Is Najee Harris To Blame? Breaking Down The Colts Game

Breaking down Najee Harris' performance against the Indianapolis Colts. Were the holes there or was it the o-line's fault? #NajeeHarris #Steelers #NFL #AlexKozora #SteelersDepot
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[@coopsoundz978]

The run blocking this game was atrocious. We already knew what najee was when we drafted him and atp we want him to be something he’s not. We gotta have the OL to fit that and we don’t. We need Warren back sooner than later.

[@21Kolb]

Having scotty miller trying to make in line blocks on linebacker and bigger db’s is just mind boggling. Personnel issue on that second play

[@AndyBebop01]

Agree. Ik they don’t have any big WR’s that are good at blocking, but asking the small guys to block and expecting them to succeed is kinda crazy… I hope this improves when Skeronick comes back

[@MaritaSanchez-el9tp]

😢😢😮

[@MaritaSanchez-el9tp]

❤😮

[@OBM45]

we have the same PFP

[@OrbisonTributeArtist]

And cue the haters in the face of evidence. Well done Alex!

[@joey_still_learningw579]

Facts thanks for the video breakdown I didn't think I was losing my mind it seemed like as soon as he touched the ball somebody was already on him not an excuse you saw what I saw.

[@Elshaddai-ii5zv]

Lol, yall kill me with this. Cordaelle comes in and makes the oline look better. Najee only plays well when the oline plays perfect. HE AVERAGED 1.5 yards with 13 carries. That means he couldn’t get one first down run. Najee is a mid rb and im so glad yalla rent the gm cuz Omar literally sees it🤣 i like najee but being friendly doesn’t give a crap about business. Yall need to understand that he doesn’t fit our scheme. If we had a faster Running, we destroy teams. “bu-but what about the winter?” Good 1st ROUND running backs dont need weather to make them better. Omar khan didn’t pay him for a reason😐

[@ChewsCarefully]

@@Elshaddai-ii5zv _Shhh,_ I'm hoping Khan can convinceMark Davis he's élite so we can trade him for Davante Adams. $hhhh!

[@ObaShango7]

@@ChewsCarefullythat’s definitely not gonna happen, like it or not we need him right now

[@charlesmuenger8737]

Would like to see how Patterson was so successful running with the same OL. I can't believe they just all of a sudden blocked better for that one drive.

[@princeofthelake]

The didn’t stack the box vs him it’s pretty simple

[@joshhoward1289]

Agreed. This analysis very incomplete by not showing the Patterson plays.

[@timralston8948]

@@joshhoward1289plus if Najee has any burst there were yards to be gained judging by this breakdown! He just can’t get there quickly enough

[@nigielschroeder3510]

​@@princeofthelake najee only faced a stacked box on 23% of rushes

[@darrylmunden7067]

You mean like the successful play Alex laid out with CP having a line block it up perfectly??

[@crusader560]

Out of all of his runson Sunday. I only saw 1 that was on him. His vision isn't the best. But, the oline has to be better. And the play calling has to mix things up better. We can throw SOMETIMES on first down.

[@21Kolb]

Another common trend for our second level assignments is that the players aren’t being patient. They are over running their assignment. Don’t tip toe to your assignment, but i want them to square up and analyze the angle, not just run full speed.

[@ethanleech1843]

Great video Alex I appreciate it as someone who doesn’t pay for NFL premium+

[@Alex_Kozora]

Thanks for watching!

[@kentsturgill5945]

On that split zone run that you said maybe a quicker back could've cut back and hit hole ( I know you were saying it for arguments sake ) anyway that edge defender flew back there, and made a helluva tackle from behind TJ makes that play and we're all screaming his praises, rightfully so. Again I know you weren't blaming Naj, sometimes people forget these opponents are some of the best in the world also , and we have to recognize their efforts as opposed to criticizing anothers. Great stuff sir

[@Alex_Kozora]

Oh sure, that's tough with him coming in free. I was just giving the argument that a more explosives back might be able to get away from that initially, even if that's a stretch. Thanks for watching!

