1. Whither the WR?
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler this week broached the subject of how NFL offenses have morphed over his two-decade tenure in the league. There was a gradual and significant increased emphasis put on speed and passing beginning roughly around the turn of the century. But Butler noted how that tendency peaked and has begun to reverse itself.
In 2018, for example, according to sharpfootballstats.com, NFL offenses used what Butler called “Kings” personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) on 65% of offensive snaps. That number has dropped to 59% usage of what is commonly referred to as “11” personnel this season.
Three years ago, at least three wide receivers were deployed on more than 68% of offensive plays league-wide. This year, that figure has fallen to 63%.
While fullbacks have filled some of the void, tight ends — often, via multiple-tight end sets — have been the primary beneficiary of the move away from WRs. Over the past four seasons, deployment of two or more tight ends on offense has jumped from 24.3% of snaps in 2018 to 29.8% this season.
The phenomenon could help explain why the Steelers used a second-round pick on tight end Pat Freiermuth.
How about the way Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry did at tight end in the Steelers' win over the Browns?! That, and four other things we learned from Sunday's game.https://t.co/fc3YEiu4gL
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) November 1, 2021
2. Back and forth
The Steelers have followed up a three-game losing streak by winning their next three heading into Monday’s game. That sounds like a rare quirk, but in recent years, it’s been the Steelers’ status quo.
Including 2021, in five of the past six seasons the Steelers have followed a winning or losing streak of at least three games with a streak of the opposite way of at least three games.
Last season, a three-game skid came after an 11-0 start. The year before, three consecutive wins beginning in late November were followed by three straight defeats to end the season. In 2018, a midseason six-game winning streak preceded a three-game losing streak. The 2016 Steelers lost four in a row before finishing the season winning their final seven.
Trai Turner on the improvement of the Steelers OL as it gels as the season goes on: https://t.co/46TuKcqfO7 pic.twitter.com/Lwlej5Ob3V
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 5, 2021
3. Protecting better
Ben Roethlisberger, as he did last season, leads all NFL quarterbacks in fastest average time to throw: 2.37 seconds. But on the relatively rare instances in which he is holding onto the ball, his offensive line is doing its job.
According to Pro Football Focus, only four teams in the NFL have allowed a lower percentage of pressures when its quarterback takes 2.5 seconds or longer to throw (40.8%).
Although the Steelers’ line has been maligned, PFF grades its pass blocking as 10th-best in the league. Footballoutsiders.com’s metrics are even more kind to the Steelers: Its quantitative analysis rates the Steelers seventh in adjusted sack rate.
At 24, the #Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick recognizes he’s ascended to a point in his career to where “it’s time to start … sharing my wisdom.” https://t.co/7BMtUxFoUr
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 15, 2021
4. Iron men
When Minkah Fitzpatrick missed practice Saturday, it reminded of how he has appeared in every game the Steelers have played since he was acquired via trade in September 2019. Furthermore, Fitzpatrick is the only member of the Steelers defense to appear in all 37 games since he arrived. (Though it comes with the sizable caveat that Cameron Heyward’s only game missed in that time was because of rest in the 2020 regular-season finale).
The player with the second-longest active streak of consecutive games played for the Steelers is an unlikely one: Justin Layne, the reserve cornerback and special-teamer whose 29-game streak dates to late in his rookie 2019 season. Layne, though, has played just 128 defensive snaps during his streak.
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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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