The Pittsburgh Steelers at the moment are 5-2 on a two-game successful streak. All three phases turned up the warmth from the mid-second quarter for the 37-15 victory in opposition to the New York Jets (2-5).
This was in Pittsburgh QB Russell Wilson’s first begin of 2024 and with the Steelers. Not good by any means, however was in a position to open up the go sport and positively impacted the general offense for his or her highest level whole of the yr.
Couple of notes earlier than we bounce in. Due to Thomas Mock for his nice work that helped me study a lot of what I’m utilizing within the sequence visually. Spikes and clear throwaways are eliminated as a consequence of being the right situational choice, together with bats on the line of scrimmage. Two throwaways and a bat this sport, every third down fails within the first half, which the offense went 0/6 on earlier than halftime.
This was a significant problem to getting issues going within the first half. As soon as that was cleaned up (5/8 second half third downs), we noticed the icing on the cake of what this passing offense may be. The professional is many performs have been made, however a number of missed ones as effectively that go away an encouraging ceiling if it improves. Like these probabilities, with the rust Wilson was shaking off.
Wilson went 16-of-29 (55.2-percent completion fee) on the stat sheet, emphasizing among the miscues together with accuracy. 264 passing yards although, most in a Steelers debut. This included 5 explosive passes which HC Mike Tomlin hoped for when making this choice, and fortunately we noticed simply that. Two passing TDs was additionally an apparent shiny spot, with WR George Pickens and Van Jefferson getting their first of the season.
A giant distinction between Wilson and Justin Fields is mobility, however as an alternative of utilizing the latter in some packages, the previous had a pair massive brief yardage performs. One was a one-yard TD, and the opposite a 4th and 1 conversion, maintaining the ultimate dagger drive with six minutes of straight runs going to finish the sport. Far more underneath heart, positively impacting play-action success as effectively, with Wilson going 8-of-9 for 150 yards.
With Wilson’s expertise and resume, the choice that appeared questionable to many obtained it executed in primetime general.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 26 charted passes, with variety of throws at every go distance for Week 7:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 46.2-percent. Commonest as standard. The primary go of the sport was a play-action roll proper to TE Darnell Washington within the flat, wide-open for 15 yards together with 12 in YAC. Good method to get issues began.
Subsequent instance was Third and eight. This drive sadly stalled on an underthrown pivot path to WR Calvin Austin, with Wilson’s throw impacted by stress for the offenses second-straight three-and-out. 2nd and seven on drive No. 5, Pittsburgh went again to Washington on the play-action boot to the flat, working but once more on a lob over the free rusher for an 18-yard acquire (16 YAC) the place he ran the DB over for good measure.
One other satisfying one started the following drive. Regardless of a free rusher in his face, Wilson delivered a play-action shallow-crosser dime to TE Pat Freiermuth, catching at three air yards with room to roam for 30 yards along with his personal churning on the finish as effectively. Level-guarding to his playmakers.
Inside two-minutes earlier than halftime, Wilson triggered fast to WR Van Jefferson on an out, who was additionally in a position to get YAC on the 11-yard acquire and first down, with that drive in the end resulting in a lot wanted factors.
First drive of the second half, Wilson was pressured (T Broderick Jones), simply flipping it low to RB Najee Harris to keep away from a damaging play sack. Then, again to the acquainted Washington play. Wilson needed to lob this one over two free rushers, a bit excessive for even that mountain of a person, making an excellent excessive catch out of his body however was corralled instantly for only one yard.
The identical drive made it to the purple zone. On Third and aim contained in the 5, Wilson focused Jefferson on the shallow-crosser alongside the aim line, however sadly caught toes with the DB and was tripped up (incomplete). The sector aim settle did give Pittsburgh their first lead (16-15) mid-third quarter.
Late third quarter, why not attempt the Washington play once more? New York was prepared although, forcing a little bit of a lob once more with the protection stopping him in his tracks once more for simply two yards. The following play Third and eight, in a position to dump it off to RB Jaylen Warren regardless of stress (Jones) on the line of scrimmage, who made a pleasant inside lower for YAC and an enormous 11-yard conversion to retain possession with the 23-15 lead.
