Steelers Snap Counts, Grades vs Jets: Injuries Sap Defensive Versatility

Check out the Pittsburgh Steelers snap counts and grades from their 24-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.

QUARTERBACK

Well, the big change to the offense comes here. Obviously not a lot to break down from a snap-count perspective. Mitch Trubisky was back in the range of his first two games with a 60.7 grade. Kenny Pickett graded out at 66.9, better than three of Trubisky’s four efforts this season.

RUNNING BACK

The Steelers ran the ball better than they have against the Jets, and Najee Harris had one of the offense’s better grades at 62.6. Jaylen Warren saw his mark tumble 25 points to 55.8. A poor pass protection grade dragged down Warren’s average.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Steelers offensive line got solid marks for its pass protection, but not much for its run blocking despite improved results. James Daniels (62.9) had the best overall grade. Chuks Okorafor (52.4) had the worst.

TIGHT END

The Steelers used more two-tight end sets against the Jets, with 29 of Zach Gentry’s 39 snaps coming on some type of blocking play. Pat Freiermuth had the second-best grade on the offense with an 83.5

WIDE RECEIVER

The Steelers used more of Gunner Olszewski and Miles Boykin than they have, spreading the workload around the receivers group as well as using more two-tight end sets, so snaps were down for the big three receivers. Unsurprisingly, George Pickens had the best game of his career and the entire offense with an 87.5 grade. Chase Claypool had a miserable day with an offense-worst 49.8 grade.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The change from Montravius Adams to Tyson Alualu at nose tackle was much ado about nothing, as Adams barely played in a Nickel-dominant day for the Steelers defense. Alualu still out-snapped him with his work in the sub packages, especially with Cam Heyward hampered by two injuries. Heyward (80), Ogunjobi (79) and Chris Wormley (74.1) had solid days per PFF.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Alex Highsmith continues to draw big-time minutes with T.J. Malik Reed saw a lot more action this week with Ryan Anderson replacing Delontae Scott’s minimal role. Anderson was the only dressed defensive player that didn’t play on special teams.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Myles Jack is quickly becoming a three-down linebacker, even though Robert Spillane is nominally the Dime backer. Jack and Devin Bush have seen their roles increase as Spillane has struggled this season. His 47.7 grade was the lowest of this unit.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Ahkello Witherspoon missed the game with a hamstring injury and Terrell Edmunds left for the concussion protocol in the first half, essentially dictating the Steelers’ personnel packages after that. The only way to deploy was to play Tre Norwood at strong safety, leaving Cam Sutton and Levi Wallace at outside corner and Art Maulet in the slot.

For a team that wanted to mix and match packages and coverages, and installed three different Nickels and a Dime this summer, they were basically limited to one package against the Jets.

Edmunds had an 84.3 grade to lead Steelers defenders before his injury, and Norwood’s 68.8 was a noticeable drop-off, as he played box safety for the first time in his career. Wallace (39.5) had the worst grade of any Steelers player on the day.