Many issues have gone effectively for the Pittsburgh Steelers en path to their 7-2 file. There may be all the time room to enhance, although, and avoiding complacency to maintain the four-game win streak rolling is the purpose.
Beginning sturdy can change the complexion of how video games transpire, and Pittsburgh might absolutely stand to enhance by taking management of video games out of the gates to make groups play to their liking extra typically.
At the moment, I needed to take a look at and supply knowledge context for the way NFL groups have fared on opening drives, specializing in Pittsburgh. The purpose is to see what could possibly be constructed upon in opposition to a number of robust opponents for the rest of 2024.
The Steelers protection did come out of the gates with a three-and-out cease final sport, adopted by an offensive landing. The offense went three-and-out on their first drive, although, and will have had Washington out of types early.
Sure, Pittsburgh is nice at coming away with wins in shut video games late (which I’ll do the same research on quickly), like they did on this one, however including extra consistency on first drives would make for a extra full crew.
To begin, listed below are offenses opening drive common variety of performs and yards per sport:
Pittsburgh’s offense has been above the imply with a 7.1 common variety of performs on opening drives, which ranks seventh. That’s equated to a 3:37 common time of possession (T-Tenth). So, they’re not petering out as early or typically as a number of different groups.
The larger points begin with 29.8 common yards (twentieth), with their 27 common beginning yard line (T-Twenty third) actually not serving to. Their strengths thus far are a pleasant baseline, and weaknesses actually level to needing to be stronger as soon as they get into their very own territory.
Some upcoming opponents fare effectively on the visible: Kansas Metropolis and Cincinnati particularly, Baltimore in yardage, and even Cleveland above common in each.
Subsequent, let’s have a look at the outcomes of those drives extra with scoring and turnover charges:
Right here we see encouraging outcomes, with Pittsburgh touchdown above the imply in every. They’re one among a number of groups which have but to show the soccer over on a gap drive. The Steelers offense can be effectively above common in scoring at 55.6 p.c which ties for seventh-best and will shock folks.
The remainder of the AFC North is at or above the imply as effectively, and with all these video games remaining, it might make opening drives a key element in these video games.
Diving deeper, listed below are charges that zoom in on offensive manufacturing (eradicating area objectives), landing and offensive turnover charges (interceptions and fumbles):
Sorry to burst the bubble of the earlier visible, however Pittsburgh has but to place it in the long run zone on a gap drive by means of 9 video games. It hasn’t been dire contemplating the crew’s 7-2 file, however might actually assist them attain a fuller potential as an offense.
As soon as once more, the division is all at or above-average in each, scoring out of the gates early. It might play an unlucky function if that continues, so hopefully Pittsburgh can flip this script beginning this week in opposition to Baltimore.
On the opposite facet of the coin, let’s briefly study the opening drives that sputtered on offense, and resulted in kicks (area objectives or punts). I sorted decrease numbers pretty much as good, since offensive touchdowns are the final word purpose:
Very telling visible. Pittsburgh has relied on their kicker, the nice Chris Boswell, greater than some other crew on opening drives. Their whopping 55.6 FG fee is the by far essentially the most within the NFL, with second at 44.4-percent. This offers full context to their respectable scoring fee, none of which had been touchdowns.
Of 9 opening drives, 5 had been Boswell FGs. Whereas he’s cash, hope the Steelers get their first opening drive landing of 2024 in opposition to a potent Baltimore offense you don’t need to get down on the scoreboard in opposition to.
A 44.4 punt fee lands barely above the NFL imply (T-14th), so whereas that would stand to enhance, a minimum of Pittsburgh is getting factors as a rule. The Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals all are all above common.
Let’s study defenses now. Listed below are variety of performs and common yards allowed, with decrease numbers being good:
Most of the time, Pittsburgh’s protection is a prime 10 unit. Not on opening drives, with their 6.2 common variety of performs allowed ranks seventeenth, and allowed 32.9 common yards allowed ranks 18th. Opposing offenses have a 29 common beginning yard line (seventeenth) and three:19 common time of possession (18th). So very middling thus far.
