A hurricane is going on in Pittsburgh located in the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield and it consists of a different type of thunder and lightning. Steelers running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were given the ever-so-popular nickname for running backs by quarterback Kenny Pickett after this week's stellar performance by one side of the duo. Lightning struck in a big way Saturday night against the Buffalo Bills. Warren had a quick night with one carry for 62 yards and a touchdown. It has since then caused a fury in the media world on who should be the starter in the backfield in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (#30) after scoring a touchdown in Pittsburgh's victory over the Buffalo Bills during the 2023 preseason.
No Running Back Controversy For Steelers
The second-year back out of Oklahoma State has been lightning indeed. He spent 2022 providing relief and rest for the former first round pick Harris who has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Steelers. Warren is a running back who started his career at Snow College in Utah before going to Utah State for two years and finishing up his career at Oklahoma State. There, he rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in the 2021 season.
This year has had a little bit of a different feel to it when it comes to running backs. Harris hasn't seen very much action in the first two weeks of the preseason and what we have seen is number 30 running like he's angry at the ground. According to Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, this is for nothing other than to keep Harris healthy and prepared to start this upcoming 2023 season. This makes sense considering in the 2022 preseason, Harris was dealing with a Lisfranc sprain in his foot that seemed to linger on longer than normal and into the regular season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers running back Najee Harris hurdles Chiefs CB L'Jarius Sneed on a run for a first down.
The Thunder Side Of The Steelers Duo
Harris is poised to make 2023 a year to remember. The running back is healthy and well-rested this offseason, as he'll look to make it three straight seasons with over 1,000 yards rushing. Harris has never been known to run away from people, but more so for using his athletic ability to jump over defenders or his superhuman strength to stiff-arm grown men into the turf.
The great play from Warren has caused quite the media stir on if Warren will become the starting running back at some point this season. The NFL is and always will be a what have you done for me lately league and with Harris resting these past two weeks, that noise of a competition or controversy has gotten louder. The noise was deafened by none other than starting quarterback Pickett, who in an interview after the Bills game on Saturday, had much to say about the situation.
“It’s kind of like thunder and lightning with [Jaylen] and Najee. Those two have a really good balance off of each other, they both do great things. They do things differently and it’s a great combination to have in the backfield.”
Two-Headed Monster In The Pittsburgh Backfield
The so-called problem going on in Pittsburgh is one plenty of teams in the NFL would like to have. Take for instance the Indianapolis Colts who just announced they are allowing their franchise running back Jonathan Taylor to find a team willing to trade for him. Come Week 1 of the regular season, we will see plenty of Harris. Steelers fans hope he will remind everyone around him why he was a first round selection in 2021. What we can hope for is that we will also get to see more of Warren throughout the year both with Harris on the field in two back sets, along with a couple more series a game throughout the 2023 season.
With only one football and an offense full of weapons, it would be tough for both running backs to match the stat line from 1976 where we saw Steelers’ Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier both surpass 1,000 yards rushing, but if any duo could come close, this might be the one.
Morris Berman/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Franco Harris (32), Terry Bradshaw (#12), and Rocky Bleier (#20) in the 1970s.
So what do yinz think? Will Warren take over the starting job at some point this season? Can both running backs be successful in this offense? Please let me know in the comments below.
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