Anyone who has listened to Mike Tomlin over the years knows that he appreciates players who can make what he calls "splash plays." These are the moments that can turn a single play into a game-changing moment that alters the momentum in a major way.
In the battle for the final receiver spots on the roster, Ryan Switzer has been a consistent slot option and returner Eli Rogers has been the better slot receiver, Tevin Jones has been a decent big-bodied outside receiver, and Diontae Spencer has been fun to watch on return teams and on reverses.
But Johnny Holton put on several shows throughout training camp and preseason to make his case to be the Steelers' final receiver on the roster. We go over his case before the Steelers release their final 53-man roster:
Holton came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent signed by the Raiders in 2016. He stayed with them for three seasons before being sent to the practice squad twice in 2018 and eventually let go. Now he's with the Steelers trying to show his value.
Holton looks like a speedster on tape, even if his 40-yard dash was a 4.54 at the NFL Scouting Combine back in 2016. He accelerates quickly to make defenders miss and put on sudden moves in space. His downfall has been unreliable hands in recent seasons. He caught only 11 of his career 22 targets and has four career fumbles from scrimmage on just 17 touches. Those are not encouraging numbers.
But the Steelers took a chance and liked the big-play ability he flashed in training camp. He took on challenges to get better at various parts of his game. During returns you could hear special teams coach Danny Smith yell for Holton to switch his ball hand to his sideline hand on multiple occasions, a fundamental flaw for those who fumble too much.
But Holton didn't fumble a single time in preseason despite his reputation. In four games he caught seven of 11 targets for 167 yards and had a touchdown. He had the 10th-most receiving yards in the NFL this preseason while James Washington had the third most with 208.
Holton quickly made a splash with a 71-yard play when he caught a shallow cross from Mason Rudolph against the Buccaneers. Wasn't much to show as a route runner, but you saw how explosive he could be when he put on a spin move and then accelerated to the other side of the field, getting the ball inside the 5:
You can also see Holton switch his ball hand on that play, which shows he's been soaking up what the coaches have been trying to teach him.
But what does Holton bring that makes him unique over the other receivers? His speed certainly factors in as a deep threat if he lines up outside the numbers and he flashed the ability to both return and be a gunner on special teams. That puts him in Darrius Heyward-Bey's company, the veteran receiver who stayed with the Steelers for five seasons filling that exact role.
Watch his release up the sideline for his 31-yard touchdown Thursday against the Panthers. Holton uses a stutter step to slow the cornerback's drop just enough to that he accelerates he is at full speed. This gives him a couple of steps and Rudolph the window for a good touchdown throw:
Holton looked the part of a receiver who could beat cornerbacks outside the numbers with solid footwork as well as speed. A few minutes before his touchdown he put on a well-sold double move on an out-and-up. Watch how he develops the entire route. He fires off straight and sells the out hard with a strong jab step, dipping his whole body to the sideline to sell the move. That caused cornerback Ryan Pulley to bite hard on the out, opening up the sideline and the big play:
Those three plays accounted for 148 of Holton's 167 preseason yards. But it's how he pulled them off that makes him an interesting candidate as the Steelers' final receiver.
I expect the Steelers to keep six receivers this season again, with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington and Diontae Johnson as the locked top four.
But the final two spots could be tricky for Tomlin and Kevin Colbert to settle. Rogers and Switzer have experience with the team and good rapports with Ben Roethlisberger. But both are similar players as small slot receivers and return men.
But Rogers is two years older, costs $1.2 million in cap space compared to Switzer's $645,000, and has fumbled five times on 98 touches compared to Switzer's three fumbles on 111 career touches. Rogers is the better slot option, but his fumbling and lack of versatility like Switzer's ability to line up in the backfield may cost him.
If a new Steelers receiver is to replace him, Holton could've just made himself the top candidate with an impressive final showing to his preseason.
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