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Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 16, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images)
Every couple of weeks or so throughout the National Football League season, I’m going to bring you statistics that hopefully will blow your socks off…or at the very least raise your eyebrows at least a couple of millimetres.
Today I bring you part two of the first segment; altogether meaningless as we have only had two weeks of regular season action, but hopefully useful to you when arguing with your friends about, say, Adrian Peterson’s chances of breaking the rushing title, or how the Rams have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL (no, really). So let’s begin:
For the first part of this article, click here: The NFL through week two: part one
What’s going on in Steel City?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are traditionally known for two things; great defence and a solid run game. Well, that isn’t true anymore. These aren’t your grandfather’s Steelers. They aren’t even your father’s Steelers. In fact, I don’t think anybody knows what they are right now.
The Steelers defence ranks 10th in the NFL after two games. That’s not awful. It isn’t quite the elite level that Dick LeBeau’s unit is used to, but it isn’t something to be ashamed of. However, while LeBeau can probably be proud of that ranking, he certainly won’t like this:
The Steelers’ defence ranks dead-last in the NFL in sacks (one), forced fumbles (zero) and interceptions (zero). They haven’t got any pressure, and they haven’t forced a single turnover in two games. One of those games was against a rookie running back, and one was against Jake Locker. They have to find a way of getting the ball back for their offence.
As bad as the defence has been, though, the real reason for the Steelers’ 0-2 start has been the running game. They have a pitiful 75 yards of rushing in eight quarters of football. 34 NFL players, including five quarterbacks, have more than that on their own.
It’s time to panic if you’re a Steelers fan.
Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings is chased by Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 15, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Vikings 31-30. (Getty Images)
The story of the Running Backs
The most important back to keep an eye on – statistically – this year is obviously Adrian Peterson. The 28-year-old is currently on pace for 1549 yards, nowhere near the 2106 yards needed to break Eric Dickerson’s rushing record.
However, last season (when he fell only eight yards short of breaking the record), Peterson had 144 yards on 33 carries for an average of 4.36 yards per carry after week two. This season he has actually bettered that total, racking up 193 yards on 44 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. He typically heats up towards the middle of the season, so don’t think that the record is out of sight just because of his less than extraordinary start. There’s plenty of time.
Philadelphia Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy had only 200 carries in his injured-shortened 12 game season last year, an average of 16.6 carries per game. This caused many Eagles fans and fantasy owners to spit poison at Head Coach Andy Reid, feeling that such a talented runner warranted more extensive utilisation in the offence.
New boy Chip Kelly has fixed that problem. McCoy is averaging 21 rushing attempts in Kelly’s new no-huddle offence, the fifth most in the NFL. The runner’s yards per game have also increased from 70.0 to 118.5, as has his yards per attempt, which has gone from 4.2 to 5.6. It’s good news for Eagles fans.
The story isn’t so pleasant elsewhere in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens double punch, Bernard Pierce and Ray Rice, have both had horrible starts to the season. Taking all running backs with at least twenty carries or more, they rank third and fourth last in yards per attempt with 2.8 and 2.9 respectively. Combined, they have only 151 yards on 53 attempts. The top eight runners in the league all have more rushing yards than that on their own, with fewer or the same number of carries.
Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park on September 8, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)
However, neither one of the Ravens rushers have been quite as bad as Frank Gore. The San Francisco 49ers feature back has carried the ball 30 times this season only 60 yards (2.0 yards per carry). Even more alarmingly, only 10% of his carries (three) have gone for first downs. By comparison, last year over 25% of his runs moved the chains. If San Francisco are going to retain their NFC West title this season, they will need far more production out of Gore than that.
Surprisingly, Gore won’t even be the most inefficient starting running back in week three. On Tuesday, Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith ruled out Steven Jackson for their week three match-up against the Miami Dolphins. This is bad news for Atlanta fans, as Jackson’s replacement, Jacquizz Rogers, is one of the most statistically terrible players in the league so far.
With 16 yards rushing on 13 carries, Rogers’ 1.2 yard per carry average is the worst of anyone with double digit rushing attempts. Discounting his season long run of 7 yards, which is underwhelming in itself, the Falcons’ back has averaged only 0.75 yards on 12 carries. To put things into perspective, Joe Flacco (Ravens) and Andy Dalton (Bengals) have been more efficient and productive runners so far this season.
Washington Leaks
New Orleans Saints had the statistically worst defence in NFL history last season, giving up 7042 yards (440.1 per game). Washington Redskins has already given up 1023 yards in just two games, which works out at 511.5 per game. Granted, Mike Shanahan’s team had to face the previously unseen Chip Kelly offence in their season opener, and then go into Lambeau against a wounded 0-1 Green Bay Packers side. That’s a tough ask for anyone.
Things should get easier for the Redskins soon, but as long as they’re leaking 500 yards per game we’ll keep a close eye on that record.
Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets looks on before taking on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 12, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Getty Images)
No clowns in this circus
It’s easy (and correct) to criticise the circus surrounding the New York Jets offence. They can’t run the ball and they can’t catch. However, there is hope for this team on other side of the ball. Rex Ryan has his defence playing as well as any unit in the league right now, bar none, and it might win them their fair share of games.
So far this season, the Jets have faced running backs Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Steven Ridley (Patriots), who were the fifth and seventh best rushers in the league in 2012. They have faced Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), who had the fifth most receiving yards in 2012. And they have faced Tom Brady (Patriots), who regardless of the weapons at his disposal is still Tom Brady.
Facing those threats, the Jets have emerged through week two as the second best defence in the NFL. Only Seattle Seahawks have surrendered fewer yards per game this season. Only Seattle and Kansas City have conceded fewer points.
Kudos Rex Ryan.
Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints directs play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers September 15, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)
NFL: The passing league
It’s week two, so take this as seriously as you want, but there are currently three passers on pace to break Drew Brees’ record for single season passing yards. The record is 5,476 yards, which requires a yards per game average of 342.25. Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos (385 ypg), Eli Manning of the New York Giants (406 ypg) and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (407 ypg) will all beat that on current pace. Brees (of the Saints) is himself just short at 340 ypg.
However, while it is ridiculous to predict what will happen over a six week season in the air, what we do know is what has happened in the first two weeks of the season through the air. The second week of 2013 saw the highest number of passing yards ever thrown in a single NFL week.
Interestingly, the previous record was set last week.
Punters (and kickers) are people too
Rich Eisen wants us all to respect that punters are people too. I feel obligated, therefore, to throw some punter (and kicker) statistics your way to round things off:
New Orleans’ Thomas Morstead is not leading the league in punt average (that would be Atlanta’s Matt Bosher), but if you look beyond pure distances it is clear that the Saint is having a fabulous start to the season. Of the seven punts he has attempted thus far, six were downed inside the 20 and he hasn’t recorded a single touchback. That is pro bowl-calibre accuracy.
On the other side of things, the worst punter in the league so far is Washington’s Sav Rocca, who ranks dead last with a 38.8 net average. The poor ‘skins just haven’t caught a break in any phase of play this year.
Dallas Cowboys’ Dan Bailey is the pick of the place-kickers. His 100% record on field goals includes two from more than 50 yards. He is the only kicker in the league to have converted more than one field goal from that distance. Meanwhile Houston Texans kicker Randy Bullock has missed four of his five field goal attempts, albeit three of them were from 50+ yards. That is what you call a baptism of fire.
*Unless hyperlinked, all stats taken from ESPN.go.com
For the first part of this article, click here: The NFL through week two: part one
