Though information about where players are lining up and what team’s they’re running on can be fleeting in Pittsburgh, the team website’s gallery did give us a couple glimpses of where players worked at on the first day of OTAs.
Nothing we “learn” here is monumental but maybe the biggest takeaway is Jerald Hawkins appeared to be working at right tackle in team sessions. You can see him battling against Bud Dupree in this photo.
After he was drafted, Mike Munchak told reporters Hawkins would start at whatever position he was most comfortable. It’s not a shock to see Hawkins begin his career on the right side considering he spent two years at LSU as a right tackle, compared to just one on the left side. That lone season, last year, was also marred by injury, diminishing Hawkins’ comfort level even more.
Munchak had also said that eventually, he’ll get flipped around, something all players do along the offensive line. In training camp, usually after the first week, the line is shuffled around, tackles and guards flipping sides, to give them versatility the Steelers – and almost every other team – craves.
The other tidbits gathered were minor and not surprising in the least. Alejandro Villanueva appears to be working as the first team left tackle over Ryan Harris.
James Harrison was sitting out today, and you can reasonably assume most of the spring, sporting his classic grey Steelers’ hoodie and sweats.
Will Johnson may be gone but his jersey will live on. David Johnson is now wearing #46, apparently unable or uninterested in taking back his old #85, which is worn by TE Xavier Grimble.
And Todd Haley’s beard game is rockin’. Brett Keisel needs to return just so to see it.
