Four Downs: Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt worthy defensive player of year candidates

1. DPOY joy

The NFL’s official analytics arm, Next Gen Stats, listed its seven top contenders for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Two — T.J. Watt and Minkah Pitzpatrick — are Pittsburgh Steelers.

Among the statistics cited in making a case for Watt were two based on quickness: an average edge pass rush get-off of 0.76 seconds (the fastest among defenders with 200-plus edge pass-rushing snaps) and a 3.94 seconds average time to sack (one of only two players to be sub-4.0 for the past two seasons).

In making Fitzpatrick’s candidacy, Next Gen noted the Steelers’ NFL-best 33.2 opponent passer rating on deep targets (as the deep safety on most passing downs, Fitzpatrick deserves the most credit). Fitzpatrick also has the NFL’s second-best passes-defended rate (45%).

.@KGorman_Trib : What a steal Minkah Fitzpatrick has been for the #Steelers https://t.co/GAomL6EQ7D

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) November 11, 2019

2. Minkah means no man

In a twist to what NFL.com did in looking at defensive player of the year candidates, ESPN included Watt and Fitzpatrick on a short list (five players) it considers to be 2019’s non-QB MVPs. Watt was at No. 1 for this contrived honor. Fitzpatrick was fifth.

The explanation for Fitzpatrick included how the Steelers defense went from looking like one of the league’s worst in their first two games into one of the best since Fitzpatrick was acquired Sept. 17.

Fitzpatrick has been good. ESPN calculates the Steelers’ expected points added per play with Fitzpatrick on the field vs. without him this season is an off-the-charts plus-0.27. But his addition wasn’t the only change to the Steelers defense after Week 2. According to pass coverage metrics from Next Gen Stats via ESPN, the Steelers were in man-to-man defense a league-high 72% of plays in Weeks 1-2 but since has been in zone an above-average 56% of the time.

Stat of the day:

When the Steelers are in zone coverage this year (Cover-2, 3, 4, 6, or combo), Minkah Fitzpatrick has more interceptions (4) than catches allowed (3).

His return yardage (116) also DOUBLES his yards allowed (56).

Oh, and he's also never been targeted in man...

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) December 3, 2019

3. Bounce back

Since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, only two teams had more wins after 13 games following an 0-3 start than the Steelers (at 8-5) do this season: the 1970 New York Giants and last season’s Houston Texans were 9-4. Similarly, just three times have teams that started 1-4 been in better shape after 13 games than the Steelers: the 1993 Houston Oilers, 1975 Baltimore Colts and 1976 Steelers were 9-4.

Of the 222 teams that started 0-3 over the past 50 seasons, the Steelers are the seventh to reach eight victories through 13 games. The Steelers were one of 227 teams to start 1-4 and one of just 12 to rebound to 8-5.

A guy just ran onto the field during Renegade at Heinz Field. pic.twitter.com/77bCfZq23v

— upgrūv (@upgruv) December 18, 2017

4. Happy at home

Another home season concluding Sunday at Heinz Field makes for an appropriate time to appreciate one of the more remarkable superlatives the Steelers have achieved over the past half-century.

In a combined 50 seasons at Three Rivers Stadium (31) and Heinz Field (19), the Steelers have had just one losing season at home (1999). Over those 50 seasons — a time frame that coincides neatly with the NFL/AFL merger — the Steelers have had 43 winning home seasons, six seasons in which they went 4-4 at home and a 2-6 home campaign in ‘99.

At Heinz Field, the Steelers have had a winning home record in 18 of 19 seasons. The only time they didn’t was 2003, when they went 4-4.

The Steelers are 5-2 at home this season heading into their home finale against the Buffalo Bills.

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