I’ll be honest, it was a bit of a let-down to see the Pittsburgh Steelers come out for the last training camp practice with shorts on, as it denoted that the team would not be going full contact. As a result, not much can be gleaned from today’s work, which is why today’s stock report is a bit shorter. Tomorrow I’ll have a detailed stock report and my biggest observations from the past month of training camp practices at St. Vincent College.
For today, your final practice stock report…
Stock Up
1. S Mike Mitchell
It has been a quite camp for Mitchell, but he broke out on the last day with a nice anticipatory interception over the middle of the field early in practice. A few plays earlier Mitchell busted in on a blitz off the edge for a would-be sack of Bruce Gradkowski. Strong session for the starting free safety, who is hopefully finally fully healthy heading into his second season in Pittsburgh.
2. WR Jarrod West
West is the longest of long shots to survive even the first round of cuts on September 1st, let alone the final 53, but that shouldn’t diminish his excellent performance today. The wide receiver skied to reel in a grab despite being bracketed by Mitchell and Antwon Blake on a post route. West also toe-tapped an excellent grab in the back of the end zone on a fade route, showing impressive concentration and focus.
3. CB Kevin Fogg
Another strong day for Fogg, who showed fantastic ball skills to snag a would-be touchdown away from Ray Hamilton in the end zone. Fogg continues to show stellar movement skills in coverage, and does a great job of finding the ball in coverage. B.W. Webb had another good day too, so the battle for the #6 cornerback spot continues to remain competitive.
Stock Down
1. QB Bruce Gradkowski
Not the best day for Gradkowski, who threw two interceptions early in practice, one a wild overthrow that Mitchell dug out playing deep, and another than Fogg expertly snatched in the corner of the end zone.
2. S Ross Ventrone
Ventrone didn’t participate in team drills for the third straight practice despite wearing shoulder pads, a sure sign that he will not play Sunday against the Packers. While Alden Darby and Ian Wild continue to shine in his absence, Ventrone’s inability to get on the field is definitely hurting him at this point. He missed basically all of training camp nursing his banged up ankle, and others have flashed while the veteran has been sidelined. If he can’t get back in action soon, it could easily mean his roster spot.
3. QB Landry Jones
It wouldn’t be a proper end to training camp without Jones on the stock down list, as the third-year quarterback again struggled with his accuracy. He threw one pass that L.J. Fort leapt to intercept in the front of the end zone, as Jones never saw him drop into coverage. In the end Jones’ stock may be simply caught in limbo, never good enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, but improved enough for the team to strongly considering keeping him anyway.
