The Pittsburgh Steelers passing attack was almost non-existent at times during the 2022 season. A lot of that has to do with starting a rookie quarterback for the majority of the season in Kenny Pickett, as well as him missing multiple games due to being in concussion protocol. Mitchell Trubisky also started at quarterback in the beginning of the season. In an interview with 93.7 The Fan, Steelers wide receiver, Diontae Johnson discussed what the team's receivers have done this off-season to work on their speed, timing and how they have improved as a whole.
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Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (#18) stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium before the start of a 2022 preseason game.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson Discusses Improvement Of Receiving Core
It was clear throughout the 2023 offseason that Johnson and the rest of the receivers were working with the second-year quarterback in Pickett to improve their chemistry and timing, which will hopefully show during the season. Not only were the receivers pushing each other to improve, but so was Pickett. Johnson discussed what details Pickett would preach to his receivers during the offseason, and how much of a leader he has been to the group despite him only being a second-year player.
"Kenny harps on us about details, and thats what we focus on: details and communicating with each other as receivers. Whether we know the play or not, we are communicating just so we don't have those mental errors or mental mistakes. We have a paper where coaches jot down everything we do wrong, so we trying to stay off of that paper."
This is not the first we've heard of Pickett taking on more of a leadership role going into his second season. Head Coach, Mike Tomlin has recently discussed the obvious growth he has seen from Pickett as a natural leader. It has been said that Pickett was organizing offseason workouts with his receivers, in an attempt for him and the pass game to improve in 2023.
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Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) throws a deep ball down the sidelines while warming up for a 2022 matchup.
Pickett had a good rookie year towards the end when he led two last-minute game-winning drives and finished the season going 5-0 in the contests he started while the Steelers were fighting to have a chance to make the postseason. From a statistical standpoint, Pickett's rookie year was subpar. He finished the year throwing just seven touchdowns while throwing nine interceptions.
Most of these interceptions came in the beginning of the 2022 season, as the first time he saw playing time he threw three against the New York Jets. With the chemistry growing over the course of offseason between Pickett and his receivers, we can expect Pickett and the passing game to have a better start to the season than it did in 2022.
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After a disappointing 2022 campaign, Steelers WR Diontae Johnson will be expected to have a bounce back season in Kenny Pickett's second year.
Johnson also discussed that he has noticed improvement in the overall speed and quickness from the receivers, while they also have gotten better with their timing when running routes. Johnson particularly would like to have a better year in 2023 than he did in 2022, as he was stuck with zero touchdowns throughout the entire season. The only time he found the end zone was on a two-point conversion in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns.
"Everybody is playing faster. You can see it on the film. Even coach T said we are playing faster. Last year, the timing was off a little bit and we were kind of questioning if we were gonna be in the right spot at the same time. This year is different. Everybody knows what they are doing, knows their assignments and knows we'll be in the right spot."
An improvement in the overall scheme of the route running from Johnson and co. paired with a more experienced and developed Pickett will surely lead to an overall improved passing game. Steelers fans have not seen a game changing passing offense since before Ben Roethlisberger got injured during the 2019 season. With Johnson and George Pickens making highlight reel catches and the addition of Allen Robinson II, it's no question a noticeable improvement will be seen through the air during the 2023 season.
What do you think of Johnson's thought on the receivers so far in camp Steeler Nation? Let us know in the comments below!
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