For two seasons now, Pittsburgh Steelers fans have debated who should get more snaps at running back. Former first-rounder Najee Harris is supposed to be the franchise back, but he still hasn’t ascended into stardom. Despite back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to begin his NFL career, many fans are left with wanting more. Jaylen Warren, an undrafted free agent that snuck his way onto the 53-man roster last season, has continued to take snaps from Harris.
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Steelers backup Jaylen Warren's receiving abilities has given him more playing time in 2023, as he continues to push former first-rounder Najee Harris.
How about a way in which the Steelers don’t take either of them off the field? Lately, we’ve seen some different looks from the offense to try and get things going. One of those different looks has been having both Warren and Harris on the field for two-running back sets. In an appearance on The Arthur Moats Experience With Deke, former Steelers linebacker Terence Garvin addressed what the offense can do to improve after the bye week. In particular, he thinks the team should continue to utilize this look even more moving forward.
“I'd keep building that two-back package that they started working on. They brought 30 [Warren] in motion, they started working the ghost off of it. I'd build that a little bit."
At times, Warren has been more effective, particularly in the passing game. Now, Harris used to be a huge component of the passing game, at least in his 2021 rookie campaign. As a rookie, the Alabama product had 74 catches for 467 receiving yards and three touchdowns. A lot of his action in the passing game came in the form of dump offs from now-retired quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
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In his rookie season, Steelers running back Najee Harris was once a huge component of the team's passing game with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.
In 22 games since that rookie season, Harris has just 46 total catches for 266 yards. That includes just five catches through five games in 2023, which is a bit curious for an offense that doesn't throw the ball down the field a ton. In his first two seasons in the NFL, Harris got better as the season went on. That may end up being the case again in 2023, as he has looked better the past few weeks.
Will The Steelers Use More 2-RB Sets Moving Forward?
On the contrary, Warren has 16 more catches and 129 more receiving yards than Harris. He has become that "change of pace" running back for the Steelers and then some. He's been on the field for 137 (45%) offensive snaps so far in 2023, just 24 less snaps than Harris. These two bring different elements to the table, and it's partially why Garvin thinks more of these packages could work.
Having both of the running backs on the field at the same time makes it more difficult for defenses to detect what will happen on the incoming play. Whatever the offense has tried this season, particularly in the running game, hasn't exactly worked. That even includes when they go heavy personnel, either with an extra offensive lineman and/or Darnell Washington on the field.
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The Steelers have primarily used rookie tight end Darnell Washington as a blocker through the first month of the season, but he should see more work in the passing game moving forward.
What's the old adage? Play your best players. Harris and Warren are two of the team's best playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. That's part of the logic behind getting these two on the field together for more packages after the Week 6 bye.
Do you think using more two running back sets could unlock something in this offense? Who do you think is the more complete back between Harris and Warren? Why has the running game struggled so much in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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