In 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined for 1,819 rushing yards on 404 carries. After the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada, Pittsburgh found a renewed energy for running the football.
Now, with the addition of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, there is going to be an even stronger emphasis on the run game. With that comes a scheme that should help Warren and Harris be even better.
In 2020, with Smith running the Tennessee Titans offense, RB Derrick Henry was named Offensive Player of the Year after he rushed for 2,027 yards. There’s reason to believe that Smith will get similar production out of Warren and Harris.
Critics of the hire want to point to this emphasis on the running game as a negative for the passing game. However, look back to that 2020 Titans season. While Henry rushed for over 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns on 378 carries, quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 3,819 yards and 33 touchdowns.
