Pittsburg, PA
Comparing Arthur Smith's Pass Game Scheme To Pittsburgh's
After learning a lot about new Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s run types, I wanted to do a similar dive on his passing schemes as a play caller the last five seasons and compare that to Pittsburgh the last two years, considering the largely similar cast at hand for Smith in 2024.
First, here are tables of Smith’s schemes as OC in Tennessee (2019-2020), followed by his 2021-2023 head coach stint in Atlanta, along with Pittsburgh from 2022-2023, with takeaways and breakdowns to follow:
Curl, out, and screen were a top-five pass scheme for Smith and the Steelers in their respective spans. Curls led all groups in attempts, with Smith’s units averaging the highest COMP and Tennessee having the best 7.8 ANY/A (PIT 6.5).
Outs were second most common for each team, with Pittsburgh leading in attempts (142), COMP (71.1), and ANY/A (6.8). The attempts are notable, with Pittsburgh’s two-year sample eclipsing Smith’s last three in Atlanta, along with the Steelers having far more success. Smith’s results on out-schemes were much better in Tennessee, optimistically.
Screens have been a bugaboo in Pittsburgh, and their fourth-most attempts over the span. The strongest 89.9 COMP of the teams in our sights, but the lowest 4.4 ANY/A of the most commonly run schemes, which isn’t surprising. It was a top-five concept for Smith in both coaching spots as well, with lower COMP but healthier ANY/A (TEN-6.8, ATL-6.2).
Smith has run slant concepts more than the Steelers, with more success in COMP and ANY/A (TEN-9.7, ATL-8.8), music to my ears. Just 52 attempts for the Steelers the last two years, a poor 56.4 COMP, along with a 6.7 ANY/A that’s stale in comparison to Smith’s results. Hopefully, he can aid in much-needed screen and slant improvements for Pittsburgh in 2024.
Another concept Smith ran more was dig, fifth and sixth most common in both coaching spots (TEN-69 attempts, ATL-101), compared to it being 12th for Pittsburgh (27). The highest ANY/A was Tennessee, at a whopping 12.5. Atlanta was a different story, with an unfortunate 3.9 ANY/A, the lowest result of high usage concepts. Though Pittsburgh ran it far less, had the best COMP and a strong 9.1 ANY/A, so the data points to optimism with Smith at the helm.
The Steelers use flats a ton, the third most common concept in the last two years (91 attempts). Just 45 for Tennessee from 2019-20 (their seventh highest usage), then more commonly at fifth in Atlanta (177). The Titans 6.6 ANY/A led the group and 84.5 COMP, with Pittsburgh not far behind in the latter (82.8), but a 5.5 ANY/A. Maybe higher usage in other concepts will provide quality over quantity this season.
Another example of a varied scheme for Smith was drag routes, sixth most with Tennessee (47 attempts), eighth with the Falcons (54), compared to 28 Steelers attempts (tenth). Atlanta had the highest 79.9 COMP and 8.7 ANY/A, encouraging results for Smith more recently. In comparison, the Steelers had a 70.8 COMP and 5.8 ANY/A.
Unfortunately, broken plays happen far too often in Pittsburgh, with 64 the last two seasons (fifth most), and happened more for Smith with the Falcons (66, seventh most) over the three-year span, adding context to the Steelers’ high number. Interestingly, Pittsburgh fared best of the group in the undesirable situations, with a 50.8 COMP and 5.9 ANY/A.
Rounding out the top ten most common concepts for Smith in Atlanta was corner (53 attempts) and swing (52). The latter was less utilized with the Titans (22 attempts, T-12th), and even less for Pittsburgh (T-14th) from 2022-’23. The Falcons had the best swing numbers at 78.1 COMP at 6.3 ANY/A. Pittsburgh’s 77.7 COMP wasn’t far behind but was substantially lower by 4.0 ANY/A.
Corner is a more feast or famine concept, with Smith taking that risk more: (TEN-24 attempts, tenth), (ATL- 53 attempts, ninth), compared to just 18 for the Steelers, which ranked 19th in attempts per scheme. COMP in the situation is low in general, with Atlanta’s 43.8 number leading the pack. Pittsburgh cashed in on the low usage with a great 10.7 ANY/A, compared to Tennessee’s 8.0 and 7.2 for the Falcons. No risk it, no biscuit, and it will be interesting to monitor.
Fitting that bill is something Smith did often with the Titans: deep cross (40 attempts, eighth) and seam (35 attempts, ninth), aggressive concepts. That group also had the best COMP and ANY/A in each: deep cross (65.7 COMP, 12.7 ANY/A), seam (85.9 COMP, 21.5 ANY/A). Those seam numbers are impeccable and worthy of salivation. In the Falcon years, had more similar results on deep cross on less usage (64.8 COMP, 11.7 ANY/A), but seam expectedly came down to earth with a less talented roster (62.7 COMP, 6.0 ANY/A).
