Right this moment, I wished to offer the opposite facet of the coin to my weekly Pittsburgh Steelers’ Quarterback Passing Charts articles, and offering takeaways for Pittsburgh’s go catchers for the 2024 preseason.
Couple notes earlier than we bounce in. Because of Thomas Mock for his nice work that helped me study a lot of what I’m utilizing within the collection visually. Spikes and clear throwaways are eliminated because of being the right situational resolution, together with batted passes on the line of scrimmage that impact the meant go location.
First, let’s take a look at the 4 WRs who made the 53-man roster, and performed within the preseason (rookie Roman Wilson DNP, harm). Right here’s their completion/incompletion dots, then discussing targets, catches, and catch charges together with their ranks:
Scotty Miller-Charted-Targets: 9 (first). Catches: 8 (first). Catch-Fee: 88.9-percent (second).
Probably the most focused receiver no matter place this preseason, cashing in significantly at ten yards or much less, aiding a powerful catch fee. 1/2 previous ten yards, together with an explosive double-move off play-action, getting extensive open and including YAC for 38 yards within the opener.
Van Jefferson-Charted-Targets: 7 (second). Catches: 6 (second). Catch-Fee: 85.7-percent (third).
One other sturdy catch fee for the second-most utilized participant this preseason. The intermediate go recreation stands out (3/3). Number of routes: nook, breaking off a submit route for a 3rd down conversion, and hanging on to a crossing route after a giant hit. Good ideas and success to see.
George Pickens-Charted-Targets: 6 (third). Catches: 5 (third). Catch-Fee: 83.3-percent (fourth).
It was lower than 5 yards or explosive for Pickens this preseason, rating third in targets and catches. Additionally, a pleasant catch fee, and would have been excellent if the debatable close to go-ball explosive that confirmed his insane expertise was dominated out of bounds. Did join on a pleasant nook route with YAC on third-and-11 for 32 yards from Wilson within the finale, seeing the potential of what we’ll see within the common season.
Calvin Austin-Charted-Targets: 2 (final). Catches: 2 (final). Catch-Fee: 100-percent (first).
Sparse utilization for Austin, sadly. He did reel in each targets, encouragingly attacking deep intermediate and explosive air-yards (19 and 20), every within the opener. Can be fascinating to see how this, and the way issues search for the group within the common season.
Right here’s heat-maps of all targets, then completion-rates by go distance:
Miller-Behind-the-line: 1/1 (100-percent). 0-5 air-yards: 3/3 (100-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 5/5 (100-percent). 10-15 air-yards: 0/1 (0.0-percent). 15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). Explosive: 1/1 (100-percent).
Jefferson-Behind-the-line: 0/0 (N/A). 0-5 air-yards: 3/4 (75-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 10-15 air-yards: 2/2 (100-percent). 15-20 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). Explosive: 0/0 (N/A).
Pickens-Behind-the-line: 2/2 (100-percent). 0-5 air-yards: 2/2 (100-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). 10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). Explosive: 1/2 (50-percent).
Austin-Behind-the-line: 0/0 (N/A). 0-5 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 5-10 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 15-20 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). Explosive: 1/1 (100-percent).
Right here’s the completions solely warmth map, together with most focused and accomplished areas:
Miller-Most-targeted-area: left numbers-sideline, 5-7 air-yards. Most-completed-area: identical.
Jefferson-Most-targeted-area: middle-left numbers, 3-16 air-yards. Most-completed-area: middle-left numbers, 4-16 air-yards.
Pickens-Most-targeted-area: outdoors left numbers, -5 to twenty-eight air-yards. Most-completed-area: left numbers-outside, 1-7 air-yards.
Austin-Most-targeted-area: outdoors left numbers, 19-20 air-yards. Most-completed-area: identical.
Now for non-WRs, beginning with dots and team-ranks of the highest 4 on the 53-man roster (minimal two targets):
TE Connor Heyward-Charted-Targets: 6 (first). Catches: 4 (first). Catch-Fee: 66.7-percent (fourth).
Most targets and catches on this group, however low catch fee contemplating all throws to him had been 5 air-yards or much less. A pink zone flat-route was overthrown, and the opposite incompletion was simply out of attain too, not on him. Heyward supplied a TD on a pink zone flat-route, the one factors within the passing recreation this preseason, together with good YAC off a hurdle.
RB Jaylen Warren-Charted-Targets: 2 (T-second). Catches: 2 (T-second). Catch-Fee: 100-percent (T-first).
The remainder of the group had two targets, catches, and excellent catch charges, beginning with Warren. First was a minimal acquire display, and the opposite a third-and-14 checkdown at one air-yard, almost having the mandatory YAC for 12 yards. That was additionally the play he injured his hamstring on in Sport Two, protecting him out of the finale, however hopefully doesn’t linger into the season.
TE Pat Freiermuth-Charted-Targets: 2 (T-second). Catches: 2 (T-second). Catch-Fee: 100-percent (T-first).
A quiet preseason for Freiermuth, who will seemingly have a way more outstanding function within the offense this yr. Each had been third and longs focused effectively in need of the chains, and like Warren, good YAC effort to almost convert. Each lower than 5 air-yards although, and hope to see versatile utilization straight away within the season opener.
TE MyCole Pruitt-Charted-Targets: 2 (T-second). Catches: 2 (T-second). Catch-Fee: 100-percent (T-first).
Actually loved Pruitt’s receiving utilization, over the center of the sector. One was a third-and-7, working open on a scramble-drill, including a pair in YAC to maneuver the chains. Play-action helped him slip vertically behind a LB at 15 air-yards, and added YAC for 22 yards to get to the pink zone.
Now warmth maps for all charted targets and completion charges by go distance:
Heyward-Behind-the-line: 1/1 (100-percent). 0-5 air-yards: 3/5 (60-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 2/3 (66.7-percent). 10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). Explosive: 0/0 (N/A).
Warren-Behind-the-line: 1/1 (100-percent). 0-5 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). Explosive: 0/0 (N/A).
Freiermuth-Behind-the-line: 0/0 (N/A). 0-5 air-yards: 2/2 (100-percent). 5-10 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). Explosive: 0/0 (N/A).
Pruitt-Behind-the-line: 0/0 (N/A). 0-5 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A). 5-10 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). 10-15 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). 15-20 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent). Explosive: 0/0 (N/A).
To shut, listed here are non-RBs completions solely warmth map and most focused/accomplished areas:
Heyward-Most focused space: proper hash-right numbers, 4-5 air-yards. Most accomplished space: proper numbers-outside, -2 to 4 air-yards.
Warren-Most focused space: between the numbers, -5 and 1 air-yard. Most accomplished space: identical.
Freiermuth-Most focused space: numbers (either side), 0 and a pair of air-yards. Most accomplished space: identical.
Pruitt-Most focused space: over-the-middle, 6 and 15 air-yards. Most accomplished space: identical.
Whereas ideas are vanilla within the preseason, it was fascinating to chart OC Arthur Smith’s first video games with Pittsburgh. Some satisfying schemes and utilization that he will certainly develop on, within the true check that’s the common season. Hopefully the offense opens up in 2024, and most significantly, see a profit on the scoreboard.
