Diontae Johnson Reveals The Steelers Cornerback In 2023 That Forces Him To Go Deeper Into His Bag Of Tricks

One of the more underrated Pittsburgh Steelers podcasts that has rapidly risen as a fan favorite is the Steel Here podcast with co-hosts, Kevin Adams and Jersey Jerry. It is presented by Barstool Sports and the duo has had some incredible guests thus far including Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Le'Veon Bell. The list of big-named guests got longer when Pittsburgh's top wide receiver, Diontae Johnson sat down to have a conversation regarding the 2023 offseason and upcoming regular season. Johnson answered questions about his reputation for drops, teammates and much more.

Pittsburgh has had a very uncharacteristic offseason in terms of what most fans usually expect from the franchise. General Manager, Omar Khan was wildly aggressive in free agency while also making multiple moves during the 2023 NFL Draft. There were several moments that had fans double checking to confirm that whatever the breaking news was actually happened to be real or not.

One of the first big moves was bringing in veteran and future Hall of Fame candidate, Patrick Peterson to lead the way in the cornerback room. He is entering his 13th professional season and has 34 career interceptions. He will serve as a mentor for guys like Joey Porter Jr. and the injured, Cory Trice Jr. Jerry wanted to know if the veteran is past his prime or if Peterson still has it on the football field.

"Pat Pete, he still has it. I love playing against Pat Pete because he gonna make me work. A lot of times, I try to do certain stuff against him that, but he's already seen it so many times so it's like, he plays his technique so well," Johnson said.

Peterson has had the opportunity to go up against hundreds of wide receivers throughout his career. As shifty as Johnson is, it's no surprise that the 13-year vet was making things difficult for the Steelers young offense in training camp.

Johnson continued and did acknowledge that Peterson isn't as quick as he once was, now being 33 years of age, but the cornerback still knows how to use his skills to his advantage.

"He may not be as fast as he used to, but he's going to play his technique. He's going to be a little more patient than he used to be and what not."

Steelers' Johnson Has To Dive Deep Into His Repertoire When Going Against Peterson

Pittsburgh's top wideout didn't stop there when discussing Peterson being a tough guy to go up against. It's extremely hard for defenders to guard Johnson because of his quick cuts and excellent route-running, but the veteran in Peterson forced him to really pull out all the stops when the two went head-to-head throughout training camp.

"Me going up against him allows me go in my bag [of tricks] a little more. He's gonna throw me off my route or throw the timing off and little stuff like that. I really gotta get in my bag when it comes to Pat Pete. He's a great player, Hall of Fame player. He teaches me stuff. I'm always with him and learning."

The final part of Johnson's comments sticks out the most. Peterson has had a decorated career and he is making himself available to guys on both sides of the ball, and not just on the football field. He has taken a mentorship role to a new level which is critical for the ongoing development of younger guys.

Khan and the front office made it a point to make splashes throughout the 2023 offseason and while Peterson no longer has the youth that he once did, he seems to be in great shape. Not only will he be a valuable asset to the Steelers defense for the next two seasons, but he has seen it all on and off the field during his time in the NFL and will continue to be a phenomenal player for younger guys to look up to.

Are you surprised that Johnson has to get a little more creative when going one-on-one against Peterson in practices? Let us know in the comments below!

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