The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a bit of a situation coming into the 2021 campaign. I wouldn’t call this particular situation an issue, just nothing less than an influx of players at a specific position. In re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster this past month, the team now has three viable options for the number one wide receiver spot on the depth chart when training camp opens up -- Smith-Schuster himself, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson. Not to say that being the "go-to" guy in this offense means too much. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has shown the ability to spread the ball out evenly throughout his career and, with the many dynamic weapons we have on this offense, it’s a safe bet to say we may see more of the same.
Steeler Nation is aware of the relationship Roethlisberger has developed with Smith-Schuster over the past few seasons and, honestly, that was probably one of the main reasons why the Steelers decided to bring him back for at least another year. Smith-Schuster’s presence is one that is needed in this offense when utilized as more of a slot type of receiver, which is where I believe he is used best. He is a huge help in the running game, being used as an inside blocker, and is the type of guy that won't be afraid to catch a ball across the linebacker's face. He may not necessarily be the guy you would expect to line up one on one with a cornerback on the outside 10/10 times, but he certainly is capable of doing so if needed.
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That being said, an interesting point I seem to have come across in watching last year's season is that it seemed like Roethlisberger was trying to force the ball more into Johnson’s direction anytime he saw an opening to do so. In my opinion, this could have been done intentionally. Being the leader Roethlisberger is, he could have noticed the early struggles Johnson had with drops and wanted to make sure his confidence did not take a plunge by continuing to feed him the football. In turn, this would reassure Johnson himself that even his own QB did not lose faith in him, despite those early struggles he had. So why should he lose confidence in himself?
It was well documented the amount of work Johnson, himself, was putting in to make sure his mistakes were not repeated ones, and that work showed. Johnson ended the 2020 campaign with 88 receptions for 923 yards and 7 touchdowns, just short of his first 1,000 yard season. Earlier on, Johnson let all of his minor issues get to his head; he seemed to be thinking more than just simply playing the game that he knows how to play. Johnson took the high road and showed maturity and confidence in himself, being able to attack the issue at hand, and attack it the right way. In doing so, I believe not only did Johnson gain the trust from his future Hall of Fame quarterback, but also gained the respect from his peers. Or at least I thought.
It’s all good 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/A1RGmmLPsv
— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) April 12, 2021
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It’s only one short video, so I don't want to make a huge deal out of it, but I do think something should be taken from it. The video, posted by the NFL itself, seems to imply that the 2019 draft class was loaded at the wide receiver position, showing last season's highlight reels of each “baller” drafted that year. Except one thing was missing, and that's Diontae Johnson. The video mentions the likes of young up and coming stars in D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown, Terry McClaurin, Hunter Renfrow, and Mecole Hardman -- all who are deserving of the recognition given, but certainly not without Johnson’s name being in that same sentence.
The only guys that can compete with Johnson on a statistical level are Metcalf, McClaurin and Brown, respectfully. All three have each put up more yards, receptions, and touchdowns in each category than Johnson, and have done a good job solidifying themselves as stars in this league. The other players mentioned don’t have nearly the statistics to compete with these other receivers, or even Johnson himself. Again, it's just one short video, but the fact that Johnson is not mentioned or shown at all throughout is something we, as fans, can only hope he uses as an inner motivator for the upcoming year. Johnson has put in the time and work to be able to be recognized as one of the top young WRs is this league. His route running ability is second to none paired with his playmaking ability, and Steeler Nation should be excited for this guy's future in the black and gold.
Are you excited to see Johnson's progress next season? Comment below!
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