Its time to shut Najee down

[Steel Maniac]

I'm hoping that through this, Tomlin will see that having several RBs involved in the rushing attack is not a bad thing

We can only hope!

[Shawn]

Clearly he i’m hasn’t been right all year. He showed a little burst last week but I think he actually injured himself on that leap into the end zone last week. He got up a bit gimpy after that play.

Probably over compensating for the foot and high ankle. Tough year for him but Snell and McFarland actually looked good. I worry about QB protection but our running game was pretty impressive at 5 yards a pop.

Rest Najee and let these dudes take over for a few games or maybe for the rest of the year depending on the severity if the injury.

I fully agree. I would actually sit Harris for the rest of the year. His type of injury can nag him well into next year if not properly rested.

[Eich]

I'm hoping that through this, Tomlin will see that having several RBs involved in the rushing attack is not a bad thing

Agree. It was a great thing last night. I think the multiple changes of pace contributed to the success. McFarland sometimes looked shot out of a cannon. And Snell was powerful.

[Shawn]

McFarland had noticeably faster burst speed. Snell ran well too. Both looked like an improvement over a gimpy Najee. I don't see any reason to play Najee until he's fully healed.

Ok, so I very much liked McFarland coming out of college. Then he runs like a deer in headlights for the Steelers. So, I was like where did I get my assessment wrong? So, I re-watched much of his college games and nearly every run for the Steelers. I saw a noticeable difference in running style. He wasn't getting massive holes blown for him with that Maryland OL. But, he was running with vision and authority. He was decisive and running with elite burst. While it was a down year for the Buckeyes D, he absolutely dominated them. For the Steelers he was indecisive, running as if he was just learning how to run in the pee wees. He couldn't pick the proper hole if his life depended on it. I gave up on him and just thought the pro game was just too big for him. But, last night he looked more like the RB I thought he could become. It's encouraging and I'll be watching him. But, I'm not ready to sign him up for the Hall just yet.

[whisper]

McFarland had noticeably faster burst speed. Snell ran well too. Both looked like an improvement over a gimpy Najee. I don't see any reason to play Najee until he's fully healed.

Najee probably shouldn't have been playing week 1, but Shades has a history of pushing injured players back too quickly.

[Shawn]

Najee probably shouldn't have been playing week 1, but Shades has a history of pushing injured players back too quickly.

I'm not sure that's fair. Are you in the locker room? Have you read his MRI? Are you a physician for the team? Tomlin isn't going to play a player who isn't cleared medically. At the end of the day, MOST if not all coaches are going to play a player who wants to play who is cleared medically. A few of y'all are always looking to be mad at MT. I bet he could lead this team to the playoffs and a SB and you would still say he is an overpaid janitor.

[Captain Lemming]

I'm hoping that through this, Tomlin will see that having several RBs involved in the rushing attack is not a bad thing

Good point. It's like a stretch when Swann was out before Terry realized Stallworth was just as good. He was much better once he figured that out.

[Captain Lemming]

Clearly he i’m hasn’t been right all year. He showed a little burst last week but I think he actually injured himself on that leap into the end zone last week. He got up a bit gimpy after that play.

Probably over compensating for the foot and high ankle. Tough year for him but Snell and McFarland actually looked good. I worry about QB protection but our running game was pretty impressive at 5 yards a pop.

Rest Najee and let these dudes take over for a few games or maybe for the rest of the year depending on the severity if the injury.

I started thinking this before the game. Now that he got hurt again, I'd just injure reserve him right now. Something ain't right when everyone looks better than him, and our run blocking seems fine when he ain't the guy running.

I don't want to even be tempted to use him prematurely. Let him heal up and use this season to figure out who to lair him with next season. Now that he flashed a little AM might be nice to extent on the cheap as our speed guy.

Gotta be careful though not to flash AM too much, he might go from literally ZERO value as a guy who anybody could have signed already, to getting a bunch of offers elsewhere.

[Captain Lemming]

I'm not sure that's fair. Are you in the locker room? Have you read his MRI? Are you a physician for the team? Tomlin isn't going to play a player who isn't cleared medically. At the end of the day, MOST if not all coaches are going to play a player who wants to play who is cleared medically. A few of y'all are always looking to be mad at MT. I bet he could lead this team to the playoffs and a SB and you would still say he is an overpaid janitor.

Of course it's fair doc. Just like when you were dealing with COVID patients but Steeler nation yahoos were telling you what's up in the midst of the pandemic.

I have no doubt Najee has been cleared medically. Every player plays through nagging injuries they are cleared for.

