The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has gotten off to a slow start in its first season post-Ben Roethlisberger. The quarterback retired after 2021, his 18th season under center for the Steelers.
Through three games in 2022, only the Chicago Bears have gained fewer yards than Pittsburgh and only the Houston Texans are averaging fewer yards per play than the Steelers.
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That has led to questions and criticism directed toward the offensive line, quarterback Mitch Trubisky and offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
On Friday, Steelers running back Najee Harris said he had more to do with the Pittsburgh’s stumbling start than the offensive line.
“We’re talking bad about the O-line everywhere,” Harris said. “It’s not the O-line. I think the O-line did a really good job last week, and, actually, starting from the Patriots, they did a really good job of doing what they can control. It just comes down to me. Really, just me doing more and trusting them. …
“I just need to trust them more. We got some really good guys. They’ve done a really good job of getting better, and they are good. We do have a good O-line. I see in social media and all that how bad they talk about our O-line. But it’s not. It’s me, so we just need to stop focusing on them and focus on me, so that’s one thing I do want to address, put that out there.”
In 2021, Harris set a Pittsburgh rookie record with 1,200 rushing yards on 307 carries. With 74 receptions, too, the eighth-most for an rookie running back in NFL history, the former Alabama All-American led the league in touches.
Three games into his second season, Harris has 128 yards and one touchdown on 40 rushing attempts and 48 yards and one touchdown on 10 receptions as the Steelers head to Sunday’s game against the New York Jets off back-to-back losses.
Three games into his rookie season, Harris had twice as many catches as he has in 2022, but his rushing stats were quite similar – 123 yards and no touchdowns on 40 rushing attempts last year.
Pittsburgh also had the same record then as it has now – 1-2 – and went on to qualify for the playoffs in 2021.
Harris said the Steelers’ offense could get the job done again in 2022 as long as it focuses on the job.
“We’re really comfortable,” Harris said. “You know what it is? I think it’s just social media and the interviewers like you guys – not trying to put you in that category – but you guys are kind of just breaking us apart in a way because you guys keep asking questions like this. We’re at a point where we’re building right now. We’re working on it. But you guys come in here and ask questions of all the receivers and all the guys and Mitch about what’s not working. That’s not how you build, and that’s not how you get better. You guys are breaking us up, and we need to find a way where we can just stay together and come together as a team and focus on what needs to matter most.
“Play-calling, all of that is fine. It’s just us executing. You guys keep blaming other people. It’s us in this locker room. We need to come together and focus on what we need to improve on every week, every day we go out to practice. It’s not going to be perfect, but as long as the trajectory is going forward, that’s all that matters. …
“This is the NFL, so outside distractions is, of course, a part of it. It’s a part of the game that we’re in. We just need to find a way to control what we can control and keep everything together. When we break apart, that’s when we’re not good. But when we come together and we focus on a certain goal, then that’s how we get better.”
The Steelers and Jets will square off at noon CDT Sunday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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