Najee: is he top 10?

[bermudasteel]

A recent poll of execs, coaches, players and scouts (posted on ESPN+) left Najee outside the top 10. He even failed to land honorable mention.

Personally, I’m not a big Najee believer. I think it was a bad pick in R1. But I’d put him somewhere between 9-11.

What say you, is he top 10? Try to base it on his actual performance and not what you hope he will be in 2023.

Yes. Close thread.

 

[bermudasteel]

Based on his performance? Not at all. Guys I'd rank over him right now:
Nick Chubb
Josh Jacobs
Christian McCaffrey
Jonathan Taylor
Saquon Barkley
Derrick Henry
Aaron Jones
Travis Etienne
Dalvin Cook
Austin Ekeler
Tony Pollard
Rhamondre Stevenson
Kenneth Walker
Breece Hall (injury aside)
J.K. Dobbins (when healthy)

Now we are in the Najee territory. I'd even consider Dameon Pierce ahead of him and I'm absolutely putting rookie Bijan Robinson ahead of him heading into the season. I guess that puts him at 17 or 18 for me entering the season.

Before the excuses get started, because Najee gets more excuses than anyone on this team, the Steelers offensive line ranked 14th per PFF last season. Here's the rushing average of the leading rushers (by number of carries) of the lines ranked worse. I bolded the RBs with a better YPC than Harris, who ranks 40th in yards per attempt in runners with at least 6.25 attempts per game.

14. N. Harris, PIT - 1,034 yards, 3.8 YPC
15. E. Elliott, DAL - 876 yards, 3.8 YPC
16. D. Montgomery, CHI - 801 yards, 4.0 YPC
17. A. Ekeler, LAC - 915 yards, 4.5 YPC
18. M. Gordon, DEN - 318 yards, 3.5 YPC
19. D. Cook, MIN - 1,173 yards, 4.4 YPC
20. D. Singeltary, BUF - 819 yards, 4.6 YPC
21. K. Walker, SEA - 1,050 yards, 4.6 YPC
22. J. Williams, DET - 1,066 yards, 4.1 YPC
23. J. Taylor, IND - 861 yards, 4.5 YPC
24. Cam Akers, LAR - 786 yards, 4.2 YPC
25. B. Robinson, WAS - 797 yards, 3.9 YPC
26. A. Kamara, NOR - 897 yards, 4.0 YPC
27. S. Barkley, NYG - 1,312 yards, 4.4 YPC
28. D. Pierce, HOU - 939 yards, 4.3 YPC
29. R. Mostert, MIA - 891 yards, 4.9 YPC
30. M. Carter, NYJ - 402 yards, 3.5 YPC
31. J. Mixon, CIN - 814 yards, 3.9 YPC
32. D. Henry, TEN - 1,538 yards, 4.4 YPC

• Elliott led the Cowboys in carries, but it was a split backfield with Pollard, who led the team with 1,007 yards and 5.2 YPC.
• Gordon is a backup in Denver. Javonte Williams averaged 4.3 YPC over four games before his season-ending injury.
• Breece Hall was a monster in New York with 5.8 YPC and 463 yard before a season-ending injury. Michael Carter was underwhelming.

This doesn't even factor Harris' last place finish in rushing yards over expected among qualifiers this past season. Now I don't think he's a bad running back, just an average starter so far and an underwhelming first-round pick. He's been a volume producer so far and only has 12 games in 35 played with at least 4.0 YPC.

As a rusher, I think he compares very favorably so far with a guy like Joe Mixon. He will be productive, just not overly productive. Adequate in the passing game and not much of a big play threat.

Given the emphasis on the running game and the upgrades made for the offensive line, I expect him to approach 4.4+ yards per carry this season, double-digit touchdowns, and be more a factor in the passing game. We really need a lot more production from this first-round investment.

None of this matters because Coach Canada was the most predictable OC in the league...

 

[Steelmann]

8 or 9 men in the box on just about every play. Najee had 2 or 3 guys in the backfield to greet him on almost every handoff for most of 2 years.

