Here are the three reasons that the Steelers offense is more dynamic with Johnson than Washington
The Steelers offense has hit a stall recently, and the team is in desperate need of a new plan if they hope to compete for a Super Bowl. Given the drops that have lamented this team recently, the Steelers are switching around their receivers more often. This was seen heavily this past week when James Washington came in for Diontae Johnson after a pair of drops early in the game.
While the Steelers certainly have a deep group at receiver that allows them to sub these players in like this, long term this may be a mistake. While both players have their pros and cons, the Steelers offense flows better with Johnson on the field. While he needs to get his drops worked out, the Steelers offense works far better when he is getting looks on gameday. With all of this said, here are the three reasons that the Steelers’ offense is more dynamic with Johnson over Washington.
Important to note
Washington is a really good player, and this in no way an argument that he should be on the bench. He has made a lot of good plays this year, and as of late has been one of the best receivers on the team. That said, what he excels at isn’t what the Steelers need right now. He is a good player, but his strengths don’t mesh with the offense’s current strengths. He should still play a role in this offense, but overall, Johnson fits better with what the team is trying to do right now.
What Washington offers
Washington is one of the most unique receivers on this team, as he is billed as a deep threat despite not being an elite athlete. This is apparent on the field, as more often than not, Washington wins with physical catches instead of simply burning the defense. As well, he is a tough receiver with great hands. He isn’t afraid to take a hit, and when he does have the ball, he will run through you if given the chance.
His best trait is his ability to win deep, but the issue is, the Steelers aren’t throwing the ball deep. This has limited Washington in this scheme, as what he does best is essentially a nonfactor due to the issues persisting with Ben Roethlisberger. Right now, Roethlisberger is missing consistently with his deep passes and is instead focusing on the short game. This was evident against the Bills.
Washington beat Levi Wallace off the snap, but the pass was so poorly underthrown that Washington had to stop his route. Had that pass been on point, Washington would have scored. Instead, he had to try and adjust but the pass was intercepted instead. The Steelers are focused only on short passes, and while Washington can still serve a role there, he becomes more of a possession receiver instead.
Again, going back to the Bills game, Washington caught a short drag route, and despite having a little space, he couldn’t do anything with after the catch. He isn’t shifty like Johnson, he’s more physical. If the Steelers were attacking with deeper passes, then he would have a better fit within the offense. That said, with the offense playing like it is right now, Washington isn’t the best option to play.
What Johnson offers
On the flip side of things, Johnson’s style of play is much better suited to this offense. That said, he has a glaring issue that needs to be resolved: his drops. As of now, he has 12 drops on the season, a glaring number that makes him a risk to be out on the field. That said, he has shown just what the reward can be when he is catching the ball.
Without question, Johnson is the most effective receiver with the ball in his hands. He can make any defender miss due to his elite agility on the field. Over half of his receiving yards have come after the catch, a testament to his ability to make guys miss. As well, he may be the best route runner of the receivers, as his routes are sharp. Even better, he can win deep as well. Looking past his drops, he may be the best overall receiver on the roster right now.
The best argument for him right now is the fact that the Steelers offense is focused on the short passing game. The team can get the ball into Johnson’s hands quickly and allow him to make the big plays after the catch. The Steelers subscribed to this plan often during games, as he was by far the most targeted receiver on the team despite him missing time with injuries. The team knows how effective he can be, and that’s why it’s been hard for the Steelers to completely bench him.
Are his drops an issue? Obviously, but that doesn’t mean that Johnson isn’t talented. Based on how the offense is trying to be right now, Johnson is the best bet to keep the ball moving. He can turn any short play into a huge gain, and while his drops are infuriating, he is a risk/reward receiver right now. Unless the Steelers offense gets the deep ball going again, Johnson continues to be the best fit as a receiver in this scheme.
What their role is on the offense
This is honestly the biggest issue with trying to bench Johnson in favor of Washington. While both players are talented, both play different positions as receivers. For the most part, Johnson is the Steelers’ typical “X” receiver while Washington takes on the “Z” spot. The X receiver takes on more physical coverage and is the better route runner. The Z receiver has more of a cushion and is seen as the more typical deep threat.
The main issue is that Chase Claypool has played more as a Z receiver this year. That was one of the primary reasons Washington took a back seat after Claypool emerged, as they play a similar role at receiver. If you take Johnson off the field, that means either Washington or Claypool is playing out of position. This weakens the unit as a whole, and it will limit the receiver that the Steelers line up at the X position.
This makes it really hard to take Johnson off the field. He is the only player that is a natural X receiver for the team, making it a challenge to move one of the other receivers to his spot. As well, his ability to make short catches turn into long gains is his best trait and one that fits in well with this new Steelers offense. Until that changes, Johnson is one of the best options the Steelers can field.
That isn’t to say they can ignore his drops. Obviously, if that issue continues, the team will have no choice but to bench Johnson and play their other receivers outside of their natural positions. That said, assuming he can improve upon his hands, the Steelers’ offense is far more dynamic with Johnson on the field as opposed to without him.