensive snaps and three special teams snaps, recorded one tackle, which went for a loss.
The experience of playing in an NFL stadium is something that can be overwhelming for some but also completely normal for others. Players need to fall into a routine, understand what it feels like to play under the bright lights and experience the speed of the game for the first time. So, now that players such as Frazier and Trice have done that, Tomlin expects them to be ready to take the next step. Practices like the one on this day are his way of giving them that opportunity.
When speaking on Frazier, Tomlin said: "He’s got that in-stadium exposure now, so it’s reasonable to expect him to be significantly better this week and we’re going to position him to do so with an increased workload."
Frazier took advantage of the first-team reps and blocked well throughout practice. On one or two snaps, Nate Herbig slid over to right guard when Frazier slipped in at center, but the former Mountaineer mainly played alongside veteran guards James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo to start developing chemistry. How much we'll see of either lineup moving forward is undetermined, but Frazier has made the most of the chances that have come along throughout the early parts of camp.
Trice was jumping at the opportunity given to him by Tomlin because he knows how important the opportunity is. He saw a significant amount of time with the first team but looked as though he was still catching up with the speed of the game and developing his familiarity with the defense. He had an up-and-down day and made plays here and there but also got beat at times, including by Quez Watkins on a crossing route that went for a decent gain.
"I'm just trying to put my best foot forward every time, rep by rep" Trice would tell me after practice. "I'm just going to go out there, just like I go out there with whatever group I go out there with. I'm going to communicate with the guys, figure out what the play is and execute."
Trice got to experience what the stadium atmosphere felt like a little bit last year because of the way Tomlin handled him when he was injured. He told me he was still able to attend games and take in the feeling of being in the stadium. Trice added that practicing as a Steeler and playing through situations Tomlin puts his players in, such as hitting early in camp and preaching physicality, has prepared him for those big moments.
Now, with that first game under his belt, Trice knows he needs to continue taking advantage of any chance he gets.
"I was waiting on it for so long, so it was a great feeling," Trice said of his debut. "But now it's time to keep stacking and keep building off that."
Rush shined during practice and jumped a dig route on a pass from Justin Fields for a pick-six. Rush, who's entering his second year in the league, has a little more experience than Trice and has flashed at times during camp but not consistently. He tallied two tackles during Friday's contest and also played 18 defensive snaps.
While his play wasn't as significant on this day due to his previous reps with the first team, Payton Wilson is a prime example of a rookie taking advantage of an opportunity to play with the first team. He turned in a great performance against Houston, one in which he played the second-most defensive snaps, and with that first game out of the way, he should be taking another step forward this week as they prepare for the Bills.
Opportunities weren't just limited to first teamers on this day though as the snap count for some, including Duece Watts and Jacob Copeland, a pair of second-year wide receivers, increased. Both wideouts made toe-tapping catches in the back of the end zone in 2-on-2 coverage drills and made a few catches during 11-on-11 and 7-on-7.
John Rhys Plumlee got into the mix, as well. He was told earlier in the day that he would get an opportunity to play out wide in practice and caught multiple passes while still maintaining his kick and punt return duties. He even received a few cheers from teammates after making a tough catch across the middle. For a guy who may be hovering on the bubble of making the 53-man roster, it was about taking the opportunity and showcasing what he's capable of, just like the players getting the first-team reps.
"I’m just trying to show all I can do," Plumlee said. "I’m just out here trying to live my dream and play football at the highest level. So whatever that looks like, I’m ready for it. Obviously, I see myself as a quarterback but I can do a lot of things."
At this point in camp, coaches are starting to look at how they want to form their 53-man roster and they need to know what each player brings to the table. So while some are looking to prove they belong in the starting lineup, others are doing whatever they can to secure their spot on the roster, which makes the opportunities Tomlin is giving them that much more important.
