Mike Tomlin names what Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson has to show in Week 2 of the preseason vs. Buccaneers

Here’s where he needs to be better.

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer
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Here's where he needs to be better.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie RB Kaleb Johnson has had a camp and preseason to forget thus far.

The talent is undeniable and the ingredients to make a Pro Bowl back for the next 5-7 seasons are all there.

But if that’s going to happen he has to start trusting himself…

Mike Tomlin wants Kaleb Johnson to trust himself more.

“I want to see him trust himself more,” said Tomlin when asked about what he wants to see from Johnson in Week 2 of the preseason. “I want to see him play more instinctually [and] trust his talents. And that’s reasonable to expect between the first experience and the second experience.”

And that’s exactly it. If you looked at the box score from Johnson’s debut, you saw eight carries for 20 yards, and a mere 2.5 yards per carry to go with a couple of dropped passes. But the actual product on the field was more concerning.

You just see a player who is slow to see opposite color, looked timid in his decision making, and traded in his fluid and graceful running style for one that looked calculated and robotic. It’s not as if his instincts just went away. He didn’t forget how to run the football.

So I am going to chalk it up to rookie jitters. He’s still getting his bearings about him and the physical nature of camp can take a lot of players. Especially rookies playing 5-10 year veterans who make up what may be the best defense in the league.

Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl spoke after Tomlin on Thursday and echoed very sentiments about Johnson saying he’s excited about what he can bring and that he’s a hard worker.

So it’s only a matter of time before he puts it all together, and if and when he does, Johnson can be the Steelers back of the future.

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