But because their run game is inefficient and Roethlisberger is taking sacks at his highest rate in nearly a decade (5.7 percent of dropbacks), a lot of their drives get undermined. Without explosive plays, the Steelers are left to matriculate the ball downfield. It's almost like Steelers ownership's insistence on drafting a running back to fix the running game was misguided. He has avoided tackles at around the same rate as players like Nick Chubb and Tony Pollard, who rank among the league leaders in yards per carry, but has been far less efficient than them because they tend to be contacted a full yard farther downfield. In other words, he gets pitiful run blocking, and has basically nowhere to go. On average, he's been contacted just 0.95 yards downfield. Among 51 players averaging at least six carries per game, Harris is averaging the ninth-fewest yards before contact per carry, according to Tru Media. Meanwhile, Najee Harris is largely stuck running in mud through no real fault of his own. Beyond that, it is just Ben heaving the ball up in the air and hoping Chase Claypool or Diontae Johnson can win on a contested catch. You will see short crossing route after short crossing route all night long from this team, and they will throw in the occasional quick out, slant, or screen just to mix things up. An outrageous 45 percent of his passes have been thrown between 0 and 5 yards downfield, and he's got the third-lowest average depth of throw in the league. If he doesn't have a one-on-one shot at a go ball down the sideline, he is almost certainly not throwing the ball deep. That's the third-lowest share in the league, ahead of only the Texans and Dolphins, and tied with the Lions.īen Roethlisberger will throw downfield only in very specific matchups and very specific ways. Just 18 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive plays have gained 10 or more yards, per Tru Media. The culprit is obvious: the Steelers simply do not create big plays, on the ground or through the air. Those figures are supported on a deeper level, with the offense checking in just 27th in yards per play, 22nd in EPA per play, 22nd in points per drive, and 20th in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA. The Steelers enter this game ranked 22nd in yards per game and 21st in points per game.
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