Steelers best-case and worst-case scenarios for Najee Harris’s rookie season

Worst-case scenario

The worst-case scenario again starts with the Steelers line, as the questions that are now there don’t have an answer. Both tackles fail to get much of a push while neither B.J. Finney nor Kendrick Green can lock down the starting center job down, both rotating in and out due to the others’ struggles. Worse yet, the line is drilled to protect Roethlisberger at all costs, leading to a failure to get a push once more. Harris goes from a line that opened up giant holes at Alabama to one that makes him have to create more.

The other issue that arises is Harris suddenly being in a position where there is little competition for his job. While he was “the guy” at Alabama, Nick Saban had a capable back behind him in Brian Robinson Jr. who would have stepped in had Harris struggled. That is no longer the case, as Benny Snell is seemingly not a realistic threat to contend for the starting role with Harris on the roster.

He skates through camp with little fanfare and little playing time due to a lingering abdominal injury. Fans are on fire when he finally sees his first significant playing time, and he doesn’t wow anyone. He records 75 rushing yards on 20 carries and really struggles to find a hole behind the rebuilt line. The most notable highlight clip is Harris getting stood up on the goal line twice as he can’t overcome the Steelers struggling line.

This becomes the status quo for the team, as Harris gets plenty of opportunities, but can’t do much without his elite line. He does have a few solid outings, and his month of September is a good one as he rushes for 475 yards. His October is a bad one, as he misses two games with a shoulder injury. While Snell doesn’t light the world on fire, he scores four times in Harris’s absence and establishes himself as the goal line back.

In total, Harris never really gets it going, and some lingering injuries hamper him during the season. He has a very David Montgomery-like rookie year, netting 925 total yards and a disappointing 3.8 yards per carry. As well, he only scores five total times (twice through the air), leading to further disappointment. The Steelers miss the playoffs and Roethlisberger retires, leaving the team with a plethora of offensive questions they will have to answer in the year following.