Steelers 2012: The Final Numbers

We enjoy providing statistical data regarding the Steelers, relative to their opponents, each week. And, in keeping with the tradition of the "Weekly Matchups," we now provide a final look at how Pittsburgh ranked in some of the statistical areas we believe are most significant.

Steelers' Offense
Average total yards per game: 21st, 332.8

Average net rushing yards per game: 26th, 96.1

Average net passing yards per game: 14th, 236.7

Average points per game per game: 22nd, 21.0

Steelers' Defense
Opponent total yards per game: 1st, 275.8

Opponent net rushing yards per game: 2nd, 90.6

Opponent net passing yards per game: 1st, 185.2

Opponent average points per game: 6th, 19.6

Steelers' Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: 28th, 7.3

Average yards per kick return: 9th, 25.3

Net yardage punting average: 25th, 37.5

Field goal percentage: 7th, 28/31 (90.3%)

Special Teams Defense
Average yards per punt return: 23rd, 10.2

Average yards per kick return: 17th, 24.0

Net yardage punting average: 23rd, 40.0

Field goal percentage: 19th, 28/33 (84.8%)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: 24th (-10)

Time of possession: 2nd, 32:07
,br> Red Zone touchdown efficiency: 14th, (55.1%)

Red Zone defense (touchdowns): 14th, (52.45)

Sacks allowed: 18th, (37 -- league average for the season was 36.5)

Some individual numbers
AFC passer rating: Ben Roethlisberger, 3rd (97.0, 449 pass attempts, 284 completions, 26 TDs, 8 INTs).

AFC leading rushers: Jonathan Dwyer, 15th (623 yards, 156 rushing attempts, 4.0 yards per carry, 2 TDs).

AFC leading receivers (receptions):

Heath Miller, 11th (71 catches, 816 yards, 11.5 yards per catch, 8 TDs).

Antonio Brown, 12th (66 catches, 787 yards, 11.9 yards per catch, 5 TDs).

Mike Wallace, 15th (64 catches, 836 yards, 13.1 yards per catch, 8 TDs).

Steelers @ Dallas: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Some losses are tougher to assess than others; to step back from the emotion as a fan in an effort to bring something approximating an analytical look takes a little longer. The loss to Dallas is exactly that -- one of several this season. But we are ready now, and here, as Peter King says, is what we think we think.

The Good
David DeCastro & Kelvin Beachum: Two rookies, with no experience working together, were fantastic, considering the circumstances. Mr. DeCastro was responsible for giving up one sack, and the two of them did struggle as Dallas turned-up the pressure during the latter stages of the fourth quarter and overtime, but the feeling here is that the offensive line is (barring injuries) set for 2013 -- assuming that the Steelers are willing to sign Max Starks for another year (Mike Adams showed no evidence of being able to handle the left tackle position). It is true that the run game continues to be a huge disappointment, but Mr. DeCastro and Mr. Beachum look to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

James Harrison: It remains to be seen if Mr. Harrison can regain his Pro Bowl form, but this was his best game of the 2012 season, by a very large margine. His four tackles, two for losses, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble are all testament to the fact that he was the most impactful player on the defensive side of the ball last Sunday. He showed good speed (except for some man-to-man coverage responsibilities on the Dallas second string tight end late in the game) and leverage off the edge throughout; and a couple of more games like that and the Steelers will have to decide if letting Mr. Harrison walk as a free agent (prior to now something that seemed a foregone conclusion) is really such a good idea.

The Bad
Ben Roethlisberger: Obviously there is the interception, in overtime, that led to Dallas' winning score; but beyond that there were the horribly thrown dump-offs (particularly into the flats which is not necessarily a short pass), and even the whirling dervish touchdown pass to Heath Miller left us feeling exasperated -- what if Mr. Roethlisberger had been hit, and injured, rather than throwing for a touchdown? Frankly, the chances of scoring on a play like that are infinitesimal, with a sack or turnover (i.e. "never throw late down the middle") much more likely to occur. We admire his never say die approach, but sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor.

The Defense: The Steelers #1 ranked defense gave up 415 total net yards, 153 yards more than their season average. The overall lack of a pass rush left Tony Romo free to pick apart the Steelers' secondary. And, however great Josh Victorian may become in his career, he looked overmatched all day long. But the one aspect of the defensive performance by the Steelers that left us most perturbed was the tackling. THe Cowboys running backs and receivers were much more physical and determined than anyone on the Steelers' side of the ball, and all the broken tackles were evidence of that.

The Ugly
Antonio Brown: Two fumbles, one lost . . . and we tweeted at the moment that the second of those would be a back breaker. One never knows how things are going to go in a game, but that fumble gave Dallas excellent field position and they scored the tying touchdown. Then, of course, there was the subsequent punt that he allowed to hit and roll . . . and roll . . . and roll. All things considered it was an atrocious performance.

Playoff Chances: The fact that this season's edition of the Steelers not only has an opportunity to make the playoffs but controls its own ability to qualify for the playoffs speaks to the watered down quality of NFL football. 9-7 is not a record that anyone is going to feel good about, assuming that the Steelers get there, and, at this point, this team strikes fear into the heart of absolutely nobody.

Steelers @ Baltimore: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

There is no sense in crying over spilled milk, but one can only imagine how rosy things would be in the Steelers' world if they had defeated Cleveland, Oakland, and Tennessee. 10-2 with a one game lead over Baltimore? Oh, if only. But today we focus on the realities of this season, and particularly Pittsburgh's emotional win over their archnemesis, the Baltimore Ravens.

