Pittsburgh Steelers Doing Most Everything Right But Closing Out Opponents

by Blitzburgh on Nov 24, 2009 9:00 PM EST Comment 17 comments

Just a quick post that shows just how frustrating it is that the Pittsburgh Steelers are only 6-4 through the first ten games of the 2009 NFL season. Below are the yards per game and yards per game allowed of the relevant playoff contenders in each conference. As you'll see, not many teams have a larger differential than do the Steelers.

AFC #6: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)

Yards/Game: 379.7

Yards/Game Allowed: 277.9

Differential: +101.8

AFC #4: New England Patriots (7-3)

Yards/Game: 416.1

Yards/Game Allowed: 296.7

Differential: +119.4

NFC #7: New York Giants (6-4):

Yards/Game: 385.5

Yards/Game Allowed: 282.2

Differential: +103.3

NFC #1: New Orleans Saints (10-0)

Yards/Game: 420.5

Yards/Game Allowed: 330.6

Differential: +89.9

AFC #1: Indianapolis Colts (10-0)

Yards/Game: 398.5

Yards/Game Allowed: 325.8

Differential: +73.0

NFC #2 :Minnesota Vikings (9-1)

Yards/Game: 375.3

Yards/Game Allowed: 317.0

Differential: +58.3

NFC #5: Philadelphia Eagles (6-4)

Yards/Game: 354.7

Yards/Game Allowed: 305.1

Differential: +53.6

NFC #3: Dallas Cowboys (7-3)

Yards/Game: 381.9

Yards/Game Allowed: 329.9

Differential: +52.0

AFC #8: Baltimore Ravens (5-5)

Yards/Game: 349.4

Yards/Game Allowed: 310.0

Differential: +39.4

AFC #2: Cincinnati Bengals (7-3)

Yards/Game: 335.6

Yards/Game Allowed: 310.5

Differential: +25.1

AFC #3: San Diego Chargers (7-3)

Yards/Game: 336.2

Yards/Game Allowed: 321.1

Differential: +15.1

NFC #4: Arizona Cardinals (7-3)

Yards/Game: 364.1

Yards/Game Allowed: 350.4

Differential: +14.7

AFC #5: Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)

Yards/Game: 354.0

Yards/Game Allowed: 356.1

Differential: -2.1

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Yup

We’re pretty good with the sound and fury.

by Varmint on Nov 24, 2009 10:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not suprised by this at all

Dammit, we watch the games, and we see that we’re consistently outplaying our opponents – then we give it away due to some bungled play, or freakish bad break, or lame-brained call. It’s friggin’ frustrating, and it’s easy to see why so many people are running around with torches and pitchforks. We could so easily be the dominant team of the NFL this year…

by Weirtonite on Nov 24, 2009 11:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I said it before

Turnovers my friends!

by TheCommish on Nov 24, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea

26th i believe in turnover margin.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Blitzburgh on Nov 24, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well it comes back to one thing IMO

Polamalu….

Every game we’ve lost has been without the services of Troy P for the majority of the game. Simple as that.

I poasted this a while back and sure enough the last two games we’ve given up 4th quarter drives without him.

Its very simple, get him back, and we win. Keep him healthy for the postseason, we can go all the way.

But we do have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot on offense too. Thats problem #2

by Mechem on Nov 24, 2009 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no

it’s very simple. Kickoff returns. Check out latest post on main page. Did a ton of research to chek out bad we are on kickoff returns and I was astounded by what I found. Worst ever basically in history of NFL.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Blitzburgh on Nov 25, 2009 2:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont disagree though actually meech

We need him for some ‘splash’ plays to help overcome some of this team’s other weaknesses.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Blitzburgh on Nov 25, 2009 2:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Simply put....

You can’t rely on one guy to win your games for you — particularly since a lot of the Steelers’ problems are on offense and special teams and not defense.

Polamalu is one of a kind and the defense plays at a different level when he’s out there, but he’s not the crutch a team should lean on to win games. It’s a TEAM effort, you know?

by smashtheguitar on Nov 25, 2009 2:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting chart

especially if you note that the Giants ran up a ton of yards against a series of weak teams early in the year and NE had that one game where they blowtorched the Titans.

If you threw out every teams best and worst game Pittsburgh might be on top of this ranking.

by Steelers in XLIV on Nov 25, 2009 10:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's certainly the kickoffs and turnovers for TDs

I dont have time to run numbers…but I’d bet money that if you look at the stats, the steelers are NEVER blown out, are always in the game, they have the lead in the game, and if you subtract 10 point from the game due to just one TD or FG via turnover or kick return, this team has at least 2 more wins this year. 8-2 is obviously much much better than 6-4.

Sure, the D has been not as great in the secondary with out Troy, but they’ve still given the Steeles great chances to win. And the O is doing more than enough….except in that one Bungles game.

by Ragnar808 on Nov 25, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it pretty much lines up with what we thought

This post at Pro-Football-Reference.com shows us to be the 2nd team in the NFL in terms of offense gained over defense allowed. And, both reflect that the special teams and offensive turnovers turning into points for the opponent are our biggest issues.

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Nov 25, 2009 11:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We are throwing the ball more

than ever before which pads the stats but also increases likelihood of TO via INT and fumbles from sacks. Combine that with loss of key personnel, dropped passes, poor 4th quarter D and horrendous ST and we are lucky to be 6-4. There is still time to correct some of these shortcomings and make a run for the playoffs

by qwikdoc on Nov 25, 2009 1:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i cant agree more with the Commish

Turnovers are the key: not giving them up and especially creating them.

2009 Steelers aren’t creating turnovers like they did last year.

by pixburghese on Nov 25, 2009 1:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

granted, the ST is horrible

It is very difficult to overcome all these easy points to the opposition.

There is a point when professional pride and performance need to kick in, especially when you are part of something historically bad. As an organization the Steelers need to be embarrassed of ST so as to whip them into shape.

by pixburghese on Nov 25, 2009 2:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

TO = 100yds

When you turn the ball over, the way I see it, you’re losing 100 yards. The number of yards X that you’ve advanced and you’re giving up and 100-X yards, which is the point your opponent is taking the ball. For instance if you throw an int at the opponents 40, you lose the 60 you already gained plus the 40 that the opponent starts the drive with. I wonder how our differential would rank if we penalize TOs like this.

by srulix on Nov 25, 2009 4:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs