Many issues have gone nicely for the Pittsburgh Steelers en path to their 7-2 report. There may be at all times room to enhance, although, and avoiding complacency to maintain the four-game win streak rolling is the aim.
Beginning robust can change the complexion of how video games transpire, and Pittsburgh may certainly stand to enhance by taking management of video games out of the gates to make groups play to their liking extra usually.
As we speak, I needed to have a look at and supply information context for the way NFL groups have fared on opening drives, specializing in Pittsburgh. The aim is to see what might be constructed upon in opposition to a number of robust opponents for the rest of 2024.
The Steelers protection did come out of the gates with a three-and-out cease final recreation, adopted by an offensive landing. The offense went three-and-out on their first drive, although, and will have had Washington out of types early.
Sure, Pittsburgh is nice at coming away with wins in shut video games late (which I’ll do an identical examine on quickly), like they did on this one, however including extra consistency on first drives would make for a extra full group.
To start out, listed here are offenses opening drive common variety of performs and yards per recreation:
Pittsburgh’s offense has been above the imply with a 7.1 common variety of performs on opening drives, which ranks seventh. That’s equated to a 3:37 common time of possession (T-Tenth). So, they’re not petering out as early or usually as a number of different groups.
The larger points begin with 29.8 common yards (twentieth), with their 27 common beginning yard line (T-Twenty third) definitely not serving to. Their strengths to this point are a pleasant baseline, and weaknesses actually level to needing to be stronger as soon as they get into their very own territory.
Some upcoming opponents fare nicely on the visible: Kansas Metropolis and Cincinnati specifically, Baltimore in yardage, and even Cleveland above common in each.
Subsequent, let’s take a look at the outcomes of those drives extra with scoring and turnover charges:
Right here we see encouraging outcomes, with Pittsburgh touchdown above the imply in every. They’re certainly one of a number of groups which have but to show the soccer over on a gap drive. The Steelers offense can also be nicely above common in scoring at 55.6 % which ties for seventh-best and will shock folks.
The remainder of the AFC North is at or above the imply as nicely, and with all these video games remaining, it may make opening drives a key part in these video games.
Diving deeper, listed here are charges that zoom in on offensive manufacturing (eradicating subject targets), landing and offensive turnover charges (interceptions and fumbles):
Sorry to burst the bubble of the earlier visible, however Pittsburgh has but to place it ultimately zone on a gap drive by means of 9 video games. It hasn’t been dire contemplating the group’s 7-2 report, however may actually assist them attain a fuller potential as an offense.
As soon as once more, the division is all at or above-average in each, scoring out of the gates early. It may play an unlucky position if that continues, so hopefully Pittsburgh can flip this script beginning this week in opposition to Baltimore.
On the opposite aspect of the coin, let’s briefly look at the opening drives that sputtered on offense, and resulted in kicks (subject targets or punts). I sorted decrease numbers pretty much as good, since offensive touchdowns are the last word aim:
Very telling visible. Pittsburgh has relied on their kicker, the nice Chris Boswell, greater than every other group on opening drives. Their whopping 55.6 FG fee is the by far probably the most within the NFL, with second at 44.4-percent. This offers full context to their respectable scoring fee, none of which had been touchdowns.
Of 9 opening drives, 5 had been Boswell FGs. Whereas he’s cash, hope the Steelers get their first opening drive landing of 2024 in opposition to a potent Baltimore offense you don’t need to get down on the scoreboard in opposition to.
A 44.4 punt fee lands barely above the NFL imply (T-14th), so whereas that might stand to enhance, a minimum of Pittsburgh is getting factors as a rule. The Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals all are all above common.
Let’s look at defenses now. Listed below are variety of performs and common yards allowed, with decrease numbers being good:
Most of the time, Pittsburgh’s protection is a prime 10 unit. Not on opening drives, with their 6.2 common variety of performs allowed ranks seventeenth, and allowed 32.9 common yards allowed ranks 18th. Opposing offenses have a 29 common beginning yard line (seventeenth) and three:19 common time of possession (18th). So very middling to this point.
