The Pittsburgh Steelers are at present on an unlucky three-game skid and are available off an unpleasant loss to the 16-1 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 29-10.
A few notes earlier than we soar 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 resulting from being the right situational determination, together with bats on the line of scrimmage. Two throwaways and bats had been eliminated.
QB Russell Wilson went 23 of 37 on the stat sheet (62.2 %), and 69.7 on charted passes. Often significantly better with eliminated passes, highlighting a problem of not eliminating the soccer on time, going through a season-high 20 pressures and 5 sacks. One included a fumble on a primary drive three-and-out in yet one more gradual begin (no TDs on opening drives in 2024). Wilson additionally had a pricey crimson zone interception late first quarter.
The offensive line clearly struggled towards an excellent protection, and there have been different supporting solid points as properly, together with a fumble turnover, a drop, and a number of other Grinch moments. On the afternoon, Wilson had 205 passing yards and no passing TDs. Only one spotlight throw, not almost sufficient towards a Chiefs caliber workforce and behind many of the sport. A uncommon shiny spot was scrambling, six for 55 yards together with Pittsburgh’s lone TD.
Pink zone was an total bugaboo, although: Pittsburgh 1-of-4, KC going 4-of-5. The Steelers gained the third down battle towards the Chiefs’ high ranked unit going into the matchup, surprisingly: Steelers 8-16 (a number of Wilson runs), Chiefs 3-10. The latter stayed forward of the chains, avoiding it total, although. An undesirable 4th and 20 miss got here after failing to get the snap off with the sport on the road, and among the many multitude of points within the workforce loss.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 33 charted passes, with variety of throws at every cross distance for Week 17:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 45.5 %. Whopping 15 passes. First play was promising, a seven-yard slot out to TE Pat Freiermuth who was most focused, including a little bit of YAC too. However a brief run and Wilson sack fumble derailed the three-and-out begin.
Second and 6 on drive 4. One other slot out, this time to WR George Pickens, simply sufficient to maneuver the chains. These profitable performs included rub ideas to open receivers, refreshingly, however KC did properly to not enable massive YAC. Then TE Darnell Washington ran a sit route over the center, including churning YAC for eight yards on first down.
On drive 5 within the second quarter, an over the center dump-off to RB Jaylen Warren at one air yard, getting YAC and 7 yards on off protection. Ensuing runs together with a third and three east/west fail with RB Cordarrelle Patterson was a questionable selection.
A fourth down KC penalty prolonged the drive, although. Again to a different slot out to Pickens that was stood up at two yards on 2nd and 11, debatably whistled useless too quickly. My takeaway is Pittsburgh operating the identical performs too usually permitting defenses to key in.
Simply earlier than halftime, you guessed it, one other slot out rub to Freiermuth that was tackled fast for less than two yards. Third quarter, Freiermuth runs a stick on the three×1 stacked aspect, getting a little bit of house and YAC for six yards the place two defenders met him.
Subsequent drive early fourth quarter, Wilson faces Third and 14 after painful performs: incomplete (held it), close to interception (incomplete), and sack (T Dan Moore beat dangerous). Hits Freiermuth properly wanting the chains within the flat at three air yards, however an agonizing fumble turnover provides insult to harm to the last word fail, down 22-10.
Subsequent drive after KC scores (29-10), an 2nd and 1 over the center dump to Warren for 9 yards after a run for a similar yardage with the Chiefs in forestall protection mode. True for the following slat to Freiermuth, however fast react for no YAC on the five-yard acquire.
Similar drive obtained behind the chains on an offsides (TE Connor Heyward), negating an superior Pickens catch. Ensuing 2nd and 15 was lined properly, Wilson going by means of his progressions, a throw away-ish crosser low and forward to WR Van Jefferson incomplete. This proceeded the tough stretch eventual 4th and 20 fail with the sport on the road.
Third and a couple of with 6:09 left. Wilson’s throw is excessive to RB Najee Harris on the best sideline, crusing incomplete. On 4th and a couple of, HC Mike Tomlin decides to punt. I get the circumstances had been dire, however deflating to see the white flag. “Never give up, never surrender!” You simply went for 4th and 20 as well, I don’t get it.
