My boy talks the talk.....
http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Demarcus-Ayers-says-hell-be-a-No1-receiver-with-Steelers-52984765
Demarcus Ayers catches 250 passes every day following Pittsburgh's OTA sessions.
When asked why he undergoes this daily routine, Ayers' provided a definitive response.
"I do it every day," Ayers told The Times after Thursday's practice. "It’s a lot of catching going on in one day just to accumulate the amount of catches I would get if I was always out there in practice. It’s something that I’m not going to change, even when I become a one."
When he becomes what, exactly?
"A starter," Ayers said.
One of the team's two seventh round picks in 2016, Ayers spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad as he dealt with high and low ankle sprains. He made his NFL debut on Christmas Day against the Ravens, catching a key pass during Pittsburgh's game-winning drive that clinched the AFC North division title while punching the Steelers ticket into the postseason. He caught his first career NFL touchdown reception the following week against the Browns, and caught three passes during Pittsburgh's two postseason victories.
“(The Ravens) game, playing in that environment, woke me up," Ayers said of Pittsburgh's Christmas Day victory over Baltimore, via Steelers.com. "I grew up in the Ravens game. I don’t know if I didn’t play in the Ravens game if I would do the things I did in (the Browns) game. It sparked my career, blocking guys, bringing energy to the team, and earning some trust. Last week gave me a huge confidence boost.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Ayers when earlier this offseason when discussing Pittsburgh's young players that took advantage of their opportunities to help the team win during the 2016 season.
"I'm excited about guys like Demarcus Ayers who worked his through the practice squad to the active roster to contributing in some ways there in the end," Tomlin said.
Entrenched in the most competitive position battle on the Steelers, Ayers knows one way he can separate himself from the pack during training camp.
"The most important thing for me is trying to win the punt-returning job," said Ayers, who averaged nearly 10 yards per punt return while scoring one touchdown in that capacity during his time at Houston. "That’s going to create opportunities. I’m also a really good third-down guy, as well. I feel like I bring a lot to the table."
While Ayers does have impressive tangibles, it's his intangibles that will win him a place on the team's 53-man roster. The one intangible Ayers unquestionably has is confidence, something that has carried him to this point and what could help him accomplish his goal of being a starting receiving on the NFL level.
"I didn’t know where I was going when I came out of the draft," Ayers said. "I didn't know where my talent would land, didn't know what scheme I fit coming from a spread offense. I think in this league when you show you can do multiple things, guys will pick you up.
