PFF Predicts Multiple Steelers Will Breakout in 2021

If there was any doubt as to how the Pittsburgh Steelers season is going to end up playing out, hearing news such as this should shed light to the situation. Although there are some losses at key positions that the organization has to now find replacements for, this team is not going anywhere for the upcoming season. A lot of light is shed on just how long and how old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been in this league, questioning whether or not he’s capable of adapting to a whole new offensive system under new offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. In my opinion, an unfair question, but one that seems to get the majority of attention.

While age seems to be a huge topic of conversation surrounding this team, why don’t we focus on it in a more positive outlook. Pro Football Focus has just made an 8 player list of players who they expect to have breakout seasons in 2021. On that list, were the names of two talented Steelers who the organization is expecting a lot more of in the upcoming years. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and linebacker Devin Bush were the two names mentioned as potential breakout candidates for the upcoming year and rightfully so.

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Johnson, is coming off his first full season with Roethlisberger under center and had an overall shaky season. He started the season off with issues catching the ball, he was unable to secure the catch properly and had the organization beginning to question whether he is a true number one receiver or not. Johnson did his best to answer those questions the best way possible, with his play on the field. He showed tremendous improvement and the ability to handle criticism well, he did his part putting in the extra work and the results came with that. He finished out the season on the top of his game and ended the year close to his first 1,000 yard season.

“Johnson gets open as well as any receiver in the NFL, which is a great starting point for success. Over his first two seasons in the league, he has been charted as open on 46% and 48% of his targets — that is 6-8 percentage points higher than the league average. If Ben Roethlisberger can improve on an unconvincing 2020 season and give the Steelers passing game some more teeth, Johnson will be open and looking for targets.”

Bush, on the other hand is coming off a season where he found himself on the sidelines more than the field. Obviously, that had nothing to do with his actual play on the field, but an ACL injury that kept him out of action for the majority of last season. Bush was a first round draft pick of this organization, one that GM Kevin Colbert traded up to get, something this organization does not normally do. It’s safe to say that Bush is and should be in this team's plans for not just next season, but the many seasons that follow as well. When healthy for his rookie season, Bush was a ballhawk, forcing turnovers and always finding himself involved wherever the ball was. He has speed to catch running backs in pursuit and pairs that with his ability to cover the pass just as well from his position. Bush’s presence was one that was clearly missed last season, and everyone involved with the Steelers organization is excited to see the progression he continues to make.

“There is no doubting Bush's talent, but 278 snaps in an injury-shortened campaign in 2020 did little to show any improvement over that rookie season. A pronounced step forward within the scheme this year could result in Bush’s down-to-down consistency and production meeting his highlight-making skills.”

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With the roster we built this season, there is plenty of reason to feel some sort of excitement. This was a playoff team last season with many key players returning. Johnson shares responsibility with three other capable receivers. I think this team expects him to make the leap and show then he can be this team's number one target. Bush is going into 2022 as the starting middle linebacker, and will have plenty of opportunities to have that “comeback” season. If either of these two have the season that everyone around them is expecting to have, this team is going to be significantly better in 2022, and we all know what comes with that.

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