[@MrABS369]

Thanks Alex for the analysis. Fans need to continue to see these type of breakdowns before forming judgment. Football is 11 guys doing their jobs right. Even sometimes, you have situations where the other 11 guys opposite are doing their job better. But this Oline is young and inexperienced, and it will continue to show at times. Spencer Anderson quite a few times was letting his defend use leverage and tossing him to the ground like a ragdoll, especially on the example @ 7:35 in this video. Fans need to understand that RBs need people blocked to be effective. Not all plays will get blocked and the guy needs to improvise, but from our couch to the field level and RB level are two extremely stark viewpoints. I do feel that we are asking Najee to play outside of his strengths on certain run plays, but hopefully we can get more consistency up front, which helps us overall as a team.

[@emilgilels]

Well said!

[@adamlegion13]

Alex, thanks for taking my request for this Najee v Patterson run down tape. 😂The entire Patterson Drive, all I could think about was you and all 22!

[@DougShauger-ov8pj]

Didn’t we have this conversation last year ! Najee is fine and in December will be glad to have him We all new it was going to take time for our line gel well 4 th game 4th new line 🤷‍♂️ We all question outside zone which takes time to get everyone working together Throw in Muth and Hayward not very good blockers Then throw in Miller Austin Jefferson and GP 🤔 Don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble but go back and look at last years numbers Harris was actually better on outside zone then Warren Make life easier for a young line and run more power and trap like they did when Patterson was in Najee will do like he did last 2 season be the work horse grinding out yards in December behind a good young physical line

[@Elshaddai-ii5zv]

Tired of yall with those december talks. If he stays on this team, he isn’t starter worthy just because he is a first round. Right now he is cuz he is our best rb other than warren but when we draft another one his spot is taken. That is why omar didn’t pay him. I like najee but stop protecting mid to terrible play. any other running back that averaged 1.5 yard’s wouldve got eaten alive. Najee isnt a 1st round worthy RB. People blamed the oline like he ain have HOLES. he is slow and im sick of people protecting Mild play. He has sparks but its never a game where i seen him get over 200 rushing yards. He never had a 200 rushing yard game ever! as a first rounder bro. His highest was like two years ago. Its time to either let him go or not start him once we draft another RB next year

[@Elshaddai-ii5zv]

and he was better outside cuz he no inside. Look how many carries he average. its unreal numbers

[@nogoogleplus]

Most of those plays looked doomed to fail even before the snap. Why isn’t Fields checking out of those runs when there’s 8 guys in the box?

[@21Kolb]

6:08 looks like dan isn’t even trying to secure the block here. He flashes his eyes toward the second level.

[@Cyanide300]

It also doesn't help that they were constantly running the ball into an 8 or 9 man box, with no real full back, bad blocking schemes, and misuse of personnel and their skill sets. Frankly, a lot of this just comes down to stupid overly conservative play calling. These would have been great opportunities for play action, and they just...didn't.

[@damisohusband186]

Blocking or no blocking, Najee just doesnt seem to hit the holes hard/fast enough. He needs to able to just cut and go. He seems to dance from potential "arm tackles"

[@joshhoward1289]

Every time, his first step with the ball is a little circular move or side step. He doesn’t hit the hole with speed or power.

[@itsureishotout-itshotterin3985]

This o-line looks terribly disorganized - constantly seeing two OLs on one DL, while another beside him is running free, seeing blocks barely held for a moment, seeing rare moments when they get to the second level. They look awful.

[@consumetheliving]

Look how close the LB's/Safety's are playing to the line. They knew our game plan by watch tape and preparing. What do we do, not adjust after seeing the results. Strange how we have now gone through 3 OC's and srill keep doing/producing the same offensive output????

[@hammer86_]

Nice breakdown, but we need more footage of Patterson and what the defense was doing differently.

[@bspradley]

Thank you for this video and the way you broke it down. The blocking was not good on Sunday. Najee did not have a chance on 90% of his runs.

[@Flynnskis]

5:23 - cuts right...if he just goes north south works out better for him. 6:46 - cut upfield and probably net 2+ yards more. 9:16 - so slow hitting the hole lets DB get him from behind. 15:29 - cut right make a guy miss net more yards. Your analysis makes it feel like Harris needs perfect holes to be successful...I mean clearly, he didn't make a single guy miss. He is so slow out of the backfield that any small holes that were created, fill before he gets to them, making it seem like there was no hole....at the end of the day Najee's yards per carry are on the low end of league average and have been his entire career. I think he would be a good fit in a top 5 offensive line situation where he could get going and use his power more but in todays NFL, I am taking speed and lateral quickness over power all day long. These LBs and D-Lineman are just to quick for most big backs.

