Whether we’re talking about the Steelers – or any NFL team – debates about the importance of running backs are a trigger point for me.
I think people confuse the analysis of how you get a good one with the importance of having a good one.
Of course, expensive and tall pedigree Derrick Henry led the NFL in the race with the Tennessee Titans. But his team did not win a playoff game this year. Megastar Dalvin Cook did not make the playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings. Le’Veon Bell has been eliminated with two teams since he left the Steelers.
In addition, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl with Damien Williams of the Miami Dolphins, starring in the 2019 postseason. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won this year with the rejection of Jacksonville Jaguars, Leonard Fournette, peaking in the playoffs.
So, is there an automatic correlation, like “a blue blood race equals great team success”? No, there is not.
Of the top 10 NFL running backs this year in terms of running yards (we’re not counting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson), five missed the playoffs. And only two (Cleveland Browns ‘Nick Chubb and Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Jones) were on teams that won the playoffs.
But none of this means that it is a waste to have a good player in position if you get one. Would Titans be better off without Henry? Do you think the Browns are in a hurry to get rid of Chubb? Or that the Ravens regret having signed JK Dobbins?
No no and no. I’m sure the New Orleans Saints doesn’t want to give Alvin Kamara’s 21 touchdowns either.
I also know that the Steelers were worse off without Bell. And the absence of a run-game threat hurt the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Not to mention Buffalo Bills losing the AFC Championship Game with just 32 yards from their running backs.
So, if you can get one without breaking the bank, I say do it. And if you get one that is super talented while they are young and cheap, even better, I say.
So if the Steelers recruited running back Najee Harris from Alabama in the first round, after the first four or five offensive tackles left the board – which can happen – I will be fine with that.
Damn analytical draft.
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden seems to agree with me. But he has additional reasons.
“I would recruit Najee Harris for a number of reasons,” said Madden. “But the biggest reason is that you can align All-Pros from one tackle to another. And if the starting striker is Benny Snell or James Conner or Anthony McFarland, Ben is not giving that guy the ball. Ben is going to promise them everything. Don’t give them anything. And I’m not going to give that guy the ball. He will check to pass, pass, pass.
“I never thought, until recently, that Ben wanted to increase his career statistics, but I see the fact that they led the league in passing attempts in each of their last two years starting, and I wonder.”
It is Madden’s opinion that investing that kind of capital in a running back with such talent will force Roethlisberger to continue the race more often.
“I think you need Najee Harris, not just to make the other team respect the racing game, but to make Ben respect his own racing game. And run your racing game. They need to align more under the center. Make more games. All the things Ben is not going to do (otherwise). “
Meanwhile, if the Steelers choose a quarterback as a rival to Roethlisberger – or even his potential replacement – Madden seems to think that this could create a Roethlisberger revolution.
“If they write a QB in any round, he must fold. He should say, ‘That’s it. What idiocy. You did this once (with Mason Rudolph). Doing it again is crazy, ‘”said Madden.
In another part of this week’s podcast, Mark and I delved into the ups and downs of the Penguins, problems with Pitt’s basketball program, memories of the 30th anniversary of the Penguins trade in 1991 with the Hartford Whalers and Casey DeSmith’s hairless cat .
Casey DeSmith stole Mr. Bigglesworth from Dr. Evil pic.twitter.com/yjO265ICDA
– Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) February 28, 2021
I know. I also can’t help seeing.
Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz