2 stats to know for each Steelers position group at the bye
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The two most important numbers for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they enjoy their idle weekend are 3 and 2. As in, three wins and two losses. That has them in first place in the AFC North.
But there are plenty of other numbers that illustrate where the Steelers are and how they have fared through five games. Be it a traditional metric or an advanced analytic, here are two statistics to know for each Steelers position group:
Quarterbacks
• 31st: Kenny Pickett’s ranking among NFL starting quarterbacks in each of three attempts at a comprehensive evaluation of QBs: Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, ESPN’s QBR and Sports Info Solutions (SIS) “Total Points Earned.”
• 58.7%: Pickett’s “expected completion percentage,” an NFL Next Gen Stats metric that factors in receivers getting open, defenders covering them, pass rushers converging on the QB, location of target, etc. It’s the lowest in the NFL, meaning Pickett (per this stat) is the most burdened by external factors when making his throws.
Running backs
• 0.03: Najee Harris’ “rush yards over expected per attempt,” as calculated by Next Gen Stats. It signals Harris is producing almost exactly what he should given the holes he has been given.
• 15%, 14%: The “broken tackle rate,” respectively, for Jaylen Warren and Harris, per SIS, the fourth- and fifth-best rates of using physicality to avoid a tackle per carry in the NFL for running backs.
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Wide receivers
• 37-33: The number of targeted throws to George Pickens (37) vs. the number of targets to every other WR on the roster (33) over the past four games when Diontae Johnson was out with a hamstring injury.
• 59th and 54th: The respective ranking, among the 63 NFL wide receivers with the most targets, in PFF grades for the Steelers WR2 (Allen Robinson II) and WR3 (Calvin Austin III) when Johnson is absent.
Tight ends
• 14 for 105: The catches and yards, through five games for all four members Steelers tight ends. By comparison, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce — by himself — had 109 receiving yards in the first half during Thursday night’s game.
• 0: The number of “pressures” (sacks, hurries or QB hits) allowed by any Steelers tight end among 23 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. It should be noted, though, that PFF grades for run-blocking are not so rosy for the Steelers tight ends.
Offensive line
• 75th: Among 75 offensive tackles who have played at least 82 snaps, Steelers starting left tackle Dan Moore grades last by PFF. Moore is also 75th (last) in pass-blocking grade. But at least he’s 72nd in run blocking.
• 0: The number of sacks or pressures starting left guard Isaac Seumalo has allowed over the past three games, per PFF.
Defensive line
• 0: The number of Steelers defensive linemen who rank in the top 10 among DLs in the NFL in either PFF grading for pass rushing or in ESPN’s “pass rush win rate” for defensive linemen.
• 3+3: Number of sacks plus other times the opposing QB has been hit by a Steelers defensive lineman.
Outside linebackers
• 11: The number of pressures of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson generated by Alex Highsmith during last week’s win (per Next Gen Stats), the most in a game by any player this season.
• 6: Number of sacks during home games for T.J. Watt, a figure that would tie for the NFL lead for the season among all players for all games.
Inside linebackers
• 19: The combined total of sacks, forced fumbles, tackles for loss and QB hits by the Steelers’ inside linebackers. In 17 games last season, the Steelers ILBs combined for just 15 such plays.
• 0: Touchdowns Steelers inside linebackers have allowed in coverage, per PFF. Last season, PFF deemed that Steelers ILBs gave up eight touchdowns while in coverage.
Cornerbacks
• 0.0: The passer rating for opposing quarterbacks when targeting a receiver whom rookie Joey Porter Jr. has in coverage, per PFF. Porter (76 coverage snaps) is the only NFL cornerback who has played more than 11 coverage snaps to have a 0.0 passer rating against.
• 4.8: Coverage snaps per targeted throw to his man (per PFF) by the Steelers’ Levi Wallace, tied for the fourth-worst rate of any of the 69 cornerbacks who have played the most coverage snaps.
Safeties
• 101: Number of snaps (per PFF) in which All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has played in the slot, most of any Steelers player. Coincidentally, since the season Fitzpatrick joined the Steelers (2019), he has averaged exactly 101 snaps played in slot per full season.
• 20.7%: The PFF-determined “missed tackle percentage” for the Steelers’ Keanu Neal, the 11th-worst rate for any of the 95 NFL safeties who have played the most snaps.