- The Steelers are averaging a league-low 8.0 offensive points scored per game
- On early downs in the first three quarters, Kenny Pickett has the NFL’s #1 highest pressure rate (48%) and has been hit the #1 most often.
- 60% of his early down passes in the first three quarters are outside the numbers.
The Steelers are averaging a league-low 19.6 yards per drive
The Steelers are averaging a league-low 8.0 offensive points scored per game
The Steelers are averaging 0.4 points per minute of possession, worst in the NFL.
That means for just one offensive touchdown, they need 18 and a half minutes of possession.
Only 52% of their first downs lead to another first down, worst in the NFL.
On early downs in the first half, if the Steelers are in shotgun, they are 92% pass (#2 highest rate).
If they are under center, they are 85% run (#4 highest rate).
So where are they struggling most with?
Well, on early downs in the first three quarters, although they are wisely dropping back to pass at the #4 highest rate in the NFL, Kenny Pickett has the NFL’s #1 highest pressure rate (48%) and has been hit the #1 most often.
For a second straight year in the Matt Canada offense, Pickett is being asked to throw outside the numbers a ton.
60% of his early down passes in the first three quarters are outside the numbers.
That’s 4th-highest in the NFL.
These passes are naturally more difficult to complete, even if they are shorter passes.
Some offenses have their QBs throw short, thinking it will keep the QB upright and complete a higher rate of passes. But most of the QBs that rank top-10 in rate of passes outside the numbers and bottom-10 in passing depth don’t have very high completion rates.
QBs in that category this year include Pickett, Gardner Minshew, Justin Fields, Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott.
this Matt Canada situation is way worse than I initially expected
so I forced myself to write about it
yes, they played tough defenses
but it's not the results that are most concerning
it's the process
and it's worse than I thought
READ: https://t.co/TnxUuA6WE3
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/gXZ6UOhIYJ
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 21, 2023
Meanwhile, some of the more QB-friendly offenses focus on their QBs throwing between the numbers more frequently.
These teams actually average above average target depth, but the total pass distance is actually shorter because the passes aren’t traveling as horizontal. And therefore, most of these QBs have much higher completion rates.
This includes Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa and even the young Sam Howell.
So on these early downs, even when Pickett is not being pressured, among all unpressured QB attempts this year, he ranks:
