Steelers News: JuJu Smith-Schuster learned what to do, and what not to do, from Antonio Brown

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns its attention to mandatory minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how JuJu Smith-Schuster learned a lot from Antonio Brown when they were both in Pittsburgh. He learned a lot of what to do, and plenty of what to avoid.

Let’s get to the news:

• Antonio Brown taught JuJu Smith-Schuster a lot. Work ethic, an ability to make plays against all odds. But he also indirectly taught him what not to do. How to avoid the pitfalls of super fandom.

Kevin Gorman: Steelers have to hope JuJu learned dos and don’ts from AB

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

To say JuJu Smith-Schuster learned from Antonio Brown is an understatement about the understudy of the NFL’s most prolific pass-catcher and social-media star of this decade.

That Smith-Schuster embraces the opportunity to replace Brown as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top player in both regards is only as valuable as how much he learned the dos and don’ts.

Especially the don’ts.

That brings me to one of my favorite quotes, attributed to the legendary pool hustler Minnesota Fats: I learned everything I know from idiots. You don’t do what they do. It’s automatic.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The two-minute drill. There is nothing like it in football, when executed perfectly. Ben Roethlisberger has had his share of two-minute drill successes, and Mike Tomlin has put a focus on the situation during this year’s minicamp.

At minicamp, Steelers work on improving 2-minute situations

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The first two days of minicamp practices for the Pittsburgh Steelers each ended with the first-team offense, followed by the second-team offense, trying to drive the length of the field and score a touchdown in a simulated 2-minute drill.

It wasn’t by happenstance.

Each of the final seven games last season came down to either the Steelers or their opponent possessing the ball in the last two minutes with a chance to tie or win the game. It worked out for the Steelers in wins against Jacksonville, New England and Cincinnati – not so much in losses against Denver, Oakland, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Chargers during a 2-4 closing stretch.

In the first half, the Steelers were involved in such games against Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Cincinnati.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Steelers might have missed the playoffs and had an embarrassing offseason, but don’t let that shape your thinking regarding the confidence of this team moving forward.

Big Ben: Steelers still confident despite changes

By: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN

The losses of Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell might temper outside expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but not the expectations inside the team’s locker room.

Asked about the Steelers’ perceived underdog status, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stood on track record.

”I’m been here a long time. We’re still the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Roethlisberger said on the team’s first day of minicamp Tuesday. “We’re still going to go out and try to win every football game. It’s been a long time since we’ve been to the big one. But, if everyone puts forth the effort we all think we can, with the talent we have in this room, we feel pretty confident we can be pretty good.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• Don’t look now, but Chris Boswell has been performing well throughout OTAs and minicamp.

Early returns encouraging

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

Kicker Chris Boswell maintained midway through OTAs he was “hitting the ball really well.”

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith punctuated the opening of mandatory veteran minicamp today by concurring.

“I agree with that, I really do,” Smith insisted this afternoon. “Obviously, we need an improvement there. He’s been very good in the OTAs. He’s been very good and it’s gotta carry into the team setting. We put him in team settings and he’s responded. We know what he’s capable of, that’s a positive.

“We have to get back to what he was capable of and what he showed us and that’s where we’re headed and that’s what he’s done so far.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• Social Media Madness