Round 3 Pick Diontae Johnson

[SteveA]

O yea of little faith, let me break this down for you....Walk with me here & talk with me.

We lack a big time game changer in the return game. WE HAVE LACKED THIS FOR YEARS NOW......He will be an immediate starter on Special teams as a KO & punt returner. He will get a little times as a receiver, but his impact year 1 will be on returns...

Our kick return team ranked #31 @ 19.3 yds per return.....A long of a whopping 35 yards....WE SUCKED
Our punt return Team ranked #17 @ 8.1 yds per return.....A long of a whopping 23 yards....AB is GONE

Day 1 starter on Special teams. Stuffed Switzer is out, and Big-Check has checked out....

This boy can flip the field....You will love this pick when he starts breaking off 50-75 yard returns

 

[Tibs]

Wow, Steelers had a first round grade on Diontae Johnson.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Third-round picks WR Diontae Johnson of Toledo and CB Justin Layne of Michigan State are at the Steelers facility already this morning. Steelers had a first-round grade on Johnson, one of the most underrated receivers in the draft.</p>— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) <a href="https://twitter.com/gerrydulac/status/1122162593219653633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Steelworth]

PFF had him rated as the #11 WR in the entire draft (take that with a grain of salt). They had DK Metcalf rated #1.

 

[ianv2012]

Again, he was going to be picked in the THIRD ROUND by Tampa (4 picks later) if we didn't take him.

Let that marinate...

Keep trying, that skull is super thick, nothing getting through yet. Hopefully, eventually people pointing to these sites that him projected low read some of these posts that disprove that narrative........yeah, I won't hold my breath

 

[Steelworth]

I remember two other small school WRs just off the top of my head who went on to be pretty good NFL players.

One from Central Michigan University.

One from a really small school called Mississippi Valley State.

And as Darryl Drake pointed out, our HOF QB went to a small school as well.

 

[Steelworth]

Keep trying, that skull is super thick, nothing getting through yet.

And to anyone who says the Buccaneers are the bastion of evaluating talent, remember Bruce Arians has a pretty good track record with Wide Receivers.

 

[stuntmanmike]

if you had to have a receiver where they took him why not trade up few places take Andy Isabella?? 4.3 quicker than a cartoon rabbit... no... now we get the word today TOMLIN liked him..... ok well he should own this pick and start being held accountable for some of these picks..... I remember him waxing on how great Ziggy hood was going to be... another Tomlin favorite... well see goooo steeelersssssss

 

[Steelworth]

Go to the Steelers website and watch the interview with Darryl Drake talking about this kid.

It wasn't just Mike Tomlin who liked him.

 

[FAB802]

The I told you so lemmings are already lining up. Love draft weekend around here.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Well if Mike Tomlin liked the kid, how could it possibly be wrong!!!!!
Look here is my frustration. Seattle conspires with NE and for a 4th they jump past the Steelers (Geez I wonder why???) to take quite a polarizing player in Metcalf. But by polarizing, I mean anywhere between 1st round and third. There are still guys on the board who are solid second/ third round grades like Cambell and Boykin and Winovich who some saw perhaps as a reach one. You go out and get a polarizing player of your own. Except he is 3-5 polarizing. And then who takes Winovich???? But hey if the Tampa Bay Bucs in all their rich success wanted this guy. ****, I'm sold.

 

[steelhurt]

Well, like Tomlin or not,they have a pretty damn good record of drafting receivers.

And no the NFL is not a huge conspiracy. The draft is a crap shot and not an exact science. Who out of all these picks is going to work out will take some time.

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[troymania]

I like this pick. I read about Johnson on NFL Draft Network. I watched his game tape against Miami Fla., he ate them up and his QB this year was awful and ran almost every time his first read was covered. As for Hakeem Butler, the Steelers were never taking this guy. He dropped 12 passes last year, 12 for a 16.9% drop rate. Sure his highlight reel looks good but that is a boatload of drops.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Well, like Tomlin or not,they have a pretty damn good record of drafting receivers.

And no the NFL is not a huge conspiracy. The draft is a crap shot and not an exact science. Who out of all these picks is going to work out will take some time.

