‘Is This Recreation Too Quick For Him?’: Former GM Frightened About Kaleb Johnson

Regardless of being a third-round choose, Pittsburgh Steelers followers have positioned some fairly excessive expectations on Kaleb Johnson. It is smart for the fan base to be enthusiastic about Johnson’s explosiveness after Najee Harris lacked that ingredient for 4 years.

Nonetheless, Johnson didn’t present all of that explosiveness in his first preseason sport on Saturday. Whereas it’s fairly a small pattern dimension to attract any conclusions from, that doesn’t cease some from worrying about him. This consists of former NFL GM Doug Whaley.

“I wouldn’t panic. It’s first sport motion, I’m positive issues are going a thousand miles per hour,” Whaley mentioned on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday. “However the one factor that’s creeping in my thoughts slightly bit is, is that this sport too quick for him? Does he have the burst to get by means of these holes like he did within the Large Ten?”

“That is one thing that’s gonna be a query mark at the back of my head proper now.”

Kaleb Johnson acquired a major workload within the Large Ten, carrying the ball 240 occasions in 2024. He did very nicely, main the convention in dashing yards, and doing it for an Iowa offense that scared completely no person throwing the ball. The extent of issue was excessive, and he did nicely. In fact, the NFL is a special story, even in opposition to backups within the preseason. All people is healthier at this degree, and that brought on his stat line to undergo on Saturday. Johnson ran the ball eight occasions, choosing up 20 yards for two.5 yards per carry.

It’s not fully his fault, although. The Steelers had been solely in a position to set up some consistency operating the ball within the fourth quarter, when Lew Nichols had a handful of good runs. Most of these points revolve across the offensive line. In the beginning of the sport, when a number of starters had been in, the operating lanes had been clogged. Johnson didn’t have a lot to work with.

Nonetheless, there are actually areas he wants to enhance. At occasions, Kaleb Johnson didn’t appear to know what to do, as within the play under.

Right here, Johnson simply can’t determine whether or not to interrupt off into his route or keep and assist cross block. Whereas the sack isn’t his fault, his failure to develop into a checkdown choice for Mason Rudolph is a part of the explanation the Steelers misplaced 10 yards on this play.

All of that mentioned, Kaleb Johnson will likely be high quality. The Steelers nonetheless have two extra preseason video games and a joint apply with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. That gives extra time for Johnson to get comfy with the velocity of the NFL. He doubtless gained’t be the lead again in Week 1 both, so the offense gained’t be residing or dying with him.

As quickly as Johnson was drafted, he was positioned underneath excessive expectations. These expectations are so excessive that many neglect he’s a third-round choose. He’ll want a while, and there’s no purpose to panic.