@Bri - what's your hunch on the better scheme fit (between Harris and Warren) for Arthur Smith's offensive play design and play calling?
It's been a while since he had a QB that didn't require half field reads. Not sure where Russ/Fields are in comparison to Tannehill and Ridder in terms of how AS will design and deploy plays/ scheme. My highly uninformed take was that the Arthur Smith offense is predicated on running to set up play action back in the TEN days. I didn't watch much Falcons ball in the past few years. Those titans passing offenses were low volume/ high efficiency with AJB doing AJB things as the engine of the passing game. Pickens <<< AJB.
I also seem to recall quite a bit of efficiency at the goal line in those offenses with three outcomes that were hard to stop. Henry rushing TDs, passing to AJB and Tannehill running it in. Tannehill's low end QB1 seasons were always helped with a handful of rushing TDs.
Anyway, my hunch is Najee and Warren will split reps but that could easily be like last year, 8-12 rushes for Warren and 10-16 for Najee. Najee a mid tier RB2, Warren a low end RB2/ flex--each with decent injury contingent upside. Najee's ability in the passing game caps Warren's weekly upside. A decent portion of their upside also relies on the Steelers offense being able to actually score TDs which is anything but a sure thing at this point.
In writing this out, I'm now realizing that PPG is going to be running the ball 30+ times a game. If the OLine can run block, they're just going to be running the piss out of the ball.
His Titans had a very good OL. He was an excellent red zone coordinator before he was OC.
His Falcons were supposed to have an excellent OL but did not. They played horribly til around week 8-10 and even then had some bad series. His DL suffered injuries and was also way worse than expected.
As a former lineman, as a Gibbs understudy, he's going to make sure they win the LOS and if they do, he can do whatever he wants. This meshes w Steelers well although they can use some trenches help.
Jonnu and Delanie held the corner very well and also boxed out to catch tough passes very well. Henry thrived running behind LT/TE. Lewan (if stats were tracked historically) probably has a best ever stat with runs averaging around 7.5 per carry behind he and the TE. Idk if the Steelers have that tackle, we'll find out, but they seem to have the TEs for it. He'll also put the blocking TE in the slot to get a better angle. He's owning that corner.
Bijan would oh so often try to do similar but Pitts isn't winning that block and the line issue. When they got it together, so did Bijan.
I've asked people which back turns the corner lays a hit or absorbs a hit and takes it up field. They all seem to disagree on Warren or Najee. I'd say Najee was the more popular vote when I asked but not by much.
When it doesn't work, he won't give up. He'll call some pass plays and some just smash it up the middle plays then come back to it.
I expect Patterson to be a Steeler. He'll smash those and coach the other backs. He'll play outside and maybe KR and be the useful swiss army knife he is. There's never been a coach that didn't adore the guy so I've got a hard time believing Tomlin wouldn't welcome him with open arms.
The way I see it, if Patterson is there, I'm not taking a Steelers RB. He'll get enough GL carries to wreck a RBs production that was a share anyway.
I also wouldn't be surprised if they drafted a RB. Steelers have had lots of top backs over the years and these two are not. Their fans say they are but if you think the Bus or Foster etc there's no dawg there. Najee is supposed to be, was drafted to be, and hopefully will be but I am concerned he hasn't shown it this far.
That big back during the combine TV highlights...he had me wondering if he's a future Steeler.
Tomlin and Arthur are identical in wanting to smash the football and dominate the LOS. Smith should mesh perfectly the way Munchak did. The Titans were "Steelers south" on X years ago with Lebeau and so many former Steelers.
Does Tomlin have his main RB that can put the team on his back? I wouldn't be surprised if they drafted (a lineman and) a back, Steelers fans were grumpy about it all summer, then by week four they loved the new guy. They were "raised" on smash mouth play too and it won't take long.
Henry is very approachable so I expect Najee and Warren already called him and he already told them to bulk up and be ready to smash or whatever.
Sorry this isn't much help yet long, I'm really uncertain if they have their star. They have good backs but idk if they're stars. Foster and The Bus were top few in the NFL in rushing. Those two have never sniffed that.