In Week Seven of the 2024 NFL season, we noticed the Pittsburgh Steelers passing sport come to life, together with play-action. Our Alex Kozora highlighted the subject properly not too long ago, stating Wilson’s efficient play-action was a game-changer for Pittsburgh’s offense.
A few stats stood out in that publish. My aim at the moment is so as to add extra context to that nice Steelers centered article, and see how Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks have stacked up league-wide.
First, let’s take a look at PFF’s completion price and yards per try differentials (play-action – non play-action):
This visible actually places into context how a lot better Wilson fared in play-action in his debut. He had 13 play-action drop backs, tying for second-most in Week Seven. Wanting on the 40 QBs with that many alternatives throughout the whole 2024 season, Wilson has the second-best 33.2-percent completion price differential and 6.8 yards per try differential. The chart additionally illustrates this being the best-balance of the 2 stats amongst qualifiers.
Let’s evaluate that to Fields. In six video games, a Thirtieth-rank in completion price differential (-2.5), and next-to-last thirty ninth rank in yards per try differential (-2.4). A considerable distinction in Wilson being the more practical play-action passer in 2024 to say the least.
That is additionally essential contemplating the Steelers offense now makes use of play-action typically. At the moment second-most within the league beneath OC Arthur Smith in comparison with dead-last in 2023 earlier than his hiring (frustratingly), which our Steelers Depot crew thought is perhaps his greatest influence in Pittsburgh. Married with Wilson’s effectiveness final week, this was a giant breath of contemporary air.
In fact, Wilson’s small one-game pattern measurement is a crucial caveat. That is additionally true for the highest ranks in every stat as properly, with Colt Anthony Richardson having the best-balance on extra alternatives having performed in 5 video games.
One other flipside to the differential stat is Wilson struggling in non play-action in his first Steelers sport. On 17 such makes an attempt, he had 6.3 YPA (twenty fifth) on a tough 41.2-percent completion price that’s dead-last amongst qualifiers this season. As compared, 12 play-action makes an attempt, 75.0 completion price (T-sixth), and 13.1 play-action YPA ranks first within the NFL.
Such a excessive play-action completion price as Wilson pushed the ball additional down the sector than some other QB is kind of encouraging shifting ahead. Whereas play-action was the main focus of this text, a priority arose. Why have been there so many points in non play-action?
A few of this was shaking of rust after not enjoying within the common season for practically a complete calendar 12 months. Included was flat out missed throws and accuracy points that can optimistically look higher along with his debut within the books. I’m anticipating simply that. Why?
Wilson had the second-best Adjusted Completion Proportion In 2023, a stat that accounts for out of doors components (drops, throwaways, spikes, batted passes, hit as thrown) from a QBs total completion price for a greater thought of accuracy. So, there’s little fear relating to the non play-action points in Week 7, whereas Wilson hopefully continues to cook dinner on play-action.
