Pittsburgh has yet to see what Najee Harris can do, for real, on an NFL football field, and against real competition. But it may soon find out.
Harris, following Saturday’s training camp practice at Heinz Field, in front of several thousand Steelers fans, made it known that he wants to play Thursday night when the Steelers meet the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
“The excitement is there for sure,” the rookie tailback said. “But there’s a difference in being excited and just knowing that it’s not the real thing, but it’s also a good way to get your feet wet and let the game slow down for me.
“I’m trying to play as much as I can in that game. But what I really want to do is take as much of the game reps as possible — good, bad, whatever — do what I can to learn all of the mistakes I do. Then go in the film room and break down film and keep working.”
Now, Harris might want to play as much as he can, but that doesn’t mean that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, or offensive coordinator Matt Canada, will feel the same.
Accentuating their hesitancies may be the decimated offensive line blocking in front of Harris right now.
The Steelers had three notable offensive linemen missing from Saturday’s practice, including starting right tackle Zach Banner, starting right guard Trai Turner, as well as guard/center B.J. Finney. Tight end Eric Ebron did not play, as well.
With those pieces out, the offensive line was flat out bullied all over Heinz Field by the Steelers' defense, which was without the likes of Stephon Tuitt and TJ Watt.
Despite the deficiencies on the line, Harris is taking it in stride, and is confident in the abilities of himself and those in front of him.
“I mean, the line, it is what it is,” he said. “My job is to do what I can every run to help out the team. My job is to do everything I can to create better situations, so that we can be in betters downs and distances, for the team.
“I believe in whoever it is in front of me, no matter who it is. Right now we’re just breaking bread, we’re getting used to everybody. It’s my job to create something when there’s nothing there. It’s my job to hit the holes when there’s something there.
“There’s going to be something there, it ain’t like I’m playing with scrubs or nothing like that.”