PITTSBURGH \u2014 The newest class of Pittsburgh Steelers got their first taste of life in the black and gold.<\/p>\n
The team hosted its rookie minicamp on the South Side.<\/p>\n
Channel 11\u2019s Shelby Cassesse was there talking to some of this year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\n
There are days when it starts to feel real for many of these rookies, getting back to football after a whirlwind offseason. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy says he took things intentionally slow, helping both the newcomers and staff get acclimated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome to play football again. I\u2019ve been waiting to be part of a team since Jan. 1,\u201d said guard Gennings Dunker.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, first time putting on the jersey, just going out there on the field doesn\u2019t feel real,\u201d said offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. \u201cBeing able to start getting the work in and soaking in the moment and just being grateful to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker are two newcomers we\u2019ll be watching closely to see where they fit on this Steelers offensive line.<\/p>\n
Iheanachor confirmed to us he\u2019s working exclusively at right tackle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey definitely look like Pittsburgh Steelers linemen,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cI think you look for young men that definitely have the anchor to play the style of football we want to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
But much of McCarthy\u2019s attention was on the lone quarterback at rookie camp Saturday.<\/p>\n
McCarthy said Drew Allar got 35 snaps in team drills, certainly on the higher end.<\/p>\n
The former Penn State quarterback got plenty of one-on-one time with his head coach. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve really grown a lot and just understand his philosophy a lot more the last two days,\u201d Allar said. \u201cI know what I need to work on and how to work on it. I just got to be intentional with doing the same routine every day and making sure I\u2019m staying on top of the little things.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rookies are using this weekend to learn how they fit into the system \u2014 and into Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n
\u201cPittsburgh is awesome. It\u2019s so pretty with how green it is, and the water too. It\u2019s awesome,\u201d Dunker said. \u201c…I had to ask around if I can swim in the rivers. You\u2019re not supposed to do that, so I might go fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aaron Rodgers\u2019 whereabouts were the elephant in the room after reports he\u2019d be in town this weekend. <\/p>\n
Mike McCarthy downplayed the situation when asked if he\u2019d like to add a fourth quarterback, like Rodgers, by OTAs. He smiled and said three quarterbacks is the norm, four would be awesome. <\/p>\n
Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n