The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their Week 4 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts with high expectations for running back Najee Harris. Although Harris had yet to deliver a breakout performance, he had been running with power and securing critical downs in the games leading up to the contest.
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Steelers' Najee Harris sticks his middle fingers up before game against the Colts.
Before the game, Harris appeared fired up, flipping off the crowd on the jumbotron as he ran onto the field. His gesture seemed to energize the Colts' defense, with linebackers EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin blasting Harris on their podcast after the game, saying it motivated them.
Concerns have been growing around Harris, with some believing he hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being a first-round pick. Critics worry about his lack of explosive runs. Former Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion, Chris Hoke shared his thoughts on Harris' struggles against the Colts during an appearance with Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan.
"Sometimes, I worry about the vision of Najee Harris," Hoke said. "There was a couple plays in the [Colts] game that were the exact same runs that Cordarrelle Patterson had. Patterson jump cut and accelerated back into the backside A or B gap. And Najee forces it in the frontside B gap."
Hoke elaborated on his concerns regarding Harris' lack of vision on the field.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Najee Harris leaps over a defender.
While he acknowledged that Harris has a role within the offense, he expressed skepticism about Harris' ability to effectively identify and exploit running lanes.
"He's just more of a power runner than a jump-cut-accelerate-kind of runner," Hoke said of Harris.
Franklin and Speed poked fun at Harris, labeling him as soft. However, one thing that cannot be questioned about Harris is his physical playing style; he actively seeks contact and is a powerful running back, a point Hoke acknowledged.
There has been extensive discussion about Harris, especially following the team’s decision to decline his fifth-year option during the 2024 offseason. His future in the Steel City appears uncertain. Although Omar Khan indicated that there’s still a good chance the Steelers will work with Harris moving forward, there is also a possibility that he could be gone after the 2024 season.
The Steelers entered this season with high expectations for their running game, and it was reported that the decision to not pick up Harris’ option was based on their desire to evaluate his performance within the new Arthur Smith offense.
Steelers' Najee Harris Has Awful Outing Against The Colts
Harris had a disappointing performance against the Colts, acknowledging afterward that he must do better. He rushed 13 times for just 19 yards, with his longest carry reaching only five yards, averaging a mere 1.5 yards per carry. In contrast, Patterson left the game due to injury but managed to rush six times for 43 yards.
Lindsey Wasson / AP Photo
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris dives for the end zone during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Some Steelers fans are becoming increasingly concerned that while other running backs are finding open lanes and making explosive runs, Harris continues to be relatively bottled up.
Despite Harris's hard work and dedication to the Steelers, high expectations surround him due to his status as a first-round pick. He has consistently rushed for over 1,000 yards in every season and has never missed a game due to injury, demonstrating his reliability. However, fans are eager to see more from him. Harris will look to redeem himself in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.
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