Ben Roethlisberger missed most of last season with an elbow injury to his throwing arm. That arm looked healed on his second TD pass.
Ben Roethlisberger missed almost all of last season with an elbow injury to his throwing arm. But if you were harboring concerns about his ability to make impressive throws this season, those were likely erased on this touchdown strike against the Denver Broncos:
Great catch by Diontae Johnson for this TD. Roethlisberger on the run delivers slightly behind Johnson who made great adjustment #Steelerspic.twitter.com/5FTa9OZgX4
This throw is almost vintage Roethlisberger. He breaks out of the pocket but keeps himself in throwing position, with his eyes downfield and the football in position to throw. He finds Diontae Johnson in the end zone with a strike and the Steelers push their lead back to six.
The throw was Roethlisberger’s second touchdown pass of the day, the first coming on a deep shot to rookie Chase Claypool for 84-yards and a score. But it is this throw, with the quarterback dialing back the clock, that likely has Pittsburgh Steelers fans excited about the weeks to come.
One technical tweak and Diontae Johnson should be golden.
Diontae Johnson’s rookie season is now a thing of the past.
Those days are behind him now, but with that comes game tape that upcoming opponents have and will scrutinize. An issue that will immediately jump out when watching Johnson is his inconsistency with ball security.
Where the quarterback places his throws is vital for receivers, especially new guys, so Diontae’s drops could’ve quickly been passed off as a by-product of subpar quarterback play.
Unfortunately, though, ball instability was an issue that went unaddressed at Toledo. In three seasons with the Rockets, Johnson’s erratic ball skills led to 17 drops and four fumbles (two lost), and it followed him from NCAA to the pros.
AP Photo/Jose Juarez
Ball skills were a glaring weakness noted in analysts’ draft profiles on Johnson across the board.
Drops and fumbles reared their ugly heads in Pittsburgh, no thanks, in part, to the speed and strength of pro defenders. The velocity of the ball is also significantly different from college to the NFL.
Excluding quarterbacks, Diontae led the Steelers in fumbles (two lost) last year with five, which tied for fifth in the league. He added to that six disappointing drops. Johnson’s five fumbles were four more than JuJu Smith-Schuster, and James Washington has in their careers combined.
Johnson had instances last season where poor technique with ball security cost him. He self-jarred the ball loose with his knee or the ground due to not having the ball tightly guarded. Diontae had a nasty habit of cradling the football in a haphazard, unnatural looking way (versus tucking it), which exposes the ball, and allows defenders to conveniently strip it. It’s especially concerning in cases where a defender sneaks up on him. Johnson must correct his ball-handling technique, especially while navigating traffic.
Defenders have tunnel-vision on the ball carrier and sniff out signs of a bobble. One indication the ball is slipping, and it’s the defenders’ job to punch it out. They have, and they will.
Johnson needs to get his hands properly aligned to catch the football consistently. And once he does, adhere to the five points of pressure for a ball carrier (fingertips, palms, forearms, biceps, chest). Focusing on the five points will help ensure the ball is protected from defenders. When the ball is secured through these points of contact, it is nearly impossible for the defender to get the ball out. Fumbles occur when one of the points of pressure is typically lacking, which can result in a turnover.
Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
The good news for Johnson and the Steelers is that skillfulness and technique with ball security are coachable and learnable. Catch-to-tuck, five points of pressure, the technical skill at the point of the catch are all things that are drilled into receivers’ heads in daily ball security meetings. It was, without question, a focal point of Johnson’s offseason training and will continue to be worked on in practices.
The JUGS machine is a receiver’s best friend — drill regularity should help strengthen and improve his hands and catching consistency. Johnson’s noted body transformation should also help boost his ability to hang onto the ball when he endures tough hits.
As we were witness to, Diontae has terrific upside. He had an impressive rookie season and far outplayed his draft prospectus with the Steelers in year one. Johnson showed the ability to adjust to poor throws and track the ball vertically, leading not only the Steelers but the 2019 rookie class in receptions with 59.
If Johnson can refine his ball security technique, it could catapult him from good to great in 2020.
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Pro Football Focus revealed their annual breakout player predictions for every NFL team, and — surprise, surprise — they selected wide receiver Diontae Johnson as the Steelers candidate for breakout player.
In his predictions, PFF’s Anthony Treash writes:
Johnson has been high on several PFF analysts’ radars dating back to his days at Toledo, and he showed glimpses in his 2019 rookie year (particularly down the stretch) that verify our projection of him. Four of his five best games of the year came in his final four games, and that led to him being the sixth-highest graded player at the position in that span.
