Most folks may’ve predicted Najee Harris’ sophomore stoop. One take a look at the Steelers’ payroll, offensive line depth, or quarterback scenario ought to’ve been sufficient for anybody to foresee backfield struggles for the 2021 first-round pick of Alabama. Still, a number of believed his function position and pass-catching potential — basically, his sheer quantity of labor — would make up for any deficiency. After all, he’s immensely proficient.
Eight weeks into the season and now, that final assertion is seeming much less and fewer true. Harris is presently averaging 3.3 yards per carry, 45.1 yards per recreation, three receptions per recreation, and 4.7 yards per reception. All of these figures are down from final 12 months. He’s not reaching the tip zone as typically. He’s receiving far fewer targets, and even when he does get alternatives, he doesn’t go the attention take a look at. Steelers followers have shaken their heads and fists too many occasions watching Harris run East to West as a substitute of North to South. He hasn’t proven endurance working up the center. He hasn’t proven good play. He’s simply been unhealthy.
That mentioned, all of those struggles are simply that, struggles — meant to be overcome. Sophomore slumps are well-documented, and contemplating Harris spent the primary half of this season coping with a nagging ankle damage, there’s cause to be optimistic for a late-year push or third-year resurgence. More seemingly although, is that Harris is not going to get well from these struggles.
We’ve truly seen this profession arc earlier than.
G/O Media might get a fee
Yes, that may be a graph that precisely illustrates the effectiveness of Najee Harris in comparison with Trent Richardson, one other Bama again, by means of every of their first 400 speeding makes an attempt.
Both gamers had been drafted within the first spherical of their respective drafts. Both gamers got greater than 250 speeding makes an attempt of their first season. Both gamers averaged below 4 yards per carry regardless of the heavy workloads. Both gamers confirmed nice promise, solely to vanish shortly. Most horrifying for Harris followers although is that we’re presently seeing the identical flaws in his recreation that in the end destroyed Richardson’s profession.
Richardson was 228 kilos throughout his profession, in keeping with Pro-Football-Reference. Harris is 4 inches taller than Richardson was, however 4 kilos heavier. Regardless, the common weight for an NFL working again is about 215 kilos. Both Harris and Richardson are huge males for his or her positions, making them excellent candidates for up-the-middle, North-South working. Dive straight into the enamel of the protection, work nicely in short-yardage conditions, and don’t attempt to pace round edges or shake defenders out of their boots. Neither performed like that although.
Plays just like the one above actually don’t assist Harris’ case. On third down, the primary down marker was only a few yards downfield, however as a substitute of transferring towards the first-down line, Harris determined to bop and attempt to get across the defender and switch the play right into a probably greater acquire. That exhibits poor imaginative and prescient, poor decision-making, poor area consciousness, and poor agility — the defender didn’t fall for his transfer in any respect, and it slowed him down so {that a} second defender was in a position to come up and assist make the cease — all the identical flaws that plagued Richardson’s recreation.
I’ll say, Harris hits holes within the offensive line extra persistently than Richardson, who cherished to run into the backs of his linemen, did. Harris doesn’t do this fairly as typically. Harris additionally performs behind a worse offensive line. The 2013 Cleveland Browns’ O-line consisted of two 2013 Pro Bowlers (together with All-Pro left sort out Joe Thomas) and a future All-Pro in proper sort out Mitchell Schwartz. That line ranked 18th in adjusted line yards and ninth in energy success price. Those aren’t elite metrics, however they’re indicative of stable line play. Because of Richardson’s ineffectiveness, that line ranked close to the underside of the league in second-level yards and open area yards. Those stats do mirror considerably poorly on the O-line however are extra indicative of ineffective working after holes are created by the large males up entrance. Cleveland ranked twenty eighth in second-level yards per try, and thirty first in open-field yards.
This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers rank twenty third in adjusted line yards and eleventh in energy success price. Both numbers are beneath the 2013 Browns O-line (18th and ninth respectively), however they’re not less than considerably shut. Pittsburgh ranks twenty eighth in second-level yards and twenty eighth in open area yards. Sound acquainted?
It’s nonetheless early in Harris’ profession. He has time to show it round, however historical past tends to repeat itself. Another working again out of Alabama, on an NFC North staff, struggling together with his id, is a narrative we’ve seen earlier than and it didn’t finish nicely. As it’s going proper now, Harris is Richardson 2.0.