Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris Inspires Offense, Calls for Change in Mindset
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has been struggling to find its rhythm this season, and running back Najee Harris is determined to change that. After experiencing a lackluster performance in their recent game against the Houston Texans, Harris took it upon himself to ignite a shift in mentality when play resumed in the third quarter.
Trailing 16-0, Harris refused to be brought down on the first play, despite facing seven defenders in the box and being met with initial contact three yards behind the line of scrimmage. With sheer willpower and a well-executed spin move, Harris managed to gain 15 yards, eluding ankle tackles and demonstrating his determination. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Harris gained 11 yards more than expected and an impressive 18.4 yards after contact.
In a recent interview, Harris explained his motivation for taking charge of the offense: As a person who wants to spark offense, sometimes I don’t like saying it, I like showing it in a way. So I try to be that guy and show it. That’s why in the game we came out there, and I wanted to just emphasize that right now. We’re just playing soft. We’re not firing off, we’re not making no plays. So I try to be that guy. They feed off of me.
His teammate, running back Jaylen Warren, echoed this sentiment, praising Harris for his exceptional performance against the Texans. He even expressed his willingness to let Harris take the lead, stating, Najee was hot today… I get more hyped — him getting a 25-yard run — than I do if I got the run. I like seeing him eat. We feed off of it. That’s our workhorse.
The Steelers heavily relied on their running game during their successful playoff push last year, and now, with a shaky situation at quarterback, it falls on Harris and the run game to establish the offensive identity that has been lacking in recent seasons.
Center Mason Cole emphasized the need for improvement in the running game, stating, We’ve just got to be better at it… We’ve got to be more efficient, more consistent so we don’t get in circumstances where we don’t run the ball.
Unfortunately, compared to last year’s performance at the same point in the season, this year’s offensive numbers have been disappointing. The Steelers’ scoring average has dropped from 18.5 to 15.5 points per game, and their total yards per game have decreased from 278.8 to 263.0. The team’s offensive production in the red zone has significantly declined as well, with a drop in touchdown conversions from 67% to 40%. Additionally, the quarterbacks have been sacked 11 times in just four weeks compared to eight sacks in the same period last year, and the total quarterback rating has decreased from 44.3 to 29.2.
The Steelers’ offense has been struggling throughout the season, ranking 31st and 32nd in three-and-out drives and drives without a first down, respectively. This lack of efficiency has hindered the team’s performance, resulting in poor outcomes.
Recalling their successful matchup against the Ravens in Week 17 last year, Harris pointed out that the dominant mentality they displayed needs to be reintegrated into their current playing style. During that game, Harris rushed for 111 yards, Warren had 76 yards, and the team as whole showcased an impressive dominance in the box. Harris believes that recapturing that mindset will be vital for their success moving forward.
The Steelers’ inconsistency in executing plays and staying committed to the run game has been a recurring issue that both players and coaches have acknowledged. In the recent game against the Texans, the team was running the ball effectively in the third quarter until they opted not to run on a fourth-and-one play, which resulted in quarterback Kenny Pickett injuring his knee during a scramble. Center Mason Cole expressed frustration, stating, I think there’s times where we run the ball really well, and then one bad or negative run will scare us away from it… We just have to be more consistent across the board.
To address these concerns, Coach Mike Tomlin has emphasized physicality in practice this week and encouraged the team to play with more heart and physicality. Harris and other leaders have also held meetings to discuss the need for a change in mindset. However, the true test will be seen when the Steelers take the field against the Ravens in their upcoming game.
Harris issued a challenge to his teammates, stating, It can’t just keep being one person. It has to be more people… We need to be, we have to be that. Especially in this conference.
With Harris leading the charge, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope to turn their offensive struggles around and reestablish their dominance on the field. The success of their running game will play a crucial role in achieving this objective. As they aim to recapture their winning mentality from last year, the Steelers will need a collective effort from all positions to propel them forward in the highly competitive conference.
