A recreation that was trying all too acquainted in a gradual begin 15-6 deficit within the first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned it up in all three phases, stifling the New York Jets for the 37-15 victory.
On this article I’ll present information from Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) and takeaways from watching the movie.
Offense:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
WR George Pickens was the highest grade on offense (90.1, 54 snaps). Some good catches from QB Russell Wilson in his first Steelers begin. Second 100-yard recreation of the season (111), and in addition collected his first TD of 2024. Caught 5-of-9 targets for 22.2 yards per catch (season-high), greater than any WR pre-Monday Night time Soccer with eight targets or extra. Two nice explosive performs regardless of each being underthrown. Double-explosive 44-yarder with a powerful one-handed contested seize, and 37-yard circus multi-bobble snag deflected off the defender. Nice total recreation.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
TE Darnell Washington (83.2, 36) was refreshingly concerned as a receiver, with 4 catches (career-high) together with two 15-plus catches. All have been flat routes near the road of scrimmage, wide-open on the large good points and taking benefit with YAC. The others have been excessive passes, with good catches exterior his body. Led the crew with an 88.9 REC, together with a very good total day blocking (75.4 PBLK, 63.5 RBLK). Thought the latter can be a bit higher, with only one misplaced rep in my notes. Nice to see.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Two gamers. RB Najee Harris (74.4, 33) fortunately had one other 100-yard recreation (102), with a game-sealing 10-yard TD, and an amazing 34-yard explosive run. Wholesome 4.9 YPA, season-high eight pressured missed tackles (T-1st league-wide), three of ten-plus, two of 15 or extra, and 4 first downs. 73.5 RUSH, and greatest particular person grade was a 76.4 PBLK, however a 53.7 REC that wasn’t on him (Wilson flip move to elude a sack underthrown). Maintain rolling, Najee.
TE Pat Freiermuth (71.3, 48) got here up massive, with each of his catches explosive performs. First, a shallow crosser that Wilson received out properly regardless of strain in his face, and Freiermuth offering explosive YAC and churn on the finish for 30 yards. The opposite was a pleasant move and one-handed pluck over his head for 21 yards, with a little bit of YAC as properly. 81.3 REC, and had some good moments blocking, however his 34.0 RBLK was dinged closely on a holding penalty (2nd and lengthy toss, why does Pittsburgh do this?).
The Unhealthy (Beneath 50 Grades):
Three right here. T Broderick Jones (49.8, 68) lands on this tier for the third week in a row, sadly. He was torched in move professional far too typically, with double-digit misplaced reps in my notes and a 30.1 PBLK that’s sixth-worst of the week. Three pressures, two hurries, and a sack allowed, beat unhealthy on a 2nd and 20 horrendous sequence. RBLK was up and down, waning on the finish of the sport in my view (57.5 RBLK). Fingers crossed we see enhancements quickly.
C Ryan McCollum (48.1, 68) was decrease than I anticipated. He did have a holding penalty the place he was beat unhealthy, however context is essential. The third-stringers final NFL common season look was manner again in 2021, and whereas it wasn’t good, received way more reps than not. Only one strain and QB hit, no sacks, and motion within the run recreation. The principle struggles I famous have been blocking on the transfer (second stage, display screen, and many others.), in order that will probably be attention-grabbing to watch.
TE MyCole Pruitt (45.3, 30) was the bottom grade on offense. Had a number of high quality blocks as a move blocker – 73.9, however did have a handful of run block losses (49.3). 48.8 REC on no targets, so PFF should not of like a few of his route operating.
Protection:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
DL Keeanu Benton is the one glorious grade (90.2, 37). He made some nice situational performs together with two passes defensed on the ultimate drive, one a 4th and 5 to permit the offense to finally run out the clock. Some good move rush and bat makes an attempt as properly, however famous a number of misplaced reps all through the sport as properly. Two tackles, each stops, just one strain however was persistently affecting move lanes, and the high-end performs have been glorious.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
EDGE Alex Highsmith (84.3, 42) was persistently profitable. This included three complete pressures, two hits, and one hurry that every one tied for the crew leads, pointing to the fast launch of QB Aaron Rodgers making it extraordinarily troublesome to get to the passer. He made his presence felt with a number of move rush wins, together with two tackles, and one a run cease within the purple zone.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Two right here. CB Beanie Bishop Jr. (78.8, 47) had a monster recreation, stepping up in a poor matchup on paper, highlighted by two interceptions. One was a one-handed pluck undercutting the route close to the top of the primary half, and the second on a drop that bounced off the WR and offering an explosive 41-yard return to the one-yard line resulting in a landing. Beanie season.