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I never said it was a huge conspiracy. But lets think about it, who is a better trading partner for NE with Metcalf (Who could be David Boston or Megatron). Seattle or Pittsburgh.
Oh and at this point I don't dislike Mike Tomlin. At this point as a coach, not as a person, I ****** hate him.

 

[DBS1970]

I think you are getting too caught up on his 40 time. He plays faster.

Know what I’m getting caught up on is objective measurable facts. The guy is 5’11” and not explosive fast. In the NFL those two things together are a negative.

 

[topseed]

Question: How many people on this board evaluate college football players for a living?

Let me know how all your interviews and pro days went....

Question: For how wonderful the Steelers' reputation is for drafting receivers, how well have their last three taken in the third round panned out?

2015: Sammie Coates -- 29 career catches, including 1 for 12 yards in his 12 games with the Texans in 2018.
2014: Dri Archer -- 7 career catches, out of the league after 2 horrendous seasons.
2013: Markus Wheaton -- 110 career catches, including a grand total of 7 since 2016.

Sure, prior to that, Manny Sanders and Mike Wallace were good third round picks, which should probably be expected from people who "evaluate college football players for a living," right?

Tired of hearing how great the Steelers are with picking wideouts. Seems to me like it's a ******* crapshoot.


Some fans like the pick, some don't. It's a message board. Let me know when an NFL team gives two ***** about any of our opinions.

 

[Steeltime]

5’11” is not a midget.

Indeed. That's actually quite tall.

 

[slashsteel]

Know what I’m getting caught up on is objective measurable facts. The guy is 5’11” and not explosive fast. In the NFL those two things together are a negative.

He is explosive enough to have that quickness attribute get him open. He is explosive enough to have a punt and a kickoff return for a TD in the same season..

I guess we will have to wait and see how less or more than what we actually think.

 

[Litos]

if he is an instant impact on Special Teams then he will be worth the pick as a rookie, if for his 2nd season he carves a spot as top 3 WR it will be more than worth the pick

 

[slashsteel]

I remember two other small school WRs just off the top of my head who went on to be pretty good NFL players.

One from Central Michigan University.

One from a really small school called Mississippi Valley State.

And as Darryl Drake pointed out, our HOF QB went to a small school as well.

neither were burners either


You can get open or you cant. The kid can get open.

 

[slashsteel]

Saw this on Universe..

 

[Steeltime]

Johnson may be just fine as a WR, seems almost certain to take over the KR and PR duties. Here's the thing, though. The Steelers spent draft capital to get Bush, to try and win now.

Winning now requires an upgrade at pass rush for the side opposite Watt. "But Dupree spends a lot of time in coverage." Maybe the Steelers have Dupree in coverage so much is because he is simply ****** at rushing the passer, and Butler believes the team is better off having 210 lb. Mike Hilton rushing the passer.

So upgrade the pass rush at LOLB. Draft Winovich, who has ideal size (6'3", 256 lbs.), plus speed for an edge rusher (4.59 40), solid 3-cone. He has the tools to be an effective pass rusher in the NFL, but needs to improve his ability to disengage from a lineman.

That can be taught. 6'3", 256 lbs., 4.59 40 and 6.94 3-cone cannot be taught. Get him, and now the ILB position has a guy who can cover the middle of the field, where the two OLB'ers can rush the passer, and where Layne improves the CB position.

Go Bush, Winovich, Layne first 3, and then Ridley in the 4th. Yes, the team loses out on Snell, but upgrading the pass rush is the key to improving the pass defense. And to those who say, "Hey, the Steelers tied for the NFL lead in sacks in 2018," I respond - true. But how many times did we see the team fail to close out games in the 4th quarter in significant part because Dupree was in coverage and the QB had too damn much time?? Too many, that's how many.

 

[slashsteel]

Johnson may be just fine as a WR, seems almost certain to take over the KR and PR duties. Here's the thing, though. The Steelers spent draft capital to get Bush, to try and win now.

Winning now requires an upgrade at pass rush for the side opposite Watt. "But Dupree spends a lot of time in coverage." Maybe the Steelers have Dupree in coverage so much is because he is simply ****** at rushing the passer, and Butler believes the team is better off having 210 lb. Mike Hilton rushing the passer.

