1. (N)O-line

The more advanced statistics and sophisticated metrics reveal what anyone watching the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this season already knows: Their offensive line is struggling.

The Steelers emerged from Week 2 ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (57.0) and 29th in yards per carry (3.3). Subtracting a 25-yard end-around from Chase Claypool in Week 1, those numbers look even worse: 45.5 yards per game and 2.6 per carry. In regards to the pass blocking, despite having the NFL’s quickest snap-to-release time, Ben Roethlisberger has been hit 16 times by opposing pass-rushers.

ESPN calculates “win rates” on a play-by-play basis for pass- and run-blocking. It rates the Steelers with the NFL’s second-worst run-block win rate (63%) and sixth-worst pass-block win rate (45%).

Footballoutsiders.com has a formula to evaluate run blocking it calls “adjusted line yards.” The Steelers are third-from-last in it. Steelers running backs have been tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage on 25% of their rushing plays, the fifth-worst rate in the league.

A peek at the NFL’s official breakdown of rushes by direction makes the Steelers’ numbers appear even uglier. The Steelers are averaging 1.0 yards per carry over left end, minus-1.7 yards off left tackle, 1.8 yards over left guard, 2.7 yards up the middle and 1.8 yards off right tackle. Taking away Claypool’s run, the average over right end is 1.0 yards per carry.

Incidentally, the lone directional positive is the Steelers are averaging 6.7 yards on carries defined by the league as off right guard.

#Steelers analysis from @TimBenz | The offensive line simply can’t run block. It’s not particularly great at pass blocking either.

That’s a big problem. https://t.co/9aTvdPN4s2

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 23, 2021

2. Air-ed out

The Steelers, by total yardage allowed, have the NFL’s fifth-worst passing defense (313.5 yards per game). Their rankings in some other statistics aren’t quite as bad, though: 21st in opponent passer rating (99.2), 17th in yards per attempt (7.4) and 18th in yards per catch (11.2).

But the numbers suggest that where the Steelers are getting beat is not after the catch but before it. No team in the NFL has allowed more “air yards” than the Steelers (401). Air yards measures yardage gained at the moment of a reception and does not count yards gained after the catch.

Matt Canada gives winning grade to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger's Week 1 performancehttps://t.co/zCSESHomQw

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 17, 2021

3. Worst-and-10

The Steelers rank in the bottom third of the league in third-down conversion rate (37.5%). But, as is so often the case, their problems on that so-called “possession down” are borne out of their problems on the plays that lead up to it. For the Steelers, it begins on first down.

The Steelers are averaging 3.76 yards per play on first downs through two games this season — 2.94 on first-down runs and 4.32 per attempt on first-down passes. Of 42 first-down snaps (17 runs and 25 passes), they have moved the sticks for another first down six times.

HENRY RUGGS IS FAST. #RaiderNation

????: #LVvsPIT on CBS????: NFL app pic.twitter.com/hjVv6vvE2y

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021

4. Run, Ruggs, run

Minkah Fitzpatrick fell on the sword in taking the blame for the Las Vegas Raiders’ crushing 61-yard touchdown by Henry Ruggs in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss. But new acquisition Ahkello Witherspoon ran the first 40 or so yards with Ruggs on that play.

That Witherspoon didn’t appear as if he could keep up is no shame, though. Ruggs is one of the fastest players in the NFL, as evidenced by the 4.27 seconds he ran the 40-yard dash in at the 2020 combine. And on that particular scoring play at Heinz Field last week, Ruggs ran with the ball faster than he has at any other point during his pro career. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Ruggs hit 21.42 mph, the second-fastest of any ball carrier in the league during Week 2 and the third-fastest of any player so far this season.

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