In his 4 seasons because the beginning operating again for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Najee Harris has skilled fairly a couple of shut video games which have come all the way down to both the ultimate quarter, the ultimate possession, and even the ultimate play.
That kind of state of affairs is one thing that not solely Harris is comfy in, however many different gamers on the offense as effectively. It’s how the Steelers need to play video games underneath Mike Tomlin, that being low-scoring, limited-explosion video games. The technique has allowed the Steelers to lean on their star-studded protection and a bodily operating sport to put on groups out.
As a rule within the common season, that components has labored.
By means of the primary three weeks of the 2024 season, that components has labored as effectively, with the Steelers off to a 3-0 begin. For Harris, who spoke to reporters Thursday forward of the Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, being in these tight, low-scoring video games is one thing the Steelers’ offense is used to.
And in these conditions, the Steelers’ mindset is to make the opposite workforce faucet out, reasonably than tapping out themselves.
“I imply….we’re not anticipating it, however we’re conscious…it’s the NFL, it ain’t gonna be a blowout like faculty. Like, that is good on good. So, you understand, when that point comes, when it’s a battle, and since I’ve been right here, it has been a battle. Like, we’re ready for that,” Harris mentioned to reporters Thursday, in accordance with video through the Steelers’ YouTube web page. “‘Trigger that’s our kind of sport. That’s what we’re right here for. That’s what Coach T[omlin] actually teaches, man.
“Everytime you’re in these little conditions the place you understand it’s shut sport and you understand, it’s whoever faucets first, simply just remember to not the one tapping out. Be sure to’re the one making use of the strain, and we utilized the strain and we’re excited for the following problem.”
In these tight, late-game conditions, Tomlin at all times likes to say considered one of his favourite Tomlinisms: “Don’t blink or I’ll minimize your eyelids off.” It basically means he needs his gamers to look the problem within the eyes and embrace the tight moments. Moderately than being nervous and fearful, embrace it, trust, play free.
The Steelers’ enterprise is profitable soccer video games, and sometimes instances these soccer video games are tight. Harris is true, too. That is the NFL. It’s good on good. Not often do you get true blowouts like in faculty. The gamers are all excellent, the most effective of the most effective. You don’t get to this stage and keep at this stage based mostly on luck.
Pittsburgh, to its credit score, hasn’t blinked typically underneath Tomlin. The workforce has ready for the tight moments, and brings a way of calmness and professionalism to the state of affairs. The Steelers know what performs must be made, don’t attempt to do an excessive amount of, and simply belief within the course of and the teaching.
Time and time once more, it really works.
For Harris, there’s no different profit to enjoying in tight video games over and over, aside from profitable, interval.
“I imply, sure, I suppose. It’s nonetheless you need to say. There’s no actually clarification of why, it’s simply soccer,” Harris added concerning the shut video games. “Such as you mentioned, it’s not gonna be 50 or no matter. Some video games it is likely to be you would possibly win by two, some video games would possibly win by three. It’s simply how the result of the sport is, you understand?
“I don’t know if there’s a profit so long as you come out with the win, you understand what I imply? That’s the profit, I suppose.”
That’s the one profit, interval.
That’s all that issues ultimately. Did you win or did you lose? It doesn’t matter the way it seems to be in that sense.
Proper now, the Steelers are those making use of strain and aren’t tapping out. It’s resulting in wins.
