‘Gonna Make Positive To Get Him Proper:’ Darius Slay Making ready To Mentor Joey Porter Jr.

This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t made an enormous acquisition in free company. Darius Slay is arguably their greatest signing. A veteran nook, Slay has been among the finest gamers at his place over the previous few years. Whereas he wasn’t nearly as good in 2024, he was nonetheless stable. He’s obtained a ton of veteran data, too. It seems like he’s already pondering of how to assist Joey Porter Jr. enhance his sport.

“I’m gonna be certain to get him proper,” Slay mentioned lately on his podcast, Massive Play Slay. “I informed him, I watched him, he does that cinch in-step the place he will get it in. Now, he’s simply gotta work on being higher down the sphere.

“I do know, I watched his movie, they have been calling him for lots of aggressiveness down there with the [pass interference]. I’m gonna inform him, ‘You beat him on the line. Simply minimize him off and now you’re the receiver. Go get the ball now.’”

Penalties have been the most important situation with Porter. He’s sticky in protection and he’s good at utilizing his dimension, however at instances, he will be too aggressive. That harm the Steelers quite a bit final 12 months.

The group’s first sport towards the Cincinnati Bengals final 12 months was an amazing instance. Porter was referred to as for six penalties. To succeed as an NFL nook, that may’t occur. Though Porter could be very proficient, penalties are holding him again.

Mike Tomlin didn’t bash Porter an excessive amount of for his penalties. After that Bengals sport, he appeared positive with Porter’s penalties. Tomlin usually says that he’d relatively have gamers who’re too aggressive than not aggressive sufficient. It seems like Slay shares that opinion.

“It’s arduous to get that aggression out of anyone like that, which is cool. That’s what you need. You’d relatively take [that] than inform him to be aggressive. You will be like, ‘Hey man, settle down slightly bit.’ It’s gonna be enjoyable working with him. I already know.”

It’s not shocking to listen to Slay say he’s excited to work with Porter. Throughout his introductory press convention, he made it clear that one in all his targets at this level in his profession is to assist youthful gamers. Slay desires to be a mentor, which is sweet for the Steelers. Whereas Porter is the Steelers’ younger nook who will get probably the most shine, Cory Trice Jr. may additionally profit from Slay’s teachings.

Final 12 months, Trice didn’t see the sphere a lot attributable to damage. Nevertheless, he did flash at instances. Throughout the Steelers’ Week 2 sport towards the Denver Broncos, he recorded an enormous interception. Whereas he wants to remain wholesome, he has all of the instruments to be a stable contributor.

Maybe Slay’s presence will assist unlock Porter and Trice. That’s doubtless a part of the explanation the Steelers signed him. A couple of years in the past, they tried one thing related with Patrick Peterson. Taking part in nook within the NFL is hard, and Slay has performed it properly for over a decade. That didn’t occur on accident. Hopefully, he can cross on a lot of what he is aware of to the Steelers’ younger secondary.