The Steelers are one of the most conservative offenses in the NFL this season, tied for the fewest fourth-down attempts. They have only attempted an offensive play on fourth down six times, converting on three. Perhaps the fact that they rank in the bottom 10 in conversion rate is a factor, but nevertheless, they do notice leaguewide trends.
This season, a full 25 teams have at least 10 attempts on fourth down at the midway point. Fourteen teams have at least 14 attempts, and four teams have at least 19 attempts. The Colts converted all five fourth-down attempts against the Steelers last Sunday. Largely thanks to that, they have the best conversion rate in the NFL at 88.2 percent. So what does Pittsburgh make of all this?
“Those are things that are talked about obviously, because it does change the mindset a little bit”, OC Arthur Smith said about the increase in fourth-down attempts, via the Steelers’ media department. He noted that as teams are more willing to go for it, their calls on third down have evolved.
“I think that teams are really aggressive sometimes their third and longs are clearing the paint and checking it down and trying to get to fourth and two and three”, he said. “Now you’re seeing defenses adapt when they’re playing soft zone and they may have one guy on the spy”.
In other words, it’s not just the offense but the defense that has to adapt as well. And the Steelers should know that as well as anybody after watching the Colts convert five times on fourth down. So far, however, it hasn’t really been Pittsburgh’s thing, and not for a lack of opportunities.
“Those are conversations that are talked about before and sometimes in-game. If you get that, you know, if you’re a third and five and all of a sudden, then it’s like, ‘Hey, go for it'”, Smith said. “Well, that would’ve changed your thought going into the third down call. So, it’s all part of it”.
Going into the bye week, Mike Tomlin did mention observing leaguewide trends and seemed to hint at the possibility of the Steelers attempting to convert more often on fourth down. They have only attempted three fourth-down conversions since then, however, the same number as before. But all three have also come in the past five quarters of play.
Before last Sunday’s game, it’s worth noting, the Steelers had zero fourth-down conversion attempts before the fourth quarter. They attempted it twice against the Colts, however, both in the first half. Late in the first quarter, Aaron Rodgers made the necessary throw to Darnell Washington for what should have been a touchdown, but he wasn’t ready for the ball. Later, in the second quarter, they successfully ran the “Tush Push” with Connor Heyward.
But will we see the Steelers attempt to convert on fourth down more often? They only fairly recently broke out the Tush Push as a short-yardage option. And it’s worth noting that at other times a penalty prevented them from converting.
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