PITTSBURGH — Kaleb Johnson darted out of the backfield into the flat on a swing route. Before he could look back for the football, it was tumbling at his feet. A loud baritone voice followed.
“Get the f— around, turn around,” the rookie running back remembers hearing.
The command came from Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, he brought a Hall of Fame resume highlighted by four MVPs and a Super Bowl win. Through a promising 4-2 start, he’s helped put Pittsburgh in first place in the AFC North with a bounce-back performance. His EPA per dropback has jumped from minus-0.02 last year to 0.13 this season, according to TruMedia. His completion percentage is up from 63 percent to 68.8 percent this year. His 14 touchdown passes are tied for fourth most in the NFL — just three off of league leader Matt Stafford — and his passer rating of 105.0 ranks 10th.
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But set aside what Rodgers is doing with the football
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