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The Pittsburgh Steelers are actually 10-7, on an unlucky four-game shedding streak to finish the 2024 common season in opposition to the 9-8 Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a catastrophe.
A few notes earlier than we bounce in. Due to Thomas Mock for his nice work, which helped me be taught a lot about what I’m utilizing within the visible collection. Spikes and clear throwaways are eliminated because of being the right situational determination and bats on the line of scrimmage. Two throwaways and bats have been eliminated.
QB Russell Wilson went 17/31 on the stat sheet (54.8 fee), the worst of 2024. 148 passing yards was removed from sufficient, with simply 31 within the first half—disgusting. No less than there was one passing landing inside that, and there have been no interceptions. 4.8 yards per try was a 2024 low for Wilson, and he was additionally sacked 4 occasions.
It wasn’t probably the most stress he’s confronted, however his pressure-to-sack fee was second-most this yr. Unable to capitalize on early alternatives, although they weren’t plentiful, with heavy dashing early on in one other sluggish begin, together with three-and-outs and Cincinnati dominating the time of possession battle.
Receivers additionally deserve their share of the blame for the abysmal offensive efficiency. That they had 4 drops, probably the most for Pittsburgh’s total 2024 season. The drops got here on the worst time, because the crew was making an attempt to proper its shedding streak heading into the postseason, however sadly, the ache continues.
Situationally, Pittsburgh went a poor 4-of-12 on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth down, together with an opportunity to win the sport late. As a substitute, an enormous third-down miscue and a fourth-down drop have been extra examples of the error of the month membership. One enchancment was crimson zone, going 2-for-2, however not sufficient journeys there, and couldn’t capitalize on the protection holding Cincinnati to 1-for-4.
Limiting the Bengals offense within the 19-17 loss ought to have been sufficient for victory. However as a substitute, Pittsburgh’s offense failed to indicate up, scoring 17 factors or fewer in all 4 losses to finish the season. Gotta rating extra factors for any hope this postseason.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 27 charted passes, with the variety of throws at every cross distance for Week 18:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 48.1-percent. 13 passes. The primary got here after a pleasant defensive interception from CB Beanie Bishop Jr., and the offense beginning their fourth drive with a bat within the air for a close to choose of their very own. Whew.
The next play was a wide-open out path to TE Pat Freiermuth at 4 air yards, offering YAC for an 11-yard achieve and first down. As of late, profitable performs have been adopted up with detrimental ones too typically, this time a throwaway.
The subsequent play was one other out path to Freiermuth, including extra YAC, this time for 9 yards that was wanting the chains upon assessment. The Steelers proceeded to fail on a third and 1 sneak that ought to have simply transformed (no achieve) and a RB Jaylen Warren 4th and 1 failed run. Each have been overturned conversions, so three straight performs teasingly couldn’t lengthen the drive and gave Cincinnati one other probability and FG earlier than halftime.
Down 13-7, Pittsburgh acquired another probability earlier than heading to the locker room, nevertheless it was a sack on Wilson (G Isaac Seumalo) with simply 16 seconds on the clock.
Pittsburgh acquired the ball first to start out the third quarter. After a irritating toss to RB Najee Harris that misplaced 4 yards (actually, that’s your greatest opening play?), it’s 2nd and 14. Wilson dumps it to Harris at three air yards, with a little bit of churn on a six-yard achieve. The drive went three-and-out, which the Steelers did on their first possessions of every half. Gross.
Then, within the fourth quarter, when 66.7 p.c of Wilson’s complete charted passes got here, sheesh. Down 19-7, the Steelers started with two out routes to WR Van Jefferson that every picked up 5 yards. The second was a harmful throw that the DB was throughout, pointing to the predictability of the play-calling and routes.
The subsequent play, you guessed it, was one other out to Freiermuth however off-target forward of him and incomplete. Sure, take what the protection provides you, however that wasn’t the case as they have been sniffing these out. The next play was again to Jefferson for an additional 5 air-yarder, this time on a cease route, getting a little bit of YAC to realize eight.
third and a couple of now, and Wilson checks right down to Harris over the center at three air yards, rallied however capable of choose up 4 on the conversion. Then the variability continued at different cross distances, including this much-needed scoring drive, slicing the deficit to 19-14.
The Steelers’ protection fortunately held, getting the offense the ball with 5:54 left. The drive, sadly, began with a bat, although. Then 2nd and 10, one other out to Freiermuth from the slot that picked up 9 yards in opposition to conservative protection. With the sport on the road, this drive additionally went three-and-out, come on, man. However Connor Heyward stepped up large on particular groups, recovering the muff off a Cincinnati participant’s foot simply in bounds, heady play.
