The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping that their offense can take some major strides during the 2023 season. It is the second that offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be handling things and the first full offseason that Kenny Pickett has as the unquestioned starting quarterback.
Some big improvements are expected from Pickett in Year 2, as he is surrounded by a very talented group of players. The Steelers upgraded the offensive line this offseason, signing guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency and using their first-round pick on tackle Broderick Jones.
At wide receiver, Allen Robinson was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams to make a strong trio along with Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. At tight end, Pat Freiermuth is emerging as one of the better pass catchers at the position in the NFL.
But, a lot of the Steelers’ offense relies on running back Najee Harris. He is an integral part of Canada’s game plan, as he leans heavily on him. Just how big of a part does Harris play? According to Grant Gordon of NFL.com, Harris leads the NFL with 579 carries and 694 touches since entering the league in 2021.
In his first two seasons in the NFL, Harris has totaled 40.8 percent of the offensive touches for the Steelers. That is also tops in the league, with Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders coming in second with 40.7 percent.
Jacobs has done a lot more with his touches, as he led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022. Harris, on the other hand, struggled at times to produce. He averaged only 3.9 yards per carry, some of which was his own doing as he sometimes has a tendency to not hit the hole the play call was drawn up for.
But, the struggles of the team’s offensive line also played a part. Harris did what he could to create plays, but he is doing everything in his power as his 160 forced missed tackles since 2021 are the most in the NFL as well.
With the passing game hopefully taking a step forward and a capable backup in Jaylen Warren, Harris’ workload could be scaled back a little bit in 2022. Scaling things back a little bit could help to better efficiency on the field, something the Steelers desperately need from their running game.
