When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dri Archer in the 3rd round of the 2014 NFL Draft, there was little confusion as to why they made their selection. Not only was Archer the fastest player at the combine, but his highlight reel makes you want to rush to your local NFL shop and purchase a No. 13 Archer jersey.
Even with the incredible speed and intangibles, one of the biggest questions that remained was how exactly Todd Haley would utilize such a weapon.
It didn't take long for those that attended the first practice of training camp to get a glimpse of what is in store for opposing defenses when Archer steps on the field.
Archer was receiving punts with the first team, which very well could mean that Antonio Brown will not be on that duty any longer and Archer will fill that role.
According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers put Archer in the left slot in a four wide receiver set during an 11 on 11 drill. From the slot, the defense had to put a linebacker over top of Archer in coverage. An obvious matchup problem for the defense and an advantage for the Steelers.
To go along with the punt returns and his wide receiver work, Archer also broke off several long runs giving the fans a good look at that 4.26 40-yard dash time.
It is early, but looks are that you could see Archer in a number of positions this season, and the Steelers would be foolish not to utilize such a talent in such a way. Archer's speed, ability to catch the ball and make people miss is a rarity in the NFL, and the Steelers should utilize every ounce of potential he brings to the team.
As long as Archer can prove he can digest the playbook from multiple positions, there is no doubt the Steelers will be using him in a variety of ways.