Steelers legend Jerome Bettis offers prediction about Ben Roethlisberger's future, endorses drafting of Najee Harris
May 5—It should be no surprise that Steelers Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis is endorsing the franchise's 2021 first-round draft pick, fellow running back Najee Jerome Harris (Alabama).
Yup. He's got a "Jerome" and a "Harris" in his name. That's a pretty decent way to get off to a good start as a running back in Pittsburgh.
However, while speaking at an 84 Lumber student trade skills event in Bridgeville Tuesday, Bettis noted the nuance between Najee Harris' modern approach to power football versus what he and Franco Harris brought to the Steelers running back position during two different eras of Super Bowl teams in Pittsburgh.
"When you see him on the football field, he's the modern NFL power back," Bettis said via KDKA.com. "He has the speed, he's got the power, but he also has the hands to get out of the backfield. And make plays outside of that offensive line. That's going to really help the Steelers in terms of the passing game but, most importantly, I think that their commitment to running the football is going to return. I think that because they have to understand: if you don't run the football, you're not going to win."
The Steelers were 28th in rushing attempts last year (373). In 2019 — even without Ben Roethlisberger — the club was tied for 20th (395). They were 31st in 2018 (345).
Bettis made the interview rounds via satellite and spoke with some national outlets, too. He continued the conversation with the NFL Network Tuesday morning.
There he applauded the Steelers' decision to draft Harris despite the wave of criticism heaped on any team that spends a first-round pick on a back. "The Bus" said that's indicative the franchise "realized the error of its ways" when it came to straying from the running game too much.
"With that pick, they realized, 'We need to get back to running the football,'" Bettis told Good Morning Football. "It was a commitment that they made, and they further cemented with (Illinois center Kendrick Green) and the offseason acquisitions they made in the offensive line."
Those players include the return of B.J. Finney to potentially start at center until Green is ready and fourth-round tackle Dan Moore Jr. (Texas A&M). The front office also inked young veterans from other teams such as Tampa Bay's Joe Haeg, Minnesota's Aviante Collins and Chicago's Rashaad Coward to compete for depth.
But Bettis said that Harris' contributions will be beneficial twofold. In addition to adding elite talent at the running back position, he believes that incorporating Harris will aid Roethlisberger by essentially keeping him on a pitch count.
"Getting that running game in and being balanced offensively so that they are not asking Ben to throw the ball 40 times a game ... If you are asking Ben to throw 40-50 times a game, this will probably be Ben's last year and it probably won't go well," Bettis said. "But if they ask him to throw it 20-25 times a game, then you are going to see the success."
Those numbers are a bit ambitious, Bussy. After all, in 2018 and 2020 — Roethlisberger's last two full regular seasons — the Steelers led the NFL in pass attempts (689, 656).
Yet Bettis went so far as to predict that if the Steelers commit to that formula, Harris' presence may extend Roethlisberger's career beyond 2021.
"I believe you'll see a second year. Not just this year. But possibly next year, with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm," Bettis concluded.
If that's the case, buckle up for another offseason of "all-Ben, all-the-time" speculation. Plus, the roster drama that will ensue.
And I'll be here for all of it, smiling ear to ear.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