Cleveland lands nicely above-average, however the remainder of Pittsburgh’s remaining opponents are largely below-average defenses in these phrases. That would bode nicely for the Steelers offense doubtlessly bettering the remainder of the best way.
Listed below are defenses scoring and turnover charges:
Most likely shocking to most (together with myself), the Steelers protection is nicely below-average in each. They’ve allowed a 55.6 scoring fee, tying for twenty seventh within the NFL, and haven’t created a turnover. That’s a lot completely different than all conditions, the place Pittsburgh’s protection is second-best within the NFL in each scoring and turnover charges. Excessive on my radar for hopeful enchancment.
It’s additionally the worst stability than any remaining opponent, whereas the Ravens, Bengals, and Chiefs allowed related scoring charges. Cleveland is the one NFL group that hasn’t allowed an opening-drive rating all season, painful compared to Pittsburgh’s protection.
Now I’ll take away subject targets, to see how defenses fared in touchdowns allowed:
Fortunately, a 22.2-percent TD fee is a significantly better quantity, however nonetheless lands close to the NFL imply and ties for 18th across the league. That lands with the upcoming Philadelphia protection, and apart from the Browns, the remainder of Pittsburgh’s schedule is below-average in landing charges allowed.
So on paper, this results in optimism to the hopeful enhancements for the Steelers offense being lifelike. However with the problems this group as had for fairly a while, don’t present me the labor pains, present me the child, as Dave likes to say.
And the opposite aspect of the coin, and supreme defensive aim, getting stops. Listed below are punt and subject aim charges:
As you’d anticipate, with fewer touchdowns come extra subject targets pressured. However that has been at one of many highest charges within the NFL at 33.3-percent (T-third). If pressured to decide on, that’s the choice, however one other space the protection ought to look to enhance the remainder of 2024.
Talking of which, they’re additionally under the league imply in forcing groups to punt, at 44.4 % of the time. To place that into context, Cleveland has pressured the opposition into punts at an 85.7 % fee, over 40 % greater than Pittsburgh.
The Ravens and Bengals land collectively on the highest left, (larger FG rated allowed), however punt much less usually than Pittsburgh. The Eagles are fairly good at forcing punts to start out video games. Kansas Metropolis is under the imply in every, permitting opponents to get going early and cling with them greater than their historical past and unbeaten report would counsel.
Whereas it is a small pattern within the entirety of a recreation, and never excessive on HC Mike Tomlin’s listing of keys, hopefully it’s going to enhance transferring ahead. Opening drives are an important barometer to really feel out the oppositions plan, however hope Pittsburgh finds extra success in the meantime the remainder of the yr, as they’ve after halftime and to shut video games total.
To wrap up, here’s a desk of all of the stat ranks (by season) compiled for the examine:
2024 1st Drive Ranks
PIT OFF
PIT DEF
Avg. # Of Performs
7
17
Avg. Yards
20
18
Avg. Time
10
18
Avg. Yardline
23
17
Scoring Charge
7
27
Turnover Charge
1
T-last
Punt Charge
14
16
TD Charge
T-last
18
FG Charge
1
3
This paints an total image of the strengths and weaknesses on opening drives for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offense has moved the ball, managed the clock, taken care of the soccer, and put up factors at top-10 charges. That each one sounds encouraging and is a superb basis. Enhancements, specifically TD charges (T-last), would make that really feel higher, together with common yard line and yards enjoying a job as nicely.
The protection fared worse than anticipated, not like many stats they’re prime 10 in. The one mark on opening drives that matches the factors is FG fee (third). Many common ranks, however most regarding is scoring fee (twenty seventh), and turnover fee (T-last). That’s a lot completely different than all conditions, the place Pittsburgh’s protection is second-best within the NFL in each scoring and turnover charges.
If the Steelers could make strides the second half of the season, it may actually assist them be answerable for extra video games and appear like the Tremendous Bowl contender some are already making them out to be. That will be implausible, and followers coronary heart charges would undoubtedly thank them as nicely.
