So, is Kaleb Johnson an upgrade over Najee?

[TimmayLake]

How was he looked so far during preseason?

[K_C_]

Johnson CLEARLY has more speed to get to the edge than Najee does and he also has better vision.

Najee literally ran towards contact while Johnson can actually run away from people. He plays faster than Najee but what Najee had was durability and he very, very rarely put the ball on the ground (it's ironic that I'm pretty sure Harris fumbled in the red zone on his final Steelers carry) so we will have to see if Johnson can stay on the field and if he can avoid regularly putting the ball on the ground.

Overall, I really like what I see from the kid but it's early and he has a long, long way to go.

[tbsteel]

I think Johnson is mediocre at best. Maybe with an amazing line he would be seen as a really good runner, but I don't see it. Doesn't have any explosive elements to his game, more a strider than a runner, has a good natural feel for the game but he's just below average when it comes to being an NFL athlete and talent and will go down far too easily compared to what most Steelers fans think he'll be (a bulldozer).

But mediocre is far better than Najee, who is probably the most overrated Steelers player in modern history.

IF Jones actually is better at LT and settles in despite his complete mess of an overall technique, and if Fautanu actually is a stud and can handle NFL speed from the edge, then Jaylen Warren has a chance to be a surprise mini-star this season. I'd put it at the odds of about 20%, but I can see an Austin Ekeler type profile for him. As long as he holds onto the rock, he'll easily be a far better RB than Najee ever was or ever could be.

[CoolShades]

I think Johnson is mediocre at best. Maybe with an amazing line he would be seen as a really good runner, but I don't see it. Doesn't have any explosive elements to his game, more a strider than a runner, has a good natural feel for the game but he's just below average when it comes to being an NFL athlete and talent and will go down far too easily compared to what most Steelers fans think he'll be (a bulldozer).

But mediocre is far better than Najee, who is probably the most overrated Steelers player in modern history.

IF Jones actually is better at LT and settles in despite his complete mess of an overall technique, and if Fautanu actually is a stud and can handle NFL speed from the edge, then Jaylen Warren has a chance to be a surprise mini-star this season. I'd put it at the odds of about 20%, but I can see an Austin Ekeler type profile for him. As long as he holds onto the rock, he'll easily be a far better RB than Najee ever was or ever could be.

By all accounts, Najee was (and is) a great guy and I hope his career turns around in SD. But he was a terrible RB in Pittsburgh. No burst, no vision, no outside speed. I still can’t believe he was a 1st round pick. Maybe Harbaugh and SD’s line will be a better fit for him.

I have not seen the anything that makes me believe that Johnson is special, however it is still early. If he turns out to be meh, that 3rd round investment won’t sting as badly as that #1 for Najee.

[955876]

I’d like to see Lew Nichols running behind the starting oline with Rogers at QB.

We need a hammer and none of the top 3 are it.

Jibbs will fuck this up though. Always does.

Doop Dee doop.

[K_C_]

I think we need to give this kid a chance before burying him before he plays his first NFL game.

I was surprised to read today that Johnson led the NFL in most broken tackles (7) of all RB’s during the preseason.

Sure it’s preseason but let’s give the guy a chance.

[Ice]

The 3rd rounder won't sting if Kaleb turns out to be mid, but that was a really, really good RB draft. Already puking in my throat a little bit every time I watch my guy Trey make a big play for the Pastries.

[zeke5123]

I think Johnson is mediocre at best. Maybe with an amazing line he would be seen as a really good runner, but I don't see it. Doesn't have any explosive elements to his game, more a strider than a runner, has a good natural feel for the game but he's just below average when it comes to being an NFL athlete and talent and will go down far too easily compared to what most Steelers fans think he'll be (a bulldozer).

But mediocre is far better than Najee, who is probably the most overrated Steelers player in modern history.

IF Jones actually is better at LT and settles in despite his complete mess of an overall technique, and if Fautanu actually is a stud and can handle NFL speed from the edge, then Jaylen Warren has a chance to be a surprise mini-star this season. I'd put it at the odds of about 20%, but I can see an Austin Ekeler type profile for him. As long as he holds onto the rock, he'll easily be a far better RB than Najee ever was or ever could be.

By all accounts, Najee was (and is) a great guy and I hope his career turns around in SD. But he was a terrible RB in Pittsburgh. No burst, no vision, no outside speed. I still can’t believe he was a 1st round pick. Maybe Harbaugh and SD’s line will be a better fit for him.

I have not seen the anything that makes me believe that Johnson is special, however it is still early. If he turns out to be meh, that 3rd round investment won’t sting as badly as that #1 for Najee.

There are a lot of positions where pre-season means nothing. I don't think RB is one. You either have the burst or you don't. Johnson looks like a slight upgrade of Najee, but not a huge upgrade.