As expected, Pittsburgh utilized deep cross far less as their 18th concept ran, with abysmal results of 36.7 COMP and 3.4 ANY/A (gross). Also struggled to connect on their 22 seam attempts (42.9 COMP), but had a strong 9.7 ANY/A when they did. Explosion in the passing game is needed in today’s NFL, and hoping this is one of the biggest changes we see with Smith, complementing hopeful run game improvements and increased play-action.
While on that topic, go/fly scheme results are also encouraging, with Smith using it more in Atlanta (12 most common) compared to ranking 20th in Tennessee. A lot of that can be attributed to playing from behind more with the Falcons, but had better numbers in his three years there: ATL (31.1 COMP, 13.0 ANY/A), TEN (18.8 COMP, 8.9 ANY/A). Pittsburgh led the pack with 36 attempts (eighth-most common) and a 33.3 COMP, along with a healthy 9.9 ANY/A. Let’s hope that can be built on, with the data pointing to some optimism.
Best Pass Scheme ANY/A By Smith in Tennessee (2019-2020, listed by most attempts)
Curl (7.8), Screen (6.8), Slant (9.7), Dig (12.5), Flat (6.6), Deep Cross (12.7), Seam (21.5), Comeback (9.5), Post (18.6), Double Move Deep (15.3), Beneath (8.5), Whip (6.0), Angle (15.2), Wheel (15.4), Jerk (21.0).
The most common concept (curl) for all three teams was most successful in Tennessee. Slant was also a top-five concept for Smith in both coaching spots and won out with the Titans in ANY/A. With how much Pittsburgh has run flat (their third most common concept), the Titans leading in ANY/a is encouraging. Substantially more frequent and successful concepts with Smith and the Titans were: dig, deep cross, and seam, with the majority (15 of the 30) of Sport Info Solutions charted concepts leaning in Tennessee’s favor.
Best Pass Scheme ANY/A By Smith in Atlanta (2021-2023, listed by most attempts)
Drag (8.7), Swing (6.3), Fade (12.3), Over Ball (7.2), Go/Fly (13.0), Fade/Back Shoulder (12.6), Leak (28.0), Jet Sweep Pass (10.3).
Better results in Tennessee overall, no doubt. The tables highlight some strong numbers nonetheless, despite this list being shorter. Drag was a top ten most commonly run scheme for all three teams. Some other encouraging and more recent results for Smith in Atlanta, most meaningful in my opinion, were go/fly and fade – back-shoulder, which were the top ten most run concepts in Pittsburgh. Eight of 30 concepts went Atlanta’s way in terms of ANY/A.
Best Pass Scheme ANY/A By Pittsburgh (2022-2023, listed by most attempts)
Out (6.8), Corner (10.7), Broken Play (5.9), Check & Release (6.0), Double Move (4.3), Quick (6.0).
Pittsburgh ran outs, the second most common concept for all three teams, with the most success. Corner is encouraging while also considering healthy ANY/A numbers for Smith as well (TEN 8.0, ATL 7.2). I don’t like to see broken plays, but comparatively, I got out of them the best amongst the group. Check & release was also a top ten concept in attempts for the Steelers, while the rest were five attempts or less, highlighting the overall pass game struggles compared to Smith’s units.
Just six of the 30 concepts leaned Pittsburgh’s way in ANY/A, so hopefully, the stronger results from Smith will carry over for Pittsburgh in 2024. Can’t wait to watch it all play out.
Pittsburg, PA
Pirates Pitcher Paul Skenes’ Best Performance Revealed
Paul Skenes was nothing short of dominant for the Pittsburgh Pirates en route to winning the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year.
But even in a season full of special performances from the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, one performance stood out above the rest for the Pirates. MLB.com picked the best performance for every team in the 2024 season and tabbed his performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 11 as Pittsburgh’s best. Skenes pitched 7 no-hit innings and struck out 11 batters while walking just one on 99 pitches in a 1-0 win over the eventual NL Central champions.
“Skenes had otherworldly expectations coming into 2024, but few could have expected him to dominate the way he did out of the gate, earning an All-Star nod after just 10 Major League starts,” Stumpf writes. “His 11th start made it clear that he was already one of the game’s best, striking out 11 over seven innings of no-hit ball. Skenes walked and hit a batter in the second, his lone blemishes as he would go on to retire the last 16 Brewers he faced. The Pirates would go on to win, 1-0, and Skenes was named the National League’s starting pitcher the next day.“
The only trouble Skenes had came in the second inning with two outs when he hit Brewers Jake Bauers and walked Garrett Mitchell. The Pirates ace escaped the jam by striking out Andruw Monasterio and Skenes sat down the next 15 batters he faced, including seven via strikeout, to end his outing.
Skenes’ outing against the Brewers marked the second time he exited a game without allowing a single hit. He also accomplished the feat on May 17 in the second start of his big league career when he pitched 6 shutout innings, struck out 11 and walked 1 batter against the Chicago Cubs to earn the first win of his career.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburg, PA
Beaver County woman selected as Pittsburgh Steelers nominee for 2024 NFL Changemakers
PITTSBURGH — Chippewa Township resident Carolina Frantz was recently recognized as the Pittsburgh Steelers nominee for the 2024 NFL Changemakers.
The National Football League and the Pittsburgh Steelers have worked together to showcase local leaders who are making a difference in their communities during the NFL’s Inspire Change Weeks since 2017.
“It is exciting and a humbling experience for me,” Frantz said. “I had mentioned to them [the Steelers] when I won the award that I couldn’t believe that I could have won it because there are so many people out there in the community doing all sorts of things. I am just a normal human being, a nurse, looking to make things better for people. I am truly honored to have been chosen for it.”
For Pittsburgh Steelers senior director of community relations Blayre Holmes Davis, honoring Frantz, who has given so much to the community, is an important thing to do.
“We want to take the time to recognize the unsung heroes in our community and we appreciate folks like Carolina who are there to do the work and are there to receive services. We are honored to uplift her story and the work that she has done over the years and everything that is going to come along with it,” Holmes Davis said.
Frantz is currently the BSN-AID Program Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Duquesne University where she helps support students and mentor underrepresented students in nursing.
Back in 2018, Frantz decided to found the Western Pennsylvania Area Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses with an old colleague who worked at Pittsburgh Mercy.
She signed up the chapter to become a distributor of socks from the company Bomba’s. For every pair of socks purchased, the company would also donate a pair.
For three years, the chapter had to wait to become distributors but once Frantz was chosen, she hit the ground running helping the Pittsburgh region all while sorting and distributing socks out of her garage.
“After I received the socks, I contacted my friend at Pittsburgh Mercy who gave me a list of all of the shelters in the Pittsburgh area that needed sock donations to help move product. After contacting them, all of those boxes were offloaded quickly, and I took a day trip in my husband’s pickup truck delivering socks to different homeless shelters in the Pittsburgh region. After that, I just kept expanding donations and continued to distribute them throughout the Pittsburgh region.”
Since 2023, Frantz has delivered over 15,000 pairs of socks to the Pittsburgh community.
While she continues to make impressive strides with her efforts, Frantz’s extensive work within the healthcare field has given her a deeper understanding of what her work can do for a community.
“It is more than just delivering socks,” Frantz said. “I have gotten to see what things look like in the healthcare space. To see people come into the healthcare system with foot ulcers, or other people that are at a higher risk for injuries and wounds. Unfortunately, a lot of people who are experiencing those ailments are part of the unhoused population. People most of the time that are unhoused don’t have proper footwear and socks which place them at a higher risk to develop those wounds.”
While she did not grow up a Beaver County resident, Frantz moved into the Pittsburgh region when she was 12 years old after immigrating from Colombia.
After moving around Western Pennsylvania, she, her husband and three kids moved to the Beaver County area around six years ago after her husband started to work at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant.
While being involved with the community close to home along with volunteer work, she has also started a new position in the Beaver County area.
“Recently I made an addition to my career working for the Gateway Rehab Center, and that was purposeful to give myself more experience in the behavioral health space,” Frantz said. “I have gotten a better understanding of people who have the most needs and continue to be able to give back. I work there once a week as a nurse at the Aliquippa facility, which is another part that I am giving to the community. Hopefully, some of the sock donations from the bigger organizations will touch the Beaver County community soon.”
By being nominated, Frantz will also receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation paid directly to the non-profit of her choice, which is Pittsburgh Mercy.
Frantz will also be recognized at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.
Though she won’t be able to be recognized in person at the game, Holmes Davis believes that her story can continue to push change in the community.
“We are a city that helps each other to create the needs for people,” Holmes Davis said. “We are excited to be able to share her story with our fanbase and hopefully through her work, people in the community will feel inspired to do something in their community as well.”
As Frantz continues to help the community with her various endeavors, she hopes that the work that she did can show people that putting a small effort into helping a cause can go a long way.
“It doesn’t take a lot of sacrifice to make a difference. We have been blessed with the ability to have a garage big enough and I am just one human being. If you take all the people that live in a five-mile region, you can do big things. People can make a lot of difference in the world by doing small things.”
Pittsburg, PA
Santa’s reindeer cleared for Christmas flight in Pennsylvania
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