Etienne or Harris?

5 questionable draft trends the Pittsburgh Steelers must rethink

Only take big running backs early in the draft

I don’t know what is with the infatuation that Pittsburgh has with big running backs. There are plenty of successful NFL teams who don’t seem to follow this at all, yet it’s something that is a must for the Steelers when drafting a running back in the first three rounds.

Le’Veon Bell and James Conner were both at least 230 pounds coming out of college, while Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels both weighted at least 224 pounds, according to MockDraftable. The only player currently on their roster who doesn’t follow this trend is Anthony McFarland (208 lbs), but he was a day-three pick.

If the Steelers continue to draft like this, then players like Christian McCaffrey (202 lbs), Dalvin Cook (210 lbs), and Alvin Kamara (214 lbs) probably won’t be on their radar, and it likely means that Pittsburgh will not even consider a player like Travis Etienne (205 lbs) this April.

to read rest of article:

https://stillcurtain.com/2021/03/20/5-draft-trend-steelers-rethink/

 

Not 2 be a D!<k . All three of those guy you posted are hurt quite a bit for the amount of time they've been in the NFL.
Not saying there's a correlation, just saying.

 

I agree. I actually think Harris may be a bit more athletic than Henry. But it did take Derrick Henry a couple of years to get going. It really wasnt until Mike Vrabel got there that Henry became what he is today.

I'm not sure Derrick Henry could run behind our line. Etienne has insane burst and runs with a low center of gravity. I like his chances of running behind our line moreso than I do Harris.

 

maybe neither. how cool would it be though if they draft both.

 

Harris can play ILB and Etienne CB.

 

I don't like N.Harris didn't run. I believe someone else may have mentioned it.
Make Me wonder......what's he Hiding. Doesn't mean he is just makes me wonder.

 

Yeah, he was running routes all over the field for Mac, so it wasn't a physical limitation. He pulled a Seinfeld, he chose not to run.

 

I think he's recovering from a ankle injury.

 

Javonte reminds me a lot of Nick Chubb, and that is a compliment. It would bring a lot to our run game. Chubb breaks a lot of tackles as well and has a lot of yards after contact.

Harris perplexes me, I don't know how to compare his running style to any other modern running back given how tall and lanky he is. Plus he sort of runs upright. Maybe like an Adrian Peterson? There is only one AP though.

Between the 2 Etienne seems most complete RB.

 

Only way I would have wanted a first round RB is if the Steelers appeared to be going all in for 2021. Last few weeks have proven they are not, so I would invest a 1st round pick in a player you will try to sign after his first contract. Get Trey Sermon on day 2. If he wasn't sharing carries for the first five games he'd be a first round prospect.

 

Normally you want to wait for a RB, but this isn't a great RB class.

Given the guys we have on the team. You probably want to bring a guy in who is heads above Snell to be the #1.

If we draft Sermon, I'm not 100% sure he is day one starter.

 

Funny thing is we drafted Mendenhall, LevBell, and Connor as "big backs" in college and then we force them to lose weight.

LevBell his rookie year was big boy.

 

I look for 2 Bama players with our first two picks, Roll Tide

 

He won't be there in the 2nd.

Harris brings back the old school pounder effect. Would he fit? Heck yea. So would Etienne.

They need a stud that can be the bell cow for the next 5 years. Next season we get the QB.

Both would help a joke of a running game. Obviously this Offensive Line needs to get back to road grading as well. Ben needs to buy in and I feel he was told so. Under center, play action. The dink and dunk must exit or we will see much of the same.

Really? What a corner?

 

He won't even be there at 24.

 

I really think Etienne is a top 15 pick. I already admitted he is my draft crush this year. So maybe my opinion is swayed based on how much I have been following him. He is better than CEH. IMO. I think it's tough to compare anyone to Saquon.

Harris I can see falling to the 2nd. The only thing is that there are a lot of teams with need at RB. I wouldn't be surprised if all three, including Javonte go in the first.

 

Hope not. I feel he should be the pick and hope he falls right into 24.

Guess it really depends on the 32 teams needs Blast. Any thing could happen and looking forward to the draft but I feel they need to find that bell cow who will fit into Canada's system. I feel that Ettiene is just that. He wouldn't be a reach as some of our 1st rounder's were. Not going to be able to fill all the needs this draft. If the O Line can put it together as I feel they will taking a better approach at running the rock. Can't have Ben throwing it all over the lot, a balanced attack is key as far as i'm concerned. Opposing defenses figured out the dink and dunk game. This has to end. A diverse O is what we need. This starts with a back that gets respect from the opposing D, bring those safeties up in the box and then over top to Claypool / Johnson. And vice versa.

 

I thought he went about 250. I've been interested in him from the Sooners.
Not much wear on him

 

Harris. Bigger is better. I watched his tape against OSU and Florida and it was great. Excellent vision and his feet effortlessly follow his eyes. His balance is excellent, especially for a tall RB which is a significant difference I see between him and Derrick Henry. Soft soft hands, he was making great catches in stride and even held onto the ball after getting whacked at the catch point.

He is not just "big for nothing" either. He runs with power and is the woe of arm tacklers everywhere. His size and momentum make DBs anklebite when they try to tackle him and he side-steps effortlessly. He is no Alvin Kamara but has +agility in open space.

His tape against Notre Dame was less impressive but still good as Notre Dame kicked ass in run defense this year. It was better than Javonte's tape against them and lightyears ahead of Etiene's.

He reminds me of Le'Veon but faster. The only real deficiency in his game is blocking. He sucks for someone his size. Etiene is way better in that department. Also, he is 23 which is not great for a rookie running back.

I do not remember Mendenhall, however, I think Conner hardly lost a pound after coming out of college. He was always around 230 at Pitt and 233 at the combine. He is still listed at 233 on the Cardinals' website. Le'Veon, I believe, lost the weight of his own volition. He was 260 at MSU and slimmed down to 242 by the draft. Then he was 226 next year. He thought it would help his game.

We also drafted Speedy Gonzales himself in Dri Archer and he was 170.