In his month-long absence from the lineup, the offense of the Pittsburgh Steelers really struggled to do some of the simple things in the passing game.
That includes the quick-hitting routes, guys creating ample separation to make easier throws for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett, and winning on third downs, keeping drives alive to at least give the defense a rest.
So, with news that wide receiver Diontae Johnson was returning to the lineup in Week Seven on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, it provided a bit of a boost for an offense that desperately needed it, at least from a morale standpoint.
As expected, Johnson’s presence and overall abilities gave the Steelers’ offense a spark on the field, too.
Against the Rams, Johnson had five receptions for 79 yards, including a huge 39-yard catch-and-run to open the fourth quarter on third down, jolting the Steelers’ offense into gear, kick-starting the comeback attempt. He ran a great route on the play and then flashed his abilities with the football in his hands in the open field.
That play wasn’t the only thing he did, either. Let’s jump into the film room to look at Johnson’s body of work in his return from the hamstring injury.
On ita third drive of the game, Pittsburgh was trying to get something going. Knowing that, the Steelers turned to play-action for Pickett, who quickly hooked up with Johnson for 14 yards on an out route to the right sideline.
Johnson’s route running immediately shows up. He’s able to get into the hip pocket of Rams cornerback Decobie Durant, finding that blind spot to throttle down and break back outside. Though Durant does a nice job with a speed turn to get back into the play, Pickett throws a frozen rope to Johnson on the far sideline, putting the ball on the money to move the chains.
Again, a good quick, clean route from Johnson, putting Los Angeles cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in conflict with the high-low route. Johnson does a good job of getting back towards the middle but not pushing the tempo too quickly in his route, allowing himself to stay in space, making for an easy throw from Pickett.
After that, Johnson does what he does best with the football in his hands after the catch: make plays. Unfortunately, it came back due to George Pickens’ blindside block, but Johnson can take a short catch and turn it into an explosive play quickly. Great addition back into the offense in that area.
Early in the third quarter, Johnson started to become more of an emphasis in the passing game for the Steelers’ offense.
The Steelers certainly love their quick hitch routes on the outside, and Johnson won his cleanly.
He’s a threat to get behind the cornerback off the snap, so Durant is backpedaling immediately. Johnson can stop on a dime though and does so here, creating a ton of separation to then show Pickett his numbers and start working to the outside. He’s able to catch the football while moving to the sideline, creating a bit of an angle to try and get around Durant, but the Rams cornerback makes a great open-field tackle.
If he doesn’t, Johnson might be able to turn that into a splash play down the sideline.
Though his 39-yard catch-and-run was his biggest play of the day, his 11-yard catch in the fourth quarter with the Steelers driving for the go-ahead score might be his best route and overall play of the day.
Lined up in bunch with Allen Robinson II and tight end Connor Heyward to the right of the Steelers’ offense, Johnson does a fantastic job chewing up ground on Los Angeles cornerback Derion Kendrick.
He gets Kendrick to flip his hips right before the top of his route, and once he gets Kendrick to open up, Johnson has him. Immediately seeing his hips open, Johnson cuts outside on the out route, leading to an easy throw to the far sideline from Pickett for the first down, keeping the Steelers offense rolling right along.
It’s a simple route, but Johnson’s overall pace, footwork and football IQ are top notch as a route runner.
The route on his 39-yard catch-and-run is teach-tape though. He’s so quick in and out of his cuts and creates such easy separation, it makes hard for quarterbacks to not throw him the football.
Great body manipulation within the route, selling the out route before whipping back inside, leading to the completion. Then, he has good vision to make two defenders miss and rack up a few more yards on the play. Special talent.
His presence alone opened things up for Pickens late in the game, too.
Check out the third-down completion to Pickens for 31 yards. Watch safety Russ Yeast roll coverage to Johnson, giving Witherspoon help over the top. That movement by Yeast opened up the middle of the field that Pickens streaked through, making the big catch. His presence alone on the field is huge for the Steelers moving forward.
Hopefully there’s more impact play from Johnson coming down the stretch this season.
