Count Steeler
05-30-2012, 07:53 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) — When the Pittsburgh Steelers asked David Johnson to convert from tight end to fullback full-time in time for the 2012 season, the burly 270-pound Johnson's first thought was "I need to go on a diet."
A couple months and 20 pounds later, Johnson is embracing a move that could extend the former seventh-round pick's NFL career indefinitely.
To be honest, the decision came as a bit of relief for Johnson. He spent last season meeting and practicing with the tight ends all week only to be thrown into the backfield as a lead blocker in goal line situations with little preparation.
"Last year, he was just trying to hit it on the fly," tight end Heath Miller said.
Now Johnson — who will keep the No. 85 — sits in meetings trying to absorb as much of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley's playbook as he can while getting a feel for what his role will look like when the season starts in September.
read more @ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJvwuXgEISxP7zb06ZaHHfP5aZWQ?docId=08fa77fc5 fa94a72b1eb788764a32e10
A couple months and 20 pounds later, Johnson is embracing a move that could extend the former seventh-round pick's NFL career indefinitely.
To be honest, the decision came as a bit of relief for Johnson. He spent last season meeting and practicing with the tight ends all week only to be thrown into the backfield as a lead blocker in goal line situations with little preparation.
"Last year, he was just trying to hit it on the fly," tight end Heath Miller said.
Now Johnson — who will keep the No. 85 — sits in meetings trying to absorb as much of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley's playbook as he can while getting a feel for what his role will look like when the season starts in September.
read more @ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJvwuXgEISxP7zb06ZaHHfP5aZWQ?docId=08fa77fc5 fa94a72b1eb788764a32e10