It has been a while since I checked up on the adjusted net yards per passing attempt differential stat so I decided to research it and post the results. adjusted net yards per passing attempt differential is the difference of the adjusted yards per passing attempt on offense versus that allowed on defense. To get a true adjusted yards per passing attempt stat, we use the formula explained in a book called The Hidden Game of Football. That formula, as explained on Pro Football Reference, is: (pass yards + 20*(pass TD) - 45*(interceptions thrown) - sack yards)/(passing attempts + sacks). We do this Read more [...]

Below is the defensive participation chart for the Steelers week 12 Sunday night game versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Rookie Cameron Heyward went from getting no snaps against the Bengals last game to getting 17 against the Chiefs. Heyward played on both the left and right side this game and only in base formations. Rookie Cortez Allen saw just 3 snaps and 1 of those was when the Steelers had 12 men on defense. In reality the Steelers played dime just 2 times if you do not count that play. Steve McLendon saw 12 snaps and 2 of those were even at left defensive end in base formations. Troy Polamalu Read more [...]

Former Steelers linebacker Thaddeus Gibson was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad today according to the Bears official website. The Steelers 2010 4th round draft pick has bounced around quite a bit and the Bears make the 5th team that Gibson has spent time with since being drafted. Gibson was released from the Houston Texans practice squad just before Thanksgiving and has had cups of coffee with the 49ers and the Redskins since being released by the Steelers late last October. While much of the fanbase has had hopes that the Steelers would bring back Gibson, ever since they put in a Read more [...]

The Steelers were back on the practice field Wednesday to begin getting ready to take on the Cincinnati Bengals for the second time this season Sunday after at Heinz Field. The first injury report of the week as been released today and it shows that both safety Troy Polamalu (head) and center Maurkice Pouncey (illness) both sat out out practice on Wednesday. Polamalu left the Sunday night game against the Chiefs early with a concussion and Pouncey exited early as well with a stomach virus. Polamalu did not talk to reporters today and Mike Tomlin said yesterday he was hopeful to have him available Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 50 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I have yet another interview with Joe Reedy, beat writer covering the Bengals for the Cincinnati Enquirer in the second half of the show. We open this episode with a review of the Steelers preliminary injury report from Tuesday and a recap of the Mike Tomlin Tuesday press conference. Tomlin opened with comments about the contributions of some of the young guys and we share our thoughts on that as well. We then finish up our commentary on the Steelers 13-9 win over the Chiefs and take another look at the return game and the use Read more [...]

Mike Bires is reporting via Twitter that wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who replaced Antonio Brown as the Steelers kickoff return man against the Chiefs Sunday night, told reporters today that he'll do it again Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanders returned 4 kickoffs against the Chiefs for 77 yards Sunday night and Brown only had one fair catch on 3 punt return opportunities. It seems that head coach Mike Tomlin will let Sanders have the kickoff return duties for the time being and pretty much said as such on Tuesday during his press conference. As far as the recovery of the Read more [...]

The news surfaced last night that Steelers quarterback coach Randy Fichtner could have interest in the Memphis Tigers vacant head coaching job and now it is being reported that Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson will interview for the vacant Illinois Illini head coaching job. Wilson is rumored to be a wildcard in the coaching search, bit he did play for the Illini from 1980-81, so the ties are there. He has no head coaching experience, but has coached at the college level with the most notable program being USC as an assistant in 2001. Wilson was hired in 2007 as the Steelers running Read more [...]

The Steelers announced a practice squad move this morning as linebacker Mortty Ivy was signed back to the practice squad today and wide reciver Jamar Newsome was released to make room for him. Ivy was previously released Ivy off the 53 man roster in early November when the Steelers claimed defensive end Al Woods off waivers from the Seahawks. Ivy spent all of training camp with the Steelers and had been promoted from the practice squad due to an injury to James Farrior that had him sidelined. Newsome was signed to the practice squad back on November 2nd when the Steelers needed an extra receiver Read more [...]

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley took advantage of the Steelers bye week by visiting his old school in Michigan, and celebrating Thanksgiving by donating household goods to 500 families in need back. The cameras were there to capture that as well as him and his family reminiscing about his upbringing and that episode will be up Thursday on NFL.com. Woodley and Trib Live Radio host Michael Grau also broadcasted live last night at Monte Cello's and below is video of some of the interview as they talk about sacks and fines. The game release for the Steelers Sunday game against the Bengals is up now Read more [...]

Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis Commercial Appeal is reporting tonight that Steelers quarterback coach Randy Fichtner might be interested in the vacant Memphis Tigers head coaching job. Stukenborg reports that this is according to several former associates and colleagues. Fichtner has been on the Steelers coaching staff for the the past five seasons and has been the quarterback coach since 2010 as he was promoted from the wide receivers coach position when Ken Anderson retired. He has ties to Memphis after coaching there as a graduate assistant from 1990–1993 and was the Tigers offensive coordinator Read more [...]

Below are the offensive personnel packages, play counts and participation chart for the Steelers week 12 Sunday night win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Hines Ward saw 15 non-penalty play snaps versus Chiefs with 10 coming in the first 20 and 5 coming in first 8. Maurkice Pouncey saw just 18 non-penalty snaps before leaving with his stomach virus. Chris Kemoeatu then entered the game at left guard and played the rest of the way as Doug Legursky slid over to center. Emmanuel Sanders saw 28 snaps in his return from injury mostly at the expense of Jerricho Cotchery. Trai Essex saw 1 snap used Read more [...]

Week 12 is now in the books and I have compiled the TOX numbers for the week and we had the stat take a hit as teams with a plus 2 TOX went 7-4 overall for a low 64% win rate. The Dolphins, Jaguars, Eagles and Rams all bucked the stat this week. Year to date in head to head games the plus 2 teams are 92-25 and dips the winning percentage down to 79%, just 1% less than the expected 80% number. Teams with a mere positive TOX stat went 9-5 this week. Teams with a positive turnover differential went 8-5 overall and teams with a positive explosive play differential went 10-5 this week. The Read more [...]

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held his normal Tuesday press conference today to talk about the upcoming game this Sunday at Heinz Field against the Cincinnati Bengals and also to talk about the Sunday night 13-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Tomlin also gave an injury update on safety Troy Polamalu, center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker Chris Carter and linebacker LaMarr Woodley. As far as injuries go, Tomlin said Woodley has been in the building today and worked out. He appears to be moving towards game readiness and they will watch him throughout the week. Tomlin says they like where he Read more [...]

Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel has been named the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year and he will be one of 32 NFL teams’ Man of the Year winners who qualifies for the league’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well his playing excellence. The overall winner will be announced during the week of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Keisel donates his time to a number of charities in the Pittsburgh area and last season he shaved his famous beard as a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s Cancer Read more [...]

Below are the Steelers coverage stats for the week 12 Sunday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs. These stats are broken down by play and include down and distance, line of scrimmage, direction, yards gained, yards after catch, personnel the offense used, defensive package, number of pass rushers and whether or not the defense blitzed on the play. The Steelers defense allowed a 64% completion rate on the night, but 8 of those 18 completions of Tyler Palko were of the screen variety that were caught at or behind the line of scrimmage. This is why there are so many N/A listed in coverage Read more [...]