Article: Steelers Practice notebook 15: How long until Warren replaces Harris?

[xjx]

Harris is strong, but slow. We can use him as a bulldozer until he wears out. Tomlin uses his backs that way.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Najee's running style seems to be made for Nov/Dec/Jan football.
When the weather goes "south"....Najee seems to go further "north"...

With that being said...

My running back splits would look like this:

Pre November
Warren - 50%
Najee - 40%
Macfarland 10%

November
Harris - 65%
Warren - 25%
Macfarland - 10%

Does this qualify me to take O'Canada's job?!?

Just asking to take O’Canada’s job will get you O’Canda’s job.!!!


Salute the n

 

[slashsteel]

Harris is strong, but slow. We can use him as a bulldozer until he wears out. Tomlin uses his backs that way.

Last year they gave Warren a healthy dose of reps. I would think that would continue...

 

[stillwright]

https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/article/steelers-put-on-the-pads-and-get-physical-one-last-time-214432245/

By my calculations - and these are unofficial - Willie Parker has gained more yardage in his first three NFL seasons, with the Steelers, than any other back in franchise history.​

In spite of rushing for only 186 yards as a rookie, the undrafted free agent gained 1,202 and then 1,494 in the next two seasons to put his three-year total at 2,882 rushing yards.​

Le'Veon Bell gained 2,777 in his first three and Franco Harris gained 2,759.​

Someone tweeted that Najee Harris needs 700 yards to top them all, and so I'll believe it.​

However, the Steelers may not have 600 carries to give him.​

After watching practice yesterday, another day of unimpressive running by Harris II, I dubbed him "1.1."​

So, at 600 carries, he's gaining 660 yards, and, yes, still enough to break Parker's current standing.​

One point one?​

Am I some kinda smart aleck?​

Well, yes. But still, the numbers struck me because it's half Harris II's jersey number and a bit over the lone yard he seems to gain per carry against the first-team line. His obvious strain to get that yard is represented in the extra tenth.​

Yesterday, the Steelers donned pads for probably the last time at St. Vincent College this summer, and it came as little surprise that Mike Tomlin wanted to hit hard one last time before Saturday's dress rehearsal preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.​

"I just wanted to focus on physicality in the line of scrimmage run game," Tomlin said after a practice in which he ran Harris II twice in 7 Shots at a first-team defense that included Cameron Heyward, Isaiahh Loudermilk, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Kwon Alexander, Cole Holcomb, Damontae Kazee and Minkah Fitzpatrick. There was no nose tackle. Nickel back Chandon Sullivan was in the slot.​

Harris II took the handoff on the first snap to Kenny Pickett and was tackled for a loss by Alexander.​

Harris II took the second handoff and was stopped by the entire line.​

Tomlin inserted last year's undrafted rookie Jaylen Warren, in place of the 2021 first-round pick, and he hit the hole like a cannon shot and scored easily.​

Warren - cousin of the aforementioned Parker and gainer of 379 yards (at 4.9 per carry) as a rookie - scored another easy TD against the second team.​

Anthony McFarland, against the second team, scored after a late surge facilitated by a pair of pistons that refused to stop firing.​

Into the team scrimmage, this time with nose tackle Montravius Adams, Harris II continued his 1.1 style that's come to symbolize his third training camp.​

I say style because it might just be that Harris II isn't going all out. The thinking behind that theory - as explained yesterday on sports talk radio - is that Harris got hurt trying too hard in camp last year and that injury dampened the first half of his season, in which he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry.​

In the second half, after the bye had theoretically healed his foot injury, Harris II averaged 4.1 per carry.​

It gave hope that his first-half sluggishness was all about health, and it's afforded him some breathing room while Warren repeatedly runs harder at this camp.​

But I have to question the continuation of any such breathing room.​

Is it the O-line?​

That's what Harris II implied last year when he snarled at another reporter to "watch the tape" during the struggles of his first half.​

But Warren doesn't seem to be having any such trouble. He runs hard, gets low, and fires into tacklers like a human bowling ball. He's increased his size this season through weight training, and it shows.​

Kinda like the running back Chuck Noll wanted to draft in the first round of the 1972 draft, Robert Newhouse, instead of the tall running back he was talked into drafting instead, Harris I.​

Franco Harris was a different breed of tall back, though. He had the power and acceleration and could cut at full speed.​

But Najee Harris seems instead like the type of back Noll railed against, the tall runner without great speed who provides a large target for tacklers.​

Noll was wrong about Harris I, but in Harris II perhaps we better understand his thinking.​

Maybe I'm all wet here. But it's not because Harris snarls at me whenever I ask for an interview. I could not care less about that.​

What I care about is this: As an analyst watching camp and providing insight to readers, I would be remiss in not reporting that I view Warren as the better running back. I believe he can put the Steelers' running game back on its foundational franchise pedestal.​

Meh.....I expect 1500 to 2000 yards from Harris this year. Maybe he will need 1500 carries to get there....but he will get there. Make it happen Canada!!!

 

[bigben]

An unrealistic one.

100% agree, the odds are not good, but my point with Valladay is everything is an unkown. He could be a total bum? But I have more hope for upside in an unknown Rookie than a third year underperformer who lacks speed, vision, and efficiency, all the sudden becoming a different back.
Najee may have a breakout year 3 but statistically the odds are about as long as for an UDFA to make an impact.
For his camp performance to be bad enough for an article like this to be written is not a good sign.

 

[Stryker]

Fielded this point of view for the first half of the season every time I had a show. Each time I stated, wait until he is healthy.

