As we do each week to get you prepared for the upcoming recreation, our X-factor of the week. Typically, it’s a participant, unit, idea, or scheme. Right here’s our X-factor for Sunday’s recreation towards the Indianapolis Colts.
Steelers Vs. Colts X-Issue: FS Minkah Fitzpatrick
It’s been 2.5 years since Minkah Fitzpatrick’s final interception, a dry spell he’s hoping to place the breaks on. In equity, he was damage all through final season, and whereas he’s wholesome this 12 months, he has hardly been examined. Again enjoying his traditional free security spot, no quarterback has but to check him. Pittsburgh’s barely been thrown at downfield, and once they have, it’s been exterior the numbers.
The 2 passing scores they’ve allowed got here close to the sideline, TE Kyle Pitts and WR Quentin Johnston, they usually’ve actually solely allowed one large play down the center by way of three weeks. And that took a trick play, the Broncos fooling Fitzpatrick on a Wildcat lateral to QB Bo Nix. Two performs later, CB Cory Trice Jr. took the ball proper again.
So it’s hardly assigning blame to Minkah Fitzpatrick after I point out this stat. If there’s per week to snap it, it’s this one. Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson has as large an arm as any quarterback in soccer and can check the center of the sphere, trusting his arm greater than what any defender can do. That may result in unimaginable moments like this 60-yard howitzer to WR Alec Pierce. You’ll be hard-pressed to search out many higher throws than this.
Nevertheless it’s additionally led to arm conceitedness, letting the ball fly downfield, and getting himself into hassle, like this ill-advised cross-body throw final week towards the Chicago Bears.
His tape is affected by overthrows. Unsurprisingly, he has double the interceptions (six) as he does passing scores (three). These picks lead the league and his 8.2-percent interception price is sort of three factors increased than the next-closest participant, Carolina’s Bryce Younger. He’s nonetheless simply 22 and has barely greater than 20 profession begins in school and NFL mixed. There’s little question Richardson could make affect performs, however he’s hurting the Colts as a lot as he’s serving to.
It’s time to make him pay for these errors. A savvy participant like Minkah Fitzpatrick is simply ready for his second to assault. If there’s a time to interrupt the streak, that is it. And within the run recreation, filling the alley and open-field tackling towards RB Jonathan Taylor will even be key as Pittsburgh’s protection tries to maintain the great time rolling.
