ATLANTA -- There's been so much to love about the Steelers' offense this summer, from Latrobe to Tampa, from the North Shore to the South Side, that it feels almost excessive to ask for more in the preseason finale here today, 7:35 p.m., against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
I did say almost, right?
OK, cool, because, from this perspective, all that's been absent so far is only the most important piece: Najee Harris.
Look, I'm all-in on Jaylen Warren, and I'm not about to label him based on being undrafted or unknown before busting onto the Saint Vincent scene a year ago. He's come too far, run too hard for that. He's earned every yard, and he's earned every right to out-carry Harris at some stage of the process if he, in fact, continues to deliver the offense greater dynamism.
Heck, I'm buying in on Anthony McFarland, which would've felt unthinkable just months ago. If all he becomes is an actual producer on the sweep, a consistent screen target or just a routine run-to-the-edge candidate, those are three facets that weren't all that solid out of the backfield in 2022. And management was wise to groom McFarland -- on and off the field -- for such a role in 2023.
And on top of that, I'm no stranger to Harris' shortcomings. I see the hesitation to hit holes. I see the incorrect choices once he does. I see that he still lacks a splash level, just as he did all through college.
To that latter count, get this: Among all 51 NFL running backs who had at least 100 touches last season, Harris ranked 48th in yards per touch at 4.0. And 45th in yards per carry at 3.8. And 37th in yards after contact at 2.74. And 45th in the percentage of runs that achieved 10-plus yards at 7.4%.
I mean ... that's not great. To be further blunt, that's not an ordinary first-round output.
Now, all that out of the way, here's another number, one that might very well define what's ahead: 146.4.
If that feels familiar, it might be because I cite it a ton. That's the Steelers' rushing average over the final nine games, during which, of course, they went 7-2. With a still-learning quarterback. With a lesser line. With fewer receiving options. It wouldn't be overstatement to suggest the running game carried ... not the offense but the entire team since so much clock would get chewed up.
Kinda like this:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) August 24, 2023
Warren can't do that. McFarland can't do that.
And this:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) August 24, 2023
Warren can't do that. McFarland can't do that.
It's the ultimate goal of any offense to see the referee raise his arms, but there's immense value in seeing the sticks move, as well. And that clock ticking. And the opponents' defenders huffing and puffing midway through the third quarter.
What was it that Andy Weidl wonderfully spoke a couple months ago about the Steelers' collective aim for both personnel and schematics?
Oh, right: "Impose our will."
Well, Harris embodies the imposition of that will. As he should. Because, even though he opened 2022 with a nagging foot injury that took several weeks to properly heal, he wound up logging all 17 games, 272 of his team's 500 carries, 1,034 of his team's 2,073 rushing yards, and seven of his team's nine touchdowns by a running back. To say nothing of one lost fumble the entire time.
Or this singularly triumphant moment in, of all places, Baltimore:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSvideos) August 24, 2023
That's already been forgotten? Seriously?
Any other questions?
Shouldn't be. Because, in adding up all of the above, I've got a formula that still rounds out to that 146.4 figure. Meaning, even if Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth and the gang suddenly find passing gold, this team won't be a fraction of what I'd expect it to be without averaging something in the same range of those 146.4 rushing yards per game. And I can't begin to stress how firmly I believe that.
Respectfully, Warren's not getting those yards, not even if he gets the additional workload he's legitimately earning. McFarland sure isn't. Pickett will scramble for 30-40, which'll help, but that won't get anyone there. Nor will jet sweeps, end-arounds and any other gadgetry.
Through two preseason games, Harris has carried the ball twice. He's also caught one pass. And from that, to the best of my ability to gauge public reaction, there's been an actual discussion/debate as to whether or not he's still this team's bell-cow back. It came in a reporter's question to Matt Canada over the weekend, for crying out loud.
This is insanity. This operation as a whole goes nowhere without Harris. And that'll hold true, believe it or not, even if he doesn't take two dozen handoffs in an exhibition here tonight.

KARL ROSER / STEELERS
Assistant offensive line coach Isaac Williams, Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. walk the tarmac toward their charter jet Wednesday at Pittsburgh International Airport.
• Get a good look at that photo up there from yesterday. Read the caption. Recognize that Broderick Jones was brought in by management to replace Dan Moore Jr. And from there, tell me what that says for both of these young men.
At the intangible level, to me, the partnership, the friendship these two have formed has been the story of camp. Good for them. And better for the Steelers.
• Moore's the starter. Drop any pretense of suspense on that front.
• Pickett's final frontier in this game: A deep ball that connects. He's had a bunch in camp, and he's obviously done exceptionally well, so this is no criticism. But there'd be a benefit for Pickett, Canada and all concerned to have the franchise quarterback just blast one.
• This, too: Johnson could use a visit to the end zone. Get that bogeyman out of the way.
• Chandon Sullivan vs. Elijah Riley at slot corner?
Eh, no thanks. Meaning shaping the choice that way. My choice to start there would be Patrick Peterson, with Joey Porter Jr. on the outside. I know it's not shaping up that way, but I also know Mike Tomlin loves to mess with rookies' minds. And beyond that, Riley's ability to shift between slot corner and safety ... out of the group that remains, the one who should be in jeopardy is Tre Norwood. And/or James Pierre.
• This shouldn't be relevant, but I'll broach it anyway: Not starting either of the top two picks from what everyone on South Water Street feels is a high-caliber draft class ... that'd be a bit uncomfortable.
• The defensive line has its own orchestrated duels, but I'll bypass the shaping here, as well: The Steelers put forth as many sub-packages as any NFL defense in 2022, and that won't change. As a result, this line will consist of Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and ... nobody. More often than not, anyway, barring some seismic rise of Keeanu Benton into some Javon Hargrave clone. Given the choice of a third down lineman or an extra defensive back, Tomlin and Teryl Austin are taking the latter.
• That's not disrespecting Benton, by the way. He can do exactly what I just described.
• T.J. Watt's very, very pleased with the depth at edge rusher. I'll leave that right there.
• On second thought regarding RB1 ...

KARL ROSER / STEELERS
Najee Harris walks toward the team's charter jet Wednesday at Pittsburgh International Airport.
... if Najee doesn't tie his shoes, he's toast.
• Hey, there'll be no Point Park University Friday Insider this week, for the hopefully obvious reason that my full focus down here -- two full columns after the game -- will be on this football event. It'll be back next week.
• Thanks for reading.