[@jamescalder90]

They need to be running play action with Najee to keep the defence honest and not able to run straight downhill.

[@jamescalder90]

Also, I'm not sure why we don't get Najee involved in the passing game more.

[@freddavis5457]

There seems to be a lot of plays where the defense has at least 8 guys in the box and are looking to come downhill to stop the run. They seemed like prime situations for play action or screen. Good analysis.

[@ethanleech1843]

I wish we could get to see Najee in his rookie year again. Hopefully the line comes together a little more with Issac back. Everyone needs to step up though

[@NoOneYaKnow666]

Yeah, the line is a calamity. Being so young, and all the injuries before there was much time to gel has really done them in.

[@richstafford1245]

Harris is the most unlucky RB of all time. Never any holes when he runs and suddenly (insert name) enters the game and the Red Sea opens up….

[@Ezees23]

On the first play all Najee had to do was keep going outside. Instead, once he saw a defender he seemingly panicked (ie: from the botched snap, maybe?) and cut immediately back inside where there were many more defenders. He had room on both Broderick's and Pat's backsides to get at least 5 yds and maybe even break a few tackles for more.....

[@BigJenks412]

The problem is Najee is just super regular. If the play doesn’t go exactly according to plan he’s done. Has no special ability to create at all. We can get what he brings from almost anybody sadly 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@wesleykamerer6154]

Najee is an average runner, but his strength is his ability to break tackles and he's extremely durable. He would thrives when he has just decent blocking. Our o line isn't capable of that right now.

[@halfway_decent7900]

@@wesleykamerer6154 It also doesn’t help that Arthur keeps throwing in stretch runs for Najee when we all know that’s not what he excels at. I love Najee and I think he would find much more success in a better system but we need more people like Warren and Paterson that can create something when plays break down.

[@jessehare2790]

Alex show and tells you “there are no holes for Najee” and this is your takeaway…

[@jamesb3092]

Yep. He’s just a hammer to wear down defenses.

[@richstafford1245]

Just answer this. Is Harris a first round pick caliber RB? If he was a third round pick then these types of arguments would apply. When you are a first round pick at the RB position you better be able to create. Make people miss. Break tackles and get something, back to the LOS and keep a limited offense from playing behind the sticks. He gives you none of these things. Apologize all you want but the verdict is in, Harris isn’t him…

[@ChrisArkwright]

Okay, but explain the games last year when Warren came in and did so well, and Najee did the same stuff we saw here? Is Warren faster? Is CPat faster? I'm willing to bet yes.

[@8419flip]

What you are watching is Matt Canada 2.0! Some of the most creative play calls you will ever see in peewee football!

[@ChewsCarefully]

That's _EXACTLY_ what I've been saying! Smith may be 'good' in some ways, but the Steelers as a whole have such an ass-backwards attitude towards the concept offense one wonders what's him & what's ownership (since it doesn't seem like Tomlin is even aware the offense exists). For me it's in how they're handling Fields. All the media narratives are about how well Fields is doing now with the Steelers as if he's a mentally challenged infant who would leap into active volcanoes if they didn't control every snap. Are you aware that Fields set accuracy records ion college? He continued this into the NFL too & the evidence can be found funnily enough in his INTs his first year. I learned also that 2 of the ones included in kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ3TkqyXZd2tY5Y were due to his coaches shouting "snap the ball, they have 12 on the field" & being wrong both times. But follow where the ball would have ended up if his incompetent receiving corps didn't run away from or fall down on routes. If the receivers had been where they were supposed to be, the passes would have hit them in the hands as they so with Darnell Mooney: who swats those passes into the hands of the defenders around him like Kadarius Toney. So Fields is insanely accurate. After calling out his own coaches after week 5 of '22 the Bears try ti hide what they've been doing to him by changing their play-sets to _NOT_ include the plays Fields called them out on. for the next 4 weeks they averaged 31 points. Know what they averaged when calling the plays designed to sabotage the offense? 17.3. So somehow, possible Without Trying, Fields is scoring as many points with the Steelers as he was with the Bears when they were actively sabotaging him. & everyone thinks of this as him "playing better" because he's a mentally unstable idjit who can't do anything right unless Smith tells him which hand to wipe with? He averaged 31 points with *that* receiving corps. They're REALLY holding him back on the Steelers. Those throws to Pickens that got annulled by penalties were all out of structure throws that Fields can do in his sleep. Only he has to stay awake to restrain himself from throwing downfield because after watching Josh Allen the Steelers concluded that scoring more points is uncomfortable if it includes some INTs. It's just Smith keeping everything down to his level.

