The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to retain Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada at the end of the 2022 season. Despite two years of inconsistent offensive performances, he was given a third shot in 2023. The reason behind the decision was partially because of how the final stretch of 2022 went for his group. The offense was running the ball efficiently and there were very few turnovers from then-rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett. Canada and Head Coach Mike Tomlin were not shy throughout the 2023 offseason when saying they wanted to be a ground and pound football team. That has been far from the case in the season's first two games.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada roams the field in Latrobe, PA as Pittsburgh prepares to practice during 2023 training camp. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Have Failed To Emphasize The Running Game In 2023
The unit has only rushed the ball 31 times for 96 yards while having yet to find the end zone. Najee Harris has decent numbers with 16 carries for 74 yards, but if you remove a 24-yard run in Week 1, he is only averaging 3.3 yards per carry. His backup, Jaylen Warren, is averaging less than three yards per rush while Calvin Austin III and Pickett are the only two other guys registered on the stat sheet totaling for a whopping -4 yards on the ground.
The Steelers are 31st in the NFL in total rushing yards with the Minnesota Vikings being the only team below them. Many believe Warren needs to be promoted to the first-stringer and it's a valid point after Harris's average has remained under four yards per carry for his career. An underrated piece of the puzzle that is rarely talked about isn't just that Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams were drafted shortly after him, but also how the Steelers fumbled a 2021 free agency decision.
James Conner has been relatively injury-prone throughout his NFL career, but a backfield in 2023 of him and Warren seems like it would be much more effective. Harris looks slow after getting the pigskin and has not given any reason for Pittsburgh fans to want the franchise to pick up his fifth-year option after the 2023 campaign.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris (#22) warms up during a regular season game at Heinz Field in 2021. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Conner doesn't have the numbers to match Harris since the Steelers drafted their current top running back in 2021, but it's a bit of a skewed observation because of Conner's injuries. Pittsburgh's general manager at the time, Kevin Colbert, made the decision with Tomlin to let the University of Pittsburgh product walk in free agency.
Conner signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals after proving himself on a one-year deal in 2021. The Steelers cap was tight when they let Conner walk, but it certainly could have been worked out to accommodate him returning. Despite his injury issues, the ball carrier has averaged 4.3 and 4.5 yards per carry the last two seasons.
Pittsburgh could currently have two absolute bruisers in Conner and Warren, but took a chance on a first-round running back when Harris was brought in. Conner has 37 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown so far in 2023, while Harris has been far less productive. To be fair, the Steelers haven't emphasized the rushing attack, but Harris doesn't look like he is playing hard out there, either.
Former Steelers running back, James Conner (#30) trots into the end zone as his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger celebrates in the background during a regular season game in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: AP Photo / Don Wright
Canada's offense has been horrible since he took the reins, but his running back hasn't necessarily helped his case. The offensive line has been a question mark for several years now, but Harris only has four 100-yard games since entering the league. Retaining Conner might have come at a little bit more of a price, but he has proven, when healthy, that he can be a ground and pound back that fits well in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers made a mistake drafting a running back in the first round in 2021. Harris is a solid option in the backfield, but is proving each week that he wasn't worth the investment. It's speaks volumes that a 2017 third-rounder in Conner would probably be a better option to start for Pittsburgh in 2023. The offensive line hasn't been solid, but Harris looks indecisive and inconsistent. At this point, paying Conner would have been more productive.
Do you think the Steelers made a mistake not re-signing Conner and drafting Harris in 2021? Let us know in the comments below!
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