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

[Mr.wizard]

Again, Matt Canada and subpar QB and OL play.

and yes, based on recent stats I think Najee is able to have more big gains this year.

It's ridiculous to suggest that a guy who just had a 32 yard run and a 36 yard isn't capable of 40 yard run. I said at the beginning of the year with the blocking scheme they are using, the bigger runs will start to pop. Najee will get at least 1 40 yarder this year and I don't see the 20+ yarders slowing down.

[feltdizz]

40+ yards isn't some magical line in the sand.

It's just an objective way to answer the question "does this player deliver long runs".

I agree that he's had his best 3 game stretch of his career. I didn't watch him in college, but apparently he didn't have 3 hundred yard games in a row in the NCAA either.

I'm hopeful that it continues.

But I don't think it's fair to look at just those three games. Just like I don't think it's fair to only look at the first three games of the season where he wasn't getting the same production.

Your reasoning for why he's playing better now might be true.

Just like with Kenny, I hope that you're right and I'm wrong.

I hope Najee has 100+ yards and multiple TDs and several game breaking runs for the next 13 games. I hope he ends up getting his fingerprints all over the trophy.

I think he's a genuinely good person (not common for celebrities and athletes). And it would be great to see.

Well, you seem to be the only one who keeps focusing on the 40+ yards stat.

I think having a whole new playbook and play caller along with a legit Center and SB winning QB makes a huge different. I expect his production will keep improving. Doesn’t mean he won’t struggle at times but I think defenses risk the moon ball if they sell out on the run.

[feltdizz]

It's ridiculous to suggest that a guy who just had a 32 yard run and a 36 yard isn't capable of 40 yard run. I said at the beginning of the year with the blocking scheme they are using, the bigger runs will start to pop. Najee will get at least 1 40 yarder this year and I don't see the 20+ yarders slowing down.

Oh, indeed!!!

I think dramatically increasing 20+ runs is more beneficial but I also believe he will continue increasing his long runs in this offense.

[Northern_Blitz]

Again, Matt Canada and subpar QB and OL play.

and yes, based on recent stats I think Najee is able to have more big gains this year.

I'm proud of you Felt. <smile!>

I hope you're right about Najee.

[Northern_Blitz]

Well, you seem to be the only one who keeps focusing on the 40+ yards stat.

I think having a whole new playbook and play caller along with a legit Center and SB winning QB makes a huge different. I expect his production will keep improving. Doesn’t mean he won’t struggle at times but I think defenses risk the moon ball if they sell out on the run.

I also focused a lot on the 10+ yard rushing rate that Wizard thought put Najee 4th best in the league (actually 24th with the criteria Wizard gave).

I'm focusing on long runs because this is what the discussion has been about re: Najee going back to the post that Lemming brought up.

[Northern_Blitz]

It's ridiculous to suggest that a guy who just had a 32 yard run and a 36 yard isn't capable of 40 yard run. I said at the beginning of the year with the blocking scheme they are using, the bigger runs will start to pop. Najee will get at least 1 40 yarder this year and I don't see the 20+ yarders slowing down.

I have never said that he will never get a 40 yard run.

I'm actually very surprised it hasn't happened in the 1,100 touches he's had by just dumb luck.

Again, Bettis had a run longer than Najee's career long in the year he retired.

So I suppose you're correct that you don't have to be fast to run longer than Najee has?

[LPMAN]

Really this thread is kinda futile. Najee only has about 10 games (give or take ) left in in the black & gold uniform.

[hawaiiansteel]

The fact that Najee hasn't had one single run of 37+ yards this season is all the proof you need that he's simply too slow.

[LPMAN]

The fact that Najee hasn't had one single run of 37+ yards this season is all the proof you need that he's simply too slow.

Yeah he's slow like Bettis. But he's got a little mean Bus in him too.

[Northern_Blitz]

Oh, indeed!!!

I think dramatically increasing 20+ runs is more beneficial but I also believe he will continue increasing his long runs in this offense.

Has he dramatically increased 20+ yard runs? Probably only compared to his 2nd year. Which I think we'd all agree was his worst. Likely because he was robust enough to still play despite an injury (something I think he should get credit for).

I posted this upthread, but maybe you didn't see it.

I think the data is just for RBs (so he's "only" 46th in 30+ instead of 82nd).

Najee	10+ (rank)	20+ (rank)	30+ (rank)	40+(rank)	long	Att
2021	28 (5)	6 (5)	2 (9)	0 (29)	37	307
2022	20 (23)	1 (56)	1 (32)	0 (3	36	272
2023	24 (20)	8 (4)	0 (t46)	0 (t32)	25	255
2024	15 (12)	6 (4)	2 (t6)	0 (t23)	36	136

He was ranked 5th in 20+ yard runs as a rookie; 4th last year; and 4th now.

His rate is probably better this year though. Particularly compared to when he was a rookie.

I bet his 20+ yard run rate is better than his 10+ yard run rate. I've got the link above if you want to calculate it.

I think you can still see evidence that he isn't fast (or maybe just isn't a good open field runner?) here. Other backs break some of those 20+ yard runs. Najee doesn't (or at least hasn't yet).

I think it's because he's big, powerful, and not fast. I also think part of this is that he looks for contact instead of open field.

