3 reasons Steelers running backs have not been as dominant as expected

2. The Steelers runners and blockers have been sub-par

It sucks to admit it, but some of the changes that the Steelers have made have fallen flat. Through two games, the line and running backs have seemed lackluster. The impact isn’t what anyone thought it would be.

The line in particular has been a sore spot. While I am not overly surprised by the poor play of the tackles, the interior has also been a weak spot. Mason Cole and James Daniels have been fine in their second seasons, but I wanted more. That said, they may be stretched thin given the poor play elsewhere.

A really negative surprise has been Isaac Seumalo. The “crown jewel” of the offseason additions, the expectation was for Seumalo to be a mauler along the interior. He hasn’t been, and he is closer to the bottom of linemen than the top. That said, Pat Meyer’s system can take some adjustment time, so I wouldn’t throw in the towel yet.

Neither running back has found a lot of success on the ground. Harris has the better average, but that has come in thanks to some garbage time runs. That said, he is running more north to south this year (although he occasionally dances too much) so I can’t complain. Warren has been similarly ineffective but has at least provided value as a receiver.

While the line has been poor, they still aren’t my key reasons for this unit struggling. Instead, I think the running issues can be blamed on one player mostly, although there is a fair share of blame to be passed around.