Is Harris a bottom 8 starting running back? I think he is.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Forget the fact we have a bottom ten QB starting the NFL, we have a bottom eight starting running back. Don't believe me?


Exhibit A.

Harris is averaging the worst of the top 30 backs in YPC at 3.3 yard per carry. The worst. When heatly Patterson is avageing 5.8 yards per carry. Warren who has been hurt is averaging 3.9 a carry.

Shampkin and Ward, two men who are playing due to injury are also averaging more, though to be fair, their sample size is very small. All of these players use the same OL. Clearly Warren and Patterson are both better pass catchers, and have higher career averages per catch.

Exhibit B

Harris has tough runs. Don't they all? He is at the very bottom of % of Rushes that lead to first down. 17.1% Every decent starter is in the mid 20's and the best are above 30.

https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/rushing/2024/REG/all/rushingfirstdownpercentage/DESC

Exhibit C. He does not hit many big plays, defined as plays that exceed 10 yards in the rushing or cathing depatmtent. His long for the year is 21 yards. Big plays lead to scores.


Exhibit D. His next Touchdown score will be his first for the year. He rates last here again among the starting backs.


But forget the stats for a moment. He is darn limited in his " rushing tree " He runs outside very poorly. He lacks the acceleration to be an average draw runner as well. He's not a counter play type of runner and loses yardage often on cutback runs. There are 8 rushing holes. I will illustrate.

https://sites.google.com/site/jdlpracticeplansdrills/drills/offensive-hole-desiginations

Roughly 85% of Harris runs are through the 1-4 holes. He does not run well though the 5,6,7,8 Nor does he hit these holes often The running playbook is virtually cut in half.

As such the opposing defense and coaching can position their men accordingly. As I said his acceleration to the hole and his vision are below the average standard of the starting backs. And his long speed sucks.





Now for the good. He is healthy and the owner of 10 1/4 inch hands, meaning he seldom fumbles.



After this season we need to spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a back, with round one being a QB. Until that time Warren and Patterson need to get healthy.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think that he's certainly not among the better starters at RB.

My guess is that swapping starters with most other teams wouldn't make our running game any worse at this point.

But to be fair, Najee always looks pretty bad at the beginning of the season and finishes strong.

Hopefully that trend continues.

[Chucktownsteeler]

No one on the offense is really excelling this year.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

No one on the offense is really excelling this year.

Not so. Boswell is excelling. Frazier and Smith are doing pretty well. Pickens is doing well.


Point of the thread is this: Najee Harris is a bottom 8 starting back. I said why with data and observation. Note the slots he seldom runs through ( 5, 6 , 7, and 8 )


With a QB switch and limitng Harris snaps, I am hopeful we can get better. Both are Tomlin decisions.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Not so. Boswell is excelling. Frazier and Smith are doing pretty well. Pickens is doing well.


Point of the thread is this: Najee Harris is a bottom 8 starting back. I said why with data and observation. Note the slots he seldom runs through ( 5, 6 , 7, and 8 )


With a QB switch and limitng Harris snaps, I am hopeful we can get better. Both are Tomlin decisions.

Boswell is on ST, not offense. Frazier started good but has regressed, thanks Meyers. I am trying to think who Smith is.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

The offense score points. Boswell is a big part of the offense, and yes he kicks for defense on speciall teams. But that is neither here nor there. What do you think of my take on Harris being a bottom 8 NFL strating back?

As I have said before and other threads here, all of our backs run behind the same line. Harris has the least YPC.

[Northern_Blitz]

Boswell is on ST, not offense. Frazier started good but has regressed, thanks Meyers. I am trying to think who Smith is.

I don't think you can "regress" in 5 games. That sounds more like (1) uncertainty in a small sample and (2) teams having tape of you in the NFL.

[Chucktownsteeler]

The offense score points. Boswell is a big part of the offense, and yes he kicks for defense on speciall teams. But that is neither here nor there. What do you think of my take on Harris being a bottom 8 NFL strating back?

As I have said before and other threads here, all of our backs run behind the same line. Harris has the least YPC.

I think at season's end Najee needs to go. For whatever reason he needs a change of venue. You can hash it out 100 different ways but he's not getting the job done.

[feltdizz]

Pickens is doing well? What? Dude is being rumored as trade bait due to his attitude.

Now, I do think we aren't using Pickens to the best of his abilities and anytime we start losing we look for a scapegoat but Pickens has ZERO TD's this year. He is not playing well at the moment.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Pickens is doing well? What? Dude is being rumored as trade bait due to his attitude.

Now, I do think we aren't using Pickens to the best of his abilities and anytime we start losing we look for a scapegoat but Pickens has ZERO TD's this year. He is not playing well at the moment.

Pickens did not play the second half. It was a coaching decision. He is handicapped by the QB situation.

But this thread is about NAJEE HARRIS. What do you think? Is he a bottom 8 NFL starting running back?

[feltdizz]

When you block for Najee, good things happen.

Might be the most efficient game of his career.

[Eich]

That was the Harris, Watt game.

[Northern_Blitz]

Here to eat some crow.

I think this might have been Najee's best running game as a pro.

Two 25+ yard runs on a pretty critical drive.

Ran hard (basically always does this).

I don't think I've seen him make a guy miss like he did on the 26 yard run (or whatever it was). Nice to see him have a "get skinny" moment (a la Bettis).

[hawaiiansteel]

this thread is about NAJEE HARRIS. What do you think? Is he a bottom 8 NFL starting running back?

Didn't look bottom 8 today.

[Steelerphile]

I had felt that Najee looked good physically and that he would have a good season. But he didn't really play great especially the last two games; so, I was beginning to think, I had misjudged. He usually takes a little while during the season to get things going but this game gives my point of view some validation. He had a 36 yard run; so that ends any thought that he was incapable of a 30 yard run.

I think he looks quicker. But now he has to keep it going. Warren might not have the season he had last year and Patterson was injured after a handful of carries. Najee's best quality is his durability.