23/14 in targets but 14/13 in receptions. Is it his route running or separation that's the problem? Or does Ben have a problem throwing it to him?
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WR Diontae Johnson, CAR (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
I actually read earlier that Ben hasn't been anticipating DJ's speed, and has thrown behind him on a few occasions. You have to figure Ben is throwing to open receivers, and Johnson gets great separation regularly.
Hu-Tang Clan
Footballguy
In my contract keeper league we can start 3 WR's and right now I'm rostering Godwin and Evans plus Diontae and JuJu. Nice problem to have but someone gets the bench each week.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Aznflyer14
Footballguy
It takes time for connection to be fully developed. Prior to this season, Johnson had less than year with Roethlisberger last year. The fact that Roethlisberger admitted the need to trust his receivers particularly with Johnson bodes well for him. And they both are taking initiative to improve their connection even now. I like the fact that Roethlisberger continued to target Johnson in the season-opener even after his bout of jittery (and miffed punt return, resulting fumble loss).
Don't worry, boys... Johnson will be WR1 by end of season this year. I would be extremely happy if he produces 75% of AB during his best years with Roethlisberger.
Aznflyer14
Footballguy
This is great read and the following excerpt have reinforced my belief on Johnson's potential this year.Faust said:
BigTex
Don't mess with Texas
A friendly reminder from page one:
'He checked all of the boxes'
Apr 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Why you should be excited about third-round pick Diontae Johnson:
He's special: Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 183-pound wide receiver from Toledo, produced four return scores (two on punts and two on kickoffs) over the last two seasons. He averaged 20.2 yards per punt return and 23.4 yards per kickoff return at Toledo.
He's decorated: Johnson was the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, first-team all-MAC at punt returner and wide receiver and second-team at kickoff returner in 2018.
He's productive: Johnson caught 137 passes for 2,276 yards and 24 touchdowns in 38 games at Toledo. His best season was in 2017, when he caught 74 passes for 1,278 yards ( a Toledo single-season record) and 13 touchdowns and led the MAC in all-purpose yards per game (148.0).
He has character and charisma: "I fell in love with him after spending time with him, dining with him, and talking to him, seeing his passion for the game, his passion for wanting to be great, and his passion for his teammates," Steelers wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said. "As you get to be around him, you're going to love his smile and his personality and his style of play.
"I went to Toledo and spent some time there and with him. I also attended his Pro Day and I met him at the Combine. I had time to really be around him because it was important to me what kind of character he had. That's extremely important and he checked all of the boxes as far as that's concerned.
"I've been doing this for 40 years, and he was one of the best interviews and guys that I've been around in a long time."
The Steelers beat the Bucs to the punch:"There were so many people at his Pro Day and there were so many coaches who were at that Pro Day and everybody raved about this kid, so he probably would not be around (past the third round)," Drake said. "I know for a fact Tampa Bay was going to take him on their next pick, and I got cussed out by the Tampa Bay head coach who called me some names for taking him because that was his guy.
"We all talk, receiver coaches talk. He was the one guy everybody talked about, and there wasn't one guy who didn't like this guy."
He's Roy Hobbs: General Manager Kevin Colbert, like Drake, was effusive in is praise of Johnson.
"Diontae Johnson is a nice insider-, outside-capable receiver that does both punt and kick returns," Colbert assessed. "When we talked about Diontae in our meetings, Phil Kreidler, our scouting coordinator, when he read his report on Diontae was just kind of funny. I know Coach Drake used the same terms, but (Kreidler) must've said 'natural' five times.
"It's just what we believe, that this kid is just a natural football talent."
Tex
'He checked all of the boxes'
Apr 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Why you should be excited about third-round pick Diontae Johnson:
He's special: Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 183-pound wide receiver from Toledo, produced four return scores (two on punts and two on kickoffs) over the last two seasons. He averaged 20.2 yards per punt return and 23.4 yards per kickoff return at Toledo.
