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Diontae Spencer saw some 1st-team looks in otas -maybe one to watch in camp.

slashsteel

Thank you for everything Franco, R I P.
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https://Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2019/06/diontae-spencer-saw-some-1st-team-work-in-otas/

Spencer was originally signed by the Steelers as a Reserve/Future signing at the beginning of January after Pittsburgh was officially eliminated from qualifying for the postseason and their regular season ended. A former undrafted free agent from many years ago, he has carved out a successful career in the CFL, and is now hoping to find an opportunity back in the States.

Even after the Antonio Brown trade, Spencer was still not a name on most people’s radar. Not only did the Steelers retain Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Ryan Switzer, and Eli Rogers, they added Donte Moncrief in free agency and then added another Diontae in the draft, going for Toledo’ Diontae Johnson.

In terms of professional experience, however, Spencer and Moncrief overshadow everybody else, even if Spencer’s time has come up north. Working in a professional environment still counts for something, and CFL returnees who actually have the talent to play in the NFL have had seamless transitions.

In that regard, then, perhaps it’s not much of a surprise if he has gotten some snaps with first-team personnel, though it certainly was not handed to him. We have previously heard earlier in OTAs that he was turning some heads by making plays, including a pair of touchdowns in one session.

My two and a half cents: We have seen CFL players come over and light it up in the NFL. As I said in another thread our WRs are going to be competitive. And the 6 that make the roster, should be productive. If Spencer bumps someone off the roster, a good problem to have..................
 
In your opinion slash, do you see spencer making the roster and who would be odd man out??? Also I can't get a bearing on Eli, is he making / cut / fully healthy / run out of time due to "upside" on the younger talent???




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Eli's final shot might come down to if he can unseat Switzer from return duties.



Not sure Switz army knife will be the return man. I think that comes down to the rookie WR & Switz and Eli out of that picture......... My .02




Salute the nation
 
In your opinion slash, do you see spencer making the roster and who would be odd man out??? Also I can't get a bearing on Eli, is he making / cut / fully healthy / run out of time due to "upside" on the younger talent???




Salute the nation

Good questions. So hard to tell right now, I have to see more.If they go six WRs if he makes it I would think Eli would be the odd man out in the event Spencer sticks.I don't see Eli being the returner Switz is.

So if Eli is to stick IMO he will have to beat out Spencer. Or any other talent that isn't already locked in.

Which I see Juju,Washington, DM, and Diontae Johnson as the locks.

Which leaves two spots open. As I think with AB gone no way they go less than 6.

So Switz and his ability to do multiple things gets the 5th spot.
 
I still think Eli is barely hanging onto a spot and just barely. He has no value on special teams and Switzer in his 1st year with the team (not getting all of the practices in) was a good option for Ben and was definitely better than Eli.
 
You should kick the tires on one CFL player every year. Mature talent. There are hidden gems. And its free. If a guy us still playing he can improve. Chris Carter's kid would be a bonafide fide NFL starter but he us such a ****** idiot and locker room cancer he will never play.
 
Rogers definitely on the bubble (again). I think he is 6th WR at best and is going to have to find a home on ST (although maybe not limited to just return...try gunner perhaps). He has to beat out other ST hungry guys that may well not play the same position such as the Sutton Smith. May not play the same spot on teams, but the last few guys are about numbers. If they like a guy like Smith enough, the could keep him as the 53rd guy instead of Eli. And, the thing is, Eli is unlikely to separate himself so drastically from the rest of the WR pool that if the team only kept 5, they couldn't pull in one of the cuts later. I'm not saying he won't make the team, but he has another uphill battle in camp.
 
Eli's final shot might come down to if he can unseat Switzer from return duties.

I think Diontae Johnson takes over the return duties. I get that Tomlin is hesitant to trust a rookie with an important task like punt and kick returns, but the guy was extremely skilled in the role in college. Career, 17 punt returns, 343 yards, 20.2 yds per return, 2 TD's, 0 fumbles. Kick returns career, 78 returns, 1,828 yards, 23.4 average, 2 TD's, 0 fumbles.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/diontae-johnson-1.html
 
https://Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2019/06/diontae-spencer-saw-some-1st-team-work-in-otas/



My two and a half cents: We have seen CFL players come over and light it up in the NFL. As I said in another thread our WRs are going to be competitive. And the 6 that make the roster, should be productive. If Spencer bumps someone off the roster, a good problem to have..................

