One of a few summer projects I hope to get completed in these next few weeks when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers is a deep dive into quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and specifically, his deep passing stats. In short, I will be looking to contextualize the deep passing attempts of Roethlisberger dating back to the 2016 season to see if there is anything that sticks out either good or bad or any trends that are noticeable.
Today, we will look at Roethlisberger’s deep pass completions of 20 or more air yards dating back to 2016 and this contextualization includes all playoff games as well.
In total, I have Roethlisberger down for 118 deep pass completions dating back to 2016 and once again, the qualifier for those were balls thrown 20 or more yards past the line of scrimmage. A whopping 44 of those 118 deep pass completions went for touchdowns with 20 of those going to wide receiver Antonio Brown.
33 of those deep pass completions went outside the numbers to the left side of the field while 40 others went to the right side of the field and outside the numbers. With Roethlisberger being right-handed, that’s not too surprising that the right side of the field has been his predominant side.
Roethlisberger’s average completed air yards on these 118 deep passes was 28.4 yards. His average in 2020 was 26.4, however.
Only 13 of the 118 deep pass completions by Roethlisberger dating back to 2016 came with him under center. On top of that, none came from under center in 2020. Only 12 of Roethlisberger’s deep pass completions included play action and eight of those came with him under center.
Surprisingly, only 18 of the 118 deep pass completions that Roethlisberger has had dating back to 2016 came via him extending the play. I was sure that number would have been greater than 18 and especially with Brown being in Pittsburgh for three of those seasons, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
So, what sticks out the most on film and in these contextualized deep pass plays? First, Brown was quite an incredible wide receiver and Roethlisberger sure had some chemistry with him. That was obvious during the time, however, and certainly not a new revelation.
The fact that Roethlisberger has been a pure shotgun deep pass passer with no play-action is the other thing that really stands out so far in this study. It will be interesting to see how if that changes in 2021 with Matt Canada now installed as the Steelers new offensive coordinator.
The next part of this study will include a look at Roethlisberger’s deep pass incompletions dating back to 2016.
LEGEND
SG = Shotgun
NH = No Huddle
PA = Play Action
EXT = Extended The Play
AREA = 1-5 (3 = Between Hashes)
LOC = Location
DIST = Air Yards
YAC = Yards After Catch
YDS = Total Yards Gained
TD = Touchdown On Plat
DATE | OPP | Q | TIME | DWN | DIST | LOS | SG | NH | PA | EXT | TARGET | AREA | LOC | DIST | YAC | YDS | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9/12/16 | WAS | 2 | 10:18 | 4 | 1 | WASÂ 29 | N | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 29 | 0 | 29 | Y |
9/12/16 | WAS | 3 | 8:26 | 2 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | Y | N | N | S.Coates | 1 | DL | 32 | 10 | 42 | N |
9/12/16 | WAS | 3 | 7:08 | 3 | 3 | WASÂ 26 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 26 | 0 | 26 | Y |
9/12/16 | WAS | 4 | 6:39 | 2 | 19 | WASÂ 36 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 23 | -2 | 21 | N |
9/18/16 | CIN | 1 | 4:47 | 3 | 9 | PITÂ 35 | Y | N | N | Y | S.Coates | 1 | DL | 28 | 16 | 44 | N |
9/18/16 | CIN | 3 | 7:12 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 38 | Y | N | Y | N | S.Coates | 4 | DR | 49 | 4 | 53 | N |
