1. Shot and chaser
There was chatter over the offseason after the promotion of Matt Canada to offensive coordinator that the Pittsburgh Steelers would go under center more often. That hasn’t played out. Ben Roethlisberger is in the shotgun as much as ever.
According to data from footballoutsiders.com, the Steelers’ usage of the shotgun in 2021 is virtually identical to 2020. It actually is up a hair from 82.8% to 83%. Like last season, the Steelers deploy shotgun at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
However, the shotgun is benefiting the Steelers, at least if average yards per play relative to the rest of the NFL is any indication. While the league at large tends to have a better average yards per play with the shotgun than without (more passing plays), the Steelers’ gain of an average of 1.6 yards per play when in the shotgun vs. without is the ninth-best in the league. Last season, the Steelers in the shotgun averaged 2.2 yards better per play than when under center, third-best differential in the league.
The shotgun appears here to stay for the 2021 Steelers.
5 things we learned: Short-yardage failures on display for Steelers in loss to Washington https://t.co/NSYdwyv8rX
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) December 9, 2020
2. Better at short
The Steelers have been much better this season in short yardage on so-called “possession downs.” According to the NFL’s official statistics, the Steelers have converted all four of their third-and-1 opportunities and eight of their 10 third-and-2 tries this season.
Last season, adding in fourth downs, the Steelers made the line to gain on just 51% of occasions in which they needed 2 or fewer yards (35 of 68). In 2019, the Steelers were even worse: 47% conversion rate on third- or fourth-and 1 or 2 to go (18 for 38).
This season, counting a failed fourth-and-2 pass, the 80% conversion rate on third- or fourth-and short is a marked improvement over the combined 50% the Steelers compiled the past two seasons.
#Steelers Four Downs via @C_AdamskiTrib: Ben Roethlisberger and the deep pass https://t.co/JyiCY1ycZZ
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) November 29, 2020
3. No deep
For the second consecutive season, Roethlisberger is among the worst in the NFL at completing deep passes.
As defined as balls thrown more than 20 yards downfield and as compiled by Pro Football Focus, Roethlisberger has completed only 29.8% of such throws over the past two seasons (31 for 104). That’s the worst rate of any NFL quarterback who qualified each of the past two seasons.
Only three of 26 qualifying passers have a worse completion percentage on deep passes than Roethlisberger (28.6%) this season. Roethlisberger completed 30.3% of deep passes last season, the third-worst completion percentage of 20 qualifying passers.
The second NFL game over the past 93 years to feature three brothers ended in a 28-21 victory for the #Steelers of T.J. and Derek Watt. J.J.’s Texans fell to 0-3. https://t.co/SXucebeeuG
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 28, 2020
4. Say Watt?
With news coming this week that J.J. Watt could be facing season-ending surgery, a comparison between him and his little brother T.J. can be revisited.
T.J. Watt, the Steelers’ star outside linebacker, has 56.5 career sacks. That’s fourth-most in NFL history through 67 games. But it’s not even the most in his own family. J.J. had 60 in his first 67 games; only Reggie White had more with 70.
T.J. Watt also ranks second in NFL history (since stats were recorded in such categories) in QB hits (127) and seventh in tackles for loss (67). He ranks well behind his big brother in each stat: J.J. had 170 QB hits and 112 TFLs through 67 games.
The one defensive stat little brother wins out on through 67 career games is forced fumbles. T.J. Watt has 20, far out-pacing J.J.’s 12. Only Dwight Freeney (23) had more in his first 67 games, and only James Harrison (32) has more forced fumbles in Steelers history. Harrison played 177 games in amassing his total, though.
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