Steelers Grades, Snap Counts vs. Buccaneers: Young DL, Unsung DBs Stand Out

Pittsburgh Steelers OT Broderick Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) protects the pocket during an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) protects the pocket during an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one preseason game under their belts, and mostly looked good in a 27-17 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The first-team offense played one drive and the first-team defense mostly never took the field, so there were plenty of reps to judge for the players that are in deep competition for roles and roster.

Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say about the Steelers in preseason Week 1.

QUARTERBACK

I can’t begin to understand Kenny Pickett getting a 79.0 grade after what was essentially nine flawless snaps out of ten. How could he have been any better?

Mason Rudolph deserved his high mark, as well, though his biggest impact was throwing the ball as far as he could and letting Calvin Austin III run under it.

Tanner Morgan was unsurprisingly the worst player on the team, with several turnover-worthy plays despite only being charged with one officially.

QB Kenny Pickett 10 16% 79.0
QB Mitch Trubisky 9 14% 61.5
QB Mason Rudolph 23 37% 84.7
QB Tanner Morgan 21 33% 28.5

RUNNING BACK

Najee Harris didn’t even have a carry, so it’s probably best to call this grade an incomplete.

Anthony McFarland Jr. had an otherwise solid night dinged by an abysmal 14.7 grade in pass protection. Fourth-stringer Darius Hagans fared much better in that regard, but didn’t run as well.

RB Najee Harris 4 6% 60.7
RB Jaylen Warren 6 10% 68.1
RB Anthony McFarland Jr. 21 33% 57.1
RB Darius Hagans 12 19% 54.3
RB Greg Bell 18 29% 53.3

OFFENSIVE LINE

There are 14 players on the Steelers offensive line, nearly enough for three full teams, but it was first-round pick Broderick Jones that saw the most reps of any player, taking 49 snaps, all of them at left tackle. The grade of 61.7 is pretty much in line with what Jones said of his play.

Seventh-round rookie Spencer Anderson was also a high snap count player from the first game, taking 37 reps between left guard, right guard and right tackle. Anderson, Nate Herbig and Ryan McCollum have all been multi-position guys in practice. Kevin Dotson and Dylan Cook flipping from left guard and tackle to the right side was something we haven’t seen as much of thus far.

Many have pointed out the miserable day for Kendrick Green. All of his snaps came at center. Have to wonder if that will continue.

LT Dan Moore Jr. 10 16% 61.5
RT Chukwuma Okorafor 10 16% 38.5
LG Isaac Seumalo 10 16% 62.4
RG James Daniels 10 16% 75.7
C Mason Cole 10 16% 60.9
RT Le’Raven Clark 29 46% 66.6
LG/RG Bill Dunkel 24 38% 61.5
LG/C/RG Nate Herbig 32 51% 66.4
LG/RG/RT Spencer Anderson 37 59% 56.7
LT/RT Dylan Cook 21 33% 56.2
LT Broderick Jones 49 78% 61.7
LG/RG Kevin Dotson 16 25% 65.4
LG/C/RG Ryan McCollum 30 48% 55.5
C Kendrick Green 27 37% 39.5

TIGHT END

Perhaps in an effort to help evaluate the tackles, the Steelers tight ends did very little pass blocking in this game. Three players had one snap of pass protection each. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington had none.

TE Pat Freiermuth 5 8% 56.1
TE Zach Gentry 28 44% 54.3
TE Connor Heyward 12 19% 93.7
TE Darnell Washington 25 40% 66.8
TE Rodney Williams II 17 27% 80.4

WIDE RECEIVER

Outside of the top players, Calvin Austin III was probably the player that had the best night, both in terms of number of reps and how well he used them. Almost all of the other depth wide receivers had to take some good with the bad.

The fact that Hakeem Butler got 12 special teams snaps (and made a tackle), along with out-snapping guys like Dan Chisena and Jordan Byrd on offense, tells me those two have a tough road to making the roster.