9/25/16 | PHI | 1 | 13:37 | 3 | 6 | PITÂ 29 | Y | N | N | N | E.Rogers | 5 | DR | 26 | 6 | 32 | N |
9/25/16 | PHI | 2 | 11:12 | 3 | 4 | PITÂ 23 | Y | Y | N | N | S.Coates | 5 | DR | 42 | -1 | 41 | N |
9/25/16 | PHI | 2 | 10:24 | 1 | 10 | PHIÂ 36 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 20 | 0 | 20 | N |
10/2/16 | KC | 1 | 12:28 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 5 | N | N | Y | Y | S.Coates | 5 | DR | 45 | 2 | 47 | N |
10/2/16 | KC | 1 | 7:34 | 3 | 9 | KCÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | D.Heyward-Bey | 1 | DL | 29 | 2 | 31 | Y |
10/2/16 | KC | 1 | 1:28 | 2 | 8 | KCÂ 38 | N | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 2 | DM | 38 | 0 | 38 | Y |
10/2/16 | KC | 3 | 11:26 | 3 | 4 | KCÂ 30 | Y | N | N | N | M.Wheaton | 1 | DL | 30 | 0 | 30 | Y |
10/9/16 | NYJ | 1 | 10:25 | 3 | 7 | PITÂ 28 | Y | N | N | N | S.Coates | 5 | DR | 40 | 32 | 72 | Y |
10/9/16 | NYJ | 3 | 0:42 | 3 | 3 | NYJÂ 33 | N | Y | N | N | S.Coates | 5 | DR | 21 | 1 | 22 | N |
10/16/16 | MIA | 4 | 1:08 | 2 | 4 | MIAÂ 23 | Y | Y | N | N | C.Hamilton | 1 | DL | 23 | 0 | 23 | Y |
11/6/16 | BAL | 4 | 8:47 | 4 | 3 | BALÂ 23 | Y | Y | N | Y | A.Brown | 4 | DM | 23 | 0 | 23 | Y |
11/6/16 | BAL | 4 | 5:30 | 3 | 21 | PITÂ 9 | Y | Y | N | N | E.Rogers | 3 | DM | 28 | 2 | 30 | N |
11/6/16 | BAL | 4 | 2:04 | 2 | 10 | PITÂ 35 | Y | Y | N | N | E.Rogers | 3 | DM | 25 | 4 | 29 | N |
11/13/16 | DAL | 3 | 15:00 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | C.Hamilton | 1 | DL | 35 | 4 | 39 | N |
11/13/16 | DAL | 4 | 9:15 | 2 | 8 | DALÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 20 | 0 | 20 | N |
11/24/16 | IND | 1 | 1:13 | 3 | 5 | INDÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 23 | 2 | 25 | Y |
11/24/16 | IND | 2 | 9:08 | 2 | 8 | INDÂ 33 | N | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 4 | DR | 33 | 0 | 33 | Y |
11/24/16 | IND | 4 | 7:51 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 36 | N | N | Y | N | L.Green | 5 | DR | 28 | 7 | 35 | N |
11/24/16 | IND | 4 | 5:38 | 3 | 3 | INDÂ 22 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 22 | 0 | 22 | Y |
12/4/16 | NYG | 2 | 7:20 | 2 | 3 | NYGÂ 22 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 4 | DR | 22 | 0 | 22 | Y |
12/4/16 | NYG | 3 | 6:26 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 12 | N | N | Y | N | L.Green | 3 | DM | 22 | 11 | 33 | N |
12/11/16 | BUF | 1 | 8:26 | 2 | 8 | PITÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 38 | 2 | 40 | N |
12/18/16 | CIN | 2 | 8:05 | 3 | 2 | PITÂ 27 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 25 | 7 | 32 | N |
12/18/16 | CIN | 2 | 0:44 | 3 | 7 | PITÂ 40 | Y | N | N | Y | C.Hamilton | 2 | DL | 20 | 1 | 21 | N |
12/18/16 | CIN | 3 | 13:56 | 3 | 17 | PITÂ 18 | Y | N | N | N | L.Green | 5 | DR | 23 | 0 | 23 | N |
12/18/16 | CIN | 3 | 5:42 | 2 | 8 | PITÂ 32 | Y | N | N | N | E.Rogers | 3 | DM | 28 | 0 | 28 | N |
12/18/16 | CIN | 4 | 7:36 | 2 | 16 | CINÂ 24 | Y | N | N | N | E.Rogers | 3 | DM | 24 | 0 | 24 | Y |
12/18/16 | CIN | 4 | 3:37 | 3 | 8 | PITÂ 29 | Y | N | N | N | L.Green | 3 | DM | 21 | 7 | 28 | N |
12/25/16 | BAL | 1 | 7:18 | 1 | 10 | BALÂ 20 | Y | N | N | N | X.Grimble | 3 | DM | 20 | 0 | 20 | Y |
1/15/17 | KC | 1 | 5:28 | 3 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 47 | 5 | 52 | N |
1/22/17 | NE | 3 | 1:35 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | S.Coates | 5 | DR | 23 | 7 | 30 | N |
1/22/17 | NE | 4 | 3:42 | 1 | 10 | NEÂ 30 | Y | N | N | N | C.Hamilton | 5 | DR | 30 | 0 | 30 | Y |
9/10/17 | CLE | 4 | 2:47 | 2 | 12 | PITÂ 18 | Y | N | Y | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 38 | 0 | 38 | N |
