An encouraging facet within the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first two video games has been controlling the clock. Working the ball is in fact a key method in doing so, together with staying in sport conditions that help you stick with the bottom sport.
Let’s see how the Steelers have stacked up with the remainder of the league in speeding makes an attempt and common time of possession per drive by way of Week Two:
A handful of groups land on the highest proper, together with Pittsburgh. A really optimistic a part of Pittsburgh’s 2-0 begin is main the league in speeding makes an attempt (77). Excessive quantity was anticipated with the hiring of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and fortunately that has been on full show.
This has led to the seventh-rank in time of possession for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Sure, it’s a small pattern measurement, however considerably higher than 2023 after they ended the yr at twenty third. Pittsburgh’s elite protection has finished their half, limiting the opposition on the scoreboard, which can seemingly enable this to proceed.
Whereas that is all encouraging, speeding success can stand to enhance, which might gasoline Pittsburgh to staying atop these outcomes and even enhance their time of possession. As a staff, the Steelers are twelfth with 278 whole speeding yards which appears sturdy, however fall all the best way to twenty eighth in yards per try (3.6).
Right here’s the breakdown by participant to date:
RB Najee Harris: 37 makes an attempt, 139 yards, 3.8 YPA
QB Justin Fields: 22 makes an attempt, 84 yards, 3.8 YPA
RB Jaylen Warren: 11 makes an attempt, 49 yards, 4.5 YPA
RB Cordarrelle Patterson: 6 makes an attempt, 16 yards, 2.7 YPA
WR George Pickens: 1 try, -10 yards, -10.0 YPA
This offers us necessary context to how issues have transpired. Harris leads the best way in quantity and yardage, adopted by Fields at quarterback. Their matching 3.8 YPA isn’t horrible, nor ultimate. When OG Isaac Seumalo returns, together with rookie Troy Fautanu settling in after the complicated carousel final week, time to jel will hopefully take much less time than final season.
Most necessary is Warren, who leads the best way in yards per try (4.5). He’s been easing again from a hamstring damage, with simply two makes an attempt within the opener in comparison with 9 final week. Although the excessive YPA is on low makes an attempt, it isn’t an outlier, contemplating he averaged 5.2-yards in your complete 2023 season (157 makes an attempt). A extra even timeshare with our one-two punch ought to assist our run sport and time of possession.
It’ll additionally seemingly restrict Patterson’s alternatives, which haven’t gone effectively to date (2.7 YPA). What additionally will get hidden when staff YPA are performs like Pickens’ try that misplaced a whopping ten yards. With this low of a pattern, that’s pricey in Pittsburgh’s twenty eighth rank in YPA. I do know you need to get him the ball, however behind the road has been poor and pointless in my view.
The understanding is Pittsburgh’s offense desires to run the soccer. That dedication, together with flashes that may hopefully turn into extra constant, might assist the Steelers in being top-five in each rush makes an attempt and time of possession this season. If they will try this, it should go a protracted approach to their objectives this season.
The Steelers face the Los Angeles Chargers for his or her subsequent problem, who’ve additionally run the ball typically (71 makes an attempt, sixth). The visible highlights a far totally different end in time of possession although, the place Los Angeles ranks twenty first, far decrease than the Steelers (seventh). Hopefully this transpires equally, which might play effectively to Pittsburgh doubtlessly going 3-0 for the primary time since 2020.
