The Steelers knew when they selected Najee Harris in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, they were getting a well-seasoned player.
After all, Harris had spent all four years in college at Alabama, where he was in a competitive backfield situation with the likes of Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris, who also are starting running backs in the NFL. You either played well, or you didn't play.
But the Steelers have been impressed with the 23-year-old's ability to not only adjust to the NFL game, but to do so quickly. His maturity level has perhaps been the most impressive thing and it's a big reason for the Steelers' rebound from a 1-3 start to get to 4-3 heading into Monday's game against the Bears (3-5) at Heinz Field.
Harris isn't afraid to ask questions beyond things that are in the wheelhouse typically for a running back. He spent time with the team's offensive linemen, learning what their thinking was when blocking certain plays and trading information on how he approached them, as well.
He didn't just expect to have success because he had in college. He sought out ways to be better beyond his own talent.
"He doesn’t mind asking you, ‘What do you think about this?’ ‘What are you seeing with that?’ " veteran guard Trai Turner said of Harris. "It’s not something I’ve noticed too much about young backs that I’ve been around, to get his input into things not such much in the game plan, but how we fit in certain runs, maybe what I’m thinking on certain blocks, compared to what he’s thinking. It’s the small details, the certain nuances of a certain play. It’s not that it just so happens that a play pops by chance. There’s a reason the play did what it did."
Lately, the plays have been popping more often than they did earlier in the season. After being held to 123 rushing yards on 40 carries in the Steelers' first three games -- a 3.1-yard average -- Harris gained 356 yards on 88 rushing attempts (4.1 yards per carry) in the month of October, as the Steelers went 3-1. He also caught 17 passes for 124 yards and scored four touchdowns, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors.
Harris is now on pace to shatter Franco Harris' team rookie rushing record of 1,055 yards set in 1972 -- he's on pace for 1,287 rushing yards -- and seemingly gets better each week.
And his maturation process goes beyond his running ability.
"We think he’s a total-package back. We’ve said that from day one," Matt Canada said. "To pinpoint one, I think he’s running the ball — I don’t want to say better — but he’s realizing how challenging it is. To get a four-yard run’s a big deal at this level. I think his pass protection has improved. He was really big on the touchdown pass. Ben (Roethlisberger) got him over there and he chipped and got us the chance to get the ball off. His pass catching.
"I don’t think anything’s improved, but I think you’re just seeing him become more comfortable, playing more fluidly. He’s certainly continuing to get better, which has helped us."
The pass protection play to which Canada is referring came in last Sunday's 15-10 win over the Browns in Cleveland. Harris stepped in and got a chip on Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett on fourth-and-goal from the 2 that allowed Roethlisberger to deliver a pass to rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth for a touchdown.
If Harris doesn't recognize that Garrett has gotten the edge in time to help rookie left tackle Dan Moore, or is a half-second late getting there, Roethlisberger could have been sacked or at least hit as he tried to deliver that pass.
Instead, he recognized there wasn't someone coming up the middle and got to the area where he saw the Steelers needed help.
"He wants to do more than just be a great runner," Roethlisberger said. "Being a running back is about more than just being a good runner. Pass pro, even down the field. I think one of the reverses I was watching, he at least got in the way and created a block. I think he takes pride in wanting to be great, and we're seeing a lot of growth."
If his improvement in those areas from early in the season from then to now continue, Harris could be better than even the Steelers expected when they selected him with the 24th pick in this year's draft.
Running back is considered a spot where teams can find anyone to fill a spot. And while that might be true in terms of simply running the ball, it's not when it comes to those little things such as pass blocking and being able to be an every-down back.
There are few of those in the league. It's obvious Harris can be that.
His teammates have been impressed with his approach to it all and how he incorporates what information teammates give him into his game.
"Now, what is it, Week 8, Week 9? Now, we’re getting to a point where it’s about getting assignments and how you fit into those assignments," Turner said. "What are you doing after contact? It’s paying attention to the details and small nuances of things. I think it’s phenomenal for him to be a rookie and talk about some of those characteristics of the game."