Steelers must move through both of their running backs going forward

The Steelers finally got some momentum going on the ground, and it needs to be the focus of this offense moving forward.

The Steelers finally got back into the win column this week, and it was a victory this team desperately needed. The return of T.J. Watt helped the defense get back on track, and the offense had far less to focus on than in games past. A big revelation was the run game though, as this unit finally came together and had a solid day of production.

Before the bye week, this group was abysmal in every facet. They were lacking efficient and successful runs and the offense mostly had to try and move the ball through the air. This led to quick and bland drives and the defense getting trotted back out onto the field. This wasn’t the case against the Saints.

For the first time this season, the Steelers had a successful day on the ground. Everything worked their way, and because of it, they got to slow the tempo down for the game and manage the clock. Is every issue in this group fixed? No, but the run game showed some life in an otherwise dead offensive unit.

The Steelers finally got something out of Harris

The big story, to me, was the fact that Najee Harris finally found some success on the ground consistently. He shifted away from his focus on making guys miss and ran far more north-south, something that suits the big power back. He took what was given to him, and while not a huge day on the ground, it was easily his best of the season.

Few have been harder on Harris than me so far this season. I questioned the value of taking a back in the first round of the draft after he was selected but still expected a decent running back out of the deal. That hadn’t been the case though, as he was bad for the first half of the season.

Assuming he continues to focus on hitting the holes he is given; Harris could have a turnaround for this season. He needs to continue to focus on what the line gives and take it. Consistent efficient runs are needed in this offense, and Harris finally provided that.

Jaylen Warren was also a factor on offense this week, chipping in another 77 total yards, with 37 of those coming on the ground. Harris was the better runner this week, as Warren was less efficient with the rock, but both backs are capable players. The team needs to rely on these two moving forward.

Pickett isn’t ready to win games on his own

The verdict is still out on what Kenny Pickett will be as a professional, but at a minimum, the team can’t expect him to shoulder the offensive load on his own right now. Doing that to any rookie is a recipe for disaster, and Pickett has proven that the more he passes the worse he looks.

He had another uninspiring game this past week against the Saints. The difference was, he had a capable running game to work with. His pass attempts were way down and as a result, so were his mistakes. Eventually, he will need to be able to take the reigns as a franchise quarterback and prove that he can win. For now, though, resting on a running game is a fine fit for the rookie.

It took far too long, but the Steelers finally got their running game on track this week. Moving forward, the rushing attack needs to be the focus of this team. The offense and defense both benefit from a dominant run game, so the focus has to be feeding both of these backs.