With yet one more probability for the offense to do one thing, they begin with a cease path to WR George Pickens, going proper by his arms. It was an uncharacteristically horrid sport with seven targets, one catch, zero yards, and a number of drops, together with this premature one. Inexplicable.
The next play was one other out route, with Freiermuth capable of choose up ten and get out of bounds. Then, scream on the T.V. moments ensued. A shotgun toss to RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who has lacked success a lot of the yr, acquired one yard. Then, T Dan Moore was crushed across the edge, permitting the sack of Wilson.
Behind the chains now, dealing with a third and 25, with 3:19 left and down 5 factors. The choice is throwing a fast slant (that route is authorized?) to choose up seven yards, getting Chris Boswell a better try. The cash kicker is clutch once more, connecting on the 54-yarder to chop the deficit to 19-17 with 2:44 on the clock.
Pittsburgh’s protection held once more, doing their half admirably with a three-and-out cease. However a catastrophe drive ensued. A 2nd and 12 was the one play at this cross distance, throwing to Freiermuth within the flat for simply three yards and unable to get out of bounds at 1:30. The rails ended up falling off, together with face-palming Wilson performs.
Unnecessarily scrambling for 3 yards, then sacked (Moore), and miscue deep ball to Pickens. Then, a deflating drop ended the sport. Infuriating. I’ll reference this because the “flounder drive” in additional element later that capped off such a disappointing finish to Pittsburgh’s common season.
#2. 5-10 air-yards: 25.9-percent. 7 examples, simply two but to be talked about, although. First was a third and three fail within the second quarter, a fast cease path to Jefferson in opposition to tight protection incomplete on this three-and-out drive. Ugh.
Then, the ultimate play on the “flounder drive.” 4th and 12, with 15 seconds left and the whole lot on the road, a pleasant throw on an in-breaker is dropped by Freiermuth at ten air yards. Wilson gave him an opportunity and, although the goal was wanting the sticks, appreciated his possibilities to choose up the primary down if caught. Pittsburgh was out of timeouts and, if ready, might doubtless have spiked the ball with an opportunity for the Hail Mary.
It was a particularly irritating ending, however the Steelers offense had loads of alternatives earlier within the sport to keep away from that scenario.
#3. 10-15 air-yards: 18.5-percent. 5 right here. Pittsburgh confronted third and eight early third quarter, with Wilson and WR Calvin Austin on completely different pages on the intermediate out. The cross was barely outdoors, because the route was seemingly rounded greater than anticipated at 11 air yards, leading to yet one more three-and-out.
At 8:45 within the fourth quarter, Wilson makes a superb throw to Pickens on the intermediate slant, however the DB works by his arms late to pressure the incompletion. We’ve seen Pickens come away with far tougher catches, additional context to his abysmal sport. Wilson adopted that up with a 12-yard scramble after a bobbled snap, a superb restoration however painfully the longest run of the sport.
That, happily, arrange the wide-open crimson zone intermediate out path to Freiermuth, waltzing in on the good idea the place Jefferson occupied two defenders on his vertical route. This was the lone passing TD, reducing the deficit to 19-14 on a uncommon high quality drive with eight minutes left.
On the “flounder drive,” one play stood out positively. With 1:09 left within the sport, this third and 9 was an intermediate crosser to Freiermuth, a pleasant tight window throw and catch at 13 air yards for the large conversion. This instilled hope, however that was short-lived after the excruciating pointless scramble, sack, Pickens miscue, and drop from Muth that was additionally at this distance.
#4. Behind-the-Line: 14.8-percent. 4 performs. The primary cross for Pittsburgh was a display screen to Pickens, who was unable to seek out room with poor outdoors blocking (WR Ben Skowronek) for no achieve on his lone catch. Bear in mind, he was focused seven occasions, yikes. Wilson rolled left the subsequent third and seven however merely held it too lengthy, leading to a sack.
This opening drive went three-and-out, because the Steelers offense was unable to attain a TD on any first drive in any 2024 sport. Barf.
On drive two, the 2nd and 11 name was an RB display screen to Harris, however stress from an unblocked NFL sack chief in Trey Hendrickson affected Wilson on the low throw, which fell incomplete. Sadly, this was not the one time defenders got here unblocked to make performs.
Within the fourth quarter, Harris did an important job on a swing cross with a compelled missed deal with and YAC for 12 yards however did get walloped on the finish on an uncalled helmet-to-helmet hit. This chunk play aided the lone passing TD drive as properly.