I must comment about the 8 or 9 men in the box thing. Do we really think that pretty well all of the great backs didn’t have the boxes stacked to stop them? Barry Sanders didn’t have 8 or 9 in the box? I would think that most great backs that played the game had the defense keying on them. Sure their OLine might have been better equipped to handle it,but many,many backs make great plays out of nothing. That’s what made them great. A burst of speed surely does come in handy then.

In all my years watching football,nobody I ever saw nobody got hit more times in the backfield then Barry Sanders. He was an absolute master of making something out of nothing. Shiftiest RB I have ever watched play.
I think this is definitely Najee’s year to prove himself. For all the articles that say Najee isn’t a top 15 back......they are right. He hasn’t been.
Hopefully this is the year it all comes together and instead the articles will ask to rate where Najee is in the top three.

 

[bigben]

The O-line and coordinator were identical, Warren managed to get 4.9 ypc and looked twice as explosive.
Bell was in a different league, literally everyone would agree.

 

[steelhurt]

Bell was one of the slowest RBs in history to hit the hole and also did not have good speed, but he made it work. We also had a legit line and offense during that time. What do you think Bell in his prime would look like on this team? I would bet Bell would look worse than Najee. I understand the argument of not taking a RB in the first round, but I think Najee is a typical steeler back and seems to have high character. I think this will be the year to see whether Najee was a mistake or not.

My point was that it was a mistake to take a rb especially Najee with a first round pick over a center like Creed Humphrey who could have anchored this OL for years, long after Najee gets on with his life’s work.
I’d rather have Jaylen Warren as my everyday starter. I like his burst and quickness.I don’t think Najee is anything special.

 

[Badcat]

He is in terms of potential. His injury in the first half of the year really hurt his, and the offenses production. Coaches needed to sit his *** on the bench and let him heal. Warren was far more productive and should have been given all the reps until Naj's foot could take the necessary load.

If he stays healthy, and with this offensive line (after they gel a bit) he could very well be a top 10 back in this league.

 

[Steelmann]

My point was that it was a mistake to take a rb especially Najee with a first round pick over a center like Creed Humphrey who could have anchored this OL for years, long after Najee gets on with his life’s work.
I’d rather have Jaylen Warren as my everyday starter. I like his burst and quickness.I don’t think Najee is anything special.

Here’s a question.......would you have taken a John Micheal Schmitz over Benton? I believe he would have anchored the C for the next 10 years as well. I know I would have ran and handed that in without any hesitation at all. But ,of course I did understand the need and the selection of Benton. Time will tell.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Here’s a question.......would you have taken a John Micheal Schmitz over Benton? I believe he would have anchored the C for the next 10 years as well. I know I would have ran and handed that in without any hesitation at all. But ,of course I did understand the need and the selection of Benton. Time will tell.

If Benton lives up to his potential, the interior pressure he can bring is more valuable than a long-term answer at center. Interior pass rushers are so important it today's game.

I must comment about the 8 or 9 men in the box thing. Do we really think that pretty well all of the great backs didn’t have the boxes stacked to stop them? Barry Sanders didn’t have 8 or 9 in the box? I would think that most great backs that played the game had the defense keying on them. Sure their OLine might have been better equipped to handle it,but many,many backs make great plays out of nothing. That’s what made them great. A burst of speed surely does come in handy then.

In all my years watching football,nobody I ever saw nobody got hit more times in the backfield then Barry Sanders. He was an absolute master of making something out of nothing. Shiftiest RB I have ever watched play.
I think this is definitely Najee’s year to prove himself. For all the articles that say Najee isn’t a top 15 back......they are right. He hasn’t been.
Hopefully this is the year it all comes together and instead the articles will ask to rate where Najee is in the top three.

Najee was the only running back in the league to face stacked boxes and the only running back in the league to have a subpar run blocking offensive line. That's why his numbers are so much worse than everyone else.

 

[Steelmann]

If Benton lives up to his potential, the interior pressure he can bring is more valuable than a long-term answer at center. Interior pass rushers are so important it today's game.


Najee was the only running back in the league to face stacked boxes and the only running back in the league to have a subpar run blocking offensive line. That's why his numbers are so much worse than everyone else.

Not trying to be argumentative here. Najee was the only running back in the whole NFL to face stacked boxes? Perhaps you could show me something to prove this. The Pittsburgh Steelers never once stacked the box against a RB.? No team stacked the box consistently against Derrick Henry of the Titans? Come on. While I realize our OLine needed improvement.......they were ranked by most ranking systems to be right in the middle of the pack last season. Which was a huge improvement from the previous season. Here’s to a huge improvement in this coming up season in the run game.

 

[jitter77]

I must comment about the 8 or 9 men in the box thing. Do we really think that pretty well all of the great backs didn’t have the boxes stacked to stop them? Barry Sanders didn’t have 8 or 9 in the box? I would think that most great backs that played the game had the defense keying on them. Sure their OLine might have been better equipped to handle it,but many,many backs make great plays out of nothing. That’s what made them great. A burst of speed surely does come in handy then.

In all my years watching football,nobody I ever saw nobody got hit more times in the backfield then Barry Sanders. He was an absolute master of making something out of nothing. Shiftiest RB I have ever watched play.
I think this is definitely Najee’s year to prove himself. For all the articles that say Najee isn’t a top 15 back......they are right. He hasn’t been.
Hopefully this is the year it all comes together and instead the articles will ask to rate where Najee is in the top three.

Sanders was definitely one of a kind. He would run 30 yrds for a 5yrd run. Most workhorse backs had at least a decent line and could keep the first wave off. Of the great backs off the top of my head I think Sanders had the worst lines, but he was an extremely unique talent. Our line / gameplan was hot garbage and I am not even sure Sanders could have made it work.

 

[DesertSteel]

The question is, if Najee underperforms again this year, what will the excuse be? O-line in 2021, injuries in 2022, what will it be in 2023? I hope none is needed. I hope he tears it up. But I just won't be an apologist for him if he averages 3.9 YPC with one or two explosive play (20+ yards) for the season.

 

[CoolieMan]

The O-line and coordinator were identical, Warren managed to get 4.9 ypc and looked twice as explosive.
Bell was in a different league, literally everyone would agree.

once Najee's foot healed he was much more explosive and I feel showed what he could really be

hopefully the foot issues are behind him

warren is not in the same game situations as Najee has been

 

[SteelerFan448]

Not trying to be argumentative here. Najee was the only running back in the whole NFL to face stacked boxes? Perhaps you could show me something to prove this. The Pittsburgh Steelers never once stacked the box against a RB.? No team stacked the box consistently against Derrick Henry of the Titans? Come on. While I realize our OLine needed improvement.......they were ranked by most ranking systems to be right in the middle of the pack last season. Which was a huge improvement from the previous season. Here’s to a huge improvement in this coming up season in the run game.

Read the board and fans on Twitter. Not a single other running back has faced any challenges, that's why they all average over 4.0 YPC. I'm obviously being sarcastic. Check out my earlier post showing how poorly Najee ranks compared to his peers running behind worse offensive line than the Steelers last year.

 

[steelhurt]

Here’s a question.......would you have taken a John Micheal Schmitz over Benton? I believe he would have anchored the C for the next 10 years as well. I know I would have ran and handed that in without any hesitation at all. But ,of course I did understand the need and the selection of Benton. Time will tell.

I don’t know especially not knowing how Schmitz will turn out. I think he will be a good one though.
We know how good Creed Humphrey turned out to be.
I do think center must be addressed next draft so hopefully there will be some good ones available.

 

[TDX27]

Seriously, how can anyone say Najee underperformed as a rookie with one of the worst OL and worst OC in the NFL? He was a beast running and receiving. I've posted his numbers countless times so I won't post them again. People get caught up because he averaged just under 4 yards per carry but look at the plays being run and the 8 or 9 (or more) men in the box and the fact there were 2 or 3 guys in the backfield to greet him immediately when he was given the ball. He had the same last year but if you watch Warren's runs, he rarely had guys in the backfield to greet him like Najee. Just watch the plays being run. Najee would still get back to the line or limit the losses on those plays better than most RB's in the league because he is a beast-style runner.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Seriously, how can anyone say Najee underperformed as a rookie with one of the worst OL and worst OC in the NFL? He was a beast running and receiving. I've posted his numbers countless times so I won't post them again. People get caught up because he averaged just under 4 yards per carry but look at the plays being run and the 8 or 9 (or more) men in the box and the fact there were 2 or 3 guys in the backfield to greet him immediately when he was given the ball. He had the same last year but if you watch Warren's runs, he rarely had guys in the backfield to greet him like Najee. Just watch the plays being run. Najee would still get back to the line or limit the losses on those plays better than most RB's in the league because he is a beast-style runner.

