Steelers set to unleash Harrison

PITTSBURGH – After allowing more than 200 rushing yards in two of their last three games, the Steelers could be ready to unleash the beast Sunday in Kansas City.
Thirty-nine-year-old outside linebacker James Harrison has played only seven snaps this season and was inactive for the last two games.
But defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Thursday the time might be ripe to get Harrison back into the lineup.
“It’s always good to have James Harrison when you’re playing Kansas City and let their offensive tackle see him,” said Butler. “I’ll just say that. I’ll leave it at that. You can imagine what might happen.”
Harrison has had some big games against Kansas City left tackle Eric Fisher, the former No. 1-overall pick in the 2013 draft. Harrison forced a key holding penalty against Fisher in Pittsburgh’s 18-16 playoff win over the Chiefs last year. The penalty negated a game-tying two-point conversion by Kansas City.
The Steelers (3-2) have kept their all-time sacks leader on the sidelines while rookie T.J. Watt, the team’s top draft pick this year’s draft, has played the majority of the snaps at right outside linebacker.
But Harrison’s on-field presence isn’t just about getting sacks. He might be the team’s best at setting the edge against the running game. And with the Steelers struggling to stop the run, the timing couldn’t be better.
Butler said he wasn’t blaming Watt for the Steelers allowing 231 rushing yards in a 30-9 loss to Jacksonville last Sunday, but did note the long fourth-quarter runs by the Jaguars were the result of young players trying to do too much.
“We got behind and really needed to stop them and we had a couple of guys try to do above and beyond, instead of just doing what they’re supposed to do,” Butler said.
Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt leads the NFL with 609 rushing yards. Nearly half of his yardage (279) came on eight runs, with all but one of those coming in the fourth quarter.
“That’s what good backs do, they get stronger as the game goes on,” said Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier. “He’ll keep pounding away, trying to wear you down. And if you’re not in the hole you’re supposed to be in, he’ll break one.”
If that sounds familiar, it’s because its what has happened to the Steelers in recent games.
The Steelers allowed runs of 90 and 19 yards in the fourth quarter against Jacksonville and 36, 19 and 18 yards in a 23-17 overtime loss at Chicago.
The big runs have not only led to losses, but also have helped skew Pittsburgh’s run defense numbers.
The Steelers are allowing nearly 137 rushing yards per game, fifth-highest in the league. Behind Hunt’s strong start, the Chiefs (5-0) average 156 rushing yards per game.
The Steelers lead the NFL in pass defense and would have one of the top overall units in the league if they weren’t getting gouged on the ground, especially late in games. Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette had 15 carries for 43 yards but finished with 181 yards after a big fourth quarter that included the 90-yard run.
“We had the game contained,” defensive end Stephon Tuitt said. “When he broke the run off at the end, it made it worse than what it was. That’s why it’s always important to be in your gap. That’s why it’s always important to be consistent at every position. When you become inconsistent, that takes a game that was manageable to this guy having an incredible game.”
The Steelers can’t afford for that to happen against Hunt if they hope to hand the Chiefs their first loss.
That’s where having Harrison on the field more could make a difference.
He didn’t start in 2016 until the final seven games of the regular season, sharing time with Jarvis Jones early in the year.
Not including a game against Cleveland in the regular season finale when the Steelers rested several starters, the defense allowed an average of 51 rushing yards per game with Harrison in the lineup.
As Harrison said a couple of weeks ago when asked about his inactivity, “I can set the edge when I’m 60.”
He’s not quite there, but perhaps Sunday he’ll get a chance.
Odds and end zones
After sitting out practice Wednesday, center Maurkice Pouncey (chest) and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (quad) each were full participants Thursday. … The only Steelers player to miss practice Thursday was guard Ramon Foster (back). … Kansas City’s offense has gone 311 consecutive plays without a turnover.