Inside the ropes: Mason Rudolph puts in extra work after picked-off 2-point pass attempt

Bothered by a fade pass that second-year cornerback James Pierre intercepted and returned 100-plus yards for a touchdown during “seven shots,” quarterback Mason Rudolph pulled aside wide receiver Diontae Johnson after practice Friday night.

Rudolph and Johnson replicated the fade that came up short on the second play of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ initial team period of their annual night practice.

“You grab guys and pull them aside for those extra reps,” Rudolph said after the workout. “Today, it was the fade, working on timing, working on the landmark and meeting him there with the ball.”

When it counted and with the ball at the 2, Rudolph took the snap in the shotgun and looked for Johnson in the right corner. Pierre out-jumped the receiver for the ball then punctuated Rudolph’s mistake by running the length of the field.

“He made a great play on the ball,” Rudolph said, “but I have to put it where it belongs on the back pylon and let him make a play.”

Coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t surprised to see Rudolph, who took first-team snaps because Ben Roethlisberger had the night off, put in the post-practice work.

“That’s appropriate,” he said. “That’s just professional ball.”

Seven shots breakdown

For the first time in three practices, the defense got the best of the offense in the 2-point drill, earning a 4-3 victory.

Rudolph produced a score on only one of his three reps, finding Chase Claypool on a fade to the left corner on the first play. After Pierre’s interception return on the second snap, Johnson caught Rudolph’s third try but was forced out of bounds short of the goal line.

Dwayne Haskins went 1 for 2 with the second team. A tight end screen to Zach Gentry produced a score, but he led Benny Snell too far on a crossing route on his second snap. -

Josh Dobbs got the final two plays. Finding no open receivers on his first snap, Dobbs cut inside for the score. His second attempt was a shuffle pass to Zach Rader, but with officials working the practice for the first time, the score was called back because of holding.

Trying again from the 7, Dobbs found Rader in double coverage in the back of the end zone, but the tight end landed out of bounds. Officials signaled incomplete despite the pleas of general manager Kevin Colbert, who stood on the end line with his arms raised.

Drill scratched

With Eric Ebron not practicing because of an elbow injury and Dax Raymond waived earlier in the day with an injury designation, Tomlin postponed the tight ends-vs.-outside linebackers blocking drill that he had scheduled for the second padded practice. Too few tight ends available, was the explanation.

“Common sense adjustment,” Tomlin said.

The Steelers will practice in pads again Saturday. Tomlin said he’s having his players don pads twice in a 24-hour span on purpose.

“We’ll see who can ascend and rise up in that face of adversity and see who shrinks,” he said. “That’s what this process is about. You put them in somewhat uncomfortable situations, and you give them a chance to display their ‘toughs,’ mentally and physically.”

Backs-on-’backers, Part II

After showing his mettle and generating positive reviews in the first backs-on-‘backers drill, Najee Harris had more difficulty in his second test.

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith went around Harris on one snap, and Jamir Jones put the rookie running back on the ground with a bull-rush on another play. Harris held his own on the rematch only to have officials call him for holding.

“I like the competitive spirit of 22, although he lost some going against bigger men,” Tomlin said. “He has an appetite for competition. He has a long way to go from a growth standpoint and techniques, but I like his appetite for competition.”

Anthony McFarland also struggled. He was called for holding twice when matched up with linebacker Calvin Bundage.

Kickers on the spot

For the first time in camp, the two kickers attempted field goals, alternating tries toward the open end of Heinz Field.

Veteran Chris Boswell made 7 of 8 attempts in kicks that ranged from 28 to 41 yards. Newcomer Sam Sloman was good on 5 of 7 tries. Boswell’s only miss was from 37 yards with rookie punter Pressley Harvin III working as his holder.

Sloman clanged a 36-yard attempt off the right upright while working with holder Jordan Berry. Harvin was the holder when Sloman missed from 37 yards. Sloman then connected from 41 with Harvin holding.