Day 1 Mini-Camp Practice Notes

By Dale Grdnic

PITTSBURGH -- It was a rather inauspicious beginning for the three Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks attempting to replace suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the starting lineup.

Neither opening-practice starter Byron Leftwich, nor third-year pro Dennis Dixon nor veteran Charlie Batch looked too sharp during the 11-on-11 team portion of the two-hour practice.

Their short passing game wasn't bad, but from mid-range to deeper down the field it got a little bit shaky. Leftwich fired a bullet across the middle that was behind wideout Antwaan Randle El. It caromed off him and was picked off by safety Will Allen.

Leftwich also was intercepted by cornerback Bryant McFadden and should have been picked off by cornerback Keenan Lewis. Leftwich tried to connect with speedster Mike Wallace on a streak pattern down the right sideline, but under-threw it a bit. Lewis had tight coverage and knocked the ball away.

"The playbook isn't much different from when I left here, and it's not that hard to pick up,'' Leftwich said. "It just takes time to go through it again. When you take a year off from something and then try to get back to it, it takes a while to get back into it. And when you like an offense, you're never going to forget it.

"And I always liked this offense. I always liked B.A.'s offense. And I never forgot this. To be honest with you, I tried to get some of this offense to be used down in Tampa. So, I never really forgot it, but I just had to start doing it again. (And) the last time I came here, the guys welcomed me with open arms. The same thing happened today. So, that makes it a lot of fun.

"I had the most fun I've ever had in my career the last time I was here,'' Leftwich added. "And that's not just because we won the Super Bowl. Just being in this locker room with all the veteran guys, guys who know what it's all about. We all have just one goal, and that's to win football games.''

Justin Thornton, a 6-foot-1, 213-pound rookie safety from Kansas intercepted Batch. Dixon didn't throw a pick, but he had a couple near misses and overthrew open wideout Arnaz Battle on a post pattern. A little more air under the ball would have been better.

Who's In, Who's Out

Along with Roethlisberger, outside linebacker James Harrison did not attend the mandatory practice. He had an excused absence due to a depth in his family. Sixth-year pro Andre Frazier started for Harrison.

Trai Essex, also in his sixth season with the Steelers, started at right offensive guard. Rookie No. 1 draft pick Maurkice Pouncey was a backup.

"I just have to learn all the plays in the playbook,'' Pouncey said. "That's the biggest thing for me right now. I don't know all the plays yet, but once I learn them I'll be all right. And it's not too tough. I learned a lot already, but there's a lot more to learn for me to play on the offensive line here.''

William Gay started opposite Ike Taylor at cornerback, but Bryant McFadden replaced him a short time later. McFadden got his old No. 20 back from Keenan Lewis, who changed to No. 23.

There also was a roster casualty. Rookie A.J. Trump, a 6-3, 300-pound center-guard from Miami, Fla., left the team.

Mini-camp resumes with two practices Saturday and one Sunday at the UPMC Sports Complex. The Organized Team Activities (OTAs) resume Tuesday, May 18, and will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for four straight weeks until June 10.

Speaking Of Changes

Third-year wideout Limas Sweed is attempting to put his opening two NFL seasons far behind him, so he changed to No. 80 for a new beginning.

Sweed looked all right during the practice, and he was quite talkative afterward.