In the course of the previous 4 years, Najee Harris held down the working again place for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a constant participant, speeding for not less than 1,000 yards each season. Nevertheless, he left the Steelers this offseason, making a void of their backfield. To repair that, they spent their third-round decide on Kaleb Johnson.
Popping out of Iowa, Johnson is a robust runner. Within the Steelers’ first preseason recreation, that was on show. Former Steelers defensive lineman Chris Hoke just lately shared his opinion on Johnson’s first NFL motion.
“On the one sack earlier within the recreation, Mason [Rudolph] needed to verify it all the way down to him and he stayed in to guard,” Hoke stated Saturday on the KDKA Nightly Sports activities Name. “There’s been plenty of discuss ‘Can Kaleb Johnson shield?’ That’s an enormous a part of why he must be on the market getting these reps, as a result of he wants to guard Aaron Rodgers within the common season. He stayed in there too lengthy, didn’t leak out for the protection valve however Kaleb Johnson broke tackles.
“Quite a lot of occasions when you’re a working again and also you get to a gap, you will have a man there,” Hoke continued. “You’ve acquired to make the primary man miss. He stiffed-arm, he acquired exterior, acquired some constructive yardage when plenty of occasions we noticed final 12 months working backs had been taking place on contact on the first man. So, I actually like what I see from Kaleb Johnson.”
Towards the Jacksonville Jaguars, Johnson recorded eight carries for 20 yards and one catch for six yards. Sadly, he didn’t have a lot of an affect, however he made some performs, like when he displayed his energy on a seven-yard run. The Steelers’ run recreation as an entire was probably the most disappointing components of the preseason opener, although.
The stat sheet isn’t the one approach to choose Johnson’s recreation. Like Hoke says, one of many largest questions on Johnson is his capacity to go shield. That was a extra underrated a part of Harris’ recreation. Having a working again who could make performs is nice, nevertheless it’s additionally necessary for them to assist shield the quarterback.
In that division, Johnson didn’t have an ideal first outing. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to keep in mind that that is his first time enjoying within the NFL. He’s acquired issues to work on, however that’s the purpose of coaching camp and the preseason. That’s an space he’s been engaged on diligently.
There are nonetheless two preseason video games left, so we’ll see if Johnson improves as a go protector. He flashed his highly effective talents as a runner in his restricted alternatives. One of many largest critiques of Harris was that he wasn’t very explosive. Whereas Johnson isn’t the quickest working again on the earth, he’s acquired nice burst within the open area.
Additionally, it’s necessary to notice that Johnson isn’t the Steelers’ beginning working again but. Jaylen Warren will seemingly maintain that title as soon as the common season begins. Nevertheless, if Johnson can earn the Steelers’ belief as a go protector, his workload might enhance sooner fairly than later.
Hopefully, he’ll develop quick and provides the Steelers one other playmaker on offense. That unit continues to be questionable, however Johnson might give them a stable increase and assist take the stress off Aaron Rodgers’ shoulders.
