The running game

S.T.D · Sep 27, 2024 at 8:37 PM

SGSteeler said: ↑

Small sample size for Warren and Patterson this season. Harris' workload has been heavy so far. Especially since Warren's career YPC is 5.1 and Patterson's is 4.3 since becoming a RB full time (he mainly did WR runs/jet sweeps prior to his time in ATL so it is hard for me to want to include that in his average). It is less the fact that we shouldn't draft a RB in the first round again, and more that if we do we need to get a player better than Harris. I'd be 100% okay with spending a first round pick on a RB the caliber of LeVeon Bell, Nick Chubb, or Derrick Henry... just wouldn't want to draft another middling RB with that high of capital. Another thing to keep in mind too is the shorter career span of an NFL RB. Most positions can make it to early-mid 30's while very few RB's have legs once they reach 30. So a 7-8 year career is a very long one, while WR's can go 10-12 and QB's even longer. Puts a premium on that back being ready to play day 1 and ready to be a stud within a year or two. I wouldn't say never, just we need to get it right.

I've made the argument in other threads that there are just more good RB's than there are starting RB jobs. The difference between RB20 and RB45 is very small, but the difference between RB5 and RB20 is pretty drastic imo. Essentially a low end starting back isn't going to be much better than a high end tandem back. Many are just mix and match skillsets. Very few backs have that all around skillset that makes them that true #1 bell cow back. The rest are missing something, and has to have that deficiency made up with a secondary back to be in tandem with. You look at CMC, Hall, Cook, Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Kyren Williams, Barkley, Kamara and Achane as guys who can kinda do it all. Henry, Chubb, and Taylor are really the only backs that don't catch the ball at an NFL level... however they are all massively exceptional as a runner so it doesn't matter. You just build your team around it. Those guys are the top 12 backs in the league right now IMO, and what I would call Tier 1 backs. Jacobs, Jones, Pacheco, Montgomery, Mixon, Etienne, Walker III, and Conner are kinda the next tier of guy. You can put Harris at the very bottom of tier two or top of tier 3, doesn't matter to me.
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Heavy work load. We come from two different times I guess. Najee has only 55 carries in 3 whole games. That 18 carries a game. Yeah we must be way different in age. I remember when 25 - 30 was normal, and 35 - 40 was considered heavy.

Hanratty#5 · Sep 27, 2024 at 9:36 PM

steelersrule6 said: ↑

The Colts are a top 5 team in explosive pass plays, and they have a good RB in Taylor who didn't play in the game last year.
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Taylor is a very good back no question about that but Richardson has thrown 6 interceptions in 3 games and is completing 49% of his passes. He stinks, he is the worst starting QB in the league.

Formerscribe · Sep 27, 2024 at 9:41 PM

SGSteeler said: ↑

Small sample size for Warren and Patterson this season. Harris' workload has been heavy so far. Especially since Warren's career YPC is 5.1 and Patterson's is 4.3 since becoming a RB full time (he mainly did WR runs/jet sweeps prior to his time in ATL so it is hard for me to want to include that in his average). It is less the fact that we shouldn't draft a RB in the first round again, and more that if we do we need to get a player better than Harris. I'd be 100% okay with spending a first round pick on a RB the caliber of LeVeon Bell, Nick Chubb, or Derrick Henry... just wouldn't want to draft another middling RB with that high of capital. Another thing to keep in mind too is the shorter career span of an NFL RB. Most positions can make it to early-mid 30's while very few RB's have legs once they reach 30. So a 7-8 year career is a very long one, while WR's can go 10-12 and QB's even longer. Puts a premium on that back being ready to play day 1 and ready to be a stud within a year or two. I wouldn't say never, just we need to get it right.

