Farabaugh: Najee Harris, Run Game is Steelers’ Offensive Identity

PITTSBURGH — It was easy to see Najee Harris as a problem in the Steelers’ offense in the first half of the year. You know what, it was not easy to say he was a problem, Harris was a problem. Through the Steelers’ bye week, Harris had the second least rushing yards of expectation in the NFL, with Cam Akers only having less. In fact, Harris still has -86 rushing yards over expectation as of now, the worst in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats.

That is how much of a hole Harris buried himself in during the early portion of the season. But since the bye week, Harris has legged out three positive performances, including two where he has eclipsed over 15 rushing yards over expectation. His efficiency has gone up in a way that could not have been seen in the first part of the year.

Now, flash forward to his performance down in Atlanta. Harris ran for a whopping 5.1 yards per carry and had a season-high 16 rushing yards over expectation. He ran angrily, and efficiently, and created the hidden yardage. If you were wondering where the 2021 version of Najee Harris is, he’s manifested since the bye week.

Maybe, it was the foot injury that nagged him consistently. Who knows? But the offensive line can not be discounted for this, either. In the past four games, the Steelers have put up the 5th most rushing yards in the NFL. In the past two games, Kenny Pickett has thrown the ball under 30 times in each game. It is a run game they have leaned upon to take some of the pressure off Pickett.

“I think a good run game will take the pressure off any quarterback. not just a rookie,” left tackle Dan Moore said. “You can see him getting comfortable there. We are building something in the run game there right now. It’s helping him and it’s helping all of us on offense build something.”

In his past four games, Harris is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and has 310 rushing yards. Extrapolated to an entire season, Harris would be setting a new career-high in rushing yards, while improving his yards per carry mark by over a full yard. He is in a groove, but Moore and the rest of the entire offensive line knew it would come at some point, despite Harris being in a funk early in the year.

“Yeah, we’re not surprised by what Najee is doing at all,” Moore said. “He’s super talented and as we all grew together, he grew with us, too. You’re seeing what he can do right now. That’s a guy who plays some really great football.”

But it is not just Harris. Jaylen Warren, Anthony McFarland, and Benny Snell have all found success behind a revitalized Steelers offensive line and running back group. Harris is the head of a running back by-committee group that has been wildly productive.

“Yeah, we’re building an identity here,” Harris said. “You know, you see the run game success, and now we have stacked two wins. We feel like we’re gaining some confidence.”

Regardless of how the rest of the season goes, it is clear that Pittsburgh has a level of identity they can work with at this point. Harris is playing his best ball potentially of his entire career, the offensive line is playing well, and following behind that, a rookie quarterback is playing better with less pressure on his shoulders.

Najee Harris and the rushing attack is the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. And they have embraced that to the tune of three wins in four weeks.