Cleveland lands effectively above-average, however the remainder of Pittsburgh’s remaining opponents are largely below-average defenses in these phrases. That would bode effectively for the Steelers offense doubtlessly enhancing the remainder of the way in which.
Listed below are defenses scoring and turnover charges:
Most likely shocking to most (together with myself), the Steelers protection is effectively below-average in each. They’ve allowed a 55.6 scoring fee, tying for twenty seventh within the NFL, and haven’t created a turnover. That’s a lot totally different than all conditions, the place Pittsburgh’s protection is second-best within the NFL in each scoring and turnover charges. Excessive on my radar for hopeful enchancment.
It’s additionally the worst stability than any remaining opponent, whereas the Ravens, Bengals, and Chiefs allowed related scoring charges. Cleveland is the one NFL crew that hasn’t allowed an opening-drive rating all season, painful compared to Pittsburgh’s protection.
Now I’ll take away area objectives, to see how defenses fared in touchdowns allowed:
Fortunately, a 22.2-percent TD fee is a a lot better quantity, however nonetheless lands close to the NFL imply and ties for 18th across the league. That lands with the upcoming Philadelphia protection, and other than the Browns, the remainder of Pittsburgh’s schedule is below-average in landing charges allowed.
So on paper, this results in optimism to the hopeful enhancements for the Steelers offense being practical. However with the problems this crew as had for fairly a while, don’t present me the labor pains, present me the newborn, as Dave likes to say.
And the opposite facet of the coin, and supreme defensive purpose, getting stops. Listed below are punt and area purpose charges:
As you’d anticipate, with fewer touchdowns come extra area objectives pressured. However that has been at one of many highest charges within the NFL at 33.3-percent (T-third). If pressured to decide on, that’s the desire, however one other space the protection ought to look to enhance the remainder of 2024.
Talking of which, they’re additionally under the league imply in forcing groups to punt, at 44.4 p.c of the time. To place that into context, Cleveland has pressured the opposition into punts at an 85.7 p.c fee, over 40 p.c greater than Pittsburgh.
The Ravens and Bengals land collectively on the highest left, (increased FG rated allowed), however punt much less typically than Pittsburgh. The Eagles are fairly good at forcing punts to begin video games. Kansas Metropolis is under the imply in every, permitting opponents to get going early and dangle with them greater than their historical past and unbeaten file would recommend.
Whereas it is a small pattern within the entirety of a sport, and never excessive on HC Mike Tomlin’s record of keys, hopefully it is going to enhance transferring ahead. Opening drives are a fantastic barometer to really feel out the oppositions plan, however hope Pittsburgh finds extra success in the meantime the remainder of the yr, as they’ve after halftime and to shut video games general.
To wrap up, here’s a desk of all of the stat ranks (by season) compiled for the research:
| 2024 1st Drive Ranks | PIT OFF | PIT DEF |
| Avg. # Of Performs | 7 | 17 |
| Avg. Yards | 20 | 18 |
| Avg. Time | 10 | 18 |
| Avg. Yardline | 23 | 17 |
| Scoring Price | 7 | 27 |
| Turnover Price | 1 | T-last |
| Punt Price | 14 | 16 |
| TD Price | T-last | 18 |
| FG Price | 1 | 3 |
This paints an general image of the strengths and weaknesses on opening drives for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offense has moved the ball, managed the clock, taken care of the soccer, and put up factors at top-10 charges. That every one sounds encouraging and is a superb basis. Enhancements, particularly TD charges (T-last), would make that really feel higher, together with common yard line and yards enjoying a job as effectively.
The protection fared worse than anticipated, not like many stats they’re prime 10 in. The one mark on opening drives that matches the factors is FG fee (third). Many common ranks, however most regarding is scoring fee (twenty seventh), and turnover fee (T-last). That’s a lot totally different than all conditions, the place Pittsburgh’s protection is second-best within the NFL in each scoring and turnover charges.
If the Steelers could make strides the second half of the season, it might actually assist them be answerable for extra video games and seem like the Tremendous Bowl contender some are already making them out to be. That might be implausible, and followers coronary heart charges would positively thank them as effectively.
