Kaleb Johnson has all of the potential on this planet to be an every-down working again within the NFL, however he has one main hurdle to clear for that to be doable. His cross safety is a piece in progress popping out of Iowa, and he’s been working onerous to quickly enhance. He could already be displaying huge progress over the primary few padded practices of coaching camp.
After totally struggling throughout Wednesday’s first backs on ‘backers drill, Johnson got here again on Friday Night time Lights and gained his reps. RB coach Eddie Faulkner was visibly excited watching his rookie working again step up his efficiency.
“He was simply telling me about my method and ensuring I utilized my method to precise play,” Johnson mentioned through Put up-Gazette Sports activities on YouTube. “I did that and he was actually happy with me for it. So I’m simply gonna hold doing it and simply continue to learn.”
The Steelers matched him up in opposition to ILB Mark Robinson on Friday. He is probably not the biggest-name participant on the group, however he appears like an all-world linebacker yearly within the backs on ‘backers drill. He runs proper by folks, however Johnson gained back-to-back reps in opposition to him.
Based on our Alex Kozora’s coaching camp diary, Robinson finally acquired round him on the primary rep, but it surely was late. In an actual state of affairs, that’s in all probability a win for Kaleb Johnson.
That rep sparked a combat and shaped an enormous scrum amongst many gamers on the group. Tomlin had Johnson and Robinson go proper again at it the subsequent play, and Johnson mirrored him and decisively gained the rep.
It’s a constructive signal that Johnson is beginning to take strategies discovered throughout observe and making use of them to game-like situations. Hitting a bag or a weighted medication ball is one factor, however translating that to an actual participant with pads and unpredictable actions is one other. Nonetheless, the identical method utilized. Get a low heart of gravity, mirror your toes and ship a punch to assist decelerate the push.
That’s one thing that Jaylen Warren has been engaged on with him so much after observe. When all people else heads again to the locker room to finish the day, Johnson and Warren have been getting additional pass-pro reps whereas the veteran helps the rookie work on his punch. That additional work is already paying off.
Now, he simply must proceed proving it.
