The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their losing streak on Sunday, extending it to four games, but this time, it wasn’t the offense that was the problem, as they put up 30 points, in spite of the fact that they missed on four two-point conversion opportunities. So let’s take this opportunity to dig into this week’s offensive numbers.
- Personnel groupings:
- 11: 62/76 (81.6%)
- 12: 7/76 (9.2%)
- 13: 1/76 (1.32%)
- 20: 3/76 (3.95%)
- 21: 1/76 (1.32%)
- 22: 1/76 (1.32%)
- 23: 1/76 (1.32%)
- As you can see, the usage of 11 personnel this week was overwhelmingly prominent, in contrast with what we have seen throughout the season, during which the usage of three-receiver sets has been a bit more moderate. Over 80 percent of snaps featured three receivers.
- On the flip side, of course, we saw the tight end position take a dip here, as they were used in multiple sets just 10 times during the game. three-tight end sets made their appearance just twice, and one of those instances including a tackle-eligible.
- We saw a clear reversion back to Jesse James this week after his snap count had been taking a hit for the past two, but we will see that dip back downward with Ladarius Green finally on the field and ramping up his production week by week. James saw 53 snaps, or 70 percent of the total. Green logged 12 snaps, including the first three snaps of Pittsburgh’s final scoring drive. Xavier Grimble also only played 12 snaps.
- Though the Steelers made vast usage of three-receiver sets, they did so essentially with only three receivers. Sammie Coates, of course, played just two snaps, while Cobi Hamilton played 70 of 76 snaps.
- As far as the running back position goes, Le’Veon Bell literally played every snap of the game, including all two-point conversion attempts and penalty snaps. He did spend 17 snaps, or close to a quarter of the game, split out as a wide receiver.
- Time to place credit where it’s due for Jesse James. He was averaging barely seven yards per catch entering the game, but he picked up 59 yards on four catches Sunday. 33 of those yards came after contact, picking up at least five extra yards on three of his catches.
- In case you were wondering, the Steelers only lined up Ladarius Green as a wide receiver twice in his 12 snaps, and all of them were passing plays.
- The Steelers only used the no huddle for 12 snaps during the game, or under 16 percent of the time.
- Play-action was also sparsely used, just three times, producing two modest completions and a scramble on a busted play.
- The Steelers did a good job of beating the blitz, picking up a first down on five of eight blitzes they faced, though two of those first downs came via penalty. The three other plays yielded two completions and one incompletion, all on first down.
- Average depth of target: 9.09
- Antonio Brown – 9.16 (19 targets)
- Cobi Hamilton – 29.25 (4 targets)
- Eli Rogers – 8.83 (6 targets)
- Sammie Coates – 40 (1 target)
- Jesse James – 7.6 (5 targets)
- David Johnson – 2 (1 target)
- Xavier Grimble – .5 (2 targets)
- Ladarius Green – 11 (5 targets)
- Le’Veon Bell – .5 (10 targets
- Fitzgerald Toussaint – 4 (1 target)
