The Pittsburgh Steelers stay unbeaten, and one aspect was their strongest passing efficiency up to now in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. For the third season now, I will probably be charting, visualizing, and offering takeaways of the all-important quarterback place for the Steelers.
Couple of notes earlier than we soar in. Due to 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 attributable to being the right situational resolution, together with bats on the line of scrimmage. On this recreation, one throwaway was eliminated.
QB Justin Fields had a day as a passer, seemingly incomes the beginning function for the foreseeable future. He went 25-of-32 for 244 yards and a 78.1-percent completion price. All bests for 2024, and two incompletions had been drops, and the throwaway makes that share much more spectacular. Pittsburgh needed to lean on the cross recreation extra, with the run recreation taking some time to get going on this one, and Fields stepped up admirably.
This included a double-explosive passing TD, and whereas he didn’t scramble for as many yards, stored on a learn choice for a five-yard crimson zone TD. There weren’t too many flaws, however one was a compelled throw into tight protection that was tipped up and intercepted. However total, very strong and inspiring play from Fields as a passer that hopefully continues.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 31 charted passes, with variety of throws at every cross distance for Week 3:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 38.7-percent. Nonetheless commonest, however not as frequent as the primary two video games. The primary instance was a third+2 to WR George Pickens on a shallow crosser, discovering him for 3 yards open in opposition to off protection for the primary down.
On the subsequent drive, TE Connor Heyward ran a flat route however needed to work up subject to the delicate spot at one air-yard, the place Fields discovered him and was hit laborious and shortly for simply two yards. The next Third and 5 was a journeys bunch formation, getting Pickens near the road on a cease, a pleasant tight window throw to select up simply sufficient for the conversion for the primary chain-mover of the sport (1:31 1st quarter).
On the identical drive, Fields had nice pass-pro and dumped to RB Najee Harris broad open within the flat at one air yard with YAC for eight yards. 3+4 on the subsequent play, Fields stood tall and bought a pace out to WR Scotty Miller at one air-yard, who was in a position to power a missed deal with and dart down the sideline for an explosive 20-yard achieve to the crimson zone. Together with Fields’ improved passing, receivers stepping up with YAC was big.
Couple performs later, Fields was pressured, shifting within the pocket and getting it to RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson in opposition to tight protection to forestall the sack for 4 yards. This preceded the aforementioned Fields read-option TD on the great lengthy drive.
Then, Fields had good pocket consciousness to step up and discover TE Pat Freiermuth on the shallow crosser at two air-yards, with a little bit of YAC for 5 yards. Later within the third quarter, empty formation on 2nd and 14 the place Fields hit Miller on the cease at 5 air-yards, who but once more compelled a missed deal with for YAC and 11 yards together with drawing a facemask penalty which made it technically one other explosive play. Nice recreation for Miller.
Subsequent instance was not as thrilling, a 2nd and 15 the place Fields did properly simply to get the cross off, for only one yard to Harris. Then the unhealthy information, with the next drive ending abruptly on Fields’ interception, a poor resolution after being given nice subject place, tipped within the air attributable to tight protection supposed for Patterson.
Late third quarter on Third and 4, Freiermuth ran a terrific in-breaking route over the center at 5 air-yards, offering powerful YAC to select up 15 yards for the encouraging conversion. On prime of this, LAC helped additional with one other penalty leading to explosive yardage, I wager Pittsburgh was glad to be on the opposite facet of the stick this recreation after comparable points final week.
Last play at this distance was a 1st and 15 for 6-yards to Patterson, a cease route at three air-yards and a little bit of YAC to get out of bounds on the achieve of six.
#2. 5-10 air-yards: 29.0-percent. The primary I’ve but to say got here one the third drive, a terrific learn regardless of a QB hit, with Freiermuth discovering the delicate spot within the zone over the center at six air-yards on the ten-yard pickup and first down.
Drive 4 ended on a third and 4 incompletion that was dropped by Pickens, a great throw in opposition to tight protection on an in-breaker. It failed, however like the decision/scheme. Then, loved a pleasant decisive throw from Fields between zone defenders to WR Calvin Austin at 6 air-yards, getting a little bit of YAC of the 9 yards achieve.
On the identical drive, Fields went again to Austin on an out, a pleasant throw and catch for six yards. Late third quarter, with Fields and Pickens connecting on a comeback, tackled shortly for eight yards regardless of a roughing the passer that after once more tacked on explosive yardage.
#3. Behind-the-Line: 19.4-percent. Six performs right here. First cross of the sport was to RB Jaylen Warren, however the unblocked CB learn it and dropped him instantly for a lack of 4. On the next drive, Harris caught the flat a yard behind the road with YAC for six yards on first down.
The next 2nd and 4 was a fast display to Patterson at 5 air-yards, the place Fields made the side-arm throw previous the free rusher, and with good WR blocks in entrance was in a position to achieve 5 on the chain-mover.