So upgrade the pass rush at LOLB. Draft Winovich, who has ideal size (6'3", 256 lbs.), plus speed for an edge rusher (4.59 40), solid 3-cone. He has the tools to be an effective pass rusher in the NFL, but needs to improve his ability to disengage from a lineman.

That can be taught. 6'3", 256 lbs., 4.59 40 and 6.94 3-cone cannot be taught. Get him, and now the ILB position has a guy who can cover the middle of the field, where the two OLB'ers can rush the passer, and where Layne improves the CB position.

Go Bush, Winovich, Layne first 3, and then Ridley in the 4th. Yes, the team loses out on Snell, but upgrading the pass rush is the key to improving the pass defense. And to those who say, "Hey, the Steelers tied for the NFL lead in sacks in 2018," I respond - true. But how many times did we see the team fail to close out games in the 4th quarter in significant part because Dupree was in coverage and the QB had too damn much time?? Too many, that's how many.

They did draft two prospects with some pass rush skills. Maybe one of them helps.

As a team the Steelers have done decent in the sack department or not?

We know Bud is a 5 sack guy, they will just have to get pressure from a group of players, as they have been.

I think the coverage units have been more of a defensive downfall when assessing problems.

And they went hard addressing that both in free agency and the draft...

 

[steelhurt]

I never said it was a huge conspiracy. But lets think about it, who is a better trading partner for NE with Metcalf (Who could be David Boston or Megatron). Seattle or Pittsburgh.
Oh and at this point I don't dislike Mike Tomlin. At this point as a coach, not as a person, I ****** hate him.

We don’t know about any of these players for at least a couple seasons. Yes, Tomlin first noticed him and sent Drake to learn more. Drake too became impressed with the kid as a player and a young man. The kid put up some good tape and I like what he brings. As you say, Metcalf could be Megatron or Boston, as Johnson could be AB II or Will Blackwell. We will find out that’s for certain.
Oh, I cannot stand Tomlin and have said many times we will never again win anything as long as he’s here.


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[Steeltime]

As a team the Steelers have done decent in the sack department or not?

Yes, but the team needs a LOLB that can end the game with a pass rush in the 4th quarter. They have a guy on the right already who can do that - Watt. They have two or three good DL who can rush the passer.

But that LOLB spot is just a weakness that could have been addressed. Put Winovich in the game to rush the passer, not cover. Stop with a complicated zone blitz that requires the LOLB'er to cover a WR, and let pass rushers, I don't know, RUSH THE PASSER.

They did draft two prospects with some pass rush skills. Maybe one of them helps.

Yeah, but one is a DL and the other is a 233 lb. edge rusher who really struggled against NFL-quality linemen in the Senior Bowl.

Winovich can rush the passer in the NFL. He did so against some quality offensive linemen in the Big 10 and bowl games. He improves the pass rush right away.

We know Bud is a 5 sack guy, they will just have to get pressure from a group of players, as they have been.

I think the coverage units have been more of a defensive downfall when assessing problems.

These two issues are related. The coverage is an issue a lot of times because on 3rd and 14, the opposing QB has all freaking day back there. One more solid pass rusher ends that.

I think Bush upgrades pass coverage in the middle of the field due to his explosiveness and speed. Put another pass rusher like Winovich on the field, and let him, Watt, Heyward, Tuitt go after the passer. Those 4 will generate pass rush. If the RB stays in to block, Bush can then attack the pocket as well.

 

[bermudasteel]

Well if Mike Tomlin liked the kid, how could it possibly be wrong!!!!!
Look here is my frustration. Seattle conspires with NE and for a 4th they jump past the Steelers (Geez I wonder why???) to take quite a polarizing player in Metcalf. But by polarizing, I mean anywhere between 1st round and third. There are still guys on the board who are solid second/ third round grades like Cambell and Boykin and Winovich who some saw perhaps as a reach one. You go out and get a polarizing player of your own. Except he is 3-5 polarizing. And then who takes Winovich???? But hey if the Tampa Bay Bucs in all their rich success wanted this guy. ****, I'm sold.

Did you watch any film (not highlights) on DK Metcalf??? I've seen the kid play over the past 3 years and HE ONLY RUNS THREE ROUTES. His hips are stiff and he turns like an aircraft carrier in the ocean. But you like his straight line speed - sobeit...

#stopyapouting