LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – A lot written about Joey Porter, Junior being a former ball boy during training camps at St. Vincent College. There was a new ball boy on Wednesday. One that has 1,031 career NFL receptions, 81 touchdowns and played for the Steelers biggest rival.
Steve Smith was infiltrating Steelers practice as they filmed him for his current job at the NFL Network. When he wasn’t holding the yardage markers, he was interacting with the Steelers receivers.
“I thought that was the ball boy,” Steelers receiver Gunner Olszewski said and paused. “No, I did (know it was him). I think he was undercover. I’m a big fan of his game. He’s one of the best ever.”
Diontae Johnson approached him while he was holding a first-down marker and picked his brain about playing the position. Johnson saying everyone carries valuable information, especially someone with his resume.
“Learning how to attack a defender, not making it harder on yourself,” Johnson said of what he mainly wanted to know. “Picking a side with hand usage. What techniques to use to get off the line, little stuff like that.”
“Five-time Pro Bowler, that’s something I’m trying to achieve myself. I just got to keep working and whenever I see him, take whatever piece of information I can from him.”
Respect was obvious for the three-year Raven. Johnson said he watched him a lot growing up and appreciated the way he played the game and both are roughly the same height as Smith.
“He was a dawg,” Johnson said. “He made those tough catches. He had run after catch. Him being out here helps me a lot, I learned a little bit from him with the time I did have with him. Seeing him brings good vibes, he’s good people.”
Notes
· It was a full-padded practice, but not as physical as Tuesday. Towards the end of drills they had mostly stopped live tackling, but a high-energy day
· At the end of the first 11 on 11 drills pitting both first teams, TJ Watt had caused enough problems that Mike Tomlin yelled out ‘would someone block TJ please’.
· Dan Moore took all of the reps with the first team at left tackle
· Kenny Robinson with Minkah Fitzpatrick were the first-team safeties
· Tre Norwood, Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee didn’t practice, Joey Porter, Junior was limited
· Montravius Adams ran as first-team nose tackle again.
· Kendrick Green only got a couple of snaps at fullback/H-back. He did some extra work on the Jugs machine after practice
7 Shots
· Pickett too high for Allen Robinson incomplete
· Kwon Alexander bats down pass a pass by Pickett
· George Pickens catch while draped by Patrick Peterson for a TD in the corner of the end zone
· Pickett back end zone Robinson for a toe-tap TD
· Mitch Trubisky bobble by Calvin Austin incomplete
· James Pierre PBU fade vs. Darnell Washington
· Trubisky slant complete to Dez Fitzpatrick for a TD
Steelers won’t practice again at St. Vincent College until Sunday at 1:55p. The first preseason game is Friday night at Tampa Bay, watch it on KDKA-TV.