Recreation at hand. After runs, WR Calvin Austin obtained his flip at a slot out, gaining eight yards on forestall protection. Third and a couple of with 22 seconds left, Warren obtained the checkdown for a three-yard conversion. An unlawful shift (WR Scotty Miller) ends the sport, becoming in such a grotesque loss.
#2. Behind-the-Line: 18.2 %. Six examples. Mid-second quarter, a primary down display to Austin goes for a lack of two, not his sport missing missed deal with capacity. Third quarter 2 and 16 following a sack (Washington), dump-off to Harris with house, however poor imaginative and prescient and discover a two-yard acquire.
In a while throughout the identical encouraging drive, again to Harris on a crimson zone display for 5 yards, changing Warren who obtained them there. Complicated to not feed him after an explosive 21-yard acquire (except he was gassed). Then a third and 5 sack was an enormous and stalled the drive, settling for the sphere objective and a 16-10 rating. Could not have mattered, however man.
Down 22-10 subsequent drive (fourth quarter). Started with Wilson going through good protection on his first learn, checking right down to Harris close to the sideline. However a harmful close to choose throw, fortunately solely a cross breakup. This was adopted by one other sack (Moore beat dangerous), and the third down Freiermuth fumble.
On the 4th and 20 fail drive, a 2nd and 5 leak-out throw to Warren was restricted to at least one yard (poor Freiermuth block), however Wilson prolonged the drive the next 3 and 4 scramble conversion, simply to have the wheels soar off. A play main as much as that was a behind the road checkdown to Warren, dropping Wilson’s cross with blanketed quick routes elsewhere.
T-Third. 5-10 air-yards: 15.2 %. 5 throws. But to be talked about was a third and eight, a pleasant seam route from Freiermuth and back-shoulder throw away from the linebacker with YAC to the crimson zone for 15 yards. Huge play on the lone landing drive and it’s a 13-7 rating early second quarter, earlier than hope was misplaced.
The remaining had been rubbish time. On a scramble drill (T Broderick Jones strain), Wilson discovered Pickens on the sideline on a comeback (from a slant), a close to incredible one-hander on the sideline however unable to come back away with it incomplete.
Simply earlier than the two-minute warning, Heyward runs a slot stick for eight yards, falling on the catch. After a number of runs, a bi-polar determination to cross on first down. Run the clock or attempt to rating, make up your thoughts. Good catch although, a formidable toe-tap simply in bounds by Austin.
T-Third. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 15.2 %. 5 additionally. Begin of drive three, Wilson play-actions and launches a phenomenal go ball to Pickens, who made an insane over the shoulder late pluck at 30 air yards, and YAC on high for the double-explosive 41-yarder. This got here with KC up 13-0, a pleasant reply play.
Late second quarter, it’s Third and 9. Wilson desires WR Mike Williams on the go-ball, going to him regardless of the protection getting there simply for the cross breakup. One other poor throw and determination on the failed punt drive.
Simply earlier than half, again to Williams on an excellent deep determination this time. Shut however no cigar incompletion, getting one foot down twice however not the second. As a substitute of potential factors, Pittsburgh runs on the ultimate play to go to the locker room down 13-7. Hindsight’s 20-20, however man, so man missed alternatives.
The one second half air yardage previous 20 yards was on the aforementioned 4th and 20 fail, inexcusably. I do know KC was in forestall a lot of the time, however that’s excruciating to put in writing. The precise go-ball throw had a shot, and was to the best man in Pickens, however sadly was damaged up after hitting his palms on a greater play by the protection as soon as once more. Miserable.
Early second quarter, Wilson play-actions to a pleasant throw and catch on an intermediate out by Freiermuth for the acquire of 15, good design. This was the primary of two 15 yarders from Muth on the lone TD drive. Additionally encouraging was a third and 14 third quarter. An amazing throw and nook route by Austin, getting house to realize simply sufficient for the third and lengthy conversion.
