Jones getting more opportunities with Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) on the sideline during the NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
LATROBE – Landry Jones dropped back two steps from the line of scrimmage and fired a pass that went between safety Shamarko Thomas and cornerback Antwon Blake, then into the waiting hands of receiver Antonio Brown during a recent Steelers practice at Saint Vincent College.
Touchdown.
It was the kind of touchdown pass Brown, the NFL’s leading pass receiver last year, has become accustomed to catching. Only it’s typically a pass thrown to him by Ben Roethlisberger, not Jones, the Steelers’ third-year, third-string quarterback.
“I knew I was going there and it just kind of worked out. He made a great catch on that,” Jones said.
That pass was fit into a tight spot and it showed a confidence Jones was lacking during his first two training camps. The young quarterback is starting to show why the Steelers selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft after a record-setting career at Oklahoma.
Landry wants to have a better showing this preseason than he did last year, when he completed 27 of 44 passes for only 224 yards and one interception.
“It’s just me progressing and getting more comfortable,” said Jones. “The more decisive I play, it seems the better I play.
“I’ve been getting the ball out of my hands fast. I’m not passing up guys who are open. You have to get more confidence in that. I think the more you do it, the more confidence you feel.”
Roethlisberger has taken some time off during practices and backup Bruce Gradkowski remains on the physically unable to perform list with soreness in his throwing shoulder. That has meant additional practice time for Jones.
Pittsburgh’s Maurkice Pouncey was activated off the PUP list Monday and Jones finally got an opportunity to practice with the Pro Bowl center.
“I think the last four or five practices … we’re seeing some signs of him making progress,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “He’s not there yet, but as long as we’re seeing him continuing to get better – he’s getting a lot more reps at it, which is great for him – I think he’s making progress.”
Playing with more starters helps. When you’re throwing to an All-Pro such as Brown, it makes everything easier for a quarterback.
“That helps a lot, it really does,” Jones said. “The offensive line really does a great job, gives you a great pocket in there. The receivers, tight ends and backs are in the exact spot you need them to be at the time you need them to be there.”
The Steelers have been eager for Jones to show some kind of similarities to the quarterback who ended his collegiate career with more than 16,000 passing yards and 123 touchdowns.
Then again, with a Pro Bowl quarterback in Roethlisberger playing ahead of him, Jones has had time to grow into the role of an NFL quarterback.
It’s not as if he’s being pressed to be a starter, especially after Roethlisberger saigned a contract extension in the offseason that will keep him in Pittsburgh for the remainder of his career.
“You take that out of the equation,” Jones said of starting. “Being in my position, it is what it is. It’s not like they’re ever going to pull Ben out and put me in unless something happens. So, basically, you’re just going out there every day and doing your best on the practice field.”
The Steelers are finally starting to see that from Jones.
“I would agree, for sure,” Jones said.
Wide receiver Eli Rogers (foot sprain) and safety Isaiah Lewis (hamstring), a pair of rookies, left practice early Monday. … Second-year nose tackle Daniel McCullers is has a hamstring injury and did not practice. Also not practicing because of injuries were safeties Thomas (shoulder), Mike Mitchell (hamstring) and Ross Ventrone (ankle), wide receivers Markus Wheaton (hamstring) and Martavis Bryant (elbow) and guard Ramon Foster (stinger). … The Steelers are off today and return to practice Wednesday (2:55 p.m.) It is open to the public.