Steelers' Mike Tomlin Can Do One Thing About His Coaching Style To Save The 2024 Season In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are under fire as they are currently riding a three-game losing streak with one game remaining in the 2024 regular season. The Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot, and it is important that the team is able to re-gain some confidence before the postseason begins. Some changes need to be made within the team after the Steelers lost three games in a row by double-digits. These losses came against formidable opponents, but the three-game stretch proved that Pittsburgh is not what many fans thought it was.

Over Pittsburgh's three-game losing streak, the offense has been inconsistent and gotten off to many slow starts, while the defense has looked like one of the worst in the league. One of the bright spots on the offense has been running back Jaylen Warren, who has certainly seemed like the most efficient and explosive ball-carrier that the Steelers have. Some insiders have suggested that Warren officially becomes the lead back, and Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday and spoke about how Tomlin needs to decide to give Warren more carries.

"He's [Tomlin] said this in the past, it's not his choice of who goes in and who's not." Kaboly said. "That's Eddie Faulkner. He doesn't micromanage. Maybe he needs to start micromanaging them. I always thought Najee Harris is the best fit for this offense, and as long as he's doing what he's supposed to be doing, he should be in there. But the last couple weeks, I don't know if Najee's hurt or he's just tired or whatever it is. But there's a clear difference between when Jaylen Warren gets the ball and when Harris gets the ball over the past weeks. And you have to take that into account moving forward, I think."

Over the course of a game, when fans see the Steelers switching between Warren and Najee Harris, it usually is not Tomlin making that decision. Typically it is running backs coach Eddie Faulkner making that call, or even Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, depending on what kind of play he is looking to run. Harris has been the starting running back since being drafted by Pittsburgh back in 2021, but he has been seeing less action than Warren as of late.

Over the three-game losing streak, Warren has played over 50 percent of the offensive snaps in every game. Meanwhile, Harris saw the two lowest snap totals of his career when he played a combined 31 total snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens. Over the three-game stretch the two running backs have carried the ball a similar amount, and Warren has just one more yard on the ground than Harris. The big difference comes in the explosion the offense gets from Warren. He is also the better running back when it comes to catching passes out of the backfield and pass protection.

Moving forward, the two backs should not see a similar amount of carries. Tomlin should step in and micromanage, giving Warren the bulk of the workload. 

Steelers' Najee Harris' Time In Pittsburgh Is Likely Nearing Its End

As of right now, Harris has two more games guaranteed to him in the black and gold. After the 2024 season comes to an end Harris will be a free agent, and it doesn't seem likely that the Steelers will want to bring the running back back to Pittsburgh on a new deal. Warren should be the priority at the position moving forward. He will be a restricted free agent after the 2024 season, but he will likely receive a new multi-year deal in Pittsburgh. 

The Steelers may address the running back position through the 2025 NFL Draft in order to replace Harris, which would be a better option than committing a ton to the running back financially.

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