The Steelers return to Latrobe, PA for training camp after two years and a slew of changes

LATROBE — The Steelers aren’t shying away from answering all of the questions surrounding the changes they endured this offseason.

Instead, as they reported to Latrobe for the start of training camp on Tuesday, rookies and veterans alike were embracing a future that includes a first-time general manager, a much younger starting quarterback and a newly renamed home stadium.

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While there weren’t any flashy entrances into Saint Vincent College similar to years past, there was more of a theme that became apparent with most players arriving in their collegiate attire.

Maybe that’s exactly the type of subtle and business-like approach the Steelers want to maintain heading into a season unlike any the franchise has seen in nearly two decades.

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Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward is one of just 21 players on the roster who have navigated their way through a training camp at the Division III college campus located southeast of the city.

The longest-tenured Steeler realizes that being in Latrobe has its benefits when compared to the past two seasons when training camp was held in Pittsburgh.

“I think those nights where you could simply be at the confines of your home, where now, you’re here bonding with your teammates,” said Heyward on the positives of coming back. “You get to work more football. Here, it’s football all day, football all night. I think that bonding is the main thing.”

Maturation process

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This offseason, Chase Claypool has been the first to acknowledge that his sophomore season fell short of expectations. The third-year wide receiver out of Notre Dame is affixed to the idea that he’s more than capable of bouncing back.

“After my first year, what I did this year in terms of preparation, training, studying film and all that, it’s 10 times more than what I’ve done,” Claypool said of the emphasis he’s putting on the upcoming season. “I was pretty naive before in the past to think that I can repeat success without preparation. I’ve really taken that preparation to the next step."

At just 24, Claypool will be one of the more experienced starters for an offense that will undoubtedly be among one of the league’s youngest units.

Both he and the Steelers are betting that he can get back to what made him so successful as a rookie and, in turn, be a dynamic downfield weapon for whichever quarterback starts.

Fresh faces

The impending retirement of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lingered over the Steelers for much of the past season. It was felt all the way through the organization, especially in the front office where retiring general manager Kevin Colbert spent his last first round pick on Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett.

The 2021 ACC player of the year is one of many new additions who will look to impress the coaching staff in the sweltering heat over the next few weeks.

While his end goal is to win the starting gig, there are targets that Pickett knows he must hit on the way to the top of the quarterback depth chart.

“Just get better and play,” Pickett said off his mentality coming into camp. “I've got to get some more reps in a new offense, new system, get more comfortable and just compete, really.”

And while he does hope to step into the spot of a future Hall of Famer, there’s no pressure in the situation he finds himself in.

“I think it’s a great spot to be in,” Pickett said. “I think I’m on a great team, got great guys around me, so I’m excited to be here.”

Watt wisdom

The Steelers have put together some dominant defensive units in recent years. The lone exception to that was probably last year, when the unit was historically bad against the run on its way to finishing dead last in the league in that department.

Despite that, T.J. Watt, the highest-paid edge rusher in the league, registered a whopping 22½ sacks and won the NFL defensive player of the year award.

Watt has steadily increased his role as a leader, especially with his play, over his first five NFL seasons.

He’ll be the first to tout just how much potential the Steelers’ defense has after welcoming in several new pieces.

“We’re a young team, especially on the defense,” said Watt. “I think we have a lot of potential. It’s just times like this where building a team starts in Latrobe. It’s not just on the field, it’s off the field. You have to be very tight knit to be successful.”

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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Steelers check-in to Saint Vincent, PA as training camp commences