Air yards are an more and more vital consider right now’s NFL. As we speak, I wished to take a look at and supply information on new Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith, to pair with an analogous examine on quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields’ 2023 air yard information.
When folks consider air yardage, pushing the ball downfield often involves thoughts first, and will actually enhance for the 2024 Steelers offense. Attacking defenses in all areas of the sphere is even higher, with high quality connection after all, and the purpose right now is to see these frequencies throughout the NFL final season.
Utilizing Sports activities Information Options (SIS), I calculated air yard percentages (air yards/meant air yards) for NFL offenses since 2019, and listed here are the outcomes:
Smith had the highest three groups we’re targeted on, encouragingly. They had been additionally the one ones in our sights that eclipsed air yard charges above 50 % (comfortably). As OC of the Tennessee Titans, each of Smith’s offenses had been within the high 20 out of the 160 qualifying groups within the five-year span since 2019.
That’s a formidable feat certainly, and hopefully one thing we see translate to Pittsburgh in the identical position. Extra particularly, his high mark of 59.2 got here with Tennessee in 2020, rating eighth-best. Then we see his first season as OC, with the 2019 Titans coming in at 55.6 % (Nineteenth).
For added context, 4 groups had 60-plus charges since 2019, together with two groups final season within the 49ers (61.8, second-best) and Lions (60.5, fourth).
Let’s look at this additional. With such excessive air yard percentages, many would assume the principle cause can be explosive passing (20 yards or extra). The 2020 Titans, the highest crew in our sights, had simply 35 explosive air yard makes an attempt (156th), 13 completions (T-154th), 1,087 meant air yards (156th), and 411 air yards (T-142nd). Connection was the most effective of these marks, however all low within the ranks throughout the board.
As a substitute, intermediate passing (ten-19 yards) was the secret for his or her passing offense. 131 intermediate makes an attempt tied for thirty second within the span, with 81 completions (T-Nineteenth), 1,735 meant air yards (forty eighth), and 1,091 air yards (T-Twenty sixth). Comfortably above common in every, we see Smith and the 2020 Titans did most of their air yard injury within the intermediate vary.
That’s one thing I’ve clamored for, and shared in my Steelers passing chart collection, with Pittsburgh missing within the intermediate passing recreation. For comparability, listed here are the Steelers intermediate marks in 2023: 102 makes an attempt (T-A hundred and twentieth), 52 completions (T-134th), 1,428 meant air yards (T-118th), 718 air yards (136th). Staggering distinction.
As you may count on, Pittsburgh’s explosive numbers in 2023 weren’t awe inspiring both: 52 makes an attempt (T-122nd), 17 completions (T-124th), 1,495 meant air yards (122nd), 469 air yards (126th). Every of those numbers topped the 2020 Titans although (surprisingly), however the latter had the higher high quality, emphasised by the air yard percentages I dove into right now.
Whereas Smith’s numbers in Atlanta had been decrease, his first season as head coach in 2021 was additionally fairly good. Their 54.6 air yard proportion ranked twenty seventh (out of 160), which means he had three straight teaching seasons of nicely above common air yardage.
Pittsburgh’s greatest mark was in 2022, with a 48.7 air yardage price, however landed a lot decrease within the NFL ranks at ninetieth. That was under common, and in addition implies that the Steelers had been under the league imply in every of the final 5 seasons, sadly.
The remainder of the Steelers groups ranked within the backside 40, together with final season, with that 45.5 air yard proportion rating 121st. One other notable rank was in 2019, an damage riddled season at QB that factored closely into an abysmal 37.7 air yard price that was useless final within the timeframe.
Solely three of the 160 groups posted an air yard proportion under 40, together with a current 2023 Patriots squad at 38.6, with that 4-13 crew that clearly struggled touchdown one rank above the 2019 Steelers.
These details re-emphasize the purpose I made within the opening of the article, with Pittsburgh failing to threaten defenses at numerous ranges of the sphere in comparison with the league for too lengthy. General, that’s clearly one thing that Smith has on his resume, and may hopefully convey to the Black and Gold in 2024 (and past).
Most not too long ago although, Smith’s final two seasons had been under common. 2023 was the higher of the 2, with a 48.2 quantity that ranked 96th. The earlier 12 months (2022), their 43.6 air yard proportion was his lowest by far, rating 137th and sandwiched between a number of Pittsburgh groups.
The Steelers did make investments closely on the offensive facet of the ball this offseason, together with the quarterback place. When it comes to air yard percentages, Wilson ranked twenty fourth, and Fields at Nineteenth out of the 31 QBs I studied. They’re positively succesful deep ball passers although.
Their earlier crew conditions weren’t the most effective, and lots of agree {that a} stronger supporting forged round them, together with Smith’s offense, will hopefully convey higher ends in 2024 with Pittsburgh.
Right here’s to hoping that this subsequent chapter for Smith within the Metal Metropolis brings outcomes nearer to his Tennessee OC days. That’s fairly optimistic, and even the general numbers that his Atlanta groups achieved can be an enchancment on what Pittsburgh has carried out for the overwhelming majority of the final 5 years.
One factor’s for positive, I can’t wait to see the way it all unfolds.
Thanks for studying and let me know your ideas within the feedback.