The final was frustratingly on the primary play of the ultimate “flounder drive”. Moore derailed late sport, permitting fixed stress, together with this dump to Harris that was tackled immediately as if Cincinnati’s protection was within the huddle.
#5. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 11.1-percent. Solely three, confusingly given the sport circumstances. Sure, take what the protection provides you, however man, it’s a must to be extra aggressive in opposition to the perfect offenses/groups to win. Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s protection confirmed up, or it simply might have been a blowout.
First was the lone explosive play for Pittsburgh all sport. This got here on the ultimate play of the primary quarter, an superior third and 11 moon ball from Wilson to WR Mike Williams, making the incredible toe-tap catch simply in bounds. This was large in organising Pittsburgh’s solely different scoring drive, capped off by a one-yard Harris TD.
The others have been miscues to Pickens, every on third-and-long. The primary one ended the second straight second-half drive that failed, a third-and-8 shot at 25 air yards that was one other one a DB contested and knocked away late.
Then, the late miscue on the “flounder drive” I’ve been referencing. After Wilson is sacked, Pittsburgh faces third and 12 with 20 seconds left, down by two factors. Wilson and Pickens will not be on the identical web page, with the latter operating and out and up that was a superb name that acquired open, however the throw is method outdoors of the route. Regardless of the place the blame falls, that’s an unpleasant trying incompletion with the sport on the road.
#6. 15-20 air-yards: 7.4-percent. Only one right here. With 5:31 within the fourth quarter, Wilson rolls left on the scramble drill (Moore stress), with this third and 1 cross crusing over Pickens’ head, incomplete. This left the rating at 19-14, and whereas many thought the choice to punt was the improper selection, had way more confidence within the protection than how little the offense was capable of do on this sport, sadly.
Listed below are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
One other week dominated by 5 air yards or much less. Largely targets to the fitting and between the numbers. It was a bit extra intermediate than the final sport, and all three explosives have been to the fitting sideline.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 3/4 (75.0-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 11/13 (84.6-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 4/7 (57.1-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 2/5 (40.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 0/2 (0-percent).
Explosive: 1/3 (33.3-percent).
These numbers actually level to the dearth of connection previous 5 yards, missing high quality and amount (3-of-10). If that’s going to work, it higher be a stellar yack sport, and it was to not put it properly.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 1/2 (50.0-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 2/4 (50.0-percent).
Inside hashes: 1/1 (100-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 5/7 (71.4-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 8/13 (61.5-percent).
Favored the fitting aspect closely, with between the hash and numbers being the higher fee. There have been a number of misses outdoors the numbers, however they did embody the lone landing. There’s a lack of throws and connection to the left and only one throw between the hashes on a dump-off.
Now for the warmth maps for charted passes, then completions solely:
Neither chart is inspiring, however the completions-only view actually highlights how restricted Pittsburgh’s success was within the passing sport. Principally out and cease routes, not a profitable system, and this ugliness can not occur once more if you happen to anticipate to win within the playoffs.
Subsequent, right here’s Wilson and Fields’ 447 charted throws of the 2024 common season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 40.3-percent. Beforehand 39.8-percent. 2023 35.0-percent.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 24.8-percent. Beforehand 24.8-percent. 2023 23.8-percent.
#3. Behind-the-line: 16.1-percent. Beforehand 16.2-percent. 2023 18.5-percent.
#4. Explosive: 14.3-percent. Beforehand 14.5-percent. 2023 12.4-percent.
#5. 10-15 air yards: 10.1-percent. Beforehand 9.5-percent. 2023 13.0-percent.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 7.2-percent. Beforehand 7.1-percent. 2023 10.8-percent.
Move distance rankings remained the identical to shut the 2024 season. The largest enhance was 10-15 air yards (0.6-percent). 0-5 and 15-20 additionally up ticked, whereas 5-10 stood pat. Slight decreases in behind-the-line and explosives, the latter most discouragingly.
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 44/52 (84.6-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 92/115 (80.0-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 48/69 (69.6-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 18/29 (62.1-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 12/23 (52.2-percent).
Explosive: 22/42 (52.4-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 (50.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 5/9 (55.6-percent).
Explosive: 6/21 (28.6-percent).
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 50/81 (61.7-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 54/64 (84.4-percent).
Inside hashes: 16/22 (72.7-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 50/58 (86.2-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 45/69 (65.2-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: 30/38 (78.9-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 22/34 (64.7-percent).
To shut, listed below 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.
Author : usa-foot
Publish date : 2025-01-08 10:56:59
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