Ex-CFL star, blue-chip rookie aid Steelers’ special teams focus
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� High Steelers draft pick Diontae Johnson, a WR/RS, missed another practice at rookie minicamp with an undisclosed injury that relegated him to assisting coaches and simply reading cards for a second consecutive day.
It also relegated WR/RS Diontae Spencer to receive more reps and field most of the punts during what无毛视频檚 been extended special teams work at this camp.
Considering the issues the Steelers had last season with special teams, the extra work comes as no surprise.
However, this particular Diontae might be.
Johnson, the injured third-rounder, is a 5-10, 183-pounder out of Toledo, where he无毛视频檚 the reigning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year after being named all-conference first team as a receiver and punt returner for the second consecutive season. He was the Steelers无毛视频� first pick of the third round two weeks ago.
Spencer is smaller, but with four years of professional experience in the Canadian Football League. He无毛视频檚 5-8, 163, and holds the CFL record with 496 all-purpose yards in one game (133 receiving, 165 kickoff returns, 169 punt returns), and has appeared in the last two CFL all-star games.
Spencer rejected an opportunity to come to camp with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2017 season and went on to enjoy his first 1,000-yard receiving season last year for the Ottawa Redblacks. That无毛视频檚 when he decided to take his chance with the NFL.
无毛视频淓very year I had the opportunity to try to come back down south, and I ended up working out for three teams this year: Buffalo, Minnesota and here,无毛视频� Spencer said following Saturday无毛视频檚 practice. 无毛视频淲hen I got here, I worked out, had a great visit, and I just felt like this was a good opportunity for me.
无毛视频淚t was hard leaving the CFL, but I无毛视频檓 27 years old and I feel like that window eventually will close. I just felt like I was ready. It was just right time, right moment, and I felt like this was the perfect team.无毛视频�
Spencer appeared comfortable fielding punts Saturday. He said it无毛视频檚 been natural for him since his days growing up just south of Lafayette, La., in the town of New Iberia. He went to nearby McNeese State, set all-purpose yardage records there, and went on to two NFL camps before heading north to Toronto for a two-year stint with the Argonauts as he grew into a CFL star.
The term 无毛视频渟tar无毛视频� embarrassed the quiet Spencer, but he could无毛视频檝e easily continued making a good living playing football in Canada.
无毛视频淚 could go back, so it无毛视频檚 not that big of a gamble,无毛视频� Spencer said. 无毛视频淏ut at the end of the day I无毛视频檓 committed to trying to make this football team. I don无毛视频檛 plan on going back. That was my whole thing. Whatever my decision was, be a hundred percent behind it and come out here and put my best foot forward so I can make this football team.无毛视频�
Spencer无毛视频檚 small but quietly confident and supremely conditioned. The latter asset was noticed by Mike Tomlin, who complimented Spencer无毛视频檚 无毛视频減ace无毛视频� on the practice field.
Of course, the Steelers could use an improved pace after finishing 17th in punt return average and 31st in kickoff return average last season.
无毛视频淭he rules are a little different here. There are no fair catches in the CFL. It无毛视频檚 a halo rule there,无毛视频� Spencer said. 无毛视频淏ut at the end of the day it无毛视频檚 football. You无毛视频檝e got to catch the ball and be productive with it. That无毛视频檚 what I plan on doing and I feel like this team gives me the best opportunity to do that.无毛视频�
While Spencer无毛视频檚 working against long odds to help the Steelers无毛视频� special teams this year, third-round pick Justin Layne carries high expectations.
无毛视频淚 hear you无毛视频檙e good at this,无毛视频� new assistant coach Eddie Falknor said to Layne while working out prospective punt gunners during a special teams drill.
无毛视频淥h yeah,无毛视频� Layne later said of that reputation. 无毛视频淚 did a good amount of special teams work at Michigan State, especially early in my career. I didn无毛视频檛 do too much this year because I went both ways, but early in my career I did a lot of special teams 无毛视频� gunner, jammer, all that.无毛视频�
The Steelers will need a cornerback who can play both of those positions on their punt teams. They were dead last in the NFL in punt coverage last season, and by a full three yards per punt over the next-to-worst team.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 what we talked about today,无毛视频� Layne said. 无毛视频淢an, I love special teams, so I无毛视频檓 willing to do whatever.无毛视频�
Layne is a 6-1 3/4, 192-pounder who attended Chuck Noll无毛视频檚 alma mater, Benedictine High in Cleveland, before spending three seasons at Michigan State as a wide receiver-turned-cornerback, who went back to wide receiver in an injury emergency last season.
But those receiving skills weren无毛视频檛 apparent Saturday as Layne 无毛视频� who intercepted three passes and caught one pass in three college seasons 无毛视频� dropped an easy interception in a mixed day of results for the rookie.
无毛视频淚 had some bumps and bruises today, but it无毛视频檚 still learning. Better than yesterday,无毛视频� Layne said.
He also 无毛视频� as can be expected 无毛视频� experienced trouble with some of the calls, one time drawing criticism from a coach after playing zone in a man situation and allowing a receiver to take a short pass a long way.
无毛视频淗e was just talking to me about that,无毛视频� Layne said after breaking the final huddle of the day. 无毛视频淚 was supposed to go with the drag route. It无毛视频檚 just a little different than college. In college we let that go. I just have to get used to the new system and playbook.无毛视频�
Layne无毛视频檚 also working on his weaknesses, since it无毛视频檚 a luxury afforded 21-year-old, third-round draft picks in May.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e playing more off man, more than I played at Michigan State,无毛视频� Layne said. 无毛视频淗e also gave us the option to press, too, but I无毛视频檓 trying to work on my off man, since that无毛视频檚 one of the defenses we无毛视频檙e going to be playing here. But I love press man. I love using my length.无毛视频�
That was apparent whenever Layne stuffed rookie teammates at the line of scrimmage, but Layne无毛视频檚 primary focus will soon be on the job for which he无毛视频檒l be needed this coming season.
无毛视频淗ow can you not love being a gunner?无毛视频� Layne said. 无毛视频淚 didn无毛视频檛 do much as a jammer in college, but I无毛视频檓 a press man corner. How hard can it be to play jammer?无毛视频�
After last season, the Steelers are hoping the answer is not very.