NFL analyst uses the departure of Steelers Pro Bowler as most recent example of 'outdated offensive culture' in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers are slowly, but surely adapting to modern NFL dynamics. The signing of Patrick Queen last year and the trade for DK Metcalf this year proves that. But they still lag in their offensive philosophy, and one analyst thinks that the Najee Harris departure will prove that… Najee Harris to thrive in L.A.? […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers are slowly, but surely adapting to modern NFL dynamics.
The signing of Patrick Queen last year and the trade for DK Metcalf this year proves that.
But they still lag in their offensive philosophy, and one analyst thinks that the Najee Harris departure will prove that…
Najee Harris to thrive in L.A.?
“J.K. Dobbins, when healthy last year, was very good for the Chargers, and Najee Harris is a better player, said Colin Cowherd on the Herd. A couple years ago, there was a guy named Kevin Dotson, he was a guard. I read a story that he wasn’t going to start in Pittsburgh. Sean McVay took him, became the PFF number one rated guard for two of the last three years. Stabilized the interior of their o-line. You find these outdated offensive cultures, and these offensive coaches cherry pick and know Dotson, Najee Harris, this kid’s gonna flourish.”
For whatever reason, Cowherd has an infatuation with dunking on the Steelers and every decision they make. That being said, his take on Harris thriving in L.A. is a potent one.
Harris never missed a start in his Steelers career, never rushed for less than 1,000 yards, and never scored less than five TDs in a season. He did all that with six different starting quarterbacks, a rag-tag group of linemen, three different offensive coordinators, and multiple run schemes.
He was, and is a stabilizing force on an offense. Insert him onto a Jim Harbaugh-led offense, where they want to play power football and leave defenses gasping for air before attacking over the top, and he is set up to thrive.
So I'm not exactly sure why the Steelers decided to part ways with Harris last year when they declined his fifth-year option. The writing had been on the wall since then, and Harris even admitted that he knew he wasn't coming back during the 2024 season…
"Me and coach T, we're pretty close in certain ways, so I kind of knew what was coming," Harris said. "I didn't plan on doing it. It wasn't something that was in the plan or anything…
"…But it's a business. Coach T told me that when I was a rookie. Even in my last year, he would tell me, ‘This is the business side of things.' I just took that, and I understood it. I just knew that would be my last year. … Maybe, like, halfway through the end of the season, I kind of knew that."
