The Pittsburgh Steelers are fresh off a win against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, a win that was possible due to the team's best and most consistent offensive performance of the season.
Diontae Johnson running downfield vs Indianapolis. | Jared Wickerham - Pittsburgh Steelers
There is no hiding the fact that the Steelers' offense has been struggling for the majority of the season. From starting the year with 1st-year Steeler Mitch Trubisky as the team's starting quarterback, to making the switch to rookie Kenny Pickett, the offense has ranked in the bottom 5 of the NFL.
Even with all of the struggles the offense has endured, the last three weeks since the team's Week 9 bye has shown improvement across the board.
Over that three game stretch, the Steelers have put up an average of 351 total yards per game while scoring an average of 24.7 points per game. That is a drastic improvement from their overall season averages (which include this stretch) of 313.2 yards per game and 17.6 points per game. Those improvements pale in comparison to the fact that the offense also has committed 0, yes ZERO, turnovers over these last three games.
These offensive struggles have been especially hard on one player in particular. That would be 4th-year player and Pro Bowl WR Diontae Johnson.
Diontae Johnson Down Year Statistically Hasn't Stopped Him From Being A Key Part Of The Steelers Success
Johnson came into the 2022 season with high expectations, as he signed a two-year extension before the season which locked him in as the Steelers' WR1. However, he has not lived up to these expectations to this point, and Steeler Nation hasn't failed to take notice.
Johnson is on pace to put up his lowest marks in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns since his rookie season when he was receiving passes from Mason Rudolph and Devlin "Duck" Hodges for the majority of the year. He has made his frustrations known at time with his lack of involvement, but the overall lack of success and change in the offensive scheme is likely more to blame for Johnson's decline in output than his actual play.
One of the strongest parts of Johnson's game has been his ability to get additional yards after the catch. He had over 300 yards after the catch in every season, including 527 last season, which was the 8th most in the NFL. That has drastically changed this season, as he is on pace to have less than 200 such yards this season. He is averaging just 2.o yards after the catch per reception, with his previous career low being 4.5.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson makes a leaping grab down the field against the New York Jets. | Christopher Horner - Tribune Review
Some of this could have to do with Johnson's performance, but it most likely has to do with the overall offensive scheme. Many people have been frustrated the last couple of seasons with Johnson's lack of targets down the field, and that has changed this season with Johnson having his highest average depth of target of his career in 2022 at 9.7. Despite more targets down the field, his yards per catch is a career low 9.0. Clearly, this is not what is best for Johnson or the Steelers' offense.
Even with these struggles, which need to be addressed sooner than later, that hasn't stopped Johnson from being what the Steelers desperately needed this season, a leader on offense. At 26 years old, he is one of the oldest players on what is one of the youngest offenses across the NFL.
Johnson had his leadership skills on full display in the previously mentioned recent win over the Colts. Rookie WR George Pickens, who has been exceptional this season, had a rough start to the game as he had two big drops and was visibly distraught on the sideline. Johnson was the first to go over to him and make sure Pickens kept his head in the game, and knew he'd be called upon again soon.
Lots of emotions on the @steelers sideline in Indianapolis as #Pickens #Pickett and #Johnson work through things and get things corrected. @PghSteelersNow (Ed Thompson/Steelers Now) pic.twitter.com/cjt3U15T9Q
— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) November 29, 2022
Pickens went on to rebound and make an impact on the game, most memorably he was the recipient of a pass from Pickett on the 2-point conversion that extended the Steelers' lead to 7 points. It was a good play by Pickens where he moved with Pickett and found an opening in the back corner of the end zone.
In a recent interview that was posted on the team's website, Johnson went into detail about what he said to Pickens in that moment. Below is the quotation from that video:
"Just trying to be that teammate, be there for him, when he is down and out. Don't worry about what he could've did in that moment or what not. It's my job as a player, as a leader, to step in and just say hey it's going to be alright. You're going to have situations like that. Its how you respond to it, you can't let one moment define you, ya know. Take you out of your game or what not. I told him I been there before, you just have to lock in and let it go. The best of the best are going to do it so, move on from it and just learn from it."
Having that type of leadership is going to be extremely helpful for the development of Pickens, Pickett, as well as the entire Steelers' offense. Johnson does not get enough credit for this, and Steeler Nation needs to make sure he is recognized for it. On top of recognizing his leadership, the Steelers, particularly offensive coordinator Matt Canada, need to realize their scheme and play calling isn't maximizing the talent of the team's best wide receiver and make a change.
What do you think of Johnson's leadership? Let us know in the comments below!
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