Many stones are turning for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, together with the working again place. Najee Harris has moved on, signing with the LA Chargers. The Steelers positioned the second-round tender on RB Jaylen Warren, the clear lead again for 2025 on paper.
Pittsburgh signed RB Kenneth Gainwell, one other addition from the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers may nonetheless draft a working again in late April as nicely. In the present day’s purpose is to examine some 2024 Gainwell stats, evaluate that to Harris and Warren for context, and see what it may imply for the upcoming season.
First, listed here are some 2024 baseline speeding stats for Harris, Warren, and Gainwell:
Harris: 263 makes an attempt, 1,043 yards, 4.0 yards/try, six TDs.Warren: 120 makes an attempt, 511 yards, 4.3 yards/try, one TD.Gainwell: 75 makes an attempt, 290 yards, 3.9 yards/try, one TD.
It isn’t awe-inspiring, from a quantity or high quality regard. After all, Kenneth Gainwell performed behind the league’s main rusher in Saquon Barkley and arguably the most effective o-line as well. The shortage of amount is smart, however why was his speeding success missing?
Sports activities Data Options (SIS) hit on the line and constructive rush charges (constructive EPA/profitable play) reveals some surprising context:
First, the three gamers in our sights have been hit on the line at an alarming charge. This contains Kenneth Gainwell, at 49.3 p.c, eighth-most out of 54 qualifiers (min. 75 makes an attempt). The outcome was paltry, rating lifeless final with a 28.0 constructive charge. This was over 5 p.c worse than all of his friends as nicely. Ouch.
It’s fairly discouraging to be taught, contemplating Pittsburgh’s offensive line isn’t Philadelphia’s, together with Kenneth Gainwell’s incapability to make one thing occur on the bottom. As compared, Harris was hit on the line much more – 50.6 p.c (T-fourth most) however was capable of muster a 35.7 constructive charge (ninth-worst).
Warren had the one above-the-mean outcome—a 44.2 constructive charge (T-Seventeenth). Whereas it was the least of the three centered gamers, Warren achieved this with a 47.5 hit on the line charge (Twelfth-most). Right here’s to hoping Warren can proceed this worth whereas all of the above makes it much less anticipated for Kenneth Gainwell.
One other vital aspect of play on the place is receiving. Utilizing Professional Soccer Focus (PFF), I wished to have a look at behind-the-line passing, contemplating that’s the place most RBs get their targets (together with Pittsburgh). Listed here are receiving grades and yards/try (YPA) within the state of affairs:
Right here, we see each present Steelers land on the highest proper within the behind-the-line (BLOS) passing stats. Kenneth Gainwell fared greatest final season, with a 92.7 receiving grade, which tied for thirteenth out of 51 RBs (min. ten behind-the-line targets). Paired with an 8.6 YPA quantity ranked eighth-best, getting the ball to Gainwell in house as a receiver could possibly be his greatest 2025 affect.
Warren can also be gifted on this regard, with above common 90.3 BLOS receiving grade (twenty ninth), and seven.3 YPA (18th). Harris had a greater 7.9 YPA (14th), however had a nicely beneath common 71.3 receiving grade, which was eighth-worst. 2024 was positively a down receiving yr for Harris, together with 4-of-5 drops on behind-the-line targets, whereas Gainwell had zero on all targets.
Whereas Kenneth Gainwell didn’t get close to the BLOS receiving quantity (ten targets to Harris’ 46), he and Warren will hopefully present higher high quality in 2025. The stats make it clear that’s much less life like from Gainwell as a rusher.
As acknowledged earlier, his addition under no circumstances retains Pittsburgh from drafting the place. If that’s the case, physique kind and elegance shall be fascinating to watch, with a number of prospects out there that would seemingly bolster Pittsburgh’s run sport.
One factor’s for certain: a constructive pattern within the Steelers’ backfield is hopefully in retailer for 2025 and wanted.
