Whether we’re talking about the Steelers — or any NFL team — debates about the importance of running backs are a trigger point for me.

I think people conflate analysis of how you get a good one with the importance of having a good one at all.

Sure, high-priced, high-pedigree Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing with the Tennessee Titans. But his team didn’t win a playoff game this year. Megastar Dalvin Cook didn’t make the playoffs with the Minnesota Vikings. Le’Veon Bell has washed out with two teams since leaving the Steelers.

Also, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl with undrafted Miami Dolphins’ extra Damien Williams starring in the 2019 postseason. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won it this year with Jacksonville Jaguars castoff Leonard Fournette peaking in the playoffs.

So is there an automatic correlation such as “a blue blood running back equals great team success”? No, there isn’t.

Of the top 10 running backs in the NFL this year in terms of rushing yards (we aren’t counting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson), five missed the playoffs. And only two (Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns and Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers) were on teams that won playoff games.

But none of that means it’s a waste to have a good player at the position if you can get one. Would the Titans be better without Henry? Do you think the Browns are in a hurry to get rid of Chubb? Or that the Ravens regret signing J.K. Dobbins?

No. No. And no. I’m pretty sure the New Orleans Saints don’t want to give away Alvin Kamara’s 21 touchdowns either.

I also know that the Steelers have been worse without Bell. And the absence of a run-game threat hurt the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Not to mention the Buffalo Bills losing the AFC Championship Game with only 32 rushing yards from their running backs.

So if you can get one without breaking the bank, I say do it. And if you can get one who is uber-talented while they are young and cheap, all the better I say.

Therefore, if the Steelers draft Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round after the top four or five offensive tackles go off the board — which may happen — I’ll be OK with it.

The draft analytics be damned.

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden seems to agree with me. But he’s got additional reasons.

“I would draft Najee Harris for a bunch of reasons,” Madden said. “But the biggest reason is, you could line up All-Pros from tackle to tackle. And if the starting running back is Benny Snell or James Conner or Anthony McFarland, Ben ain’t giving that guy the ball. Ben will promise them everything. Give them nothing. And won’t give that guy the ball. He will check to pass, pass, pass.

“I never thought until recently that Ben wants to pad his career stats, but I look at the fact that they have led the league in pass attempts in each of his last two years starting, and I do wonder.”

It’s Madden’s opinion that investing that kind of capital into a running back with so much talent will force Roethlisberger to stick with the run more often.

“I think you need Najee Harris, not only to make the other team respect the running game but to make Ben respect his own running game. And execute his running game. They need to line up under the center more. Do play-action more. All the stuff that Ben isn’t going to do (otherwise).”

Meanwhile, if the Steelers were to draft a quarterback as competition for Roethlisberger — or even his potential replacement — Madden seems to think that may create a Roethlisberger revolution.

“If they draft a QB in any round, he should quit. He should say, ‘That’s it. That’s dumb. You did it once (with Mason Rudolph). Doing it again is insane,’” Madden said.

Elsewhere in this week’s podcast, Mark and I dive into the ups and downs of the Penguins, troubles for Pitt’s basketball program, memories of the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Penguins trade with the Hartford Whalers and Casey DeSmith’s hairless cat.

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) February 28, 2021

I know. I can’t unsee it either.

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