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The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled to get things going consistently on offense during Week 2 as the defense struggled through the loss of several key players to injury. On the contrary, Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season is a reminder to Steelers fans not to take anything for granted and how tricky the game difference between wins and losses can be. The Steelers must now return to the drawing board to avoid an early season losing streak.
So how did the individual players rank?
For this exercise, we’ll be looking at Pro Football Focus (PFF) player ratings for their Week 2 performances. Before we go any further, I have to give the typical disclaimer that PFF ratings are subjective. While some people rely on them a lot, others are quite skeptical of the process in which they are determined. It is entirely up to each person to determine how much stock they put in PFF notes. For me, I often look at the scores to see if my own “eye test” matches what others considered a player’s performance. If nothing more, the notes create a discussion about their accuracy or inaccuracy each week.
Instead of looking at the whole team at the same time, we divide the scores in attack and defense. The first is offense. All players who have played at least one snap will be included and the total number of snaps for each player will be included. For reference, the Steelers played 56 offensive snaps in Week 2.
Globally
Top 5 (whatever the position)
WR Diontae Johnson: 72.3 (49 photos)
QB Ben Roethlisberger: 72.2 (56 shots)
TE Pat Freiermuth: 71.4 (33 shots)
OT Chuks Okorafor: 71.3 (56 shots)
WR Chase Claypool: 65.0 (43 photos)
Last 5 (whatever the position)
RB Benny Snell Jr.: 51.3 (3 presses)
G Trai Turner: 47.7 (45 shots)
WR James Washington: 40.7 (12 press studs)
TE Zach Gentry: 40.6 (8 shots)
TE Eric Ebron: 38.1 (24 shots)
Strategist
QB Ben Roethlisberger: 72.2 (56 shots)
This will both baffle and frustrate some Steelers fans. With PFF ratings not determined by whether the team wins or loses, Roethlisberger’s scores in the first two weeks don’t necessarily match up with the narratives associated with the games. After Week 1, many Steelers fans felt that Roethlisberger’s 38.0 score, which was the lowest of any NFL QB that week, was disrespectful because he didn’t have the worst. performance, especially during an upset victory. But with the Steelers offense not producing at a higher level than the week before, many fans were disappointed with Roethlisberger’s ability to lead the offense. Regardless of the narrative, Roethlisberger’s score reflects a player who was much more accurate with his passes than he was the week before.
The rear runners
RB Najee Harris: 63.5 (53 shots)
RB Benny Snell Jr.: 51.3 (3 presses)
Before I get into the Steelers’ backs, I have to admit the frustration of having to take a name off that list the week before. Even though it hadn’t been many plays, the Steelers didn’t deploy an attacking full-back for a single snap in Week 2. As for running back ratings, Najee Harris scored higher in the passing game (65.0) than in the run. game (59.8). In the end, Harris’ most encouraging note came from his pass blocking (84.8) as he did a good job on all six snaps where he was used to help defend Ben Roethlisberger.
Receivers
WR Diontae Johnson: 72.3 (49 shots)
TE Pat Freiermuth: 71.4 (33 shots)
WR Chase Claypool: 65.0 (43 photos)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: 61.0 (54 photos)
WR Ray-Ray McCloud: 60.0 (1 press)
WR James Washington: 40.7 (12 press studs)
TE Zach Gentry: 40.6 (8 shots)
TE Eric Ebron: 38.1 (24 shots)
Again, three of the top five overall positions came from a wide receiver with Pat Freiermuth and Chase Claypool appearing in both Week 1 and Week 2. Seeing Diontae Johnson at the top of the list was encouraging, despite several games where he stopped early or was not on the same page as Ben Roethlisberger. Seeing Eric Ebron’s score plummet while Pat Freiermuth has remained essentially the same may be something to consider as to how the Steelers deploy their tight ends in the weeks to come.
Offensive line
OT Chuks Okorafor: 71.3 (56 shots)
C Kendrick Green: 63.5 (56 shots)
G Kevin Dotson: 62.7 (56 shots)
OT Dan Moore Jr .: 60.8 (56 shots)
G BJ Finney: 58.5 (11 shots)
G Trai Turner: 47.7 (45 shots)
This is another category where fan stories may not match the scores given. With the Steelers Nation majority on right tackle Chuks Okorafor, he led the offensive linemen with not only the highest overall score but the Steelers best blocking rating of 79.5 in Week 2. While they didn’t receive outstanding ratings, three of the Steelers’ five starting offensive linemen – Dotson, Green and Okorafor – improved their ratings from the previous week.
So what do you think of the above notes? Do they take the eye test? Let us know your thoughts on the Steelers’ defensive ratings in the comments below.
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