Talented receivers focused on less drops
Steelers assistant coach Ike Hilliard has one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL. He also might have the most mercurial.
In one moment, Diontae Johnson might dazzle with a highlight-reel play when he dances through the defense for a touchdown. And the next he might have a third-down pass in a critical part of the game bounce off his shoulder pads.
Johnson led the NFL with 13 drops last season, but he wasn’t the only receiver on the roster with inconsistent hands. The Steelers had 30 drops on the season. And at one point or another, every receiver and tight end got into the act.
Tight end Eric Ebron was next with seven drops, Chase
Claypool six and James Conner and James Washington four apiece.
“Drops are part of the game,” Hilliard said Wednesday afternoon from Heinz Field, where the Steelers are in the middle of their threeday minicamp. “Obviously, we had too many balls on the ground. It’s been discussed. Our group understands. They know we have to do a better job of not putting the ball on the ground. We work on it every day. We are going to be cognizant of limiting our drops going forward during the season.”
But it was Johnson, due in part to an error-filled outing in a nationally televised game at Buffalo, who became the poster child for the Steelers’ problems with drops. He dropped two passes early in that game and was benched by head coach Mike Tomlin for the remainder of the half of an eventual 26-15 loss.
“It’s part of maturity and growth,” Hilliard said. “We know our guys are not out there trying to play poorly. Diontae is no different. He handled it like a pro. He continues to work diligently. We’re going to see, hopefully, another giant step for him. He’s going to be a big part of what we do.”
Johnson, for all of his issues last season, is one of the most dynamic young receivers in the league. Entering his third season after being drafted in the third round out of the University of Toledo, Johnson had 88 receptions for 923 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020.
While the Steelers receivers displayed inconsistent hands they produced remarkably consistent numbers across the board. JuJu SmithSchuster had 97 catches for 831 yards and nine touchdowns while Chase Claypool burst onto the scene as a rookie and posted 62 catches for 873 yards and nine touchdowns.
Washington (30 receptions, 392 yards and five TDs) and Ray-Ray McCloud (20 receptions, 77 yards) rounded out Hilliard’s top contributors. All five are back after SmithSchuster agreed to terms on a one-year deal after testing free agency.
Having that kind of continuity is an advantage for the Steelers, but new offensive coordinator Matt Canada would like to have his receivers be more interchangeable. That means Smith-Schuster can line up in his familiar spot in the slot, but he also might be called upon to line up outside.
The opposite holds true for Claypool, who spent the majority of his rookie season on the outside. There might be instances when Claypool is asked to lineup in the slot this season. The same goes for Johnson, Washington and McCloud and any of the dark horse candidates that are vying for rosters spots among the receivers.
“Our job is to put players in positions to make plays,” Canada said. “It’s not to run a certain play or a certain scheme or a certain anything. And if we believe putting anybody in any spot on the field gives us the best advantage to do that and to have defenses continuing to wonder what is coming next, that is our challenge. And JuJu is more than capable, as are the rest of our wideouts, to be in different spots.”
Added Hilliard: “We’re working on becoming an offense where we can plug and play guys.”
And eliminate those pesky drops.