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A16 SPORTS
Friday 29 September 2023

As the debate over the value of running backs rages,

the Steelers provide an interesting case study

By WILL GRAVES Harris’ plate after he had
AP Sports Writer an NFL-high 381 touches
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The dif- as a rookie. That number
ferences between Najee dropped to 313 last sea-
Harris and Jaylen Warren son and is on pace to dip a
are stark. little further in 2023, though
Height. Weight. Draft pro- it is still really early and Har-
file. College pedigree. ris’ limited touches through
Temperament. Approach three weeks are as much a
to their job. byproduct of the offense’s
It’s a dichotomy the Steel- inability to sustain drives as
ers believe they can ex- anything else.
ploit in hopes of getting the “I think we want to be bal-
best out of both. It’s also anced to a point, but obvi-
a compelling case study ously Najee’s our guy and
in the ongoing debate on he’s going to have the
the value of running backs, workload and majority of
a debate with no right an- carries in a lot of instanc-
swer and maybe no wrong es,” Canada said. “But we
one either. think Jaylen is a great tal-
The 6-foot-1, 232-pound ent, does a lot of things
Harris is a 2021 first-round and when he spells Najee,
pick who starred at Ala- good things happen too.”
bama and arrived in Pitts- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, right, hands off to running back Najee Harris (22) The Steelers had five scor-
burgh expecting to be during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, ing drives against the Raid-
the “bell cow” for years in Las Vegas. ers. On four of them, Harris
to come, a euphemism Associated Press and Warren had at least
coach Mike Tomlin has Too unknown. give a coaching staff a ren just $874,000, though his one carry each.
used on more than one oc- And, it turns out, too relent- reason to say “no” needs take-home pay will take a “As long as we’re trend-
casion. less to turn away. to make. It’s also the kind bit of a hit if he can’t get ing upwards, that’s all that
The 25-year-old has the Warren made the team of play the inner masochist the $48,000 fine he earned matters,” Harris said. “The
prototypical size and ap- as Harris’ backup in 2022 in Warren enjoys. for a helmet-to-helmet hit run game is starting to
proach of a franchise back thanks in large part to the “They say there’s going against Cleveland on Sept. help open up a lot of stuff,
, eager to stiff-arm a de- way he fearlessly throws to be something you hate 18 overturned on appeal, play-action started to help
fender to the ground when his body in front of oncom- about your job, I don’t see an amount that’s the rough to create those big plays.
he can, more eager and ing pass rushers, a skillset that as that,” Warren said. equivalent of two game We’re getting there.”
perhaps more suited to run he showcased last Sunday “I actually like blitz pickup. I checks (after taxes). Focus on “we.”
through opponents than against the Raiders when just like the physicality of it.” “Playing for the love of the While Harris wasn’t shy dur-
run by them. he took on Las Vegas star While everyone from Tom- game the next two weeks,” ing the offseason about
Warren is five inches shorter defensive end Maxx Cros- lin to offensive coordinator Warren said with a laugh. urging the NFL to find a way
and 17 pounds lighter. His by all 6-5 and 255 pounds Matt Canada emphasizes Why not? It’s what got him to pay running backs what
college journey began at of him in the first quarter that Harris is “our guy” as here. It’s also why he’ll be- they believe they’re worth,
Snow College in central to buy quarterback Kenny Canada put it Thursday, grudgingly pay the fine if it it hasn’t affected his rela-
Utah before stops at Utah Pickett enough time to hit reality offers a slightly differ- comes to that and why he tionship with Warren, who
State and Oklahoma State. Calvin Austin for a 72-yard ent view. shrugged when asked if he at the moment is providing
He arrived at Saint Vincent touchdown. Heading into Sunday’s visit plans to do anything differ- a similar service for a frac-
College for training camp “Crosby came looping. to Houston (1-2), their play- ently in the future. tion of the price.
in the summer of 2022 as I couldn’t just let him go ing time and production “I’ll play the same way,” “We are constantly help-
an undrafted rookie free past,” Warren said. “I feel have been nearly equal. Warren said. “I wouldn’t ing each other out, letting
agent well aware he didn’t like with the bigger guys, Harris has 38 touches for have made the team each other know what’s
fit the profile no matter how you’ve got to hit them 141 yards while playing 53% if I didn’t play the way I going on throughout the
quickly he seemed to burst harder than the people of the snaps. Warren has 29 play do. Damned if I do. game,” Warren said. “Just
through a hole or have that’s not that size because touches for 156 yards while Damned if I don’t.’” kind of picking each other’s
his legs churn through the you are going to get run playing 43% of the snaps. There is no rivalry here. Not brain. Competition is what
arms of would-be tacklers. over if you don’t.” Then there’s the money. yet anyway. The Steelers pushes us to be better. But
He was always too some- It was the kind of play a guy Harris counts $3.5 million made an intentional deci- we’re going to be there for
thing. Too short. Too small. who knows he can never against the salary cap. War- sion to take a little bit off each other.”q