DJ getting reps on the outside

That is true to a point, but it's also often used as an excuse to cover for a bad pick.

 

Tell them we'll give them D. Johnson for M. Evans & a draft pick.

 

I was taking it from an article similar to this:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/247spo...ressed-with-WR-Diontae-Johnson-131704640/Amp/

But, I would focus on the comment “We all talk. Receiver coaches talk.”

 

They won't talk to me.

 

Well if he lives up to the billing he could be a carbon copy of what AB was. According to the article his strengths are along the same lines AB was also good at. Separation, nice feet and good out of his breaks. Learning curve I’m sure but similar skill set to build on.....bringing some of the same things to the table should help our O stay consistent. Whether he reaches ABs level remains to be seen but it’s a nice foundation for sure

 

And we're back to the idea that any quarterback from a big school with lousy combine numbers can become Tom Brady.

 

The DJ pick, eventhough I thought was early, wasn't a dealbreaker for me. The TE pick in Gentry was by far the worst pick imo.

 

Pittsburgh should have taken a TE earlier? Or is Gentry that bad? (I've never seen him play)

 

TE2 was a major need imo. I felt like they could have taken one earlier. Heck they could've have taken one later in the draft who was better than Gentry. It seems like they just pick the TEs who are 6'6" and taller, no matter the skill. I scouted the TEs a ton this offseason and I'm no pro scout but I didn't like any part of Gentry's game or movement skills.

But this is nothing new to the Steelers draft MO as of late. The 2017 draft was very deep with talented safeties and they didn't get a one. Then they get 2 in 2018 when the talent was less. ILB was a huge need in 2018. Not one taken. It just seems on the years that a position is deep with talent they avoid a position of need, then get one the next year. Or they just avoid the position entirely. So they're throwing FA band aids on it hoping for the best.

 

Well.....Colbert said drafting for needs doesn’t win championships...or something along those lines ....well....except when you reach and draft for needs that is.

 

Agreed but IMO it just shifts the blame from the scouts and FO to the coaching staff.

 

Gentry is a former QB so he has a football IQ that will help him as he works on the fundamentals of the TE position:

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...icks-te-zach-gentry-fifth-round-pick-nfl-news

 

I saw Gentry on tv the other day. He’s built like a green bean. Mark Bruener was my neighbor long ago. When he was a rookie, he referred to himself as a 250 pound pipsqueak. He had more meat then than Gentry. Until he eats some potatoes, Gentry will be useless as a blocker.

A tight end who can’t block isn’t going to see playing time.

 

Liking Diontae more and more. Links and evidence like this further augments what Kevin Colbert saw in him. Here is a good article on him;


https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...e-johnson-film-review-part-2-welcome-to-miami



All the more reason he can be good. Diontae has all the right tools to be successful. If anything, Big Ben will see to it.

 

The Arians story does seem sort of weird. It's like if you showed up for a first date driving a rusted-out bomb, before she even comments on the car you might say something like "She might not look like much but she's got it where it counts." But the only reason you would say that is because you know that her perception might be that you maybe a mistake.

 

Tom Mead looked through the tapes, and focused on a Miami (FL) game where the DBs were playing press. (MAC teams didn't play a lot of press against DJ.) DJ was able to deal with press defense at the college level, unlike what some people believe.

Conclusion: "This is a small sample size but there is a lot to like from what I see. He understands how to manipulate defenders and get them to open up their hips and shows good hand usage to keep defenders hand off of him. This does not guarantee success vs NFL defensive backs but it’s good to see the foundation is there giving him something to build upon."