Similar drive, 2nd and 5. Wilson rolls left and finds WR George Pickens on a pleasant out route throw, and getting a pair in YAC to make sure the primary down. Final instance was in a while this drive early fourth quarter. Third and aim from the 4-yard line, Pickens ran a vertical finish zone route, occupying two defenders and releasing Jefferson for the wide-open out route for the TD. This creates a snug 30-15 lead.
#2. 5-10 air-yards: 26.9-percent. First instance but to be talked about was Third and 1 on the second drive. Wilson was compelled to maneuver the pocket (Jones), making an excellent throw to Austin who had it, however can’t survive the bottom on the drop at 5 air yards resulting in a punt. The next drive was one other incompletion, back-shouldering it to Pickens who was unable to get his head round as a consequence of a no-call palms to the face. Not on Wilson although.
Sixth drive late second quarter now. It’s a horrid Third and 24 scenario following a holding penalty (C Ryan McCollum) and sack (Jones). Wilson was seemingly making an attempt to reap the benefits of a late defensive substitution, throwing to Pickens fast at seven air yards with house, however the 12-yard acquire was removed from sufficient.
Waning moments earlier than halftime, one other fail on the distance. Wilson was compelled to maneuver the pocket once more (McCollum/Jones), affecting the low incomplete go to Warren who was open on the choice route within the purple zone. Subsequent got here on the lengthy third quarter drive, a fast fade try to Pickens from the 3-yard line that was damaged up and unable to contested catch. Confusingly unsuccessful at this air yardage.
T-Third. 15-20 air-yards: 11.5-percent. Three passes. First was an enormous one on the final play of the primary half, the place Wilson attacked their prime CB being out to Pickens on an iso-fade from the purple zone, making the catch over his head on the slight underthrow for his first TD of 2024. Large to chop the deficit to 15-13.
On the lengthy third quarter drive, Pittsburgh confronted Third and 5. Wilson delivered a ravishing drop within the bucket deep to Freiermuth, who plucked it one-handed over his head at 17-air yards with a little bit of YAC on the explosive 21-yard acquire to the purple zone. Large play for extra factors (FG settle).
The opposite was the ultimate go of the sport. Wilson surveys, and regardless of some late stress (G Isaac Seumalo), touch-passing it to Austin on the intermediate crosser as open as you’ll see within the NFL at 16-air yards, and including explosive YAC for the massive 36-yard acquire. This arrange the dominant string of runs that sealed victory. Very profitable deep intermediate day for Wilson.
T-Third. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 11.5-percent. Additionally, three makes an attempt. First was a play-action deep go-ball to Pickens, who made a stellar one-handed contested seize on the underthrown ball with the defender draped. Give your playmaker a shot, this one on the longest 42-air yards of 2024, and spectacular 44-yard play.
Later within the second quarter, Wilson confronted stress in his face (McCollum), effecting the underthrown deep center goal at 38 air yards to Pickens, who additionally mistimed his bounce early on the miscue.
Final instance was Third and seven early third quarter. Wilson was brief on one other deep go, this one a slot fade to Pickens that will have been a TD if he laid it out. Luckily, Pickens has freaky hand-eye coordination, catching it of the DBs helmet, then bobbled a few occasions however wouldn’t be denied on the circus catch at 27 air yards and jostling 37-yard acquire.
#5. Behind-the-Line: 7.7-percent. Two throws, each early within the sport. A accomplished play-action display to Warren with a pair good blocks allowed him to chop inside 4 eight in YAC on the four-yard acquire. The opposite was the worst instance of accuracy points within the sport, horrendously behind Austin on a WR display on the no probability incompletion.
#6. 10-15 air-yards: 3.8-percent. The one play at this distance got here within the fourth quarter. 2nd and aim from the four-yard line, it’s play-action behind good safety, however good finish zone protection led to a slide left and scramble-drill go to Pickens, who can’t make the diving catch close to the sideline ultimately zone.
