Through two weeks, Steelers’ halfback Najee Harris has recorded simply 72 dashing yards on 25 makes an attempt. Meanwhile, Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow has been sacked 13 occasions for a complete lack of 73 yards. Harris has been so inefficient (3.47 yards per carry) that he’s recorded fewer yards on the bottom than the Bengals have misplaced through sacks. That’s not a superb signal for both crew, however whereas I consider the Bengals and their reworked offensive line will determine it out, I’m not so positive the identical will be stated about Najee Harris.
Thursday night time ought to see Harris’s struggles proceed. The Browns are clearly a strong protection with an excellent entrance seven. They’re solely permitting 3.8 yards per carry, the eighth-lowest mark of 2022 thus far, all whereas dealing with Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey, then Breece Hall and Michael Carter of the Jets, of their first two video games. Those aren’t pushovers. New York’s and the Panthers’ offensive strains definitely are, however the backs themselves aren’t.
That development will proceed with Harris and the Steelers. Sure, Jadeveon Clowney gained’t be taking part in tonight, however Clowney’s strengths have by no means lied in his means to cease the run. In truth, his doubtless alternative, third-round rookie Alex Wright was heralded for his measurement, however by no means his pass-rushing capabilities. Although Wright had an inclination to drop his head in opposition to the run, that’s doubtless one thing that the Browns labored with him on this offseason. Aside from that one destructive, Wright’s strengths out of faculty have virtually solely come as a run defender sealing off the sting. There could also be a drop-off in rush protection from Cleveland, however it shouldn’t be as enormous an issue as Clowney’s absence makes it appear.
Since the beginning of the season, there is just one starter on the Steelers’ offensive line — Chukwuma Okorafor — with a run-blocking grade better than 65, which isn’t that prime a grade. In truth, it’s principally alternative stage. Yet 4 of the Steelers’ 5 starters can’t even handle that. That’s not one thing that’s going to drastically enhance by the top of the season, and for his or her matchup in opposition to Cleveland tonight, it spells catastrophe.
The Cleveland entrance seven has been spectacular in opposition to the run in clutch conditions. Only 20.5 p.c of opponent dashing makes an attempt have gone for first downs. That’s the eighth-best mark within the league. Considering that the Pittsburgh offensive line at present ranks twenty third in adjusted line yards (3.88), Harris in all probability gained’t get into the second stage fairly often. That stated, the Steelers’ offensive line is mediocre in terms of stuff charge (proportion of runs the place the operating again is met by a defender at or earlier than the road of scrimmage), that means that Harris may see persistently optimistic yardage, even when there wouldn’t be a lot acquire. It could be sloppy, however that’s how Harris may have an effect on the bottom, by placing the Steelers into Third-and-short-to-manageable conditions. Obviously, he may have a a lot better influence by means of the air, however after two weeks, Harris has solely seen eight targets. Plus, in his two profession video games in opposition to Cleveland, he’s solely seen a complete of six targets. Although, with the addition of George Pickens to the broad receiver corps and the emergence of Pat Freiermuth as an efficient short-yardage passing choice, I discover it unlikely Harris will get extra motion within the passing sport tonight.
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Furthermore, of the 23 operating backs ever to file lower than 4 yards a carry whereas toting the rock a minimum of 300 occasions at 25 or youthful, solely seven went on to have over 1,000 yards dashing the next season, and solely two have completed it because the begin of the twenty first century (LaDainian Tomlinson and Clinton Portis, each in 2005). Let’s be clear, it’s nonetheless too early to inform, however Najee Harris doesn’t fairly seem like on the extent of both of these males I simply listed.
Harris is clearly an enormously-talented particular person, however and not using a respectable run-blocking offensive line and a quarterback that’s averaging 5.1 yards per move try (lifeless final amongst QBs with a minimum of 30 move makes an attempt this yr), his influence in video games through the bottom assault will likely be minimal. All this stated, I do know I’ve talked dangerous in regards to the Steelers’ offensive line lots, however they had been in a position to produce a 1,000-yard rusher in 2021 whereas recording an adjusted line yard charge of three.75. They’re doing higher than that thus far this yr, so so long as the Steelers’ protection can hold that inefficient offense in video games, then maybe there’s hope for Harris to return to type. It simply (in all probability) gained’t occur this week.
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