Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers are 4-2, and the 32-13 scoreboard from the final victory was nice to see, the offense was removed from excellent. First down is clearly essentially the most frequent and may both set the drive up for ease and success or ache and failure.
Too typically, drives begin poorly and even go backward for the Steelers’ offense. This was even true of their final win, and needed to see how they fared throughout the NFL by way of Week Six in yardage achieved on first down (yards gained / yards to go):
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense ranks thirty first in first down yardage achieved at an abysmal 40.5 %. This creates too many poor conditions on second and third down, and the final word aim of extending drives and scoring factors constantly.
The final recreation was a main instance of this, with a excessive charge of second/third and longs making issues tougher than they have to be. That is additionally painful, contemplating no performs/penalties are faraway from this quantity, which Pittsburgh’s offense has had its justifiable share of and would make for a fair worse charge.
They have been in a position to achieve the final recreation regardless of placing their backs in opposition to the wall typically. However this got here in opposition to a battered Raiders squad that the majority groups would have run the scoreboard on. If the Steelers count on to maintain scoring factors in opposition to defenses transferring ahead, beginning with a powerful unit within the Jets in Week Seven, all of it begins on first down.
I used to be additionally curious to see the run/move splits. Pittsburgh’s run recreation has a 32.9 first down yardage achieved charge that additionally ranks thirty first, whereas 52.1 passing yardage achieved on first down ranks barely higher at twenty ninth.
So, the operating recreation has been the larger wrongdoer. One other a part of the equation is frequency. The Steelers have run the ball 90 instances on first down, which ranks seventh most within the league and provides context to their next-to-last general charge—comparatively, 60 passes on first down rank twenty third.
Maybe the group has seen this and is adjusting, as we’ve seen extra passing on first down because the season has progressed. Hopefully, there will probably be extra stability to the season averages transferring ahead, particularly contemplating the dearth of success on first-down rushes thus far.
After all, the quarterback is the most important issue within the passing recreation. Justin Fields has finished some good issues along with his legs and arm this season, however he’s coming off his worst outing as a passer. Russell Wilson was lastly deemed wholesome sufficient for beginning consideration in HC Mike Tomlin’s weekly press convention, so it will likely be fascinating to see if the staff sticks with Fields or strikes to Wilson for Week 7 and what the primary down numbers seem like.
For comparability and curiosity’s sake, let’s see how this appears to be like for NFL defenses as properly whereas I’m at it:
The Pittsburgh Steelers protection has allowed 54.1 first down yardage achieved charge, rating eighth-best within the NFL. It’s significantly better than the offense, as you’d count on, being the top of this staff’s id. Whereas their charge is respectably within the high ten, there’s room to grow to be extra elite.
This has been the case in run protection, the place Pittsburgh has allowed simply 37.4 first down yardage achieved, impressively third-best within the league. Offenses have additionally prevented it in opposition to them in comparison with the league, with 71 makes an attempt which can be eighth-least.
The place the Steelers’ protection can enhance is first-down passing. They permit 68.0 yardage on first down, which ranks a lot decrease at 18th, with 81 makes an attempt from the opposition, which is eighth most.
To attain elite standing, first-down passing protection is the goal. Enjoying way more deep zone protection than I like is a main cause. Whereas there are advantages like limiting massive performs, maybe balancing extra assorted coverages would enhance these numbers and create extra advantageous second—and third-down conditions to feast on.
Another excuse I needed to incorporate the defensive outcomes is that the New York Jets are the NFL’s greatest protection on this regard and Pittsburgh’s subsequent opponent. Their 42.7 first-down yardage achieved allowed is the one charge beneath 45 % (decrease numbers are greatest), so they’re far and away one of the best protection thus far in these phrases.
So, the next-to-last Pittsburgh Steelers offense will probably be going through one of the best New York Jets protection in first-down yardage achieved in Week 7. Pittsburgh higher come out a lot cleaner on offense as a result of the sledding will seemingly be robust in opposition to the Jets’ stout unit. Right here’s to hoping they’ll buck these stats on Sunday.
Thanks for studying, and let me know your ideas within the feedback.