Opposing defensive players have publicly spoken of how this OFFENSE was the easiest to defend. THAT in itself says bookO’s about the stats associated with this offense, including RB.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Opposing defensive players have publicly spoken of how this OFFENSE was the easiest to defend. THAT in itself says bookO’s about the stats associated with this offense, including RB.


Salute the nation

Canada's only truly great year as an OC was when he was loaded with talent at Pitt. I'm not sure if the Steelers will be there quite yet given the youth, but they are setting up for a big 2023 or 2024 if the talent lives up to its potential. Even with that talent, I'm not sure if an NFL defense will be as easy to fool as those college defenses.

 

[bigben]

once Najee's foot healed he was much more explosive and I feel showed what he could really be

hopefully the foot issues are behind him

warren is not in the same game situations as Najee has been

Warrens numbers were better even after the bye. I hope Najee steps up this year and brings some consistency. That is the frustrating thing we have seen him look great but its rare he has a monster game, more often than not he rushes for 20-60 yards.
I just have higher hopes for Warren this year after what he showed last season, he hasn't put out any bad tape despite Canada. and am excited to see what he could do with more work and an improved offensive line. I expect both of them to level up but watching the tape Warren seems to be the better football player much quicker and more explosive. despite Najee being bigger and more prototypical build for an NFL back he just looks slow and indecisive with poor vision and below average power for a back his size.

 

[DesertSteel]

Well duh.

Najee:

“You’re trying to utilize us as much as you can, get as much value as you can out of us for cheap, then go get another back or something and try to do the same thing to him. That’s the trend that’s happening right now.”

 

[slashsteel]

Well duh.

Najee:

“You’re trying to utilize us as much as you can, get as much value as you can out of us for cheap, then go get another back or something and try to do the same thing to him. That’s the trend that’s happening right now.”

If your valuable you will get paid. If you are easily replaced perhaps you won't. I realize the position has a short shelf life. Not the ideal circumstance in comparison to other skilled positions. Up to that individual RB to show they shouldn't be packaged in with the mentioned.

 

[Drink IRON City]

If your valuable you will get paid. If you are easily replaced perhaps you won't. I realize the position has a short shelf life. Not the ideal circumstance in comparison to other skilled positions. Up to that individual RB to show they shouldn't be packaged in with the mentioned.

Great post slash, thank you for the great ones along the way.!!!


Fully agree and another thing, the CBA didn’t address anything in this matter. The opportunity was there to address this but no one / players union / anything wanted to talk about this exact problem. It’s not a new problem.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Great post slash, thank you for the great ones along the way.!!!


Fully agree and another thing, the CBA didn’t address anything in this matter. The opportunity was there to address this but no one / players union / anything wanted to talk about this exact problem. It’s not a new problem.

I don't think the CBA will in the future either. Other position groups aren't going to want running backs to get special treatment in terms of rookie contract length. If it happens, it will happen for everyone. I actually miss the old contract structures where there was RFA for I think rounds 3 and later. The Steelers were able to keep a lot of guys by getting long-term deals done early. The young player got paid, but it was often also at a pretty good deal for the team.

 

[DesertSteel]

Najee needs to worry about playing well enough to be offered a second contract. Because right now, up to this point, he has not.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Najee needs to worry about playing well enough to be offered a second contract. Because right now, up to this point, he has not.

I would be willing to step out on a limb here and say I think the front office feels otherwise. As fans, we see then stats but the owner sees the day to day and the effort along with the state of the team.

This season needs to be a very good year both on his effort and durability.


Salute the nation

 

[DesertSteel]

I would be willing to step out on a limb here and say I think the front office feels otherwise. As fans, we see then stats but the owner sees the day to day and the effort along with the state of the team.

This season needs to be a very good year both on his effort and durability.


Salute the nation

2 more years at the production of the first 2 and the Steelers will NOT be offering him an extension.