To tell you the truth, I like that the coaching staff is allowing Najee to rest to make it to the season. They have an extra game that matters, and we know Najee is going to carry the load. Najee isn't fighting for yardage in practice, he's already made the team. He's not putting his head down in the hole in practice, he got hurt doing the same thing last season in TC. I've seen what he can do on a field while healthy. You can disagree with the coaching staff protecting him, but if it means he's 100% Week 1, I'll freaking take it!

I am very happy to have our best backup RB since Williams, with Warren, so we are all in a good spot if we lose Najee to injury. I even love McFarland, who was going to be our #2 2 years ago before losing him to injury all year. He's playing hard this TC and he's going to make some plays for us this year.

 

[BLITZ]

Fielded this point of view for the first half of the season every time I had a show. Each time I stated, wait until he is healthy.

To tell you the truth, I like that the coaching staff is allowing Najee to rest to make it to the season. They have an extra game that matters, and we know Najee is going to carry the load. Najee isn't fighting for yardage in practice, he's already made the team. He's not putting his head down in the hole in practice, he got hurt doing the same thing last season in TC. I've seen what he can do on a field while healthy. You can disagree with the coaching staff protecting him, but if it means he's 100% Week 1, I'll freaking take it!

I am very happy to have our best backup RB since Williams, with Warren, so we are all in a good spot if we lose Najee to injury. I even love McFarland, who was going to be our #2 2 years ago before losing him to injury all year. He's playing hard this TC and he's going to make some plays for us this year.

The new guy gets it

 

[Stryker]

I will admit, a 60+ run from Warren will galvanize this narrative further.

Personally, I think they both work excellently together and Warren should be in on many 3rd downs as well.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I will admit, a 60+ run from Warren will galvanize this narrative further.

Personally, I think they both work excellently together and Warren should be in on many 3rd downs as well.

Harris and Warren both looked to be in midseason form tonight.

 

[Coach]

Holy big font Batman, Warren is Robin. For the foreseeable future....

When Robin is kicking Batmans @ss ... well. Warren is nobody's boy. He is his own man. Bigger, faster and stronger than he was last year. Call him RB #1.

 

[slashsteel]

When Robin is kicking Batmans @ss ... well. Warren is nobody's boy. He is his own man. Bigger, faster and stronger than he was last year. Call him RB #1.

That would be inaccurate, Najee is the first RB onto the field.

 

[SteelerFan448]

That would be inaccurate, Najee is the first RB onto the field.

If Najee didn’t have the first-round pedigree and both were UDFAs who would be starting?

 

[slashsteel]

If Najee didn’t have the first-round pedigree and both were UDFAs who would be starting?

I dunno maybe Warren. But that is a scenario, cooch was giving a right here right now.

 

[CoolieMan]

When Robin is kicking Batmans @ss ... well. Warren is nobody's boy. He is his own man. Bigger, faster and stronger than he was last year. Call him RB #1.

but he isn't and won't be barring an injury to Najee

 

[pittbull]

I rewatched the…what…8 plays the first team O played. Najee’s two runs…he really didn’t have a hole to work with. The second run, into the line. When first watching i thought he could have cut back to the right, but there’s no way. The linebacker was shooting through the hole and I don’t see how Najee could have avoided him.

Also, watch Warren’s run again. Daniels makes a really impressive block. Coming all the way from the right, he was able to help seal off Jaylen’s running lane.

 

[BLITZ]

Warren is a great compliment to Harris. Harris is the type of back this offense wants. Harris will soften up the defense for both backs

 

[Drink IRON City]

I see Najee carrying the 2/3 - 3/4 LOAD Of the past. I also think Coach Tomlin has softened on the “run him till the wheels fall off” syndrome as well.

I’m hoping for a good mix similar to last year in ”touch” duties. I’m also concerned that if they telegraph plays by when McFarland comes in.

I still am “JURY is out” as to the O’Canada factor. I know it’s only PRE-season, but winning can erase many an obstacle.


Salute the nation

 

[Coach]

Warren is the better all round back. He should start. Harris is a better short yardage and goal line runner.

 

[BLITZ]

Warren is the better all round back. He should start. Harris is a better short yardage and goal line runner.

Warren is an excellent #2. Glad he is a Steeler. He is the perfect compliment to Harris

 

[Shane Falco]

Let's leave Dri Archer out of this.

He was never used properly

 

[Shane Falco]

Najee is not getting the big sexy runs that Warren is going to get. Harris will grauhnd and pauhnd the defense.

 

[bigben]

Najee and Mcfarland haven't shown anything new. Look like the same guys to me. I'm done with the Mcfarland experiment he just isnt good. As far as Najee is concerned he better step up cause he's still getting outplayed.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Najee and Mcfarland haven't shown anything new. Look like the same guys to me. I'm done with the Mcfarland experiment he just isnt good. As far as Najee is concerned he better step up cause he's still getting outplayed.

I think McFarland has shown a little growth. He still doesn't run with much control as his feet are faster than his vision.

 

[topseed]

100% agree, the odds are not good, but my point with Valladay is everything is an unkown. He could be a total bum? But I have more hope for upside in an unknown Rookie than a third year underperformer who lacks speed, vision, and efficiency, all the sudden becoming a different back.
Najee may have a breakout year 3 but statistically the odds are about as long as for an UDFA to make an impact.
For his camp performance to be bad enough for an article like this to be written is not a good sign.

The Texans gave Valladay a 3-year contract (with $175,000 guaranteed) in April, and then cut him before their first preseason game. Not a great sign for a UDFA trying to "make an impact."

 

[bigben]

The Texans gave Valladay a 3-year contract (with $175,000 guaranteed) in April, and then cut him before their first preseason game. Not a great sign for a UDFA trying to "make an impact."

He can't be worse than Mcfarland. Anthony has no balance trips over himself. He was supposed to be lightning when he was drafted but he lacks size vision and athletic ability.