PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He still leads the league in dropped passes as do the Steelers as a whole. Diontae Johnson thinks after a couple of drops early and being benched in week 14; he’s found an answer.
“After that Buffalo Bills game, I just really sat down with myself and talked to myself and tried to figure out what was going on with me,” Johnson said Monday. “Really it was just a mental thing, paying attention to outside noise. Once I got rid of that and I started dialing in on myself. And focusing on me, it started showing in a game.”
Since the Buffalo game, Johnson has 19 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-changing TD against the Colts.
“You didn’t see me overthink a lot and try to double-catch the ball and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “I’m locked in and ready to go. I try to keep a positive mindset now. If I drop a ball, it’s a next play mentality. I’m not worried about that drop, it’s in the past. I can’t do nothing about it. That type of thing has been helping me.”
Dropped passes are a subjective stat. Only four receivers in the AFC have been targeted more than Johnson. The second year pro out of Toledo is third in the NFL in passes not caught, but that Top 10 list includes Jerry Jeudy, AJ Green, Calvin Ridley, Allen Robinson, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Terry McLaurin and Chase Claypool. Seattle’s DK Metcalf is 11th and Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins is 15th on that list.
Most of those names considered the best in football. So it can be deceiving to just focus on the ones Johnson does not catch as to his worth to the offense.
Johnson led the Steelers in receiving yards, was second to JuJu Smith-Schuster in receptions and third to JuJu and Chase Claypool in touchdowns.
He also believed he kept his flow going Sunday against Cleveland.
“Those three catches I had the whole game helped us out tremendously.” Johnson said. “In fact that one 40-some yard catch, we were able to get a field goal out of that. I had a first down to help us get in good field position and I think we wound up scoring that drive. And that last deep ball I had, that gave us momentum too. Those three plays helped keep us in the game.”
“That just gave me confidence. I feel like myself again. I just want to continue to show the world that is what I am capable of each Sunday. However far we go and when we get to the offseason, I’m going to work my tail off to come back stronger next year.”