He’s tough to bring down after the catch, too; Johnson broke 18 tackles on 59 catches, tying for the most in the league with Deebo Samuel. If he keeps up his play from late in 2019, he’s in line for a big 2020 campaign.
Treash included a 2019 Tweet from PFF’s Sam Monson highlighting Johnson’s play versus the Buffalo Bills.
Diontae Johnson is a rookie.
PFF loved him coming out because he doesn't look like it.
Look at this release+hand placement. Absolutely SAUCES T White, who is an elite cornerback pic.twitter.com/BQZVWdGFqj
In May, Monson selected Johnson as one of two Steelers (linebacker Devin Bush) among eight potential breakout second-year players for 2020.
Johnson’s encouraging rookie season has set him up nicely for a remarkable forthcoming campaign. With Ben Roethlisberger back at the helm for Pittsburgh, there’s no reason why he can’t make that sophomore leap into breakoutdom.
Nursing a foot injury, Johnson is expected to play Monday night versus the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wrapped up Friday’s training camp with news about two of his starters.
Two standouts at Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 training camp are dealing with injuries. Mike Tomlin said in his Friday camp wrap up that wide receiver Diontae Johnson and safety Terrell Edmunds are day-to-day with minor injuries.
Johnson was spotted at practice in a wrap on his lower leg.
Injuries are expected at this point in the offseason, especially considering this is their first time practicing as a team since last season.
There is cause for concern, however. Both Johnson and Edmunds will miss out on valuable reps with no timetable to return. Wide receiver James Washington has not participated in practice since his injury on Monday, nor has guard David DeCastro or defensive lineman Chris Wormley.
Rookie offensive lineman Kevin Dotson, who injured his knee on Tuesday, has also not returned.
The rookie contract of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster expires in 2021.
A hot topic of debate during the Steelers offseason has been whether Pittsburgh will re-sign wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster before he hits free agency in March.
Typically, the club handles contract negotiations the season before the player hits free agency. While there are still a few weeks to get a deal done, it’s not likely to happen.
Apparently, there has been no discussion between the Steelers and JuJu’s camp about his future in Pittsburgh.
We need only to look to history for the answer as to why there have been crickets. Hines Ward and Antonio Brown are the only two guys the Steelers have signed to second contracts, and the chances of Smith-Schuster being a rare exception are slim.
Here are three reasons why the Steelers will not re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster:
Money
Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Football is, first and foremost, a business. And the Steelers have shown it’s their business to replace high-priced receivers with more affordable ones without risking production. Hines Ward and Antonio Brown are the only two receivers they’ve inked to second contracts in recent history.
If Smith-Schuster returns to pre-2019 form, he’ll price himself right out of Pittsburgh. Even if he doesn’t demand Brown-like money, the Steelers still won’t be able to afford him. As Steelers Wire recently reported, as it currently stands, the Steelers are $15 million over the projected $175 million 2021 salary cap. That figure doesn’t take into account any high priority free agents.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin believes his players were physically prepared for the return to training camp.
Being away from team facilities for much of the offseason certainly had its downsides. One of them not being able to utilize first-class strength and conditioning facilities and also not having coaches or teammates around to motivate you to be your best self.
This non-traditional offseason gave coaches an accurate indicator of which players are self-motivated and who are not, who works hard when isolated and who does not.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t see much of a fallout from that aspect of the offseason.
“I’m continually impressed with the things that were important to us coming into this environment; the overall conditioning of the group, they’re continuing to show good preparedness in that area,” said Tomlin in a Thursday press conference.
Tomlin spoke mainly to the physical transformation of receiver Diontae Johnson.
“I believe you guys will see a significant physical difference in Diontae Johnson… I think you could look at any position and see growth and development in terms of understanding between Year 1 and Year 2 in terms of appropriate actions taken because of it, whether it’s guys adding bulk and strength for the long term fight or whether it’s guys getting lean and fighting professional tendencies, professional rhythms in terms of diets and nutrition. There’s a lot of reasons why those bodies transform, but it has to do a lot with knowledge as opposed to speculating.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in win-now mode, more so than ever. Here we look at the players most critical to winning it all.
There’s no “I” in team. But as we saw in 2019, there are definitely certain players that, if they struggle or succumb to injury, it could affect the entire landscape of the team.
Here are the seven players most critical to the success of the Steelers 2020 season — in no particular order (okay, maybe Ben Roethlisberger is first).
Ben Roethlisberger
Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
There’s really no need to explain how utterly important Roethlisberger is to the success of the Steelers this season. But since that’s my job, I’ll get on with it.
