Most people could have predicted Najee Harris’s drop in the second year. One look at the Steelers’ payrolls, attacking depth or midfield situation should be enough for anyone to foresee backyard struggles for the first round of 2021 in Alabama. . However, some believe that his signature role and ability to catch the ball – essentially, his sheer workload – will make up for any shortfalls. After all, he is incredibly talented.
Eight weeks into the season and now, that last statement seems less and less true. Harris currently averages 3.3 yards per take, 45.1 yards per game, three relays per game and 4.7 yards per reception. All of these numbers are down from last year. He doesn’t go to the end zone often. He gets far fewer targets, and even given the chance, he doesn’t pass the eye test. Steelers fans were left shaking their heads and fists too many times as they watched Harris run from East to West instead of North to South. He didn’t show patience when he ran up the middle. He didn’t show smart play. He’s so bad.
That said, all these struggles are just that, struggles – meant to be overcome. The second-year slump is well-documented, and considering Harris has spent the first half of this season dealing with a nasty ankle injury, there is reason to be optimistic for a year-end boost or third-year resurgence. However, it is more likely that Harris will not recover from these struggles.
We’ve actually seen this career arc before.
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Well, that’s a chart that illustrates exactly how effective Najee Harris is compared to Trent Richardson, another Bama back, through each of their first 400 rushes.
Both players were drafted in the first round of their respective drafts. Both players have made over 250 rushing attempts in their first season. Both players averaged under four yards per take despite the heavy workload. Both players show great promise, only to disappear quickly. The scariest thing for Harris fans, though, is that we’re now seeing the same flaws in his game that ultimately destroyed Richardson’s career.
Richardson has weighed in at 228 pounds during his career, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Harris was four inches taller than Richardson, but four pounds heavier. Despite, average weight for an NFL rerun is around £215. Both Harris and Richardson are big men for their positions, making them perfect candidates for the middle-class, North-South runs. Go straight to the crevices of defense, work well in short-range situations, and don’t try to speed around the touchlines or get defenders out of their shoes. Don’t play like that though.
Playing like this certainly doesn’t help in Harris’s case. On the third downhill, the first down marker was just a few yards from the landing field, but instead of moving towards the first downhill, Harris decided to jump and try to get around the defender and turn the game into a greater potential benefits. That indicates poor vision, poor decision-making, poor pitch awareness and less agility – defenders aren’t smitten on the move, and that’s it. slow down him down so a second defender could step forward and help make a save – all the same errors that plagued Richardson’s game.
I would say, Harris hit holes in the line of attack more repeatedly than Richardson, who likes to run into the back of his manager, did. Harris doesn’t do that often. Harris also played after a worse offensive line. Cleveland Browns’ 2013 O-line lineup includes two 2013 Pro Bowlers (including Joe Thomas left All-Pro) and one future All-Pro on a right ball Mitchell Schwartz. That line ranks 18th in adjustable ruler and ninth on electrical success rate. Those aren’t elite stats, but they’re indicative of solid gameplay. Because of Richardson’s underperformance, that squad finished near the bottom of the league in second-tier and field courts. Those stats reflect slightly on the O-line but are more indicative of underperformance following the holes created by the big boys up front. Cleveland is 28th in second-grade yards per attempt, and 31st in outdoor yards.
This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers ranked 23rd in adjusted yards and 11th in success rate. Both numbers are lower than the 2013 Browns’ O series (18th and 9th respectively), but at least they’re roughly equivalent. Pittsburgh ranked 28th for secondary yards and 28th for wide yards. Sound familiar?
It was still very early in Harris’ career. He has time to turn things around, but history tends to repeat itself. Another person running away from Alabama, on an NFC North team, grappling with his identity, is a story we’ve seen before and it doesn’t end well. Currently, Harris is Richardson 2.0.
