What a wide receiver does with the ball after the play ends is often insignificant, an afterthought in the game’s schemes and complexities. But for Devin Gardner, the split second after the play is a key to developing his identity as a wide receiver, even if he’s only playing the position for a single day.
“I don’t even throw the ball back, like I toss it back underhand just to get the mentality that I’m playing receiver today,” Gardner said.
Throwing the ball overhand resembles too much Gardner’s identity as a quarterback. Though Gardner enters training camp fighting for a roster spot with the Steelers at wide receiver and quarterback, he tries to act the specific part no matter which position he is playing.