9/17/17 | MIN | 3 | 7:01 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 38 | Y | Y | N | N | M.Bryant | 1 | DL | 51 | 0 | 51 | N |
9/24/17 | CHI | 2 | 0:17 | 2 | 15 | PITÂ 37 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 22 | 0 | 22 | N |
9/24/17 | CHI | 2 | 0:13 | 1 | 10 | CHIÂ 41 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 4 | DM | 22 | 1 | 23 | N |
10/8/17 | JAX | 1 | 13:23 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 28 | N | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 40 | 9 | 49 | N |
10/8/17 | JAX | 2 | 0:41 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 39 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 4 | DR | 21 | 0 | 21 | N |
10/8/17 | JAX | 4 | 4:15 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 29 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 3 | DM | 20 | 1 | 21 | N |
10/15/17 | KC | 3 | 7:34 | 2 | 6 | PITÂ 15 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 2 | DL | 25 | 5 | 30 | N |
10/22/17 | CIN | 2 | 12:59 | 1 | 10 | CINÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 2 | DM | 21 | 10 | 31 | Y |
10/22/17 | CIN | 2 | 0:55 | 2 | 17 | PITÂ 16 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 23 | 0 | 23 | N |
10/29/17 | DET | 1 | 15:00 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 5 | DR | 25 | 16 | 41 | N |
10/29/17 | DET | 2 | 5:02 | 3 | 9 | DETÂ 45 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 3 | DM | 38 | 2 | 40 | N |
10/29/17 | DET | 3 | 3:15 | 3 | 9 | PITÂ 3 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 3 | DM | 25 | 72 | 97 | Y |
11/12/17 | IND | 3 | 11:28 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 34 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 5 | DR | 32 | 12 | 44 | N |
11/16/17 | TEN | 1 | 12:33 | 2 | 10 | TENÂ 41 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 2 | DL | 41 | 0 | 41 | Y |
11/16/17 | TEN | 4 | 13:39 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 49 | Y | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 23 | 0 | 23 | N |
11/26/17 | GB | 4 | 8:50 | 1 | 10 | GBÂ 33 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 24 | 9 | 33 | Y |
11/26/17 | GB | 4 | 0:17 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 30 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 25 | -2 | 23 | N |
12/10/17 | BAL | 2 | 14:00 | 3 | 3 | BALÂ 34 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 28 | 0 | 28 | N |
12/10/17 | BAL | 2 | 6:20 | 2 | 6 | PITÂ 30 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 39 | 4 | 43 | N |
12/10/17 | BAL | 4 | 1:08 | 3 | 4 | PITÂ 36 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 29 | 5 | 34 | N |
12/17/17 | NE | 2 | 15:00 | 3 | 8 | PITÂ 44 | Y | N | N | N | M.Bryant | 5 | DR | 36 | 3 | 39 | N |
12/25/17 | HOU | 1 | 7:48 | 3 | 3 | HOUÂ 47 | Y | N | N | N | M.Bryant | 5 | DR | 35 | 1 | 36 | N |
1/14/18 | JAX | 2 | 8:26 | 1 | 10 | JAXÂ 23 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 23 | 0 | 23 | Y |
1/14/18 | JAX | 2 | 0:32 | 4 | 11 | JAXÂ 36 | Y | N | N | N | M.Bryant | 4 | DR | 36 | 0 | 36 | Y |
1/14/18 | JAX | 4 | 10:34 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | N | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 2 | DL | 21 | 6 | 27 | N |
1/14/18 | JAX | 4 | 9:14 | 4 | 5 | JAXÂ 43 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 43 | 0 | 43 | Y |
1/14/18 | JAX | 4 | 0:58 | 1 | 10 | JAXÂ 47 | Y | Y | N | N | M.Bryant | 4 | DR | 20 | 22 | 42 | N |
9/9/18 | CLE | 1 | 6:15 | 3 | 5 | CLEÂ 45 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 5 | DR | 22 | 5 | 27 | N |
9/9/18 | CLE | 3 | 8:29 | 2 | 22 | CLEÂ 22 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 22 | 0 | 22 | Y |
9/16/18 | KC | 2 | 14:30 | 1 | 10 | KCÂ 26 | Y | Y | N | Y | J.James | 2 | DL | 23 | 3 | 26 | Y |
