PITTSBURGH -- The play was over as soon as the ball was snapped. Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown hit a juke at the line of scrimmage, distracting Ross Cockrell just enough to bolt downfield for an easy 35-yard score from Ben Roethlisberger during one-on-ones.
He impersonated a Lambeau Leap for the estimated Heinz Field crowd of 17,119, then told sidelined corner Artie Burns with Cockrell an earshot away: "That's too easy. I need you out here."
Antonio Brown to Artie Burns: "That's too easy. I need you out here." Ross Cockrell (left) had just gotten beat deep. pic.twitter.com/WLGEY5UG1n
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 7, 2017
Burns, the Steelers' second-year corner, has shadowed Brown as a press-man corner for most of camp and has done an admirable job. Burns is nursing a minor injury but hopes to be back in the practice lineup as soon as Tuesday.
Cockrell is a two-year starter for the Steelers and isn't fazed when beat by "one of the best."
"That's part of being a cornerback, having a short memory," Cockrell said. "You realize sometimes a guy's going to make a play on you, you just want to make sure you come back and make a play on him."
Cockrell has had a few bright moments against Brown, but the All-Pro receiver got loose several times Saturday at St. Vincent College and again on Sunday.
Brown was mobbed by autograph-seekers for nearly a half-hour after the practice, so attempts to get his perspective on the Cockrell play and other Steelers items were difficult. Safe to assume Brown welcomes all competition.
A few other notes from Steelers practice in Heinz:
Sitting out for injury or rest: Safety Mike Mitchell, linebacker Bud Dupree, linebacker Ryan Shazier, cornerbacks Burns, Cam Sutton and Senquez Golson, running back James Conner, wide receivers Sammie Coates and Demarcus Ayers, linebacker Keion Adams.
Kicker Chris Boswell went 11-of-12 on field goals, including a 52-yarder.
The crowd roared when, during special-teams drills, linebacker James Harrison took a kickoff in the end zone and started to return it.
Linebackers Tyler Matakevich and Vince Williams were among defenders to lay big hits during goal-line work. Both are stout against the run.
Worst sequence of the day: Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was moving the offense downfield during the two-minute drill but missed his last three passes, including a fourth-down attempt in the dirt. Dobbs has had some promising camp moments, but this wasn't one of them. On one play, Dobbs smartly stepped up in the pocket and had Jesse James open downfield but missed him high.
Up-and-down day: Running back Terrell "Nightmare" Watson fumbled after a catch thanks to linebacker Matt Galambos' hit, but he responded with three straight goal-line touchdowns at the end of practice. On the last run, he absorbed a hit from safety Robert Golden and pushed through it for the score. "Azusa Pacific, the Nigerian Nightmare [Christian Okoye], that's low-hanging fruit," said coach Mike Tomlin about Watson's nickname.