Daily Links: Fitzpatrick Tops PFF Grades; ‘Overrated’ According to ESPN Survey

Alan Saunders |

Dec 8, 2022

Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick — Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Pro Football Focus grades suggest that he’s arguably the https://twitter.com/PFF_Steelers/status/1600580911380185138″>best

safety in the NFL. Fitzpatrick’s overall PFF grade (85.2) and coverage grade (85.4) both rank first among safeties. He’s also fourth in interceptions with four and ranks seventh In run defense (80.0).

Pat Freiermuth has also received high grades from PFF this year. Among tight ends, Freiermuth ranks https://twitter.com/PFF_Steelers/status/1600505429905186816″>third

overall (79.6), third in receiving grade (82.4), fourth in receptions (50), fourth in yards (594), third in yards after contact (164), third in contested catches (8), fourth in misses tackles (10) and second in 70+ yard games (5).

Ryan Shazier said on https://twitter.com/UpAndAdamsShow/status/1600542477143838720″>Up

& Adams Show that the Steelers will win at least four of their five remaining games to extend Mike Tomlin’s 15-year non-losing season streak. “He does a good job of bringing the best out of these guys.”

Shazier also shared his https://twitter.com/heykayadams/status/1600578245145296897″>defining

moments of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry.

Kenny Pickett has https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1600540893236166658″>improved

the most in the turnover department, as he turned the ball over nine times in his first four career starts, compared to zero in the last four. Cutting down the turnovers completely has resulted in the Steelers winning three of their last four games. Pickett’s passer rating has also jumped from 66.8 to 85.9 since the bye week.

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports ranked Kenny Pickett has the 25th-best quarterback in the NFL heading into Week 14. “Progress. That’s all they’re looking for in Pittsburgh, and Pickett has provided that,” Benjamin wrote. “The bar is low for scoring production, partly because he’s been so erratic in their conservative offense, but the guy stands tall even when circumstances aren’t ideal, and his touch is occasionally pretty.”

T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are somehow considered overrated, according to an ESPN survey sent to a member of each NFL team’s analytics group.

Former Steelers guard and Hall of Famer Alan Faneca celebrated his https://twitter.com/ProFootballHOF/status/1600674214213812229″>46th

birthday on Wednesday.

After recording his first career touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, Cam Heyward had his brother Connor on the https://twitter.com/NotJustFootball/status/1600535868565225473″>Not

Just Football podcast.

Pete Schrager of Good Morning Football said the https://twitter.com/gmfb/status/1600546086254305280″>coolest

story from the weekend came from the Steelers, and the incredible weekend Cam and Connor Heyward had in Atlanta both on the field and off.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

The Steelers will begin their week of practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex at 12:15 p.m. with an open locker room before and after practice. — Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh, Ed Thompson