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Fun Facts

November 29, 2002 by Steel Phantom

Fun Facts:

Fun Facts:

 

 

  1. It is said that Steeler opponents have emphasized the pass this year to some unprecedented level but that�s not true.� In 2001, Steeler opponents got (525) passes off, were sacked (55) times and rushed (339) times.� That�s (919) plays; (580) were pass calls, or 63%

 

This year, Steeler opponents have gotten (436) passes off, have been sacked (28) times and have rushed (259) times.� That�s (723) plays; (464) were pass calls, or 64%.

 

  1. The Steelers have (75) PD and (15) INT this year; they�ve defended 90/436 aerials or 20.6%.� In 2001, the numbers were 525 attempts, 101 PD and 16 INT, that�s 117/525 or 22.2%.� In 2000, the year before Scott, Washington and Alex got their extensions, the numbers were 521 attempts, 83 PD and 17 INT, that�s 100/521, or 19.2%.� Once the ball is in the air, the 2002 Steelers, as a whole, have made plays at about the same rate as in the previous (2) years.

 

  1. As mentioned, the 2001 Steelers had (55) sacks in (580) pass calls, that�s 9.5%.� This year, the Steelers have (28) sacks in (464) pass calls, that�s 6%. �In 2000, when the Steelers were so bad against the run that they dared not rush the passer, they still managed (39) sacks in (560) passes called, that�s 6.9%.� As bad as their pass rush was in 2000, it was better than this edition.

 

  1. Maybe that�s a system thing; in terms of defensive philosophy, the Buccaneers are the anti-Steelers.� In the past (3) seasons (so far), the Bucs have totaled (131) sacks.� Warren Sapp and their rush end (Rice for (2) years now and Marcus Jones in 2000) accounted for 65.5, or 50%.�

 

In the same period, the Steelers have (118) sacks; Gildon and Porter lead the way with (28.5) and (26.5) respectively.� 55/118 is 46.6%; while DC Lewis has proclaimed that the 3-4 brings pressure from all over, the fact is that the Steelers have been about as dependent on their prime two as have the Bucs.� It is impossible to imagine Tampa dropping either of their primary rushers, Rice and Sapp, into coverage but, evidently, the Steeler staff sees no other option.

 

  1. They�ve been burned through the air but its not like the Steelers are playing the run great.� Last year, opponents attempted (339) runs; the Steelers had (74) stuffs or 21.8%.� This year, opponents have attempted (259) runs; the Steelers have (30) stuffs, or 11.6%.� The drop-off here is even greater than the sack decline noted above.

 

In 2000, opponents ran the ball (425) times; the Steelers had (56) stuffs, or 13.2%.� Per #3 above and this item, the 2002 Front 7 seems to be playing with just a little less effect than the very mediocre 2000 group.

 

  1. Since 2000, the Steelers primary Front 7 additions have been Hampton, Bell and Farrior.� Each of these men have been stalwart in the base; none play on 3rd down.� The Steelers 3rd down problems are well-known; leaving the obvious, consider that Kirkland and Holmes both got bounced because they had diminished to two-down types.� The Steeler brain trust has replaced two-down players with, well, players they use solely for two downs.

 

  1. Define tackles for loss (TFL) as sacks + stuffs.� Figure total plays as pass attempts + sacks + rushing attempts.� In 2000, the Steelers had 95 TFL in 985 plays, that�s 9.6%.� In 2001, the Steelers had 129 TFL in 919 plays, that�s 14%.� So far in 2002, the Steelers have 58 TFL in 723 plays, that�s 8%.

 

  1. �In 2001, Jason Gildon had (16.5) TFL, the same as Earl Holmes.� This year, Gildon has 3.5, Farrior has (6).� Joey Porter has dropped from (17) a year ago to (8) so far this season but, of course, Joey has been making some plays downfield.�

 

The huge drop is with Kendrell Bell, last year�s D-side ROY had (21) TFL; this year, Bell, both injured early and bloated up so to play rush end in the dime, has all of (1.5) TFL.� Bell was not a 3rd down player last year and, therefore, his diminished productivity cannot be attributed to his required pine-jockey status on 3rd down this season.� It can be attributed to the staff�s brain dead notion that a guy who was at his best on a delay rush from off the line, a guy whose attribute is quickness, a guy who is just barely 73� high could play fast with 15-20# larded on while lined up against 6�-6� OT.� This is the equivalent of imagining, as the old regime did pre-�98, that Justin Strylzcek could play left offensive tackle.

 

Aaron Smith is not at fault; Smith had (14) TFL last year; he leads the Steelers with (10) so far in this campaign.� Give or take, he�s done what he�s done previously; that can�t be said either of Bell or Gildon.

 

  1. Then there are the freakin� safeties, leaving their obvious, continuing deficiencies against the pass (these being the primary reason why Joey Porter is generally about 18 yards off the LOS in the dime), consider run support.� Hell, consider just two run plays: in New Orleans, Deuce blew by Flowers for +50 and a TD; at Heinz, Dunn blew by both for about the same distance and exactly the same result.� Not to say that was the game in either case but we are talking (14) points in (2) games where the Steelers were (-3) or so.�

 

Figure John Lynch, Kenoye Kennedy or Coy Wire in the game, knock about (90) off the Steelers� season-long run-D figure and, instead of 259/998 or 3.9 YPC you�ve got 259/908 or the same 3.5 YPC as 2001.� Superior safety play could have compensated for the stuff-factor reduction shown in #7 above; another way of expressing this is that the Steeler stuff-factor of 2001 compensated for sub-par safety play that season. It is well known that the Steeler safeties have never been able to give the CB help over the top; now, they can�t support the run either.�

 

  1. As we know, the direction is downward in Contract Three.� The Steeler D-side Contract 3 Club includes KVO, Gildon, Washington and Alexander.� Who are your D-side goats for 2002?� Are any on that list?� Lee Flowers will be up for Contract 3 next year.� Whaddya think?

 

  1. �The Steelers have dropped from #1 to #20 on defense.� This is similar to the Titans� drop from first to near worst last year.� Leaving that, it is similar to the Rams� drop from the top 5 to the bottom 5 in �00.� The Rams resurrected themselves in 2001 and, last I looked, remain in the top 10 this season.� How?� Well, they dumped their top rusher, Kevin Carter, for a late 1st round pick, swapped a QB for an early 1st, let a (former) HC go for a 2nd round pick, brought in two premium FA (Fields and Williams) and a new DC.� Give the Steelers (3) 1st round picks next spring, a couple in the 2nd, swap Das Jaw for (pick one) Ferentz, Willingham, Mularkey or Marvin Lewis and get a DC who is not 3-4 fixated and, well, who knows? �

 

 

 

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