Devin Gardner may push harder to remain with Steelers than initially credited

When the New England Patriots signed Devin Gardner as a quarterback/receiver, most NFL insiders saw the former Michigan Wolverine as little more than an experiment.  Analysts told Gardner he’d never play quarterback in the NFL, so he should switch to receiver full time.  Gardner was quickly released by the Patriots, but the Steelers called right away.  The fact that coach Mike Tomlin had visited with Gardner at Michigan’s pro day and then had the young player make a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh indicated a relationship and bond Gardner had with the Steelers to begin with.  After being worked at both positions at minicamp, Gardner may push harder for a place on the roster despite an ongoing debate that Pittsburgh doesn’t have a slot open for the type of player Gardner has been.

Gardner had been torn signing with New England and was hoping he’d hear from Pittsburgh, but didn’t expect he’d get an email after the team failed to reach him by phone.  At minicamp, Gardner started doing double duty right away, often in two practices per day.  “Coach Tomlin says exactly what he feels and what he sees from me,” Gardner told the Detroit Free Press on Saturday.  “It’s nice to be wanted and they want to use you in a lot of different schemes as a receiver…I get a lot of feedback.”

Gardner has an interesting upside despite his having to focus on two different positions during off season workouts before the kickoff of training camp with the Steelers.  Unlike Tahj Boyd and Landry Jones, both predicted to battle for the third quarterback position, Gardner will have the opportunity to walk in with a relatively clean slate.

After spending time with both Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Heath Miller, Gardner admitted he was made to feel like he was already part of the team.  Pittsburgh is in a position to take a high-powered offense and add another gear – something Gardner could do that sets him apart from Boyd and Jones.  The Steelers look set at receiver and Gardner is looking at a long road to backing up Roethlisberger, but his athletic ability could very well give Pittsburgh a multi-purpose tool.

Last season, Brown actually threw a left-handed touchdown pass to Lance Moore and no one but the Steelers were expecting it.  To continue to use Brown in such situations seems unlikely, but it would be a perfect setup for Gardner.  Gardner would give the Steelers an option in the redzone that could be tailor made, setting up opponents to focus on how he is lined up as opposed to double coverage on other receivers.  With Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, could defenders contain him and cover Gardner if he too came out behind Roethlisberger?

Gardner is putting in extra time.  His level of confidence appears to be a healthy addition to a dedicated physical regime.  Preparing mentally for two positions is not a task players typically volunteer for.  In Gardner’s case, it may just give him the extra step needed to earn a spot with the Steelers.  A long-shot, yes, but Gardner is certainly closing the distance.

Debate will continue among football faithfuls as speculation continues throughout camp. By every indication thus far, Gardner is looking to provide stiff competition to players who may feel confident their spot is secure.  He is a bit of a dark horse to many and the Steelers could utilize a pony that knows more than one trick in big ways.  Watch for Gardner to come into camp ready to prove he hasn’t shown his best just yet.

S Dean

S. Dean is a lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan. The former owner of 'The Beam in Pittsburgh', Dean has worked in the sports media field for several years. S. Dean graduated with a degree in physical therapy and sports medicine, has a minor in journalism and is a Mt. Lebanon, PA, native. His favorite Steelers players (all-time) are Jerome Bettis, Lynn Swann and Joey Porter. You can follow him on Twitter @NFLHotTopix and Google Plus. To see his full bio, please visit the Meet Our Staff page.