Ex-CFL star, blue-chip rookie aid Steelers’ special teams focus
PITTSBURGH 鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 when he decided to take his chance with the NFL.
鈥淓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,鈥� Spencer said following Saturday鈥檚 practice. 鈥淲hen I got here, I worked out, had a great visit, and I just felt like this was a good opportunity for me.
鈥淚t was hard leaving the CFL, but I鈥檓 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.鈥�
Spencer appeared comfortable fielding punts Saturday. He said it鈥檚 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 鈥渟tar鈥� embarrassed the quiet Spencer, but he could鈥檝e easily continued making a good living playing football in Canada.
鈥淚 could go back, so it鈥檚 not that big of a gamble,鈥� Spencer said. 鈥淏ut at the end of the day I鈥檓 committed to trying to make this football team. I don鈥檛 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.鈥�
Spencer鈥檚 small but quietly confident and supremely conditioned. The latter asset was noticed by Mike Tomlin, who complimented Spencer鈥檚 鈥減ace鈥� 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.
鈥淭he rules are a little different here. There are no fair catches in the CFL. It鈥檚 a halo rule there,鈥� Spencer said. 鈥淏ut at the end of the day it鈥檚 football. You鈥檝e got to catch the ball and be productive with it. That鈥檚 what I plan on doing and I feel like this team gives me the best opportunity to do that.鈥�
While Spencer鈥檚 working against long odds to help the Steelers鈥� special teams this year, third-round pick Justin Layne carries high expectations.
鈥淚 hear you鈥檙e good at this,鈥� new assistant coach Eddie Falknor said to Layne while working out prospective punt gunners during a special teams drill.
鈥淥h yeah,鈥� Layne later said of that reputation. 鈥淚 did a good amount of special teams work at Michigan State, especially early in my career. I didn鈥檛 do too much this year because I went both ways, but early in my career I did a lot of special teams 鈥� gunner, jammer, all that.鈥�
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.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we talked about today,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淢an, I love special teams, so I鈥檓 willing to do whatever.鈥�
Layne is a 6-1 3/4, 192-pounder who attended Chuck Noll鈥檚 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鈥檛 apparent Saturday as Layne 鈥� who intercepted three passes and caught one pass in three college seasons 鈥� dropped an easy interception in a mixed day of results for the rookie.
鈥淚 had some bumps and bruises today, but it鈥檚 still learning. Better than yesterday,鈥� Layne said.
He also 鈥� as can be expected 鈥� 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.
鈥淗e was just talking to me about that,鈥� Layne said after breaking the final huddle of the day. 鈥淚 was supposed to go with the drag route. It鈥檚 just a little different than college. In college we let that go. I just have to get used to the new system and playbook.鈥�
Layne鈥檚 also working on his weaknesses, since it鈥檚 a luxury afforded 21-year-old, third-round draft picks in May.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing more off man, more than I played at Michigan State,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淗e also gave us the option to press, too, but I鈥檓 trying to work on my off man, since that鈥檚 one of the defenses we鈥檙e going to be playing here. But I love press man. I love using my length.鈥�
That was apparent whenever Layne stuffed rookie teammates at the line of scrimmage, but Layne鈥檚 primary focus will soon be on the job for which he鈥檒l be needed this coming season.
鈥淗ow can you not love being a gunner?鈥� Layne said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do much as a jammer in college, but I鈥檓 a press man corner. How hard can it be to play jammer?鈥�
After last season, the Steelers are hoping the answer is not very.