Day 1 thoughts and stuff

The Steelers concluded their first day of practice here at Saint Vincent College Sunday and it was an extension of the offseason work.

With NFL rules dictating that they can't work in pads until Wednesday, it was basically more football in shorts.

But we did see some interesting things.

With Bruce Gradkowski on the PUP list with a shoulder problem, Landry Jones worked as the No. 2 QB. Taj Boyd was No. 3 and Tyler Murphy was No. 4 today.

Mike Tomlin, however, said Murphy and Devin Gardner will split duties in some way or fashion as the No. 4 QB while also continuing to get work at wide receiver.

With Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Adams on the PUP list to open camp, Cody Wallace bumped up to first-team center.

But the second offensive line was, from left to right, Alejandro Villanueva, Chris Hubbard, Reese Dismukes, B.J. Finney and Mitchell Van Dyke.

@ The other interesting lineup issue was at outside linebacker. James Harrison and Will Allen were given a day off as veterans.

Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats were the first-team linebackers and Bud Dupree backed up Moats, as expected. But behind Jones was Howard Jones.

@ The Steelers once again opened in a short-yardage situation, something Mike Tomlin calls "Seven shots," because the offense gets seven shots to convert third-and-2.

Though Ben Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller in the back of the end zone on the first attempt, the defense got the better of it from there, including a pair of interceptions by Alden Darby off a tipped pass and then Kevin Fogg. Both were thrown by Landry Jones.

Lawrence Timmons also got kudos for breaking up a Roethlisberger pass intended again for Miller.

@ C.J. Goodwin again flashed with a nice leaping catch over Ryan Shazier over the middle.

Goodwin, who was on the practice squad last year, is going to have to continue to do those things once the hitting starts, but his athleticism is undeniable.

@ Clifton Geathers has gotten a lot of kudos for the way he looks after dropping at least 30 pounds this offseason. But the dude can't catch a cold.

Geathers and some of the other linemen were practicing fielding short kickoffs during special teams practice and he fought off a pair of balls like he had two left hands that had five thumbs on each.