[@puma263]

The problem is people put too much honus on Najee for not being explosive when the film CLEARLY tells you the line blocks lacklusterly when he's in there... clear as day the execution seems to falter in packages when he is in the backfield but when its other RBs they seem to all of a sudden execute better. But yall can go ahead and keep bashing him but none of the other backs have ever lasted a full season so see how we fare when he's gone.

[@feltdizzy]

video doesn’t lie.

[@raymondrak961]

As I understand it, the formation can be run or pass. But the O line isn't effective. Don't think any of the running backs could find a hole where there isn't one . Were the plays for Patterson different ?

[@pedrosepulveda7061]

Is very simple, same o line, vs same defense and Patterson was having a day before the injury, Najee had no vision, no burst and lately he can't break a tackle if his life depended on it, just hope Warren and Patterson can come back soon.

[@marktobin4547]

On that outside run all he had to do was a short pause to set his blocks back up and he could have cut it up field

[@Ant-De-Great]

two things for me 1. najee straight up isnt explosive enough a good 3-6 yrd runner at most 2.playcalling, our run plays are easily predictable and they atack the box call more shotgun runs with qb options with fields

[@Ant-De-Great]

mind u we also have i think 3 injured olinemen

[@joshhoward1289]

He needs to trust the play design and hit it hard and fast. That’s what Patterson was doing. Night and day.

[@mikemicksun6469]

Colts packed the box. Harris is not going to run outside. That along with rookies starting in the line made it hard for Harris. The problem is when a hole does open Harris may hit it or not. Harris will get four yards when a good back will get more. Harris can’t get outside. The Colts had a good game plan and a good defensive line. Those runs were not on Harris but the coaching and having players who don’t get it done. Conner Heyward is not a fullback and missed easy blocks. Harris has been bad all year but its not all him. Watch him in protection or going into the flat for a pass at times he leaves a lot to be desired. This game was not on Harris but the coaching and game plan. Going into a season without the running back for this style of run offense.

[@Chvckhouse]

Been listening to Dk talk about how Najee looked lazy. Lazy reporting if you ask me. The tape should you everything you need to know to make a more honest assessment

[@JayDaMan420]

4:22 they have NINE People in the box 😂😂😂

[@rolandoriley]

Najee is fine. That offensive line is still sloppy and confused in some of the plays you show. The Center has to be tighter with Fields aswell. We will adjust. We have a nice set of RB with Patterson, Warren and Harris.

[@paultimate14]

It seems as though every time Harris runs, the defense is expecting it. With Patterson (and Warren last year) it seems like defenses are trying to defend both run and pass.

[@JAlexLP]

Absolutely. Said another way, if it is first down and Najee is the single back, the defense absolutely knows what is coming, because every person who has watched a Steelers game in the last three years knows what is coming. The Steelers offensive play selection on first down is predictable.

[@chasehigdon3934]

Look at Najee’s feet pre snap. It’s obvious which way he is going to run. I’m sure other teams are aware of this.

[@carlword1882]

At some point Najee has to make a guy miss too. Every play is not going to be blocked up. Alot of those plays he was getting wrapped up 1on1.

[@kdevore1000]

Personel is a problem. Why keep asking muuth to block. Perine should have been the 3rd back last week, glad they got him back

[@chrp152]

Man I just dont feel like Najee was running that hard this game even with the o line not creating holes. How did that magically got better when Patterson came in for like 4 downs lol. Plus Art is scheming up stuff that a back with burst like Jaylen should be running ie. the crack toss.

