Steelers’ Diontae Johnson says it’s on the players to fix team’s offensive struggles; WR offers solutions

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense can also be summed up by means of the first play throughout Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

On the play, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett introduced a deep ball to Diontae Johnson, who had gotten previous the protection. But the two may no longer attach on the throw, and the Steelers in the end punted the ball away. 

So shut, but thus far away.

Pickett and Johnson had some other likelihood to make a large play later in the part. But Pickett threw in the back of Johnson on what will have been a go-ahead landing move. Pittsburgh settled for 3 issues as an alternative of a landing. 

So shut, however once more, thus far away. 

Halloween could be arising, however the method the Steelers’ offense is taking part in, it is going to as smartly be Groundhog Day. The unit continues to transfer at a snails tempo early in video games. Sometimes, they conquer their sluggish begins with a frantic end, like they did the earlier two video games. But that did not occur on Sunday, a lot to the chagrin of the team’s No. 1 receiver. 

“I was pissed,” Johnson instructed CBS Sports when requested about the Steelers’ offensive struggles, particularly early on. “I had a lot of stuff going through my head. ‘Why aren’t we moving the ball? What’s the issue?’ But at the end of the day, like I said, we’ve just got to keep playing, keep believing in one another.” 

Sunday’s loss will handiest building up the complaint surrounding offensive coordinator Matt Canada. “Fire Canada” chants have been once more heard on Sunday from Steelers enthusiasts who’ve run out of endurance. 

Johnson, alternatively, does not assume the finger must be pointed at Canada. It must as an alternative be pointed at the players. 

“It’s on us, it’s not the coaches,” Johnson mentioned. “We’re the ones out there that’s got to play at the end of the day. All they can do is just call the play. Obviously, it’s got to be the right play for the right defense or look or whatever it is. But it’s on us at the end of the day to start fast and stop making excuses all the time. Just find a way to turn it around, regardless.”

Johnson’s go back from a hamstring damage must assist the Steelers’ offense shifting ahead. Despite lacking a just right chew of the season with the damage, Johnson had 5 catches for 79 yards in remaining week’s win over the Rams and 8 catches for 85 yards on Sunday.  

“Really, just staying around the team,” Johnson mentioned of his fast turnaround from the damage. “Making sure I’m on top of my plays and not letting my mind wander. Just being around the team, they kept me sane, kept my mind right and on the right path. Once I got back, it was like second nature again. Really, understanding the game and understanding leverages and stuff like that. That helps you out as a receiver, knowing what release to use and how to run your route. Little stuff like that.” 

How does Johnson’s go back assist Pittsburgh’s offense? 

 “It takes the pressure off and allows us to have a lot of one-on-one matchups,” Johnson mentioned. “If they go zone, [Allen Robinson] can work the middle, either one of us can work the middle based off the formations.”

Making a large play early, Johnson mentioned, may additionally assist the Steelers get off to a quick get started. Specifically, he mentioned that he and George Pickens want to do extra early on to assist Pittsburgh’s offense get on observe. 

“We’ve got to make a play,” he mentioned. “We feed off each other, then everybody starts rolling.”

Johnson is aware of how to assist the offense, however he echoed an oft-heard reaction when he used to be requested why the offense is not doing the ones issues, particularly early in video games. 

“I don’t know, to be honest,” Johnson mentioned. 

Making issues extra difficult is Pickett’s rib damage that held him out of the 2d part. Mitch Trubisky, who supplied a brief spark by means of hitting Pickens for a landing, threw two sick urged interceptions whilst forcing the ball downfield. 

Regardless of who performs quarterback, regardless that, the Steelers’ different offensive players know that it’s on them to make performs whilst getting rid of errors. 

“In this league, it’s next man up,” mentioned operating again Jaylen Warren. “Cant’ focus on those variables.” 

Speaking of Warren, he and fellow again Najee Harris have been almost invisible on Sunday. They had a mixed 12 carries for 32 yards as Pittsburgh rushed for simply 70 yards, which performed proper into the Jaguars’ fingers. 

“Really, just going into the game, we were just trying to be as aggressive as possible,” mentioned Jaguars defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton. “Just impose our will on them, and that’s what we did. We stopped the run. They had a hard time passing the ball, too. Just trying to be as effective as possible.” 

 Fortunately (or sadly, relying on the way you take a look at it), the Steelers shall be pressured to put Sunday’s sport in the back of them, what with the Titans coming to Pittsburgh on Thursday evening. While the brief turnaround supplies evident bodily and schematic demanding situations, it might probably receive advantages a crew this is taking a look to erase the stink of a foul sport. 

“We play Thursday, so we’ve got to go in there tomorrow, lock in, get our feet back from that game and get ready for this next game,” tight finish Connor Heyward mentioned. “They just won. No other way to put it. Not going to make an excuse. They just beat us. We’ve got to learn from this and get better.” 

While Sunday’s sport used to be only one loss, it in many ways is a microcosm of what the Steelers had been since they began the 2020 season with 11 instantly wins. Pittsburgh completed that season 1-5, went 9-7-1 in 2021 and have been 9-8 remaining season. The Steelers, a crew that prides itself on competing for and successful championships, is 23-24-1 (together with the postseason) since their 11-0 get started 3 years in the past. 

That report isn’t misplaced on Steelers enthusiasts, who’ve grown pissed off with their team’s incapacity to transfer up the AFC’s proverbial meals chain in spite of fielding a roster that incorporates a few of the NFL’s largest stars, together with defensive studs T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

Sunday’s sport will have been a commentary sport. Instead, it used to be some other irritating afternoon for a crew and particularly an offense this is nonetheless attempting to in finding its method. 

Until they in finding no matter is lacking, there is truly just one factor the Steelers’ offense can do. 

“I just think we just need to keep fighting,” Warren mentioned. “At times, we’re moving the ball and all that. It’s unfortunate that sometimes we don’t out with the seven points we need. It is what it is.

“Put it in the back of us presently. Just notice the sport is over and simply have to transfer onto the subsequent one.”