PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Normally Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin avoids praising rookies as much as he can. Preferably the team wouldn’t have to start a first-year player, give them an opportunity to learn the league before being thrust out there.
Not the case for Najee Harris. There has not been a question from the moment his name was read by Commissioner Roger Goodell he would be the Steelers starting tailback.
“When you have a talent like that as a coach,” said Steelers Running Backs Coach Eddie Faulkner. “You want to get the most out of it. You put that pressure on yourself to make sure he knows what he is doing.”
Unlike the other running backs who have responsibilities with special teams, not the case with Harris. Faulkner gets extra time to work one-on-one with the rookie during those periods.
“You have to make sure you’re not catching yourself watching like a fan too,” Faulkner said of some of the things Harris has done in practice. “There’s things that happen out there where you are like ‘man, did you just see that’?”
“I always try to come with something to coach him up on. Some detail so we could continue to push that train down the track and get him as good as he can be by game one.”
Faulkner said he’s not worried about increase in games from college to the NFL due to the number of games Alabama plays every year. He says Harris has an ‘appetite for football’ and is handling the projections and expectations well so far. The key for him is picking-up on protections and while there were some hard lessons early, Faulkner believes he’ll handle that part of it.
Injured RBs
As we get close in on cut down time, Faulkner said even with the injuries limiting Benny Snell and Kalen Ballage, he has a read on what they can do. He’s obviously more familiar with Snell, but Ballage has NFL tape as well. The free agent from the Chargers, Ballage is now back to full practice. Snell is close, but not ready for team drills yet.
Faulkner wouldn’t tip his hand, but both are likely battling, maybe each other, for a roster spot.
McFarland Moving Up
Much expected last year from rookie running back Anthony McFarland. Coming in as a fourth round pick from Maryland, McFarland had a near 300-yard game against Ohio State in his career and the hope was his speed could make an early impact.
The 5’8” tailback rushed 33 times for 113 yards and no touchdowns in 2020. Caught six passes all season for 54 yards and no touchdowns.
“The single biggest thing for Ant,” Faulkner said. “He has a preseason this year. I feel like that’s really sped up his learning curve a little bit. Excited about that.”
McFarland broke out a little bit against the Eagles with 34 yards on nine carries. Twice this preseason the football came loose, but Faulkner says he’s not alone in that regard.
“Ball security obviously is something that we all can get better at,” Faulkner said. “He’s had some things in a game where it puts a spotlight on him. Anybody can be in that situation quickly. He knows he needs to do that.”
Given the injuries, McFarland has run second team for the last handful of practices. His familiarity with Matt Canada’s offense, his offensive coordinator and interim head coach at Maryland for a part of his career, McFarland could be the change-of-pace player to advance the offense to the next level.
“I just need to see it more consistent,” Faulkner said. “He may have four out of five plays exactly like you want it. Then a lapse. We are pressing that we can be 100% on that stuff. Ant wants it so I’m confident he will get that done.”