I've made the argument in other threads that there are just more good RB's than there are starting RB jobs. The difference between RB20 and RB45 is very small, but the difference between RB5 and RB20 is pretty drastic imo. Essentially a low end starting back isn't going to be much better than a high end tandem back. Many are just mix and match skillsets. Very few backs have that all around skillset that makes them that true #1 bell cow back. The rest are missing something, and has to have that deficiency made up with a secondary back to be in tandem with. You look at CMC, Hall, Cook, Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Kyren Williams, Barkley, Kamara and Achane as guys who can kinda do it all. Henry, Chubb, and Taylor are really the only backs that don't catch the ball at an NFL level... however they are all massively exceptional as a runner so it doesn't matter. You just build your team around it. Those guys are the top 12 backs in the league right now IMO, and what I would call Tier 1 backs. Jacobs, Jones, Pacheco, Montgomery, Mixon, Etienne, Walker III, and Conner are kinda the next tier of guy. You can put Harris at the very bottom of tier two or top of tier 3, doesn't matter to me.
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Achane is averaging 3.5 yards per carry this season and has 150 yards total on the ground. He has started six games and has only 146 carries in his career and you think he's shown more than Harris. That's funny.

SGSteeler · Sep 27, 2024 at 10:24 PM

S.T.D said: ↑

Heavy work load. We come from two different times I guess. Najee has only 55 carries in 3 whole games. That 18 carries a game. Yeah we must be way different in age. I remember when 25 - 30 was normal, and 35 - 40 was considered heavy.
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The game is just different today. 18 a game is enough for 6th in the whole league. I would consider that a pretty heavy workload in comparison to the rest of the league.

Steelersfan84 · Sep 27, 2024 at 10:31 PM

Hanratty#5 said: ↑

Taylor is a very good back no question about that but Richardson has thrown 6 interceptions in 3 games and is completing 49% of his passes. He stinks, he is the worst starting QB in the league.
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I'll say he's going to play better just cause it's Pittsburgh. By that I mean he'll be motivated cause of who he's playing.

Bubbahotep · Sep 28, 2024 at 8:25 AM

I'll just plop this here. Clearly, the trend is in the right direction especially when you consider this OL hasn't played intact to this point.

Definition: Success = 60% of yds to gain on 1st down, 40% on 2nd down, and 100% on 3rd down or 4th down

Born2Steel · Sep 28, 2024 at 9:13 AM

Harris is not a go down at first contact runner. He has been running like a man so far this season.

S.T.D · Sep 28, 2024 at 12:29 PM

SGSteeler said: ↑

The game is just different today. 18 a game is enough for 6th in the whole league. I would consider that a pretty heavy workload in comparison to the rest of the league.
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I will never consider 18 carries a pretty heavy work load. I can't just forget all the football before this year, or recent years...., but I guess that's just me.

SGSteeler · Sep 28, 2024 at 12:50 PM

S.T.D said: ↑

I will never consider 18 carries a pretty heavy work load. I can't just forget all the football before this year, or recent years...., but I guess that's just me.
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I get the comparison, but there aren't drastically fewer carries per game now than there was back then. Its just that today teams spread those touches around more. Secondary backs, QB's, etc. I know that it is fewer carries for lead backs than it was 20+ years ago, but I think it is fair to call the 6th leading rush attempt player having a heavy workload too. Its heavier than every back in the whole league except for 5 lol

S.T.D · Sep 28, 2024 at 12:57 PM

SGSteeler said: ↑

I get the comparison, but there aren't drastically fewer carries per game now than there was back then. Its just that today teams spread those touches around more. Secondary backs, QB's, etc. I know that it is fewer carries for lead backs than it was 20+ years ago, but I think it is fair to call the 6th leading rush attempt player having a heavy workload too. Its heavier than every back in the whole league except for 5 lol
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Dude. I'm totally getting what your saying. It's just hard for me to think 18 carries a game for the starting RB is a heavy load. Like I said I'm used to 25- 30 carries being average work load for a starting RB.

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The running game

S.T.D Well-Known Member

Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

Formerscribe Well-Known Member

SGSteeler Well-Known Member

Steelersfan84 Well-Known Member

Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

Born2Steel Well-Known Member

S.T.D Well-Known Member

SGSteeler Well-Known Member

S.T.D Well-Known Member

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