Black and Gold Links: Sutton Smith trying to be a huge problem for opposing offenses in the NFL

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Time to check on the latest news surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the 2019 NFLDraft 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 their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the Black-and-gold links article we take a look at how rookie OLB/ILB Sutton Smith is ready to try and transfer his dominating college skill set into the pro game.

Let’s get to the news:

• The MAC conference is a far cry from the NFL, from a talent perspective, and Sutton Smith will try to defy the odds and become a big-time playmaker at the NFL level. You might see him as just a special teams player, but don’t tell him that.

Steelers 6th-rounder Sutton Smith: ‘My path is to fight’

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The question is whether Smith, who dominated in a non-Power 5 conference, can transfer his skills to the highest level of football.

Smith was one of three players from the Mid-American Conference drafted by the Steelers of their nine picks, so they apparently believe he can.

“I don’t care if they are MAC. I don’t care if they come from Egypt,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said moments after Smith was selected 175th overall. “If they are good football players, we will use them. So MAC, SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, it doesn’t bother me. What sells me is what’s on film.”

What the Steelers saw was a pass rusher who had just one major-college scholarship offer when he left high school in Missouri yet developed into a two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Smith totaled 14 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore, then showed the same passion for ending up in the opposing backfield when he produced 15 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss as a junior.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Steelers added a wide receiver in the draft in Diontae Johnson, and some may say the receiving corps certainly has received a makeover.

Johnson completes wide receiver makeover

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

While Switzer and Rogers are both slot receivers with punt and kick return capabilities, the Steelers view Johnson as a player who can play both in the slot and on the outside.

“Diontae Johnson is a nice inside/outside capable receiver that does both punt and kick returns,” Kevin Colbert said. “When we talked about Diontae in our meetings, Phil Kreidler, our scouting coordinator, when he read his report on Diontae, was just kind of funny. I know Coach Drake used the same terms, but he must’ve said ‘natural’ five times. It’s just what we believe, that this kid is just a natural football talent.”

And he was a talent the Steelers had a much higher grade on than where he wound up going in the draft. The team said similar things in the previous two years when both Smith-Schuster and Washington were mentioned.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Pittsburgh Steelers were recently recipients of an award from the local branch of the Army in Western Pennsylvania.

Steelers receive honor from Army

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

The team was recently honored by the local branch of the United States Army for that commitment during a ceremony in the Steelers locker room at Heinz Field, with Jim Rooney joining the group to accept the honor.

The units on hand to honor the team were the Second Battalion ARCD and US Army Reserve Soldiers in Pittsburgh, as well as the Harrisburg Battalion and the Pittsburgh Company Recruiting, Cold Steel Battalion.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Steelers had nine total draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and they certainly got their fill on both sides of the football on Day 3 of the selection process.

Offense and defense get their fill on Day 3

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Fitting right in: The Steelers selected Benny Snell from Kentucky in the fourth round, and the young running back said he feels his physical style of running is a perfect fit for his new team.

“I am excited. I am very excited,” said Snell. “You just got one of the hardest working young players. I am going to give my heart and my all. I am ready to play.

“It’s hard-nosed football. I am grinding for every yard. I am a physical player. My style of running is Steelers football. Pittsburgh football. That is what I am going to bring.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• Two Pittsburgh Steelers rookies are doing good in their own way…

One after a devastating storm pummeled his hometown…

…and another by helping the youth in his community.

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