We needed and got an upgrade at RB

[Chucktownsteeler]

It wasn't always the O-line at fault. Watch these plays (especially the first one and the one at 1:12s). 

What do you think Najee will do with this type of hole? 

I know Connor has a great story and is a good teammate and person, but man he had no vision.



https://youtu.be/TIZ1MXZFTpg

[mcmillenandwife]

It wasn't always the O-line at fault. Watch these plays (especially the first one and the one at 1:12s). 

What do you think Najee will do with this type of hole? 

I know Connor has a great story and is a good teammate and person, but man he had no vision.



https://youtu.be/TIZ1MXZFTpg

Agreed, vision is a HUGE component of a great RB. Not just seeing the hole once it opens, but anticipating it's going to be before it's there. 

The game slows down for great RBs. That's where great vision comes from. Najee Harris undeniably has this gift. He can sense (and find) holes that open up where they aren't supposed to be. 

Franco could do this. Le'Veon Bell could do this. James Conner, while a solid player with a great story with a lot of heart, was never able to do this.

I'm very hopeful about this pick. 

[Cali-Steeler]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it. I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

Take this highlight for instance. College level tackling > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

[mcmillenandwife]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it.  I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

  Take this highlight for instance.  College level tackling  >   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

Cali, it's not his fault they couldn't tackle him.  Excellent players in college often look like men among boys.  

That's a SICK flippin' run, BTW.  He sheds a tackle, then literally jumps over a guy, then sheds another linebacker like the guy wasn't even there, then scores, and the whole thing looks ridiculously easy. 



I get your point, but I don't understand how you can look at that run and see it as a negative. Dude makes the defenders look like they're not even playing the same sport. 

P.S. -- Most NFL DB's are gonna want NO PART of tackling this guy in the open field. He's a wrecking ball.

[Chucktownsteeler]

He is a beast!

[mcmillenandwife]

The more I watch, the more excited I get about this kid. 

The hurdle moves are bad ass. Might be too risky for the NFL, but we'll see.

What really catches my eye, beyond the vision and power as a runner, is how quickly he starts making football moves after the catch. It is INSTANT. He is going to be a HUGE asset in the passing game. HUGE.  

[Chucktownsteeler]

Trying to determine who he reminds me of, perhaps Ladamian Thomlinson?

[Rollers]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it.  I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

  Take this highlight for instance.  College level tackling  >   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

I don't get it.  He ran against big time competition.  He has everything you would want to have in a running back except for break away speed.  He ran against the best competition you could play in college football.  The SEC.  Cali how would you ever evaluate a great running back based on your criteria of poor tackling.  There's a reason they had trouble bringing him down and he's the reason.  C'mon man be glad we finally got a running back in our running back room that is going to be able to deliver on short yardage.

[Barney]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it.  I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

  Take this highlight for instance.  College level tackling  >   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

Yeah... that was an awesome highlight... I think I would have picked a less awesome highlight to make your point. After seeing that I'm MORE pumped for the Harris pick not less.

[Cali-Steeler]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it.  I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

  Take this highlight for instance.  College level tackling  >   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

I don't get it.  He ran against big time competition.  He has everything you would want to have in a running back except for break away speed.  He ran against the best competition you could play in college football.  The SEC.  Cali how would you ever evaluate a great running back based on your criteria of poor tackling.  There's a reason they had trouble bringing him down and he's the reason.  C'mon man be glad we finally got a running back in our running back room that is going to be able to deliver on short yardage.

   Hey, I'm untitled to my opinion... I've played and coached. I'm just saying I don't believe in this yet....  That's the good thing about this country, your untitled to your own opinion.  Unless your a Demo-rat. Then your always supposed to be rite no matter what?
   
   The Media is hyping it up Already. Saying he'll be rookie of the year. I'm saying lets be real. Lets wait and see what happens. I'm not about Hype.  Sorry... Nothing wrong with being real.  Now get off my LAWN!  

[Cali-Steeler]

Hopfully he works out. But I'm just not seeing it.  I mean the highlight reals show crappy tackling. The NFL will have fast paced DB's all over him.

