Week 4 in Review:
Long-term Stiller.com fans may remember the stat breakout shown below as similar to those begun last season.� The first (3) categories are variants of the traditional �control the tempo� paradigm.� Takeaways can be an equalizer.� YPA is (yards per passing attempt); TOP is (time of possession).�
Category |
Previous |
This week |
Year to date |
Won this stat but lost
the game |
Total yards rushing |
28-15-1 |
9-4 |
37-19-1 |
New Orleans Carolina Minnesota Cleveland |
TOP |
29-15 |
9-4 |
38-19 |
Carolina New England Tennessee Minnesota |
100 yard rushers |
13-6 |
3-1 |
16-7 |
Cleveland |
>/= +2 Takeaways |
18-2 |
6-0 |
24-2 |
|
YPA |
37-6-1 |
9-4 |
46-10-1 |
St. Louis Carolina New England New York Giants |
Futility Index, per right-most column above:
Tennessee was (-3) in takeaways, allowed (2) PR TD and also gave an INT return TD.
New Orleans was (-3) in takeaways and suffered a return TD.
Minnesota was (-3) in takeaways.
Carolina and New England were (-2) in takeaways.
The NYG gave two 4th quarter TD; their defense was on the field for +38 minutes.
Steelers Index:
- Last year, the Steelers allowed just 13.3 PPG; that was #1 in the league.� This year, they are 22nd at 24.3 PPG.� On the bright side, they have allowed just 26 points in the past (6) quarters or 17.33 PPG.� Delete Kirby�s KO return and the D-side has given it up at a rate of just 12.66 in those (6) quarters.
- The Steelers are 24th in YPG against, at 350.66.� Pittsburgh has given 1052 yards in (3) games; the Eagles, 3rd in the league, have given 1053 yards in (4) games.
- The Steelers seem to be getting a grip on defending the pass; Cleveland attempted (32) (including (3) sacks) gaining just 123 yards for a dwarfish 3.81 YPA.� With that, the Steeler D-side rose to 10th in YPA against, at 6.14.� Last year, that group finished at 6.35 YPA against.
- Pressure counts; against Cleveland, the Steelers had (3) sacks for (32) passes called or 1 per 10.66.� Last year, their rate was 55/580 or 1 per 10.55.� In contrast, the Steelers had just (4) PD against Cleveland.� That�s 1 per 8; this is better than their previous 1 per 9 in 2002 but far off last season�s mark.� (See Week 2).
- Last year, the Steelers were #1 against the run allowing just 75 yards per game and 3.5 YPC.� This year, the Steelers are giving 94 yards per game, not good, not awful.� However, they are 27th in YPC against, at a horrendous 4.8.� Put it this way; Cleveland passed for 3.81 YPA and ran for 5.1 YPC.��
- OLB
Joey Porter leads the defense in total tackles, solo stops and INT.� He is tied for the team lead in sacks
and PD.� OLB Jason Gildon is T-5th
in solo stops and T-4th in stuffs (with 0.5); he is T-3rd
in INT with (0), T-7th in PD with (0) and T-6th in sacks
with (0).����
- Last
year, the Steelers led the NFL in rushing at 173 yards per game and 4.8
YPC.� This year, the Steelers are
30th in YPC, at an abysmal 3.1; the ground game has
accomplished 80YPG so far.� Here�s
a statistical oddity: last year, Jerome Bettis averaged 4.8 YPC, same as
the overall team mark; this year at 3.1, Bettis is again identical to the
team figure.
- Overall, the team has passed for a respectable 6.42 YPA.� Kordell has achieved 5.80, Maddox 9.38.
- In 176 minutes or so with Stewart at QB, Terence Mathis caught (4) balls.� In 11 minutes or so with Maddox at QB, Terence Mathis caught (3) balls.� The Steelers greatest offensive advantage resides with their superiority at #3 and #4 WR.� It would be good to get the ball to those men.
- Minnesota, with no wins, has (18) turnovers in (4) games; that�s 4.5 per game.� The Steelers, with one win, have (12) turnovers in (3) games; that�s (4) per game.� Last week, the Steelers covered (3) fumbles by their own.� Had they not, they�d be looking at 0-3 this week.
- �(11) kicks or punts have been blocked this year; Buffalo and Pittsburgh share the league lead with (2) against.
Old friends, upcoming opponents, broad hints:
- As mentioned, the Steelers are 30th running the ball.� The George-led Titans are 31st.� So go the aging power backs.
- With Akili Smith at the controls against the Bucs, the Bengals had less than 3.0 YPA.
- Last week, rookie Joey Harrington was 20/35/0 for 267 yards and (1) TD against the Saints.� The week before Harrington threw (4) picks.� Either Joey improved enormously from start one to start two or the Saints don�t defend the pass very well.