Steelers' Diontae Johnson's Odd 2022 Performance is Not What Team Paid For in Off-Season

Perhaps when the lid is placed upon the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers schedule, we can look back and have a better understanding as to how and why the season unfolded as it did. There are still six games remaining of course, so much is still up in the air. But after 11 games, it's becoming more obvious that there is something really off when it comes to the play of fourth-year wideout, Diontae Johnson. 

For all the hoopla made of his extension at camp earlier this summer, Johnson has under performed. There is a great deal that is factored into this, but Johnson has not done himself many favors to think otherwise to this point of the season.

Johnson Has Lacked Focus At Times When Ball Comes His Way

Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)

Nobody is going to confuse me of being a world-class athlete. That's for certain. But I've seen enough football with these old eyes to know that something has not been right with Johnson this year. From dropped passes, to running routes, he's off. His YPC is 9.0 this year, lower from his previous three seasons. He does not have a TD catch, but that can go back to the QB turmoil this club had to undergo due to mismanagement of the situation by the coaches and staff.

Mitch Trubisky never looked comfortable from day 1 and then you insert rookie QB Kenny Pickett on the fly into an offense he's not been working with to begin with and you get the poor numbers that have been produced to date.

But there has been one thing that has bothered me about Johnson this year and that he's caught a ball where he was just past or close to the line to gain, only to run backwards and lose yards on a play. He did it again Monday night vs the Indianapolis Colts. Early in the 4th and down 1 to Indy on a 2nd down and 14, Pickett found Johnson open downfield and after making the catch, running free, only to watch his WR1 run backward at one point instead of planting his foot and charging forward to gain a first down.

His gaffe cost the team a few yards and set up a 3rd and 6 that was converted on the next play and led to the game winning score.

His play in the moment was instincts, but we've seen him do this before this season with the same results.

Steelers' Johnson Can Pick Up Rookie QB With Inspired Play

Pittsburgh Steelers huddle vs. Indianapolis Colts. Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers

The reality at this point is that Pickett and Johnson are not on the same page, certainly not like Pickett and rookie WR George Pickens have been. When I say Johnson needs to provide more 'inspired play' for his QB, please refer to this:

I get over the course of a game, players are going to make mistakes, drop passes, but to say Pickens has played to the level many had hoped he could is an understatement. Granted, he's getting single coverage 90% of the time, but we've seen his eye popping catches so far over 11 games. He's given Pickett confidence in looking his way, case in point on that 2-point snare after Benny Snell's TD run in the 4th gave the Steelers the lead back.

Pickett threw a dime only where Pickens could get it. He was able to because he saw his QB sliding to his left and did the same, dipping down and catching the pass. That's what builds confidence in your rookie QB.

Finishing Strong Only Path For Johnson And Steelers As 2022 Season Winds Down

Diontae Johnson running downfield vs Indianapolis. Photo Credit/Jared Wickerham - Pittsburgh Steelers

Much has been made of the Chase Claypool trade and how the Chicago Bears meltdown continues to show a great payoff for this team when it comes to next year's draft. The win over the Colts pushed the Steelers out of the top-10 as they now sit 12th in the draft order. The Bears are now in the 2nd draft spot, so the Steelers would be picking 33rd overall and then again at the 43rd spot. This is going to change each week until the season ends, so it's not something that can be controlled directly.

What can be is focused play down the final six games. Play that not only provides a foundation for 2022, but can help a rookie QB who is starting to figure things out. All these items mean something over the course of a full season. One that is not totally lost in terms of development. And what could lie ahead.

So Steelers fans, has Diontae Johnson played to a competent level as a WR1 this season? Or is there something underlying that has caused a drop in his play? Sound off below!

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