WR Diontae Johnson 9 14% 91.,1
WR George Pickens 8 13% 81.4
WR Allen Robinson II 9 14% 51.8
WR Gunner Olszewski 31 49% 58,5
WR Miles Boykin 14 22% 54.5
WR Cody White 29 46% 47.9
WR Calvin Austin III 27 43% 65.9
WR Dez Fitzpatrick 19 30% 55.5
WR Hakeem Butler 15 24% 56.8
WR Dan Chisena 2 3% 58.4
WR Jordan Byrd 4 6% 52.6

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Steelers played a good amount of base defense, so we got longer-than-usual looks at nose tackle for Montravius Adams and Breiden Fehoko (not great) and Keeanu Benton (awesome before his injury).

With so much base at hand, DeMarvin Leal played almost exclusively as a five-technique defensive end and wasn’t asked to do much work on the edge.

Isaiahh Loudermilk did a little bit of everything, and did most of it well, continuing his strong camp.

NT Montravius Adams 14 19% 44.3
DT/DE James Nyamwaya 10 14% 54.5
DT/DE Manny Jones 26 36% 32.7
NT Breiden Fehoko 15 21% 45.1
DT/DE Armon Watts 19 26% 72.4
DT Keeanu Benton 28 38% 74.0
DE DeMarvin Leal 29 40% 45.7
DT Isaiahh Loudermilk 19 26% 70.2
DT Jonathan Marshall 14 19% 63.9

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

The experienced part of this group barely played, with T.J. Watt sitting out and Alex Highsmith and Markus Golden playing a combined 13 snaps. That left plenty of playing time for the others to stand out. Some did, like Nick Herbig with his 89.9 grade. Some did not, like Quincy Roche’s disappointing 41.4.

That’s about the way this preseason has gone for both of those players. With Herbig looking solid and the depth disappointing, it’s hard to see five pure edge rushers on the 53-man roster.

OLB Alex Highsmith 3 4% 70.0
OLB Nick Herbig 13 18% 89.9
OLB Markus Golden 10 14% 66.0
OLB Quincy Roche 39 53% 41.4
OLB David Perales 50 68% 42.0
OLB Toby Ndukwe 31 42% 58.4

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Mark Robinson had the second-most snaps of any Steelers defensive player, and had a nice day, with the second-highest grade of the linebackers room, after Elandon Roberts posted a 67.7 in two snaps.

Kwon Alexander was dinged for his penalty, which seemed soft, more than his play. Nick Kwiatkoski had a very promising game interrupted by a shoulder injury.

Cole Holcomb was below the line in almost every area other than pass rush. Not a strong start for the Steelers’ potential three-down linebacker.

ILB Kwon Alexander 23 32% 55.6
ILB Nick Kwiatkoski 18 25% 64.8
ILB Mark Robinson 48 66% 65.1
ILB Cole Holcomb 25 34% 29.0
ILB Tanner Muse 30 41% 26.7
ILB Elandon Roberts 2 3% 67.7

DEFENSIVE BACK

With so many injured and/or absent members of the starting secondary, it’s not unexpected that this group turned into a hodgepodge quickly.

Trenton Thompson and Duke Dawson were the big standouts, but Dawson’s knee injury put his future availability into question. Thompson had the best game of any Steelers defensive back, despite joining the team mid-camp.

Madre Harper, Isaiah Dunn, Chris Wilcox and Elijah Riley also all had strong grades. James Pierre did not, despite — or maybe because of — his team-high 51 snaps.

It’s hard to fault Jalen Elliott before his low grade. He had one full practice with the Steelers before the game.

BCB Levi Wallace 3 4% 61.1
FS Kenny Robinson 43 59% 55.1
FS Trenton Thompson 25 34% 90.1
SCB Chandon Sullivan 13 18% 39.8
BCB Madre Harper 39 53% 64.6
SS Miles Killebrew 34 47% 57.9
BCB Luq Barcoo 31 42% 61.2
SCB Duke Dawson 15 21% 83.9
BCB James Pierre 51 70% 44.5
BCB Isaiah Dunn 22 30% 70.2
FS Jalen Elliott 28 38% 32.9
SCB Elijah Riley 17 23% 69.2
BCB Chris Wilcox 26 36% 65.6

 

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