I do wonder if he could lose some weight to get a little more burst a la Bell.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

I reiterate. Slow to hit the hole. No burst out of it. Can’t get the edge, basically playing at slow speed, how could Najee possibly get hurt? If he gets to the line it was maybe three yards before a cloud of titty-fighting.

[langer]

If Najee doesn't move out west he doesn't have fireworks blow up in his face.

I wonder how bad that injury actually is. If he got debris that got into his eye he's lucky if he's allowed to take contact. It messes with your head as well, I've had major eye surgery.

So definite upgrade.

"When Najee is ready to play, Najee will be ready to play," Harbaugh said, via Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com. "Right now, to take it past today would be going over the legal limit. That would take your over the legal limit of what-ifs."

[franco32]

He doesn't look like Tony Dorsett if that's what you mean. I agree that he's not as elusive as I thought he could be and he's not as powerful either. That said, he's showing some good vision (something Najee didn't have) and speed to the outside (again Najee didn't have it). He's got work to do though as a pass blocker and pass catcher.

Let me put it this way. Najee's 3-4 yard runs will be 6-8 yard runs with Kaleb and that's a good thing.

[steelclan]

I reiterate. Slow to hit the hole. No burst out of it. Can’t get the edge, basically playing at slow speed, how could Najee possibly get hurt? If he gets to the line it was maybe three yards before a cloud of titty-fighting.

Johnson has burst and can hit the hole w/speed when he isn't overthinking. Not that worried about a 3rd round draft pick finding his way. Far more concerned with oline depth which at present resembles trash can juice.

[Scunge]

Way too early to tell but he looks fine so far. It does take players time to develop, to get used to the speed and physicality of the NFL.

If you told me you could tell what Leveon Bell, Najee Harris and for that matter Mendenhal would be after 3 preseason games you are lying.

Hell, you couldn't tell what they were going to be after playing their first 4 NFL games as rookies.

So, of Bell, Harris and Mendenhal which did which as rookies after 4 games??

One was inactive for the first 3 games, then had 64 carries for 208 yards, a lowly 3.2 yard average and 3 TDs in his first 4 games played as a rookie.

Another had 55 carries for 185 yards, a not much better 3.4 yards per carry, and 1 TD.

The final RB had 19 carries for 58 yards and a 3.1 yard per carry and 0 TDs in his first 4 games as a rookie.

Bell finished his rookie season with 860 yards and 3.5 yards per carry.
Harris managed to rush for 1200 yards and 3.9 yards per carry.
Mendy finished with that 58 yards because he got put on injured reserve after only 4 games.

Bell had to lose weight and get accustomed to the NFL game, in year two he rushed for 1,361 and over 2,200 combined yards.
Harris barely rushed for 1,000 in year two but gave early signs that he was just meh.
Mendy would redeem himself and rush for 1,108 yards and a very good 4.6 yards per carry, in year three he rushed for 1,273 yards and scored 17 TDs in 19 games (counting the playoffs).

You have to know Steelers history, know how high pick RBs were not instantaneous home runs at their first at bat. It took time.

Kaleb Johnson was not as high of a pick but should he not be afforded the same time to prove himself??

[Ice]

See, to me, the difference between Bell and Harris/Johnson is that he was 230ish out of college, but enough of that was bad weight that he could lose 20-30 pounds and really add speed and quickness, whereas Harris/Johnson's body type was/is 230ish without bad weight to lose and add speed and quickness. It's like they're shooting for another Le'veon by drafting these guys not realizing that they don't have the formula right. One of the thousand tiny frustrations of being a Steelers fan, I guess.

[Deebo]

See, to me, the difference between Bell and Harris/Johnson is that he was 230ish out of college, but enough of that was bad weight that he could lose 20-30 pounds and really add speed and quickness, whereas Harris/Johnson's body type was/is 230ish without bad weight to lose and add speed and quickness. It's like they're shooting for another Le'veon by drafting these guys not realizing that they don't have the formula right. One of the thousand tiny frustrations of being a Steelers fan, I guess.

Outstanding post and 1 I've mentioned repeatedly. Not all weight is the same for NFL players bc body frames are different. L Bell had a ton of what I'd call "baby fat", but you noticed his shiftiness of his hips even at that elevated weight.

C Johnson and Harris were already chiseled at their weight so losing lbs meant losing muscle. Harris wasn't a different NFL player vs what he was at Bama. The only difference is he didn't have holes the size of Cadillacs to run through.

I've got more hope for C Johnson since he continually ran into stacked boxes and had to make his own lane or be his own blocker.

[Ice]

Thanks, man. I'll add that, yeah, to my somewhat untrained eye, Johnson has already shown to have some vision, cutback ability and speed to actually get to the corner in these preseason games that Harris didn't. I think he can probably be a capable NFL back at some point in the future. Don't think he's going to be racking up 15+ yard runs throughout his career, or having me jumping out of my seat much, but competence in those other phases will at least be an improvement.