Although there have been at least two plays where that wasn't true this season. Both of these plays I've praised him for (in the game chats and later posts including here). (1) the 32 yard reception where he ran to open field and seemed to be running away from at least one defender and (2) the run where he juked Spillane (??).

[Northern_Blitz]

Yeah he's slow like Bettis. But he's got a little mean Bus in him too.

Najee is the perfect back for that 90s to early 00s brand of NFL football IMO.

I really like watching him run over guys in the secondary. And it's not just corners and safeties that he carries for yards. He does a lot of things well. And running hard every play is 2nd only to his durability IMO.

Although my most guilty pleasure on that front is when we throw to 80 (who I hope gets more targets).

I love watching those defenders make "business decisions"!

[feltdizz]

I have never said that he will never get a 40 yard run.

I'm actually very surprised it hasn't happened in the 1,100 touches he's had by just dumb luck.

Again, Bettis had a run longer than Najee's career long in the year he retired.

So I suppose you're correct that you don't have to be fast to run longer than Najee has?

Bettis also had the privilege of a HOF pulling guard in Alan Faneca.

Also, I won't be upset if Najee isn't as good as Bettis.

[Northern_Blitz]

The fact that Najee hasn't had one single run of 38+ yards this season is all the proof you need that he's simply too slow.

And last season.

And the season before.

And the season before that (note that I upped your 37+ to >37 or 38+ since he did have a 37 yard run in his rookie year!).

Or a reception that long in that time frame.

In 1,100 touches. Given his usage and durability, I'd imagine that he's got to be close to the touch leader in the league across that span.

It's also a strawman to say that he's "too slow". He's not. He's fast enough to be an average to above average RB in the NFL. Because that's what he is.

It's just too bad that he isn't faster. Because if he was, he'd easily be a top 5 back. Maybe even better than Bell*.

* This is high praise from me. I don't think many backs in the league will get to peak-Bell. And with the short longevity of RBs in the current NFL, I've argued that I think Bell should be on the cusp of the HoF (something others have made fun of me for). If he didn't get hurt in the playoffs so much, I think this would be a much easier argument to make. Because he was just so dominant in the playoffs. Hard not to question what could have happened in that Pats game (or other playoff runs) if he didn't get hurt. But it was time to get rid of him when we did. Because the decline was hard and fast. Not helped by how much usage we got out of him.

[Mr.wizard]

Has he dramatically increased 20+ yard runs? Probably only compared to his 2nd year. Which I think we'd all agree was his worst. Likely because he was robust enough to still play despite an injury (something I think he should get credit for).

I posted this upthread, but maybe you didn't see it.

I think the data is just for RBs (so he's "only" 46th in 30+ instead of 82nd).

Najee	10+ (rank)	20+ (rank)	30+ (rank)	40+(rank)	long	Att
2021	28 (5)	6 (5)	2 (9)	0 (29)	37	307
2022	20 (23)	1 (56)	1 (32)	0 (3	36	272
2023	24 (20)	8 (4)	0 (t46)	0 (t32)	25	255
2024	15 (12)	6 (4)	2 (t6)	0 (t23)	36	136

He was ranked 5th in 20+ yard runs as a rookie; 4th last year; and 4th now.

His rate is probably better this year though. Particularly compared to when he was a rookie.

I bet his 20+ yard run rate is better than his 10+ yard run rate. I've got the link above if you want to calculate it.

I think you can still see evidence that he isn't fast (or maybe just isn't a good open field runner?) here. Other backs break some of those 20+ yard runs. Najee doesn't (or at least hasn't yet).

I think it's because he's big, powerful, and not fast. I also think part of this is that he looks for contact instead of open field.

Although there have been at least two plays where that wasn't true this season. Both of these plays I've praised him for (in the game chats and later posts including here). (1) the 32 yard reception where he ran to open field and seemed to be running away from at least one defender and (2) the run where he juked Spillane (??).

It's possible I misread the stat of explosive run rate of 4th and confused it with the number of explosive runs. I can't for the life of me find the list of stats I posted again. But it doesn't really matter because if your 4th in the league in 20+ yard runs then it's still impressive. Because honestly if a guy ahead of him in run rate only carried the ball 100 times then I'm not sure that qualifies him as a better running back. Same argument I made when ypc was used as an argument for Warren to take over as the lead back. The whole point was still about capabilities, and the narrative was that he doesn't break long runs, well if you are finishing in the top 10 in runs over 20 yards and your 2nd in runs over 30 yards this year, then I'm not sure that narrative hold up.

[Northern_Blitz]

Bettis also had the privilege of a HOF pulling guard in Alan Faneca.

Also, I won't be upset if Najee isn't as good as Bettis.

Another similarity he may end up having with Bettis that that durability is his super power.

Bettis has a jacket because of longevity IMO. And the Cinderella ending certainly helped his cause.

I don't think many RBs will have 13 year careers anymore (especially not with the productivity Jerome had). But Najee might have a good chance to last longer than most. He's one tough SoB. And since he doesn't rely on elite speed or acceleration, maybe his decline won't be as sharp as others. That was the problem with Bell IMO. He was all about elite acceleration. And I think that explosion is among the first things to go for athletes.

Jerome was also a media darling. This is something Najee won't have in his favor...although I bet he would have gotten along with 90s style media than the "gotcha" style "journalism" we have today.