It seems to be just like the Titans and the Browns are each procuring their high operating backs Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb, and the Steelers could be clever to be patrons. For an offense that seemingly needs to go backward from what’s working leaguewide, this offense has tried to design itself across the run within the post-Ben Roethlisberger period.
With their declining quarterback, the staff opted to usher in do-it-all again Najee Harris by way of the primary spherical of the draft. He has been a middle-of-the-pack again since becoming a member of the staff, scraping collectively some statistically okay seasons, however he has confirmed to be inefficient together with his carries.
Najee definitely hasn’t reworked this speeding assault, because the Steelers have been the twenty ninth and sixteenth greatest speeding groups since he was drafted. Since operating backs are the important thing to a profitable speeding assault, why not exit and safe one of many two greatest pure rushers within the league?
The Steelers ought to hone in on the highest backs within the league
The staff appears to assume that the important thing to a superb offense and a superb speeding assault is touchdown a premiere again. Regardless of a slew of different wants, Harris was hand-picked as the way forward for this offense, and the staff trusted him to deliver their speeding offense to a brand new degree. Whereas he hasn’t been a catastrophe, he definitely hasn’t yielded the dominant speeding assault the staff needed.
Henry, in the meantime, is without doubt one of the most unusual backs within the league. A freak of nature, he can run previous you or over you for large video games. Chubb is an analogous story, as he hits holes exhausting and chews via protection often.
Please, pay no consideration to the truth that each of those groups had invested of their offensive line earlier than specializing in discovering the operating again. Pay no consideration to the truth that neither of those groups had been extraordinarily profitable final season, they’re making one of the best operating backs within the league accessible, and the Steelers must pounce!
Let’s truly look at this example
I hope you might be starting to see my level and choose up on the sarcasm. No, it isn’t that this staff ought to attempt to herald both of those backs. My level is, the Steelers went about making an attempt to deliver again their operating recreation within the flawed approach, and people which are nonetheless so adamantly defending Harris as an awesome first-round choose are flawed.
Let’s take a look at this from a league perspective first. Having a bell-cow again isn’t essential to win. The Chiefs simply received the Tremendous Bowl led by a seventh-round rookie and journeyman again on the helm. The Eagles, who had been runners up, had extra of an outlined high again in Miles Sanders, but additionally blended it up with the reserves and used quarterback Jalen Hurts as a operating again.
The rationale the Eagles made the sudden soar to a Tremendous Bowl offense wasn’t due to their operating recreation. It truly regressed from 2021 barely, however their passing recreation took off. Each constant Tremendous Bowl contender has a dynamic passing recreation. It’s how the league works now. An outlined beginning operating again isn’t a option to overcome a missing passing offense.
The Titans had been the right instance of this. They had been the AFC South champions for 2 consecutive years between 2020-2021. Their offense was designed completely round Henry and his model of operating. It received them video games, however as soon as they hit the playoffs, they stalled out. This previous season Henry was nonetheless his common self, however the offense imploded attributable to an absence of a receiving recreation.
How about Cleveland? This can be a staff that, attributable to bringing in Deshaun Watson, is in win now mode. They want some cap aid, and who’s the primary participant they take a look at shifting? Their star operating again. They aren’t making cuts to the road or on protection, however they know that regardless of his expertise, Chubb received’t be the important thing to a possible Browns Tremendous Bowl run.
What does this imply for the Steelers?
For all of you adamant Harris followers, why wouldn’t you need Henry/Chubb? Both are upgrades (and in case you declare Harris is best than both you might be delusional) and if you’re so behind overspending for a nonpremium place, including both must be interesting.
It’s time to confess that Harris was the flawed choose when the Steelers took him. Taking a operating again to fully repair a operating recreation is a confirmed dangerous technique. Addressing the road was the way in which to go, and there have been names that made sense within the first spherical there over Harris.
Harris is midway via his rookie deal and certain solely has 3-4 extra seasons of efficient play left given how rapidly the place deteriorates. This offense has been depressing, and whereas that isn’t all on Harris, the method of taking him over and addressing different wants was a mistake.
Look, you possibly can like him as a participant, however how are you going to justify him as a first-round choose? The method was backward, and it has negatively impacted this staff. The fashionable staff doesn’t want an elite operating again. The highest groups show it yearly, and groups just like the Browns who’re making an attempt to get there are actually proving it as effectively. Elite operating backs are a luxurious for groups which have all the pieces else in place, not as an alternative choice to the remainder of the roster.
Operating backs don’t matter that a lot in a contemporary NFL offense. A succesful line and some mid-round rookies can get the job accomplished. As a substitute, the Steelers opted to get a perceived high again, and the outcomes have been as anticipated. That is but another excuse why this offense has sunk into mediocrity over the previous few seasons, and it is irritating to see folks so passionately defend this course of.