[@dahacksterkent8169]

Our run blocking is just garbage.

[@kevinchow6203]

What about him not going out of Bounds 2nd last play,

[@mattburton3233]

we need a real fB.

[@jameslee8519]

I wouldn't worry about it we all know he's a Nov Dec RB

[@markcollins650]

First of all all of those bad snaps was on the center facts

[@FratBoyFishing]

Why are they running so many zone runs? Wasn’t this the same recipe last year when they couldn’t run the ball the first 8 weeks and then after the bye week they started running more gap runs? They’re trying to be an identity they are not.

[@mblythe21]

This team has lacked pride in its blocking for years. The TEs just plain suck at blocking and are all terrible lead blockers. The WRs are also terrible blockers. Connor Heyward gives great effort, but lets be realistic about him really being on an NFL roster. People want to hate on Najee, but they drafted a downhill guy into a terrible offense with lazy schemes and poor blocking.

[@Wild_D]

JF scramble out of FG range in the first half imo lost the game. I knew the Steelers needed to score then or their chances of winning were less than 1%

[@allen33and88]

Suppose they should stop telegraphing and running into loaded boxes. Do a frigging audible

[@bathief]

Very suspicious that the blocking seems to be apparently fine for everyone else and that it is consistently horrible for Harris. I wonder if he is tipping plays somehow. Have you noticed if he might be giving any tells?

[@Joelmartinez-fk4bx]

are you joking? in all his years at steelers he was not able to find the right path....😊

[@QuickHittinEm]

Same Najee different year

[@chaseschneier1076]

Dan Moore is a nice guy, but is crap at tackle. This O line is a disgrace. Granted, they’ve had injuries, but the staff haven’t been able to make the necessary adjustments. Najee needs better. Tomlin has got to do better. He hasn’t for the last 5 years. Don’t expect improvement, and therefore expect continued mediocrity.

[@NudlemanJones]

BuT iT hAs To Be NaJeE!

[@marktobin4547]

There were two lanes he could have gotten or even run a guy over he’s just not that guy

[@OBM45]

i think two things can be true about what happened on sunday against the colts. 1. the offensive line didn’t allow najee to create 2. najee wasn’t running hard either

[@Matthew-j3b]

Rig was in here we go with bad refs Got rid of cable cause there political lies and bad refs

[@kylemundy8871]

Running backs go for nothing these days. The steelers could grab an elite Rb for like 5 million a year. So why don't they

[@nigielschroeder3510]

He's just not explosive and for what he is, wasnt worth his draft spot

[@ManicSV3]

Connor Heyward doesn't Neko l belong in the NFL. Dude is a bum

[@sonsofliberty3081]

This is absolutely 22s fault. He misses A LOT of holes. First run, he could have ran hard to the right and got at least 3. He guess a lot. If he'd have went to the right on the 2nd, he would have gotten 2 or 3. Instead he lost on them both. Notice when 84 has to pick, he does it correctly. Pit wasn't up for this game at all. Then when they started to lose, it takes 10x the effort to slow amd stop their momentum and build your own. Heck of a job doing that, but it's super hard.

[@donaldle6065]

The first run he literally was just trying to secure a mis-handoff probably no shot on that play whatsoever. The second we're arguing semantics on the front side of the design is blocked up, sure maybe he can try to squeeze it in there into that tiny crease Alex points out for a gain of 2. He bounces it back side which we literally have the numbers for except both 83 and 13 miss their blocks. Harris isn't some hof level running back but he isn't as bad I feel as the fans try to paint him to be either. It's been 4 years now of letting t the OL gel(granted injuries don't help) to start the year. He absolutely has his warts as a player like everyone else but at this point I just sort of feel bad for the dude.

[@shamarrichards231]

@@donaldle6065top tier comment

[@m45611u]

I’m sorry the blocking isn’t going to be perfect every play on any team. This is crazy. He’s supposed to be a power back. If there is no or a little hole he should be able to get a few yards. He’s not. It’s excuses.

[@m45611u]

Also the holes close faster when you don’t get to the, in time. You have no way to measure if he is hitting the hole fast enough in this video.

[@sebwillforde7828]

I'm watching you Pat Mirer