Ben Roethlisberger, JuJu Smith-Schuster could limit Steelers’ new offense. Good thing Najee Harris is the star

The Steelers and their new coordinator Matt Canada are in the midst of installing an innovative offense built around lots of tempo and pre-snap motion, a plethora of running plays, hordes of play action, and above all, finding the mismatches that allow Steelers’ personnel to excel. Canada will try to put Big Ben Roethlisberger back under center, then on the move with play action to set up both the run and the long-ball pass. The offense should keep veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot, where his size gives him a leg up on getting those hard yards on difficult downs. At least this the way the new Steelers’ offense should be shaping up. But both an aging Roethlisberger and a contract-hungry Smith-Schuster could prove major roadblocks to Matt Canada’s offensive overhaul. Between Big Ben’s physical limitations and JuJu’s money-motivated demands to play outside, Canada’s hands seem tied before he even begins to tinker with the Steelers attack. But there’s one huge Steelers’ X-factor that will remake the Steelers’ offense, regardless of Ben or JuJu. His name is Najee Harris, and he’s poised to explode. The team’s entire 2021 attack is being built around this tree-trunk-legged rocket. Pittsburgh Priority No. 1. is rejuvenating the moribund running game. The mandate comes from none other than Steelers’ president and owner Art Rooney II. Clearly, Canada aims to deliver. His not-so-secret weapon will be a rookie running back named Najee, who also happens to be the Steelers’ biggest offensive star. This is how Canada – and the Steelers – win, regardless of any roadblocks from Big Ben or JuJu. At least that’s the way I see it. For more Pittsburgh perspective, I’ve rounded up the views of plenty of other Steelers’ scribes as they spied the Steelers’ mini-camp practices this week at Heinz Field. It’s all here in this anything-but-mini edition of your Steelers Update Podcast. And be sure to check out my PennLive column first thing Thursday. It will be packed, as always, with plenty of memes bringing this week’s Steelers’ saga to life. Now, listen up and check out the podcast!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices