Editor’s Note We’re celebrating the start of the preseason with one of our biggest deals of the year! The next three people to subscribe to Between The Hashmarks today will lock in 30% off and 3 raffle tickets for the chance to win a lifetime premium subscription and other prizes. Once those spots are gone, the next tier drops to 20% off and 4 raffle tickets—so act fast before the best deal disappears!

LATROBE, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy promised a physical practice, and coordinator Patrick Graham’s defense rose to the moment.

Thunderstorms in the area kept fans locked out of St. Vincent, and Friday’s practice, and limited what we were able to report, but McCarthy’s patented red-zone “smack-down” period lived up to the billing.

Put simply, the ball gets placed at the 25-yard line and it’s a live series.

Graham’s defense, save for one explosive run by Rico Dowdle, slammed the door-shut on the Steelers’ ground game the closer the offense moved to the goal-line.

Earlier in the practice, linebacker Payton Wilson flew to the football intercepting backup quarterback Will Howard twice, which really seemed to set the tone for the entire defense throughout the practice.

Graham’s reputation as an architect of exotic rush concepts and a play-caller who is more than willing to dial up the heat, is already commanding McCarthy’s respect.

“Patrick’s doing a phenomenal job,” McCarthy said before practice of Graham, who he believes is a future head coach. “I think he’s an incredible football coach. It’s great to see him take this system, and put the way we want to play with these guys.

“Our players give us a lot of versatility, and an ability to get in and out of various personnel groups, try to hide the pass rush. So, it’s been a good start.”

If Friday’s practice is any indication, the Steelers are still very much looking for someone, anyone to separate themselves behind Aaron Rodgers on the quarterback depth chart.

It was a rough day for Howard, particularly in team drills, and while rookie Drew Allar had arguably the best throw of the day on a timing route over the middle, still very much looks like a work in progress from a consistency standpoint.

Meanwhile, according to veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., his chemistry and timing with Rodgers is off to an even stronger start than he expected at this stage of camp.

“Aaron is one of the best to ever play,” Pittman Jr. said after practice. “So, I’m just trying to match him. We’re trying to get in as many reps as possible.”

Pittman arrived in a trade with the Colts, as Indianapolis looked to clear up cap space to sign Alec Pierce to a new long-term contract, and the 28-year-old believes he’s landed in an ideal situation.

“I don’t mind being, like, a possession receiver,” Pittman said. “Because those type of guys get lots of targets. But, I think that I can be more. Obviously, that’s why I was kind of looking for a change of scenery.

“I felt like I fell into a role where I felt like I had much more to give. So, obviously, here, I’m trying to be part of this offense that likes to stretch the field, we have lots of guys, and we’re going to run lots of downfield concepts, and I think that fits into my route-tree more.”

If Rodgers and Pittman can continue to strengthen their timing, given the attention D.K. Metcalf is going to command on the opposite perimeter, McCarthy is going to have plenty of optionality to push the ball vertically downfield this season.

Wide receiver Brandon Smith has bounced around a bit since signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, back in 2021, but may be about to make his presence felt in the Steelers’ receiving corps.

Smith has executives inside the building buzzing, and he seems to have the confidence of Allar, Howard, and Mason Rudolph during team periods, as a frequent target.

According to several Steelers beat reporters, Smith has had a solid camp and even taken more than a handful of first-team reps and flashed in those opportunities to be on the receiving end of passes from Rodgers.

Smith, 6-foot-1, is a smooth route runner who does a nice job of making catches in traffic, and after appearing in three games for the New York Jets the past two seasons could be the kind of player who parlays a strong performance in the preseason ahead into a roster spot in the coming weeks.

Asante Samuel Jr. is making his presence felt in the Steelers’ secondary, and is a man on a mission in 2026.

Samuel, 26, has had to battle through myriad injuries, including neck and shoulder injuries that limited him to just six games for the Steelers last season.

“Every year I feel like I have something to prove,” Samuel Jr. told me after practice. “Just being around the guys, it’s a real physical group, a real talented group, and I’m just trying to bring the same energy, and bring my ability to it, as well.”

Samuel Jr.’s closing speed and physicality were evident when he delivered a crushing blow to force an incompletion during a team-period in the middle of practice that sent the defense into hysterics.

Once Joey Porter Jr. gets back on the field, along with a healthy Jalen Ramsey, Samuel Jr. gives the Steelers a strong collection of veteran playmakers, who just might be key to maximizing the pressure Graham dials up up front into takeaways this season.

Next Up:

The Between The Hashmarks Training Camp Tour continues Saturday, in Owings Mills, Maryland with the Baltimore Ravens. Stay tuned!