A lot later within the third quarter, an identical sidearm round a free rusher to get it to Freiermuth, taking the checkdown for a optimistic three yards. Final two examples had been within the fourth quarter, one a dump off to Harris with powerful YAC to the sideline for 3 yards. Last cross of the sport was additionally a dump to Harris, however regardless of a FMT was swarmed for a lack of two.
#4. 10-15 air-yards: 16.1-percent. 5 performs. Simply earlier than halftime, a third and 4 incompletion was one other pricey drop by Freiermuth at 11 air-yards over the center. Whereas the snag would have been troublesome, Fields positioned it properly regardless of stress in his face, would have been huge for one more potential TD drive. One other incompletion out of the locker-room, a harmful throw to Patterson in opposition to tight protection that was damaged up.
However then, Third-and-14 was a terrific throw to Austin on a slot slant over the center, making the seize at 11 air-yards with YAC for an explosive 25-yard achieve to get into the crimson zone for a HUGE conversion. Two got here within the fourth quarter, beginning with one other nice discover on a slot seam to Pickens at 14 air-yards the place he was tackled.
Final however actually not least, was the play that capped this drive. An important placement throw away from protection by Fields to Austin on a slot slant over the center, who was then in a position to showcase his pace on the good play name and scheme for the double-explosive 55-yard landing. Blended outcomes total, however the positives tipped the dimensions to principally smiles.
#5. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 6.5-percent. Solely two makes an attempt. First was a pleasant prolonged play within the pocket, the place Fields refreshingly stored his eyes downfield, and Pickens labored open vertically alongside the sideline making the catch at 21 air-yards with a little bit of YAC on the 27 yard improv. The opposite was an finish zone goal to Austin, however the go in opposition to tight protection sailed out of bounds incomplete.
#6. 15-20 air-yards: 3.2-percent. Only one at this distance, a bit shocking given Fields’ passing success total. Sadly an incompletion within the crimson zone on Third and eight at 18 air-yards to start out the fourth quarter, one other comparable go route thrown out forward for his playmaker, however a bit out of attain in opposition to good protection crusing out of bounds.
Listed here are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
Fortunately, far more center of the sphere after the primary two video games seemingly gave followers some angst of previous offenses that appeared incapable of doing so. So, the speak from coaches and gamers got here to fruition, adjusting the sport plan to what’s wanted based mostly on the opponent. What an idea, and so refreshing to see on show.
Completion Charges By Distance:
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 6/6 (100-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 11/12 (91.7-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 7/9 (77.8-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 3/5 (60-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 0/1 (0.0-percent).
Explosive: 1/2 (50.0-percent).
Cash at ten air-yards or much less. Previous 15 yards was seldom, and was the clear blemish on a robust total completion price.
Completion Charges By Location:
FIELDS:
Exterior left numbers: 5/6 (83.3-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 6/8 (75.0-percent).
Inside hashes: 3/4 (75.0-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 7/8 (87.5-percent).
Exterior proper numbers: 4/5 (80.0-percent).
Location charges had been impressively robust throughout the board, with nice 75-percent or increased percentages.
Now for the heat-maps for charted-passes, then completions solely:
Related charted cross and completions solely views, emphasizing Fields executing the sport plan and connection on his passes total. The obvious distinction was going 1-of-3 previous 15 yards, so room for enchancment in that space shifting ahead. In comparison with prior weeks, the center of the sphere elevated in amount and high quality, and makes for more healthy numbers and charts throughout the three video games up to now.
Subsequent, right here’s a knowledge recap of the 71 charted throws within the 2024 common season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 42.3-percent. Beforehand 45.0-percent. 2023 35.0-percent.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 28.2-percent. Beforehand 27.5-percent. 2023 23.8-percent.
#3. Behind-the-line: 18.3-percent. Beforehand 17.5-percent. 2023 18.5-percent.
#4. 10-15 air yards: 9.9-percent. Beforehand 5.0-percent. 2023 13.0-percent.
#5. Explosive: 8.5-percent. Beforehand 10.0-percent. 2023 12.4-percent.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 7.0-percent. Beforehand 10.0-percent. 2023 10.8-percent.
Completion Charges By Distance:
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 11/13 (84.6-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 26/30 (86.7-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 16/20 (80.0-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 5/7 (71.4-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 1/5 (20.0-percent).
Explosive: 3/6 (50.0-percent).
Completion Charges By Location:
FIELDS:
Exterior left numbers: 19/26 (73.1-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 7/11 (63.6-percent).
Inside hashes: 5/7 (71.4-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 9/10 (90.0-percent).
Exterior proper numbers: 15/17 (88.2-percent).
To shut, listed here are the dots and warmth maps for all charted makes an attempt, then completions solely:
