Diagnosing the role formation plays in the Steelers short-yardage failures

[polamalubeast]

Our local stat geek dives into how the team’s formation use in short-yardage situations could explain their failures in Week 7.

After the Steelers big win over the Bengals in Week 7, the Pittsburgh offense took steps forward against their AFC North foe, but they left plenty to be desired at the same time. Red-zone failures, third down struggles, but what most fans were talking about were the team’s short yardage failures.

We put our local Stat Geek (58Steel) on the job, and he broke their short yardage failures by formation to see what he could find. Let’s take a look at the results:

“Although the Steelers had success running the ball, they couldn't convert short 3rd (and 4th) downs. I broke down not only the Steelers success rate on their runs, but also by personnel grouping. Maybe this would shed some light on which personnel groupings were successful, and what they used on the short yardage situations.

I took a look at 39 running plays. (I did not include Martavis' reverse and Ben's kneel downs).

39 carries for 153 yards, 3.92 YPC , 19 successful, 48.7%, 4 runs of 10+ yards, or 10.25%, 7 1st downs, or 17.9%

By personnel grouping:

11 (1 RB, 1 TE): 8-19 yards, 2.38 YPC, 3 successful, 37.5%, 0 runs of 10+ yards, 0 1st downs

12 (1 RB, 2 TE): 12-45 yards, 3.75 YPC, 6 successful, 50%, 1 run of 10+ yards, 2 1st downs, 16%

21 (2 RB, 1 TE): 3-4 yards, 1.3 YPC, 0 successful, 0 runs of 10+ yards, 0 1sy downs

22 (2 RB, 2 TE): 16-85 yards, 5.31 YPC, 10 successful, 62.5%, 3 runs of 10+ yards, 5 1st downs, 31.25%



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https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2017/10/28/16563800/diagnosing-the-role-formation-plays-in-the-steelers-short-yardage-failures-todd-haley-stats-nfl

[FrancoLambert]

How about we try lining up in an I-formation with Nix leading the way for Bell behind DeCastro a few times? Let's see if that might work.

I gotta believe it's a higher percentage play than having Ben throw a "surprise" deep prayer or fades into the end-zone corners.

[Born2Steel]

I thought the formation we used on redzone plays 2 seasons ago worked great, but have not seen it used since. We would put AB wide and MB slot, both on the short side. 2TEs on the wide side, w/Bell beside Ben in shotgun. We ran draws, crosses, 2 deep, TE screens, RB screens, and splits, all from this formation so Ben could read the defense before the snap. I guess to go with the article it fell into the 12 personnel formation, but we ran it more as a RPO formation. I thought it was very innovative. Plus it seemed to work well.