That said, if these nagging injuries render him consistently less effective than other backs, let him heal completely. We aren't competing for a ring regardless.

[whisper]

Ok, so I very much liked McFarland coming out of college. Then he runs like a deer in headlights for the Steelers. So, I was like where did I get my assessment wrong? So, I re-watched much of his college games and nearly every run for the Steelers. I saw a noticeable difference in running style. He wasn't getting massive holes blown for him with that Maryland OL. But, he was running with vision and authority. He was decisive and running with elite burst. While it was a down year for the Buckeyes D, he absolutely dominated them. For the Steelers he was indecisive, running as if he was just learning how to run in the pee wees. He couldn't pick the proper hole if his life depended on it. I gave up on him and just thought the pro game was just too big for him. But, last night he looked more like the RB I thought he could become. It's encouraging and I'll be watching him. But, I'm not ready to sign him up for the Hall just yet.

Until this year, he never showed anything - including pre-seasons. But for whatever reason, he has been reborn this year. Maybe he just needed a few years to get used to the NFL and lack of large holes, especially running behind Pgh's OL. But I agree: he has become a legit NFL back, currently better than our 1st round NFL back. He ran 6x for 30 yds (5.0 ypc). Those #s work in the NFL. (Najee ran for 3.5 ypc, which is an improvement over his ypc #s this season, but not good enough).

Snell also ran well. If I didn't know better, I'd say our OL was approaching a "decent" level of play.

[Shawn]

Of course it's fair doc. Just like when you were dealing with COVID patients but Steeler nation yahoos were telling you what's up in the midst of the pandemic.

I have no doubt Najee has been cleared medically. Every player plays through nagging injuries they are cleared for.

That said, if these nagging injuries render him consistently less effective than other backs, let him heal completely. We aren't competing for a ring regardless.

I suppose Tomin is used to ignorant fans second guessing him and thinking they know more than him. I also agree that we should sit Harris due to productivity.

[NorthCoast]

I'm hoping that through this, Tomlin will see that having several RBs involved in the rushing attack is not a bad thing

This. Bellcow RBs are old school. RBC is the modern way to a run game because it is cap friendly and can be just as effective. At this point I wouldn't pay premium dollars for Harris on a 2nd contract. The Steelers have a couple of years to figure that out for themselves.
There's a difference in run style between Harris, and Warren or Snell and it makes a difference. Warren and Snell are 'one cut downhill' runners. Harris tends to run horizontal looking for holes and not quite the burst.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Clearly he i’m hasn’t been right all year. He showed a little burst last week but I think he actually injured himself on that leap into the end zone last week. He got up a bit gimpy after that play.

Probably over compensating for the foot and high ankle. Tough year for him but Snell and McFarland actually looked good. I worry about QB protection but our running game was pretty impressive at 5 yards a pop.

Rest Najee and let these dudes take over for a few games or maybe for the rest of the year depending on the severity if the injury.

I've always believe that Snell looks best when he can get more touches and get into a rhythm. He's not your rotational guy, but he IS your fill in when your starter is out for an extended period.

[Captain Lemming]

Until this year, he never showed anything - including pre-seasons. But for whatever reason, he has been reborn this year. Maybe he just needed a few years to get used to the NFL and lack of large holes, especially running behind Pgh's OL. But I agree: he has become a legit NFL back, currently better than our 1st round NFL back. He ran 6x for 30 yds (5.0 ypc). Those #s work in the NFL. (Najee ran for 3.5 ypc, which is an improvement over his ypc #s this season, but not good enough).

Snell also ran well. If I didn't know better, I'd say our OL was approaching a "decent" level of play.

Just when I'm ready to give up on you being nothing but negative.... you gotta say something sensible like this.

Agree 100 percent whisper.

[feltdizz]

Until this year, he never showed anything - including pre-seasons. But for whatever reason, he has been reborn this year. Maybe he just needed a few years to get used to the NFL and lack of large holes, especially running behind Pgh's OL. But I agree: he has become a legit NFL back, currently better than our 1st round NFL back. He ran 6x for 30 yds (5.0 ypc). Those #s work in the NFL. (Najee ran for 3.5 ypc, which is an improvement over his ypc #s this season, but not good enough).

Snell also ran well. If I didn't know better, I'd say our OL was approaching a "decent" level of play.

McFarlands problem was outrunning blockers. He was like FWP but with less speed. FWP used to turn a 40 yard gains into 9 yard gains because he would run past a lineman on a screen right into a defender.