True believers bleat loudly about the “Steeler way.”
But some of that preferred method is stupid.
Like rewarding veterans who “wait their turn.” Like making rookies “earn it.”
Those two notions may conspire to stifle the Steelers’ running game.
Jaylen Warren isn’t a No. 1 back. He’s 5-foot-8. Played at three colleges. Went undrafted. Solid receiver. He’s got a good yards-per-attempt at 4.8 over his three NFL seasons, but that got compiled being the change-of-pace back. As Najee Harris’ backup.
Warren doesn’t have the size and power that best fits offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense. (See Henry, Derrick.)
But Warren will begin the season as the No. 1 back because he waited his turn.
Kaleb Johnson is 6-foot-1, 224 pounds. He didn’t look great in the preseason opener. But he’s got power. Johnson fits the description.
But Johnson is a rookie. The third-round pick has to earn it.
With Kenneth Gainwell likely to be the third-down back, Johnson could get lost in the shuffle altogether.
All that is OK. If it works.
But the Steelers have little wiggle room if they’re going to make the playoffs. The weaker part of their schedule comes early. They need a good start.
I’d make Johnson the No. 1 back immediately. I’m probably in the minority.
I’m definitely in the minority when I say the Steelers will miss Harris.
Harris had four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers and never missed a game. Harris averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. But that’s also Jerome Bettis’ career mark. Harris ran with power.
