Najee Harris: Steelers Offense Has Its ‘Identity’ Figured Out
PITTSBURGH — Najee Harris thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers offense has found their identity. Pittsburgh has not put together a complete game of offense, but they did rack up 205 rushing yards in the team’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers. That is now two straight games where the Steelers have eclipsed over 160 rushing yards, and Jaylen Warren and Harris are going to town on defenses. But is that Pittsburgh’s identity?
“Yeah, I think so, for sure,” Harris said. “We have our identity as a run team at this point. I know what that is, but I don’t want to say it.”
Najee Harris got Broderick Jones’ goal of over 200 yards. Coming into this week, Jones wanted to shoot for 200 rushing yards. He got his wish. Jones saw the team open things up for the passing game, even though they did not have success on those plays on Sunday.
“I’m happy we got to 200,” Jones said. “That was always the goal. Those running backs were running hard and we were clearing out lanes.”
If you ask Harris and Warren, they will credit the offensive line and their execution for that sudden boost. From those schematic changes, Pittsburgh did a fantastic job of getting to the second level and dishing out punishment to linebackers and safeties trying to fill the gap. Harris and Warren burst to multiple explosive runs following those plays, and they saw it all happen.
But regardless of how it all happened, this team now has an identity. But the passing game is still suffering. That is the next natural step for Pittsburgh. They are getting to the outside, pulling guards, and creating lighter boxes for their offensive line to blow open holes. Matt Canada has something figured out in the ground game.
Pittsburgh will now hope that they can continue that success on the ground, believing that the success is repeatable after two straight games. But a Browns defense that still has stellar players and flashes throughout the year will give them all they can handle in that respect.
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