Diontae Johnson “Whatever it is he will work his ass off” on second year QB Kenny Pickett
Published June 23rd, 5:45 EDT
by Bo Marchionte
Pittsburgh – Diontae Johnson has no qualms about who the quarterback is in Pittsburgh, but the fifth-year veteran receiver takes solace in knowing Steelers first-round selection in last year’s NFL Draft, Kenny Pickett has established himself as the starter. Johnson knows the importance of continuous repetitions with his quarterback helps build the chemistry needed to be successful both as a team and individually.
“Yeah, because you don’t have to think about who is throwing you the ball,” Johnson responded when acknowledging the value of Pickett beginning the off-season as the undisputed starting quarterback in Pittsburgh.
“So, you can kind of prepare like I got such and such as a quarterback. Helps you know what to do. I’m not saying anything negative toward any of them (quarterbacks), it just helps you to know what to expect. So, I feel like that has helped me out a lot.”
A general observation of Johnson’s career would lead most to think he spent it entirely with 18-year veteran Ben Roethlisberger under center. Truth is the two-time Super Bowl quarterback was placed on IR with season-ending elbow surgery two weeks into Johnson’s rookie season. He responded by leading the team in receptions (59), while catching passes from the likes of Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.
Chemistry at the quarterback position has been elusive for Johnson to capture during his time in Pittsburgh, despite leading the team in receiving yards every year the last three seasons. After two straight years of catching passes by almost exclusively from Roethlisberger, he retired at the end of the 2022 season.
Johnson had to recalibrate his technique once again to suit both Mitchell Trubisky and Pickett’s throwing style. Trubisky would start the first four games of the season last year before giving way to the then rookie Pickett. Since 2019, he has played with five different quarterbacks who have started at least five games.
“Whoa,” Johnson grins as he quickly tries to dissect the transition from Roethlisberger to Pickett. “From my rookie having Ben (Roethlisberger) then to Kenny is a big change. You got an 18-year guy to a two-year guy.
“Then there is the experience but at the same time he (Pickett) is just as smart. So, the arm might be like Ben, but he (Pickett) got the heart. He’s a good football player. He’s never going to give up. He is always going to try to be the best at throwing or reading. Whatever it is he will work his ass off to be the best at it.”
So, while Johnson is at the facility in Pittsburgh or training in Tampa, Florida at House of Athletes. He knows in the back of his mind that No. 8 is the guy feeding him the ball. It allows him to watch their tape together from last year and study the integral nuances of each other’s tendencies to help fast track how cohesive they can be this upcoming season.
“Repetition is for real,” Johnson said. “If you don’t have those repetitions the timing isn’t going to be down. If you don’t have the timing down, then the ball is going to be all over the place (laughs). I feel like, knowing who you got, that has helped me out personally.”
It’s possible one of Johnson’s best and most unnoticed attributes to playing receiver is meshing immediately with his quarterback. His production has remained unfaltering throughout the carousel of quarterbacks over the last four years. Entering his second season with Pickett he envisions more success in his future.
“Hundred catches,” Johnson said. “Over a thousand yards. All-Pro. Pro Bowl. Championship. I’m humble. I don’t want to come off cocky or nothing like that. I’m humble. I just want to work and play football. Make plays!
“When I say that stuff, I say it in the humblest way. I know how it is because people can take it the wrong way. It’s a blessing. A lot of people don’t get that opportunity and I just want to continue that.”
It’s fair to say to achieve all those goals, Johnson would prefer obtaining them with the same quarterback under center. I bet the Steelers organization would also concur with that statement.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