From the moment Ben rushed to the sideline writhing in pain in Week 2 versus the Seahawks, the offense fell apart. There was a trickle-down that affected all aspects of the team, excluding the defense. If anything, the defense played harder, knowing they were going to be relied on to help the Steelers stay competitive.
Every phase of the offense, from the passing and ground game to the offensive line, struggled without Big Ben.
So far, two weeks into training camp, all signs point toward a healthy and rejuvenated Roethlisberger returning to lead his team in September. The Steelers nearly made the playoffs last season without him. One would imagine that even if Ben plays at 80 percent, this team is in store for a successful 2020 — postseason included.
An early look at WRs who are getting ranked too low for 2020.
Training camp is just getting underway, which means fantasy football drafts are just around the corner. Maybe there isn’t any preseason to help you prepare for what might be the most challenging fantasy season in recent memory. Maybe you’re preparing for the possibility that the novel coronavirus pandemic will influence the NFL season — and, in turn, the fantasy football season.
But if you need a momentary distraction from the real world and if you need a little fantasy (football), then let’s take a look at seven receivers that seem like strong sleeper candidates for the upcoming year. We’ve taken a look at FantasyPros.com to identify players whose rankings are too low for PPR.
1. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (ADP: 132nd overall)
Adam Theilen is Kirk Cousins’ only option after the departure of Stefon Diggs. Dalvin Cook will continue to serve as the lead back in the offense, and perhaps his role will increase in 2020 without Diggs. Even so, Diggs left behind 63 catches, 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. There’s plenty of work for Jefferson in this offense.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
It’s too early to say if he’ll immediately be able to handle the NFL’s speed. But Jefferson was one of Joe Burrow’s favorite targets at LSU, where the young receiver was facing some NFL-caliber cornerbacks. What’s more, his route-running abilities from the slot translate naturally to Minnesota’s offense. On paper, Jefferson should immediately jump in and put up numbers.
Ben Roethlisberger’s teammates are thrilled to have him back but probably none more than wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Ben Roethlisberger’s teammates are thrilled to have him back but probably none more than wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Johnson was a rookie last season and only got to hook up with Roethlisberger on four receptions before the quarterback’s devasting elbow injury sidelined him for the season.
The two had limited opportunities to work together last offseason. Johnson was low on the depth chart and likely got more practice and preseason reps with quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges.
It was critical that the two make time to work out together this offseason and that they did.
Diontae Johnson is very excited to get to catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger – something he rarely has had a chance to do yet in the pros pic.twitter.com/4QPuxJGxrF
“Just being able to work out with him, it’s been good,” said Johnson earlier this year. “Just trying to get timing down and get a feel for what he likes and what he doesn’t like and how he likes to throw the ball, certain plays, certain routes, just try to pick his brain. I might go back up there next week and work out with him again, just getting that timing down and try to get a bond with each other so we can build that trust together.”
In the longterm, Roethlisberger’s injury seems to have done more good than harm. Not only does he feel better than he has in years, but teammates are also saying he’s more communicative and excited than in the past. “He’s different this year, from what I saw last year,” Johnson said in a Wednesday press conference. “He’s more excited, anxious to get on the field and play with us.”
Johnson has even noticed an improvement in his quarterback’s arm. “Ben’s arm is way better from what it was last year.” Roethlisberger has admitted he was dealing with pain in his elbow for a couple of seasons.
“He’s cut a lot of them loose,” Johnson shared of Big Ben during training camp. “He’s throwing a nice, tightspiral.”
“Everyone wants to play for Ben. He is our leader. He is our quarterback, so everybody’s locked in.”
Having Roethlisberger under center should translate to a breakout season for the second-year receiver. Johnson posted 638 yards receiving and five touchdowns with Rudolph and Hodges at the helm — just imagine what he can do with a future Hall of Famer in the game.
The influence Darryl Drake had on Diontae Johnson was very significant.
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Diontae Johnson talking today via zoom said the receivers still remember Darryl Drake every day and his 'Shut out the noise' message will always be with them. He said the impact he had on them was huge and he had a unique bond with each of them.
On top of everything else the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered through the loss of former wide receivers coach Darryl Drake last season. Drake died just before the start of the season and the team took it hard. Drake was a powerful positive influence on a young and talented group of pass catchers.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson spoke to the media on Wednesday via Zoom and reiterated just how powerful Drake’s influence was on this team to this day including his message to “shut out the noise.”
This season the Steelers have former pro Ike Hilliard coaching up the wide receivers. There’s no doubt Hilliard will do a great job. His resume is spotless. But despite only being with the Steelers for two seasons, his lasting impression lives on in the wide receiver room.
It’s a critical role this year, considering the youth and the talent of the Steelers’ receiving corps, not to mention the return from injury of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
