The Pittsburgh Steelers made an enormous commerce this offseason, shifting WR Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers whereas getting CB Donte Jackson and the higher finish of a late spherical choose swap in return. So, I wished to have a look at and supply information of his 2023 season, beginning with protection, and together with Pittsburgh cornerbacks for comparative context utilizing information from Sports activities Information Options (SIS).
Let’s dive in. Right here’s 2023 protection snaps and targets for amount context:
Three cornerbacks in our sights landed above the imply in each. Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. led this group with 501 protection snaps (forty first), and the trendline highlights him being focused lower than anticipated provided that quantity (52 targets, forty fourth). Rounding out this group are free agent Levi Wallace and the freshly traded-for Jackson. That they had very related protection snaps in 2023 (Wallace 456, Jackson 451), with the latter being focused much less (Wallace 70, Jackson 60).
2023 Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson, launched by the group forward of the brand new league yr, led the centered gamers with 642 protection snaps. That ranked fifth out of 123 qualifying cornerbacks (min. of 20 targets). He was additionally barely beneath the league common in targets (47), properly beneath expectation given his quantity. Chandon Sullivan, additionally a free agent at present, was utilized the least of highlighted CBs (233 protection snaps) and was focused 21 occasions.
Plenty of turnover on the place, and vital amount context as we be taught extra.
Listed below are snap alignments for the gamers in our sights, from Professional Soccer Focus (PFF):
Right here we see Jackson main the group in vast alignment in 2023, offered the second-most field snaps, however the least within the slot. Particular context of what he was and will find yourself being on this regard for the black and gold in 2024, an out of doors CB2 subsequent to Porter.
Different vital context is man versus zone, and listed below are these charges:
Jackson’s numbers leap out straight away, taking part in simply 13.5 % in man final season. Every Pittsburgh cornerback greater than doubled that quantity, and Porter’s 31.6 engulfing it. For what it’s price, Jackson had an 81.4 man protection grade on these alternatives in 2023.
On the flipside, Jackson had the best 68.6 zone price, grading at 64.3 in 2023. Trying again to 2022, he had a better 20.3 man price, however graded a lot worse (34.6). His 2023 man grade was the most effective of his profession (restricted alternative), and hopefully performs properly in it contemplating that utilization will possible go up with Pittsburgh.
Now let’s start to look at the standard of play with completion proportion and deserved catch price, which is the variety of completions and drops divided by the variety of catchable targets and passes defensed:
Sadly, Jackson was the one participant in our sights beneath the imply in each charges. He allowed a 58.3 completion proportion (T-81st) and an 84.1 deserved catch price that ranked a poor 103rd. A giant issue was the excessive zone utilization, however not what you need to see regardless.
Comparatively, the 4 Steelers CBs had been all above-average in deserved catch price, and Sullivan was the one participant with a worse 61.9 completion price allowed (99th). Regarding information on Jackson that may hopefully look higher in 2024 with Pittsburgh.
Subsequent, let’s have a look at the yardage of the targets with yards per try and yards per sport:
Under common outcomes in 2023 for Jackson, with 8.2 yards per try (T-Eighty fifth), and 30.6 yards per sport (81st). The one different highlighted participant with a decrease quantity was Wallace, permitting 34.7 yards per sport (91st). The remaining had been above the imply in every, with Porter the one one of many group below contract for 2024. One other space of hopeful enchancment for Jackson.
One other stat that’s used usually to judge defenders in protection is QBR Towards (components in completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions), so let’s see how they fare together with Wins Above Substitute (WAR) which is a factors above substitute scale conversion that’s primarily based on the scoring atmosphere:
WAR was a bit extra favorable for Jackson, touchdown close to league common. His 101.4 QBR in opposition to was one other beneath common issue of his 2023 marketing campaign, rating 96th amongst his friends. As soon as once more, Wallace was the one participant with a decrease mark (104.2, 102nd), with Sullivan and Wallace beneath Jackson when it comes to WAR.
Extra particularly, Jackson allowed three touchdowns (T-Seventieth) and no interceptions, although he did have seven passes defensed (T-Thirty ninth). The one centered participant to permit extra touchdowns was Wallace, a whopping seven of them (T-fourth most). All 4 of the 2023 Steelers had at the very least one interception, and hopefully that turns into a actuality for Jackson in 2024.
To shut, let’s have a look at SIS’s Growth and Bust percentages to see the charges of huge performs allowed or made in protection.
Growth % = The share of dropbacks that resulted in an EPA of 1 or extra (a really profitable play for the offense)
Bust % = The share of dropbacks that resulted in an EPA of -1 of much less (a really unsuccessful play for the offense)
Above common numbers for Jackson in each, with a 23.3 increase price (forty eighth) and 20.0 bust proportion (T-Forty third). These had been his solely top-50 marks outdoors of goal price. Contemplating Jackson’s three touchdowns allowed and no interceptions in 2023, these charges are encouraging and level to different affect performs together with (however not restricted to) his seven passes defensed.
So, right here’s a wrap up desk of the info and conclusion:
This view is one other manner of illustrating Jackson’s protection in 2023 leaving extra to be desired general. His highest rank was targets, tying for twenty ninth most within the NFL in 2023. He was top-50 in bust price (T-Forty third), forty eighth in increase proportion, and fiftieth in protection snaps. WAR was round league common (T-59th). Comparatively, Porter impressively ranked within the top-50 throughout the board as a rookie, giving added context to Jackson’s 2023 season.
The rest of the info are hopeful areas for Jackson to enhance: completion price allowed (T-81st), yards per sport (81st), yards per try (T-Eighty fifth), QBR (96th), and significantly deserved catch price (103rd). A few of that has to do along with his excessive zone utilization with Carolina final season, however many decrease marks than I anticipated going into the research, and when contemplating the commerce return sending away WR Diontae Johnson.
An encouraging issue is a number of stronger marks for Jackson than Wallace, whose position he’ll possible change. The Pittsburgh Steelers are little doubt going to proceed including to the empty room, and hopefully Jackson (and others) have an incredible 2024 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One factor’s for positive, I can’t wait to see the way it pans out. Keep tuned for extra research on Jackson quickly.