Profitable cross distance, together with most of their third down passing conversions, why not goal the realm extra? One other blunder.
#6. 15-20 air-yards: 6.1 %. Two examples, each at 20 air yards within the explosive part: the unlucky crimson zone interception and Williams one-foot down incompletion.
Listed below are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
KC saved a lid on issues, and deserves credit score. However the multitude of passes at 5 air yards or much less was inexcusable given the sport circumstances. Some good intermediate hits, however not almost sufficient from Pittsburgh’s offense, and poor explosive air yards that’s been uncommon for Wilson in 2024.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 4/6 (66.7 %).
0-5 air-yards: 13/15 (86.7 %).
5-10 air-yards: 4/5 (80.0 %).
10-15 air-yards: 3/4 (75.0 %).
15-20 air-yards: 0/2 (0.0 %).
Explosive: 1/5 (20.0 %).
Just one completion previous 15 yards. A lot worse downfield outcomes than many of the season, in addition to behind the road. Good marks 0-15 yards.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Exterior left numbers: 7/11 (63.6 %).
Left numbers-left hash: 5/7 (71.4 %).
Inside hashes: 4/4 (one hundred pc).
Proper hash-right numbers: 1/1 (one hundred pc).
Exterior proper numbers: 6/10 (60.0 %).
Least profitable outdoors the numbers, discouraging in Pickens return. From the numbers, it was nonetheless Wilson’s greatest space. Larger frequency in comparison with the season contained in the hashes, with an ideal fee, at seven air yards or much less.
Now for the heat-maps for charted-passes, then completions solely:
Yikes. This offers us a higher sense of the prior takeaways, stifled downfield with too few positives that wasn’t almost sufficient towards the very best workforce in soccer. Higher step it up in gameplan and execution for any optimism within the postseason.
Subsequent, right here’s Wilson and Fields’ 420 charted throws of the 2024 common season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 39.8 %. Beforehand 39.3 %. 2023 35.0 %.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 24.8 %. Beforehand 25.6 %. 2023 23.8 %.
#3. Behind-the-line: 16.2 %. Beforehand 16.0 %. 2023 18.5 %.
#4. Explosive: 14.5 %. Beforehand 14.5 %. 2023 12.4 %.
#5. 10-15 air yards: 9.5 %. Beforehand 9.3 %. 2023 13.0 %.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 7.1 %. Beforehand 7.2 %. 2023 10.8 %.
Similar ranks. 0-5 expectedly elevated essentially the most with every thing we’ve realized. Different up ticks had been behind the road, and 10-15, barely. The intermediate sport has been far underutilized all season, re-emphasizing what groups are determining and making it simpler to gameplan and execute on Pittsburgh’s offense, sadly. Explosives stood pat, and reduces had been 5-10 and 15-20.
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 41/48 (85.4 %).
0-5 air-yards: 81/102 (79.4 %).
5-10 air-yards: 44/62 (71.0 %).
10-15 air-yards: 16/24 (66.7 %).
15-20 air-yards: 12/21 (57.1 %).
Explosive: 21/39 (53.8 %).
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 15/20 (75.0 %).
0-5 air-yards: 57/65 (87.7 %).
5-10 air-yards: 30/42 (71.4 %).
10-15 air-yards: 8/16 (50.0 %).
15-20 air-yards: 5/9 (55.6 %).
Explosive: 6/21 (28.6 %).
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Exterior left numbers: 49/80 (61.3 %).
Left numbers-left hash: 52/60 (86.7 %).
Inside hashes: 15/21 (71.4 %).
Proper hash-right numbers: 45/51 (88.2 %).
Exterior proper numbers: 37/56 (66.1 %).
FIELDS:
Exterior left numbers: 35/53 (66.0 %).
Left numbers-left hash: 14/20 (70.0 %).
Inside hashes: 11/13 (84.6 %).
Proper hash-right numbers: 30/38 (78.9 %).
Exterior proper numbers: 22/34 (64.7 %).
To shut, listed here are the dots together with warmth maps for all charted makes an attempt and completions solely:
Thanks for studying and let me know your ideas within the feedback.
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