The most surprising thing I found in this report is that over 1 person is named "Diontae" in the football world.
 
You should kick the tires on one CFL player every year. Mature talent. There are hidden gems. And its free. If a guy us still playing he can improve. Chris Carter's kid would be a bonafide fide NFL starter but he us such a ****** idiot and locker room cancer he will never play.

CC started out an idiot too. I wonder why he hasn't been able to teach his kid how to avoid those pitfalls. My God, CC already lived through that and he couldn't teach his kid how not to be an idiot?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...rom-future-star-to-rock-bottom-and-back-again
 
In your opinion slash, do you see spencer making the roster and who would be odd man out??? Also I can't get a bearing on Eli, is he making / cut / fully healthy / run out of time due to "upside" on the younger talent???




Salute the nation

I honestly thought this was a "typo" on the last name. I agree w/ Slash - this is a good problem to have if he's makin' waves...

Bye bye Switzer...
 
I think Diontae Johnson takes over the return duties. I get that Tomlin is hesitant to trust a rookie with an important task like punt and kick returns, but the guy was extremely skilled in the role in college. Career, 17 punt returns, 343 yards, 20.2 yds per return, 2 TD's, 0 fumbles. Kick returns career, 78 returns, 1,828 yards, 23.4 average, 2 TD's, 0 fumbles.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/diontae-johnson-1.html





Also bubbles chewwey cheeeks would want him to help maybe climb out of the disgusting 27th ranking they had last year.........




Salute the nation
 
I honestly thought this was a "typo" on the last name. I agree w/ Slash - this is a good problem to have if he's makin' waves...

Bye bye Switzer...



I think you might mean Eli ???




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Eli, Switzer, Washinton, Holton, and Spencer are fighting for 2 spots.

If they go 6 WRs, who do you have as a lock so far


JuJu / Moncreif / D.Johnson / ???


I would think Washington is in the very near lock


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Last edited:
If they go 6 WRs, who do you have as a lock so far


JuJu / Moncreif / D.Johnson / ???


I would think Washington is in the very near lock


Salute the nation

Washington, statistically, for the amount of plays he was on the field, has some of the worst production I've ever seen in a receiver. He ran a majority of the offensive snaps last year, and averaged around 1/2 yard per play. That is worse than putrid, it's abhorrent. It's why I'm not sure he's a lock. Heck they brought in Holton, who was better than Washington last year, at the same spot. Washington played with fire in college, he wilted in the pros. He's the type of player that needs to be talked up, not made an example of. Ben learned that last year when he went with the 'tough love approach' after his drop. It backfired, and he didn't improve much.

And I misspoke, those 5 receivers are fighting for 3 spots. Moncreif, JuJu, and DJ are locks. Spencer looks like DJ with better hands, but not as quick. Eli and Switzer are the same reciever. Slot only guys who can handle return duties, but neither are going to break a play in the return game. I think Eli has better hands and wiggle, but Switzer plays with more intensity. Both Diontaes are upgrades in the return game.

I would not be surprised if Spencer and Holton make it over Washington and Eli/Switzer. And personally, I keep Swtizer over Eli because of his diversity, of being able to line up at other spots, and backfield, thus being a little more diverse on the offensive looks.

Though this is all speculative, and I will be following these battles closely once we hit training camp. I will also add, that I was very impressed with Spencer's tape. I think he's going to be making a lot of noise in camp this year.

We will also be keeping 6 WRs, because there isn't a 4th TE or 4th RB (not counting the FB) that would be better than our 6th receiver, who will usually be inactive anyway.
 
We will also be keeping 6 WRs, because there isn't a 4th TE or 4th RB (not counting the FB) that would be better than our 6th receiver, who will usually be inactive anyway.

Might be why they are running Sutton smith at FB... just saying
 
CC started out an idiot too. I wonder why he hasn't been able to teach his kid how to avoid those pitfalls. My God, CC already lived through that and he couldn't teach his kid how not to be an idiot?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...rom-future-star-to-rock-bottom-and-back-again

Very hard to understand. The kid had serious skills. Tall, fast and good hands. But just a complete moron. Flying with weed even before it was legal. Just a complete idiot in the locker room from people I know on the Riders.
 
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