He's decorated: Johnson was the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, first-team all-MAC at punt returner and wide receiver and second-team at kickoff returner in 2018.
He's productive: Johnson caught 137 passes for 2,276 yards and 24 touchdowns in 38 games at Toledo. His best season was in 2017, when he caught 74 passes for 1,278 yards ( a Toledo single-season record) and 13 touchdowns and led the MAC in all-purpose yards per game (148.0).
He has character and charisma: "I fell in love with him after spending time with him, dining with him, and talking to him, seeing his passion for the game, his passion for wanting to be great, and his passion for his teammates," Steelers wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said. "As you get to be around him, you're going to love his smile and his personality and his style of play.
"I went to Toledo and spent some time there and with him. I also attended his Pro Day and I met him at the Combine. I had time to really be around him because it was important to me what kind of character he had. That's extremely important and he checked all of the boxes as far as that's concerned.
"I've been doing this for 40 years, and he was one of the best interviews and guys that I've been around in a long time."
The Steelers beat the Bucs to the punch:"There were so many people at his Pro Day and there were so many coaches who were at that Pro Day and everybody raved about this kid, so he probably would not be around (past the third round)," Drake said. "I know for a fact Tampa Bay was going to take him on their next pick, and I got cussed out by the Tampa Bay head coach who called me some names for taking him because that was his guy.
"We all talk, receiver coaches talk. He was the one guy everybody talked about, and there wasn't one guy who didn't like this guy."
He's Roy Hobbs: General Manager Kevin Colbert, like Drake, was effusive in is praise of Johnson.
"Diontae Johnson is a nice insider-, outside-capable receiver that does both punt and kick returns," Colbert assessed. "When we talked about Diontae in our meetings, Phil Kreidler, our scouting coordinator, when he read his report on Diontae was just kind of funny. I know Coach Drake used the same terms, but (Kreidler) must've said 'natural' five times.
"It's just what we believe, that this kid is just a natural football talent."
Tex
He does not show quite the almost ridiculous quick twitch moves that AB had and the almost as ridiculous contested catch hands AB had but this is year two and I'd love to see a side by side at the same time because it looks eerily the same and I only really recall AB at his peak (end). DJ might be even better in the open field - returning the ball has taught him to cut up field where occasionally A.B would dance.
At 20 games in and only 5 with Ben he is playing at what looks like an easy 100+ catch pace. We'll see what happens when they start to roll coverage because that is coming.
At 20 games in and only 5 with Ben he is playing at what looks like an easy 100+ catch pace. We'll see what happens when they start to roll coverage because that is coming.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Good grief
Milkman
Footballguy
Buck Bradcanon
Footballguy
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Throwing gas on the fire.
creepythinman
Footballguy
In Dynasty, I would rather have Metcalf and McLaurin (Ben will be retired in a year or two and Haskins will be cut in a year or two).
Metcalf, AJ Brown and then he's tied with McLaurin for me because of this (QB)
That said Steelers are a competent franchise I am sure they'll find someone
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Manster
Footballguy
Interesting....
I'm choosing between Diontae and Terry this week and all rankings have Terry, but I am leaning Diontae based on matchup, and what we've been hearing about chemistry between him and Ben moving forward.....love Terry as well, but I could see browns D stuffing wash offense.
I'm choosing between Diontae and Terry this week and all rankings have Terry, but I am leaning Diontae based on matchup, and what we've been hearing about chemistry between him and Ben moving forward.....love Terry as well, but I could see browns D stuffing wash offense.
Sam Darnold certainly wishes
How is he overrated?
1000 yards on 84 targets as a rookie with Mariota for almost half the season--not to mention a physical freak
I have both too so it's not ownership bias
Milkman
Footballguy
Just a lot of long break away TDs he won't get most years. I'm not saying he's bad he's just not as good as his rookie stats would imply. Diontae on the other hand is special in several ways. Just my opinion and we'll have to see how this year plays out. Typically injuries have a huge impact on things.
