Joel was right! Warren is the future

[Steel Maniac]

Seen some posters elsewhere saying Warren benefits from more favorable late down runs than Harris has gotten:

	Warren	Harris
1st down atts	81	418
2nd down atts	63	260
3rd down atts	10	37
4th down atts	3	4
1st down rate on 1st & 10 runs	14%	8%
1st down rate on 2nd & < 6yds	50%	25%

Not seeing where he is getting favorable treatment.

What does seem to be definitely true is that Harris' runs are mostly up the middle while Warren can and does bounce to outside runs. (Harris' outside runs are mostly fails or short yards). So Harris' game is limited to his abilities not the play calling.

Well, glad that has been put to rest. Warren is just the better back. Period.

[hawaiiansteel]

They don't have to demote anyone or lessen anybodys load to get them more touches they just need to sustain more drives.

very good point!

[Tank McGee]

Yeah, it's obvious Warren is something special. The failure to use him at the end of the Browns game is mind-boggling. It's becoming obvious that Harris was a bust for a first round selection, and very likely Pickett too. I'm hoping Pickett proves me wrong with his new OC, but he just doesn't look like he's going to be starter material in the NFL.

[Tank McGee]

Whatever Harris is, he's not a good first-round selection. He is not able to break the initial tackle, which is the first qualification for an NFL RB.

[feltdizz]

Yeah, it's obvious Warren is something special. The failure to use him at the end of the Browns game is mind-boggling. It's becoming obvious that Harris was a bust for a first round selection, and very likely Pickett too. I'm hoping Pickett proves me wrong with his new OC, but he just doesn't look like he's going to be starter material in the NFL.

I think if we seriously invested in the OL when we drafted Najee we may have had better results. He took a tom of punishment his rookie year with that bad OL.

An RB who is best on inside runs without a Center was a bad idea. Now we have a RB who is more versatile and an OT who is a beast and the running game looks 10X better.

[Steelerphile]

I wish people would stop blaming the OL for Harris' deficiencies as a player. He just does not have a top gear or many moves. Warren gained 129 yards against Cleveland on 9 carries. If they would have given the ball to Harris 18 times in that game and Warren three times like they were doing at the beginning of Harris career, Harris would probably have gained about 45 and a 2.something average. And the fans would again have been whining to the heavens and how suck the Steelers line is, even with the addition of Broderick Jones.

There would have been posters saying we need to draft like this OL, OL and OL next year. A special back like Warren makes quick cuts, finds openings, runs through a few arm tackles and then is on his way. This makes the OL seem to be blocking much better. No way Harris goes 74 yards on the same play with the same blocking that Warren went the distance. Harris might have gotten 7 yards.

[Mr.wizard]

I wish people would stop blaming the OL for Harris' deficiencies as a player. He just does not have a top gear or many moves. Warren gained 129 yards against Cleveland on 9 carries. If they would have given the ball to Harris 18 times in that game and Warren three times like they were doing at the beginning of Harris career, Harris would probably have gained about 45 and a 2.something average. And the fans would again have been whining to the heavens and how suck the Steelers line is, even with the addition of Broderick Jones.

There would have been posters saying we need to draft like this OL, OL and OL next year. A special back like Warrens makes quick cuts, finds openings, runs through a few arm tackles and then is on his way. This makes the OL seem to be blocking much better. No way Harris goes 74 yards on the same play with the same blocking that Warren went the distance. Harris might have gotten 7 yards.

Maybe not but there were many times Harris took the handoff with multiple defenders already in the backfield. It is because of the formation they try to run out of when Harris is in the game. It is a heavy formation with no pass threat and often gives away the direction of the run. Not saying he would have the same success as Warren but help the guy out a little, if I can call out the play before it happens then certainly the defense knows what's coming. Najee is tied for 3rd on 20+ yard runs in the league this year, so when he gets room he has had some good runs.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I wish people would stop blaming the OL for Harris' deficiencies as a player. He just does not have a top gear or many moves. Warren gained 129 yards against Cleveland on 9 carries. If they would have given the ball to Harris 18 times in that game and Warren three times like they were doing at the beginning of Harris career, Harris would probably have gained about 45 and a 2.something average. And the fans would again have been whining to the heavens and how suck the Steelers line is, even with the addition of Broderick Jones.

There would have been posters saying we need to draft like this OL, OL and OL next year. A special back like Warren makes quick cuts, finds openings, runs through a few arm tackles and then is on his way. This makes the OL seem to be blocking much better. No way Harris goes 74 yards on the same play with the same blocking that Warren went the distance. Harris might have gotten 7 yards.

Some posters blame the OL but choose to ignore the facts.

Some posters just do not understand modern football

And some posters defend as if they are defending Mike Tomlin for keeping Najee Harris the starter.

Now I don't wish an injury on any player. Rather I predict the oh sensitive man from San Francisco will go diva on Tomlin in a quiet type of way, and that and not Warren superior play will be his reason for making Warren the starter.

IMO Warren should get 70% of the carries or more. He has had back to back 100 yards games and it would have been three in a row had Tomlin not used Harris as much as he did.

Warren could be a star player.

[pfelix73]

Hmmmm… Naj had a big day! And I have Warren on my fantasy football team, and wished he had more yards and TDs

[Steelerphile]

Have to give Harris his due, because today he was the man. 99 yards and 6.6 ave. He ran hard and was productive. Warren only 3.8. So it seems the tandem splitting carries roughly is a good formula. One of them is usually hot.

[Blitzer]

I am glad we have both backs. and now we might actually call play that make sense

[Chucktownsteeler]

Agreed, I’ve always been glad we have 2 good backs, a nice 1-2 punch

[T.Ferguson]

Harris definitely the better day today and not even close. It's a nice problem to have in that it's not even a problem if both are used properly. I liked seeing them in both out there on at least one play today, that really should be the base offense imo. Friermuth down the middle, Najee down the middle running and throwing, Warren outside, etc. Offense still isn't maximizing the talent but today was at least better.

[feltdizz]

Have to give Harris his due, because today he was the man. 99 yards and 6.6 ave. He ran hard and was productive. Warren only 3.8. So it seems the tandem splitting carries roughly is a good formula. One of them is usually hot.

Yes, glad we have both. I think whoever is the feature back may have tougher sledding simply because teams will run blitz a few times.

But I think we have our thunder and lightning.

I was proud to see Najee lower his shoulder and stiff arm a defender today.

Most of all, I think Warren shining last week makes Najee a better RB. He ean violent today. That is the Najee they drafted from Bama.

[feltdizz]

Gotta give props when it's due. I didn't think Najee was bad but clearly Warren is much better.

He didn't start last game but he should've and he should start the rest of the year.

It's time for the youth movement. Najee, DJ and Muth all need their playing time reduced. Patrick Peterson as well.

We fire Canada and Najee and Muth said ?nah son, watch us work?

DJ still a head case.