  Take this highlight for instance.  College level tackling  >   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98B4C9oEa2g

Yeah... that was an awesome highlight... I think I would have picked a less awesome highlight to make your point. After seeing that I'm MORE pumped for the Harris pick not less.

  No worries, I just thought the tackling could have been better at the end.

[mcmillenandwife]

Now get off my LAWN!  

[Chucktownsteeler]

Just read an article that Najee had only 1 fumble in 719 touches at Alabama.

I can’t wait to see him play.

[dbsfgyd1]

Not to do discount Harris’s talent, but when you see a college running back you like, draft his linemen. Which is exactly what the Steelers should have done. I’ll not dispute his talent, but this was not the draft to spend a first round draft pick on a running back. Too many other critical needs. That said, now that we got him, I’m excited to see what he brings to the table.

One final point, just be glad I’m not the Steelers GM or there would be lot more issues than the decided lack of qualified linemen.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Not to do discount Harris’s talent, but when you see a college running back you like, draft his linemen. Which is exactly what the Steelers should have done. I’ll not dispute his talent, but this was not the draft to spend a first round draft pick on a running back. Too many other critical needs. That said, now that we got him, I’m excited to see what he brings to the table.

One final point, just be glad I’m not the Steelers GM or there would be lot more issues than the decided lack of qualified linemen.

I hear what you are saying but if you watch the video above it wasn’t always the lines fault. We didn’t have a RB that could anticipate or exploit the holes. The Steelers thought when you have a chance at a back like Harris they couldn’t pass him up.

Also, they drafted the #2 TE out of PSU in the second, who will our best TE since Heath. 

They drafted a Center in the third that has a little nasty and added a tackle in the fifth.

We will see how it all works out.

[Noll and Cowher teams no more]

Not to do discount Harris’s talent, but when you see a college running back you like, draft his linemen. Which is exactly what the Steelers should have done. I’ll not dispute his talent, but this was not the draft to spend a first round draft pick on a running back. Too many other critical needs. That said, now that we got him, I’m excited to see what he brings to the table.

One final point, just be glad I’m not the Steelers GM or there would be lot more issues than the decided lack of qualified linemen.

Just watch the first 2 minutes of the highlight video Tim posted above, Dave. Not like the o-line was opening up holes a truck could drive through. 
Harris turned plays that should of been for loss into positive yardage on his own without the help of the line.

[mcmillenandwife]

Harris turned plays that should of been for loss into positive yardage on his own without the help of the line.

Exactly.   This is what great RB's do. 

IMO, this guy gives us our best shot to win now while we still have a HOF QB under center. 

I'll keep saying it: Don't underestimate what Harris will do for our passing game, a) because he has excellent hands, and b) because defenses will be forced to respect his talent in the run game.

[Chucktownsteeler]

All points above are very, vey true. Also, we really didn't neglect the O-line, the TE out of PSU was rated the #2 TE in the draft and the #1 TE in the red-zone. No way should he have fallen this far, perhaps the slight injury or condensed collage schedule hurt him. He will be are best all-around TE, especially blocking since Heath. No one even close.

We drafted Pouncey's replacement in the 3rd, Kendrick Green, an explosive center with a little nasty that flew under the radar whilst at Illinois.

We drafted an OT in the 4th, Dan Moore, Jr. A little bit of a project but he was selected in the 4th.

So, one could say the first 4 round draft picks were brought in to help the line and running game. Also, we won't have to relay on 40 to 50 pass attempts on any given Sunday.

[dbsfgyd1]

You all realize the projected OL is comprised of a rookie, an aging vet, a guard with 4 starts to his resume, a tackle that going to try complete his first start ( speaking of which for those of your that subscribe to Game Pass, you might want to rewatch that Giant’s game) in his career, and the other tackle that couldn’t push an empty shopping cart out of the way if his life depended on it?

The fact is the whole offense rests on the ability of the OL to move the defensive players out of the way on running plays and to give your QB more than 2 seconds to pass the ball. I appreciate your optimism, but just because the line coach say they are going to be more physical does not make it so.

[Chucktownsteeler]

If they had to (and I'm not saying they will) they could move DeCastro to center (he played there before) put Dotson at LG and Green at RG. I do think they will add a veteran LT soon, perhaps the one the WFT just cut.

Not all is lost.