DL Larry Ogunjobi (71.1, 32) had the groups solely sack on a primary drive third and eight for a three-and-out. Supplied so different good move rush wins as properly, together with three QB hits together with a TFL, however thought his run protection wasn’t as sturdy total. PFF graded him pretty evenly: 72.3 RDEF, 70.2 TACK, 71.8 PRUSH. The latter appears too low given his manufacturing and fast move conditions total.
The Unhealthy (Beneath 50 Grades):
Six gamers. Jeremiah Moon (49.7, 14) was a goose egg on the stat sheet, and was beat on a handful of reps in my notes in however run and move. The one constructive I had was a fourth quarter move rush. 55.0 RDEF and 51.7 PRUSH. No offense, however nice to have Highsmith again.
CB James Pierre (48.4, 35) was pressured into motion attributable to harm, and Rodgers picked on him. He was charged for 2 catches on three targets per PFF, permitting two chunk catches for 35 yards together with a 20-yard explosive play. Was beat on a purple zone/finish zone goal as properly that fortunately was out of bounds within the third quarter. 45.5 COV. Did deal with properly (77.9), however largely on chunk performs. The exception was an amazing run deal with for a lack of one (64.9 RDEF).
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk (44.8, 4) had a very notable poor play, a missed run angle/deal with alternative on the primary 13-yard speeding TD (54.3 RDEF). Goose egg on the stat sheet together with no strain as properly (58.5 PRUSH).
S Minkah Fitzpatrick (42.5, 56) was on cleanup obligation, significantly on massive performs and missed tackles from others on RB Breece Corridor within the first half. He did have a TD saving deal with chasing down a 57-yard catch, however had a missed deal with/angle within the fourth quarter that dinged his grade most, going for an explosive 27-yard explosive catch. 44.7 COV was his worst particular person grade (61.6 RDEF, 58.4 TACK).
DL Dean Lowry (41.3, 8) additionally had a poor rep on the primary 13-yard TD run, however did observe a couple of good reps of move rush push. PFF thought in a different way: 60.0 RDEF, 54.1 PRUSH.
CB Donte Jackson was the bottom graded defender (40.7, 22), and having to go away the sport was insult to harm. Apart from an amazing run TFL with superior recognition, it was a poor outing. Two missed tackles, together with the 57-yarder with unhealthy method and angle, and was beat in protection on a pair Jets miscues as properly. 77.4 RDEF, however 31.4 COV and 26.1 TAK have been honest grades in my view.
Particular Groups:
Wonderful (90-Plus Grades):
Dean Lowry is the very best graded particular teamer and Steeler of Week 7 (93.8, 4). Supplied an enormous FG block within the third quarter, stifling a would-be momentum shift and holding the result in 23-15.
Nice (80-Plus Grades):
Pierre is a a lot better core particular teamer (85.2, 17) than his unhealthy defensive grade. Prompted a pressured fumble on a 4-yard kick return as he ran out of bounds, pressured a good catch as a gunner, and in addition pushed one other kick return out for his second ST deal with of the evening.
Good (70-Plus Grades):
Connor Heyward (73.7, 17) had a pleasant one, significantly having fun with his nice 25-yard kick return deal with by means of the block try, hard-hitting them each to the turf. Had one other deal with too, however the returner slipped on this one.
The Unhealthy (Beneath 50 Grades):
Only one, unsurprising in a implausible day for the unit, Fitzpatrick (29.5, 5). This was attributable to a horrible leveraging penalty on punt block crew, actually leaping over the defender with no push off however was nonetheless flagged. He additionally confirmed nice punt block effort on one other, and Pittsburgh actually confirmed excessive precedence and energy to create splash.
Surprises:
- QB Russell Wilson (64.1, 68). The primary 4 drives have been shaky, however then Wilson cooked for 249 move yards (a Steelers document debut) two passing TDs and a speeding TD, together with 5 explosive move performs in a refreshing second-straight 30-plus scoring outing for Pittsburgh’s offense. There have been accuracy points, however one other main constructive distinction from Justin Fields was play-action. Anticipated a greater grade.
- A number of particular groups grades decrease than anticipated.
- LB grades, thought Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson can be within the unhealthy tier.
Who have been yours?
STEELERS WEEK 7 VS. COWBOYS & TOTAL REGULAR SEASON SNAPS:
WEEK 7 SNAP LEADERS:
OFF- Ru.Wilson, OL.
DEF- J.Porter, D.Elliott.
ST- Co.Heyward, J.Pierre, P.Wilson, T.Edmunds, M.Robinson, M.Killebrew, R.Williams.
