David Johnson a silent cog in Steelers offensive machine

Some Steelers fans were having a little bit of unfair fun with Pittsburgh’s first announcement of free agency.

The team brought back dependable hybrid tight end/fullback David Johnson on a two-year deal Thursday.

https://twitter.com/m_annarella/status/839969074629251075

Johnson, who was drafted by the Steelers in 2009 (seventh round) took a two-year hiatus from the team before returning in 2016 on a one-year deal. Since he’s primarily used as a blocking back, some fans were mocking the “big news” in jest, versus some of the big spending and big moves made around the league the same day.

Johnson’s signing plays into Pittsburgh’s yearly free agency philosophy, where the team is more willing to open their pocketbooks to pay their own players, than spend on bringing outsiders in from other organizations. While he’s not the flashiest name on the roster, his role is one that cannot be overlooked or undervalued. While he only caught seven passes last season, five of those were good for first downs (one of those on a fourth down).

DJ also converted a two-point attempt in Cleveland, giving the browns an even 14-point edge over the Browns heading into halftime of that game.

Quietly, Johnson gets a fair amount of playing time. Our staff was once skeptical of his role with the team, and considered him a roster bubble player heading into training camp last season. However, with injuries to tight ends Ladarius Green and Xavier Grimble, as well as fullback Roosevelt Nix, the Steelers leaned upon Johnson to wear a number of hats in the offensive playbook.

Fifteen players would get more playing time on offense, but only ten of those ahead of Johnson would see 50% or more of the snaps. (Five offensive linemen, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are eight of them.) DJ would wind up playing nearly 24% of the Steelers offensive plays, inline with other rotational players such as Chris Hubbard (30%) and the trifecta of receivers who manned the outside (Sammie Coates, Cobi Hamilton and Darrius Heyward-Bey).

Needless to say he’s a chess piece in the mental game-planning mind games played between coordinators, and an asset who doesn’t rot on the bench. Ever versatile, Johnson also saw some time on special teams as well (playing nearly 20% of the coverage plays) and mixes in as a blocker who can catch when called upon.

Of his 11 targets, none of the 4 passes that went uncaught were drops. That’s as steady of an output as you’d like from a player who isn’t thrown to once on average, per game.

With that said, we’re excited as David is to have him back in The Burgh for the 2017 season, and beyond.

David Johnson on what @steelers mean to him: “I always considered myself a Steeler. It’s a special place. The only place I want to play.'

— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) March 9, 2017