Steelers News: Diontae Spencer proving his skill set can translate to the NFL

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the gridiron with the NFL preseason upon us. With exhibition games underway, the news surrounding the black-and-gold is just starting to heat up. As the team prepares for the coming season, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how wide receiver/return man Diontae Spence is proving his skill set, which started to blossom in the CFL, can translate to the NFL.

Let’s get to the news:

• Diontae Spencer is a very exciting football player to watch, and he is slowly proving that CFL talent can actually exist in the NFL.

Steelers’ Diontae Spencer keeps proving his playmaking translates from CFL to NFL

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Thursday’s game might be the most important in regards to a potential NFL career in the life of Diontae Spencer. But as a two-time CFL All-star who broke records with the Ottawa Redblacks and in college at McNeese State alike, it will take more than that to faze the 27-year-old Spencer.

“At the end of the day, I feel like with God the plan is already in place,” Spencer said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Tuesday. “I feel like I need to just keep faith and keep believing in myself and just believing what they have in mind. So I don’t really focus on (the fight for a roster spot) too much; it’s not my first go-round, and I just feel mentally and physically in a good place.”

And why not? Spencer has been one of the most pleasant surprises of what has been his first NFL preseason. The quick and shifty wide receiver has the Steelers’ longest rushing attempt, longest kickoff return (35 yards) and longest punt return through three preseason games.

Spencer is averaging 16.9 yards per touch, most impressively breaking a 38-yard punt return and end-around runs of 29 and 19 yards.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Struggling to think of something to keep your attention during the Steelers’ final preseason game? Look no further than the backup QB competition.

Kevin Gorman: For Steelers, final Battle of the Backups should be sensational

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph aren’t the only Pittsburgh Steelers well aware that the preseason finale at the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night is their final audition.

Their teammates have popcorn ready for the Battle of the Backups, the penultimate episode in the Game of Clipboards.

“I’m watching them in the game and jumping up and down, cheering like a real fan,” Steelers left guard Ramon Foster said of the young quarterbacks. “They’re my teammates, and I’m cheering like a real fan!”

Even Rudolph can laugh that one of the sensational storylines for the Steelers is their competition to determine which quarterback will be second string to Ben Roethlisberger.

“It will be the last for-sure opportunity to play this year, obviously, because Ben’s the starter,” said Rudolph, a 2018 third-round pick from Oklahoma State who grew up in Rock Hill, S.C., not far from Charlotte. “We’re all looking forward to it, taking advantage of it and having a blast.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Antonio Brown continues the craziness, and after he lashed out at Ben Roethlisberger on Twitter Tuesday, he deleted it. What a joke.

Tim Benz: Antonio Brown rips Ben Roethlisberger on Twitter, then deletes it

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

So, one of two things is true. Either Brown was just bowing up online to make himself look like a tough guy and forgot what he had previously posted.

Or, when he posted those images in easier times, he was being just as disingenuous then, as he is insisting Roethlisberger was with Tafoya.

Either way, it’s a bad look for Mr. Frozen Feet. And that’s probably why he took down the post.Don’t worry. The regular season has yet to start. Brown will make himself look dumb again soon enough.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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