The Good

Keenan Lewis & Cortez Allen: These two young men (Mr. Lewis is 26 years old and Mr. Allen is 24 -- barely)are playing tremendous football, and have been for about the past four weeks. Together they combined for six tackes, three assists, and four passes defended. Yes, Mr. Allen was flagged for pass interference -- a patently ridiculous call -- and looked bad in giving up the touchdown to Anquan Boldin -- but in the modern NFL those things are going to happen. Making sweeping pronouncements is a dangerous thing, but assuming that these two cornerbacks continue to enhance their skills the Steelers' secondary looks to have a solid foundation for the future.

Todd Haley: It is hard to know what the game plan was coming into the contest -- third string quarterback, center playing out of position, rookie right tackle -- but it appeared that the play calling was terrific (with one notable exception -- see below). One play that illustrates this point occurred in the Steelers' opening drive of the third quarter. On 2nd & 9 at their own 38 yard line Chris Rainey lines up as a single setback to the right of Charlie Batch, on the same side of the formation as Heath Miller. The ball is snapped, Rainey drifts into the right flat, and one can see in the replay that at least two Ravens go towards him immediately. Meanwhile, Heath Miller chips an on-coming rusher -- thereby helping Kelvin Beachum -- and streaks down the hash marks where Charlie Batch hits him, in stride, for a 43-yard completion to the Ravens' 19 yard line. The design of the play was beautiful, and the execution flawless.

Jonathan Dwyer: 49 yards on 16 carries does not typically get one a lot of shout outs, but we absolutely love the powerful north-south style of running that Mr. Dwyer brings to the offense; and we are quite certain that we are not the only ones who see a little of "The Bus" in him -- the Steelers had "JB," now they have "JD." Moreover, his ability to help in pass protection -- he hit Terrell Suggs squarely in the chest with his helmet on at least one occasion -- was both critical to keeping Charlie Batch ambulatory and a beautiful thing to see.

The Bad

Charlie Batch: Nobody is happier for Charlie Batch than we are, and the postgame reaction of Ben Roethlisberger, and others, is an indication of the respect the team has for him. But the Steelers were this close to losing a game in which they simply outplayed their opponent. Because the Steelers were victorious the enduring image will be the postgame embrace of Mr. Roethlisberger and Mr. Batch. But if things hadn't gone so well then that enduring image might have been Mike Wallace alone in the Ravens' end zone with the football sailing six feet over his head.

Larry Foote & Lawrence Timmons: So many mistakes, so little time. Larry Foote trying to make great plays, and putting himself out of position, rather than making the solid play; Lawrence Timmons getting sucked inside, so much so that when Ray Rice cutback on a 2nd and 10 carry in the third quarter there was nobody around to stop him, and Mr. Rice was able to go 34 yards for a touchdown. And let's not even talk about their ability, or lack thereof, to cover man-to-man in passing situations.

The Ugly

Emmanuel Sanders: That fumble . . . has been burned into our collective memories much the same way as the dropped pass by Limas Sweed in the AFC Championship game. Hideous.

Antonio Brown: Next training camp let's have Antwaan Randle-El give Mr. Brown some tips on throwing the wide receiver option pass, and let's begin with not throwing across the field (though, in fairness, that might have been some poor play design -- sorry Todd Haley). He didn't have to throw the ball, and clearly should not have thrown the ball.

Steelers @ Denver: Halftime quick hits

Mike Wallace's halftime line:  1 catch, 2 penalties; preseason means nothing.

Antonio Brown: He is earning his contract extension already, and the one Mike Wallace wanted.

Did Casey Hampton already retire and not tell anyone?  Any time Denver has wanted to go up the middle they have done so with one offensive lineman.

On 3rd-and13 at the end of the first half Denver doesn't blitz off of Mike Adams' side of the line?  Uh, no wonder Jack Del Rio got fired in Jacksonville.

One quick comment

Given everything that transpired between Santonio Holmes and his New York Jets teammates and coaches yesterday, and throughout the 2011 season, that April 2010 trade that the Steelers pulled-off is looking better than ever.

In return for their troubled star the Steelers received a fifth round draft pick in that year's NFL draft, a pick that was eventually traded to the Arizona Cardinals (who selected John Skelton).  In return the Pittsburgh re-obtained Bryant McFadden and a sixth round pick from the Cardinals.  The Steelers used that pick to choose Antonio Brown, this year's Steelers MVP.

Yeah, it's a funny game.

Tennessee Vs. Steelers: Instant analysis, first quarter

The first half of the quarter seemed very much like deja vu, all over again.  The long, scoring drive by Tennessee (more than six minutes in duration) was only half as long as the drive Houston put together last week; but every bit as painful to watch.

Penalties, sloppy tackling, and an inability to hold the point of attack had us thinking that it was going to be another long day.  But the three-and-out on Tennessee's second possession fives some cause for hope; and after a 20-yard romp on his first carry Chris Johnson was averaging fewer than two yards per on his subsequent five carries.

Meanwhile the offense did more than their fair share, driving smartly for a touchdown following an outstanding kick return by Antonio Brown.  The quick passes, and decisive running style of Issac Redman were a refreshing change from the weeks 1-4.

So far so good, with a long way to go.