4 Steelers to watch against the Browns on Thursday Night Football

Player to watch No. 2: Diontae Johnson

The Steelers have a fairly dangerous wide receiver room. However, due to the inability of their current signal caller to push the ball downfield, the wide receiver that will be the biggest threat to the Browns on Thursday night is Diontae Johnson.

It’s not that Johnson is not a deep threat as well, but his ability to operate in space can turn simple route concepts into huge gains for Pittsburgh’s offense. Johnson is a sudden athlete that can take a five-yard slant, make a man miss, and turn it into a 20-yard gain.

One concept that Pittsburgh likes is to use their bigger body type receivers — for this example George Pickens on the outside and Chase Claypool in the slot — and send them on vertical routes, clearing out the middle of the field. Then from the opposite side send Johnson on a shallow crossing route creating an easy throw for the quarterback and letting Johnson create after the catch.

Due to the Browns’ recent communication issues in the backend of their defense, a play like this is a low-risk high-reward proposition for the Steelers. Expect to see that concept repeatedly until the Browns prove they can defend it and cut down the shallow crosser. Cornerback, Greg Newsome showed a knack for defending crossing routes last season, but if he’s playing in the slot that responsibility may fall on Martin Emerson on Thursday.

Even with the recent coverage busts, from a personnel standpoint, getting a bead on Johnson needs to be a focal point for the defensive backs this week. The Steelers have been a dink and dunk operation so far this season, and Johnson is by far their most dangerous dinker.