Listed here are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
The dots present a scarcity of connection to the left no matter distance, whereas the proper was extra profitable. Far too many points at ten air yards or much less, which have been cash throws general for Fields, which might be fascinating to watch. Good from 4-of-4 at 15-30 air yards, together with three of Wilson’s explosive performs together with the Pickens landing. Not a lot between the numbers, together with none between the hashes.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 1/2 (50-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 9/12 (75.0-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 1/6 (16.7-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 0/1 (0.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 3/3 (100-percent).
Explosive: 2/3 (66.7-percent).
Poor charges from 5-15 yards, together with greater than acceptable incompletions at 5 or much less. However, the charges at 15 air yards or extra the place a sight to behold, in sport and following struggles from Fields there.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 4/9 (44.4-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 3/6 (50-percent).
Inside hashes: 0/0 (N/A).
Proper hash-right numbers: 2/3 (66.7-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 7/8 (87.5-percent).
Right here we see the specifics of what I discussed, way more connection to the proper aspect. Notably exterior the proper numbers, whereas that space on the left was a battle.
Now for the heat-maps for charted-passes, then completions solely (NOTE: the small pattern dimension of throws makes the warmth maps broad, suppose lighter colours on completions solely specifically):
As I defined, with so few throws for Wilson this season, the completions solely view is generously broad. Wanting on the lighter colours (extra correct), we see there’s hardly no drop off on the completions solely chart, which is sensible after all the pieces we’ve realized. Hopefully continued intermediate and deep reference to improved accuracy come extra enjoying time, whereas additionally enhancing in that space on shorter extra frequent go distances as effectively.
Subsequent, right here’s an information recap of Wilson and Fields’ 176 charted throws of the 2024 common season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 43.8-percent. Beforehand 43.3-percent. 2023 35.0-percent.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 27.8-percent. Beforehand 28.0-percent. 2023 23.8-percent.
T-Third. Behind-the-line: 12.5-percent. Beforehand 13.3-percent. 2023 18.5-percent.
T-Third. Explosive: 13.1-percent. Beforehand 13.3-percent. 2023 12.4-percent.
#5. 10-15 air yards: 9.7-percent. Beforehand 10.7-percent. 2023 13.0-percent.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 6.8-percent. Beforehand 6.0-percent. 2023 10.8-percent.
This exhibits the completely different traits for Wilson’s debut in comparison with Fields in 5 video games, together with the 2023 season. Wilson threw the best fee at 0-5 and 15-20 air yards, with an ideal fee on the latter together with a TD and two explosive performs. The most important downtick was 10-15 air yards with just one try (incompletion), together with behind-the-line most noticeably.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 1/2 (50-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 9/12 (75.0-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 1/6 (16.7-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 0/1 (0.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 3/3 (100-percent).
Explosive: 2/3 (66.7-percent).
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 15/20 (75.0-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 57/65 (87.7-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 30/42 (71.4-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 8/16 (50-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 5/9 (55.6-percent).
Explosive: 6/20 (30.0-percent).
Wilson wins the deep charges, whereas Fields has the stronger marks at 15 air yards or much less.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 4/9 (44.4-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 3/6 (50-percent).
Inside hashes: 0/0 (N/A).
Proper hash-right numbers: 2/3 (66.7-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 7/8 (87.5-percent).
FIELDS:
Outdoors left numbers: 35/53 (66.0-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 14/20 (70.0-percent).
Inside hashes: 11/13 (84.6-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 26/33 (78.8-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 20/31 (64.5-percent).
Fields has the upper marks other than exterior the proper numbers.
To shut, listed here are the dots and warmth maps for all charted makes an attempt. NOTE: warmth maps are wider for Wilson since he has fewer passes than Fields, mainly an extrapolation. Completions solely views will come, assuming Wilson continues to start out, making their future comparisons honest. I’ll hyperlink all of the weekly articles on the finish so you possibly can examine the QBs performances if you happen to’d like:
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 1
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 2
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 3
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 4
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 5
Steelers Passing Charts: Week 6
