Steelers Grades, Snap Counts vs. Dolphins: Changed-Up Defense Gets Results
The Pittsburgh Steelers started ugly and finished just short of a comeback upset victory in Sunday night’s 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Here’s the player grades and snap counts from the Week 7 loss.
QUARTERBACK
Kenny Pickett did not have a great day statistically, with his three interceptions significant impacting his traditional stats like passer rating, where he is currently last among NFL starters. PFF was more forgiving, giving Pickett a 65.6 grade, in the middle of the pack when it comes to Steelers quarterbacks this season.
| QB Mitch Trubisky | 0 | -42% | -42% |
| QB Kenny Pickett | 75 | 100% | +42% |
Trubisky, Cleveland 80.3
Trubisky, Tampa Bay, 78.8
Pickett, NY Jets, 66.9
Pickett, Buffalo, 65.8
Pickett, Miami, 65.6
Trubisky, Cincinnati, 62
Trubisky, New England, 61.6
Trubisky, NY Jets, 60.7
Pickett, Tampa Bay, 49.5
RUNNING BACK
Najee Harris gained slightly in his time-share with Jaylen Warren, but the undrafted rookie out-performed the second-year first-round pick. Warren had four combined touches for 24 yards (6.0 y/t) while Harris had 80 yards on 20 touches (4.0 y.t). The grades reflect that advantage, with Warren checking in at 60.6 and Harris at 59.7. Harris was helped by a better pass-blocking grade, though both had strong marks in that category.
| RB Najee Harris | 58 | 77% | +8% |
| RB Jaylen Warren | 17 | 23% | -8% |
| FB Derek Watt | 7 | 9% | +4% |
| RB Benny Snell Jr. | 0 | 0% |
OFFENSIVE LINE
Kevin Dotson had the best grade of the bunch with an 83.9, as seemingly a different member of the line each week steps up for one good performance. The issue is the average hasn’t moved much. Tackles Chuks Okorafor (52.3) and Dan Moore Jr. (43.1) really struggled in Miami.
| LT Dan Moore Jr. | 75 | 100% | |
| RT Chukwuma Okorafor | 75 | 100% | |
| LG Kevin Dotson | 75 | 100% | |
| RG James Daniels | 75 | 100% | |
| C Mason Cole | 75 | 100% | +2% |
| C J.C. Hassenauer | 0 | 0% | -2% |
| TE Trent Scott | 0 | 0% | -3% |
| T Jesse Davis | 0 | 0% |
TIGHT END
Pat Freiermuth was limited in his return from the concussion protocol, but in less than his usual workload, he got the second-highest grade among the Steelers offense with a 69.3.
| TE Pat Freiermuth | 44 | 59% | +59% |
| TE Zach Gentry | 34 | 45% | -21% |
| TE Connor Heyward | 5 | 7% | -40% |
WIDE RECEIVER
George Pickens’ freak touchdown catch was only enough to get him to a 68.1, which led the receivers on a poorly-graded day for Chase Claypool (57.7) and Diontae Johnson (54.7)
| WR Chase Claypool | 64 | 85% | -1% |
| WR Diontae Johnson | 70 | 93% | -2% |
| WR George Pickens | 59 | 79% | -4% |
| WR Gunner Olszewski | 10 | 13% | +13% |
| WR Miles Boykin | 7 | 9% | +3% |
| WR Steven Sims | 0 | 0% | -9% |
DEFENSIVE LINE
It seems clear that Tyson Alualu’s place on the defensive line depth chart continues to slide. Once the top backup to starting tackles Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, he’s now slid behind Chris Wormley, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Montravius Adams in the rotation. Just one of his snaps was as a tradition 3-4 nose tackle over the A-gap, while Adams got 12 snaps in that role. His reduction in playing time has followed miserable grades, as Alualu posted a team-worst 33.6 on Sunday. Adams wasn’t much better at 37. Wormley, on the other hand, was the fourth-highest rated defender at 67.2.
| DT/DE Cam Heyward | 48 | 77% | +2% |
| DT/DE Larry Ogunjobi | 39 | 63% | -1% |
| NT/DT Tyson Alualu | 11 | 18% | 0% |
| DT Chris Wormley | 21 | 34% | +12% |
| 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| NT Montravius Adams | 20 | 32% | +17% |
| DE Isaiahh Loudermilk | 20 | 32% | +1% |
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Malik Reed had one of this best games with the Steelers at a 68.4 grade, but continues to play mostly in pass-down situations, while Loudermilk runs the end opposite Alex Highsmith in the base 4-2 Nickel. The Steelers have gotten back to having two distinct Nickel packages, one for run downs and one for pass downs. Alex Highsmith (58.3) had an uncharacteristically low grade.
| OLB Alex Highsmith | 54 | 87% | +1% |
| OLB Malik Reed | 33 | 53% | -9% |
| OLB Jamir Jones | 3 | 5% | -2% |
| OLB Ryan Anderson | 10 | 16% | +12% |
| 0 | 0% |
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Myles Jack continues to dominate the playing time. Devin Bush had a 79.8 grade against the pass and a 41.7 grade against the run. That’s starting to look like the player many hoped he might be when they drafted him.
| ILB Myles Jack | 52 | 84% | +10% |
| ILB Devin Bush Jr. | 46 | 74% | +10% |
| ILB Robert Spillane | 36 | 58% | -13% |
| ILB Marcus Allen | 0 | 0% | |
| 0 | 0% |
DEFENSIVE BACK
Big changes here make the two Nickel packages more clear, with Art Maulet, James Pierre and Cam Sutton rotating through two spots. Pierre and Sutton rotated at outside corner. It’s not clear if Sutton was limited because of his return from hamstring injury or if Pierre’s strong play in his absence earned him a greater role. Maulet played solely in the slot.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (82.7) and Sutton (79.6) were the highest-graded players on the Steelers defense.
| SS Terrell Edmunds | 62 | 100% | |
| FS Minkah Fitzpatrick | 62 | 100% | +100% |
| 0 | 0% | ||
| BCB/SCB Cam Sutton | 31 | 50% | +50% |
| BCB Levi Wallace | 61 | 98% | +98% |
| SCB Art Maulet | 31 | 50% | -28% |
| FS/SCB/SS Tre Norwood | 10 | 16% | -83% |
| SS Miles Killebrew | 0 | 0% | -1% |
| BCB James Pierre | 32 | 52% | -42% |
| BCB/SCB Josh Jackson | 0 | 0% | -82% |
| 0 | 0% | -15% | |
| 0 | 0% | -12% |
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