That's fair
In redraft I liked Diontae a lot more at his 7th-8th round price than Brown at his 3rd-4th but long term I don't think it's clear
Milkman
Footballguy
Aznflyer14
Footballguy
Funny, I have both on my roster in Dynasty League. In rookie draft last year, I had a shot to take AJ Brown at 1.06 but I decided to trade down to accumulate more picks (resulting Deebo Samuel and Diontae Johnson). I love Brown's talents but I dont love his team's offensive scheme (it's run-heavy and little bit dose of play action).Milkman said:
JoeSteeler
Footballguy
In my 16 team PPR league I started Juju and Dionte in the first 2 weeks and will start them this week as well.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Don’t see why ya wouldn’t. Some weeks it’ll be JuJu, Some it’ll be Dionte, some it might even be both if the cards fall right.
Neither has a bad floor - JJSS had 7 catches last weekend, so while he didn’t get into the end zone he was still a PPR stud.
Milkman
Footballguy
Agreed. The defense is pretty good too. Might hold Diontae back from going nuclear this year. Probably just WR 5-6 lolol
-OZ-
Footballguy
It's hard to argue against what could have been, but I sure didn't see Paris being quite at this level.tangfoot said:
Milkman said:
I'll put the 3 in the same tier, McClaurin below. We'll see what happens when AJ gets healthy. But these 3 are pretty close. I'll probably take Brown, just as a titans fan, but DK is probably the most valuable objectively (partly because he has one of the truly elite QBs throwing the rock)
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
this is an extremely difficult question.
If we’re truly assuming “competence” of QBs remains constant, I probably take the 1st, because the PIT offense is well tailored to Roethlisburger & I’m not yet sure of what the TB offense’s identity is.
I know PIT is gonna run the ball and sling the rock. And as of this moment, Big Ben & the Steelers are clicking a little better than TB & his Bucs air game.
It’s a big assumption though considering age of QB & current backups.
Milkman
Footballguy
Agreed Wilson adds to DK's value for sure.It's hard to argue against what could have been, but I sure didn't see Paris being quite at this level.
I'll put the 3 in the same tier, McClaurin below. We'll see what happens when AJ gets healthy. But these 3 are pretty close. I'll probably take Brown, just as a titans fan, but DK is probably the most valuable objectively (partly because he has one of the truly elite QBs throwing the rock)
brewer
Footballguy
-OZ-
Footballguy
You'll take a 31yo Julio for the next decade? He's great but that seems a bit of a stretch.
I do agree these two are among the elite groups right now.
brewer
Footballguy
I think projecting anyone for a decade is tough. I think Julio is elite for the next 5 at least so worth considering. I love Dionte, but if I had to pick right now(even for 10 years) it would be the Falcons pair followed by the Bucs pair followed by the Steelers pair.
Glad it's you, and not because I traded JuJu this week to get him in to my starting line-up.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Finally get the nerve to start him and it’s a 0. It’s been one of those seasons.Grid71 said:
LawFitz
Footballguy
If Claypool is still on your wire get him this week even if you have to overbid. Officially had 4 targets and caught one. The three misses weren't catchable balls, but we're longish looks. And he had two others that didn't hit the box due to penalty, one of which was a PI against his defender/mauler. Oh and his one catch was a screen where he bossed two tacklers near the LOS, then very nearly took it for a TD, missing by a hair.
He looked WAY better than James Washington. The breakout is coming soon IMO, if Diontae misses games.
He looked WAY better than James Washington. The breakout is coming soon IMO, if Diontae misses games.
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foxco
Footballguy
Buck Bradcanon
Footballguy
It happens.
Hopefully he can get healthy and play week 4.
Hopefully he can get healthy and play week 4.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
It does happen and it’s not his fault. It’s maddening though when week two you lose Campbell and get a 0 and the same thing happens the following week. There will be much better weeks ahead.