9/24/18 | TB | 1 | 1:08 | 2 | 10 | PITÂ 8 | N | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 4 | DR | 33 | 10 | 43 | N |
9/30/18 | BAL | 1 | 3:22 | 2 | 8 | PITÂ 22 | Y | N | Y | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 2 | DL | 24 | 14 | 38 | N |
9/30/18 | BAL | 2 | 2:59 | 2 | 4 | BALÂ 26 | Y | Y | N | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 26 | 0 | 26 | Y |
10/7/18 | ATL | 4 | 9:49 | 1 | 10 | ATLÂ 47 | N | N | Y | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 38 | 9 | 47 | Y |
10/14/18 | CIN | 2 | 2:00 | 3 | 6 | CINÂ 30 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 5 | DR | 29 | 0 | 29 | N |
10/28/18 | CLE | 2 | 11:35 | 1 | 10 | CLEÂ 43 | Y | Y | N | Y | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 33 | 10 | 43 | Y |
11/4/18 | BAL | 4 | 11:17 | 2 | 9 | PITÂ 28 | Y | N | N | N | J.James | 5 | DR | 26 | 25 | 51 | N |
11/8/18 | CAR | 1 | 10:29 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 1 | DL | 25 | 50 | 75 | Y |
11/8/18 | CAR | 2 | 11:59 | 3 | 2 | PITÂ 42 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 4 | DM | 32 | 1 | 33 | N |
11/8/18 | CAR | 2 | 3:16 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 47 | Y | Y | N | N | A.Brown | 5 | DR | 34 | 19 | 53 | Y |
11/18/18 | JAX | 3 | 1:31 | 2 | 9 | PITÂ 22 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 4 | DM | 43 | 35 | 78 | Y |
11/18/18 | JAX | 4 | 1:39 | 2 | 4 | PITÂ 38 | Y | Y | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 1 | DL | 35 | 0 | 35 | N |
11/25/18 | DEN | 2 | 0:59 | 2 | 10 | DENÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | R.Switzer | 3 | DM | 20 | 4 | 24 | N |
11/25/18 | DEN | 3 | 10:47 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 3 | N | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 4 | DM | 29 | 68 | 97 | Y |
12/2/18 | LAC | 1 | 10:10 | 1 | 10 | LACÂ 47 | N | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 43 | 3 | 46 | N |
12/2/18 | LAC | 2 | 0:24 | 1 | 10 | LACÂ 28 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 2 | DL | 28 | 0 | 28 | Y |
12/9/18 | LV | 2 | 2:16 | 2 | 9 | PITÂ 48 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 5 | DR | 20 | 0 | 20 | N |
12/16/18 | NE | 3 | 12:20 | 2 | 6 | PITÂ 25 | Y | Y | N | N | J.Washington | 5 | DR | 27 | 5 | 32 | N |
12/23/18 | NO | 1 | 0:35 | 3 | 4 | PITÂ 38 | Y | N | N | N | V.McDonald | 5 | DR | 28 | 21 | 49 | N |
12/23/18 | NO | 2 | 5:25 | 3 | 2 | PITÂ 11 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 21 | 7 | 28 | N |
12/23/18 | NO | 3 | 2:38 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 34 | Y | N | N | Y | A.Brown | 4 | DR | 26 | 0 | 26 | N |
12/23/18 | NO | 3 | 1:05 | 2 | 10 | NOÂ 20 | Y | N | N | N | A.Brown | 1 | DL | 20 | 0 | 20 | Y |
12/30/18 | CIN | 3 | 5:15 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 26 | Y | N | N | N | J.Washington | 5 | DR | 34 | 13 | 47 | N |
9/8/19 | NE | 3 | 13:27 | 3 | 10 | PITÂ 37 | Y | N | N | N | J.Washington | 5 | DR | 38 | 7 | 45 | N |
9/14/20 | NYG | 1 | 4:46 | 3 | 9 | PITÂ 33 | Y | Y | N | N | C.Claypool | 5 | DR | 28 | 0 | 28 | N |
9/20/20 | DEN | 2 | 6:34 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 16 | Y | N | N | N | C.Claypool | 1 | DL | 37 | 47 | 84 | Y |
9/20/20 | DEN | 4 | 11:34 | 2 | 6 | DENÂ 28 | Y | N | N | Y | D.Johnson | 4 | DM | 28 | 0 | 28 | Y |
10/11/20 | PHI | 4 | 3:04 | 3 | 8 | PHIÂ 35 | Y | N | N | N | C.Claypool | 3 | DM | 25 | 10 | 35 | Y |
10/18/20 | CLE | 1 | 14:24 | 3 | 5 | PITÂ 30 | Y | N | N | N | J.Washington | 1 | DL | 21 | 6 | 27 | N |
10/18/20 | CLE | 2 | 11:12 | 2 | 3 | CLEÂ 39 | Y | Y | N | N | C.Claypool | 1 | DL | 32 | 4 | 36 | N |
10/18/20 | CLE | 2 | 5:49 | 1 | 10 | CLEÂ 28 | Y | Y | N | N | J.Washington | 5 | DR | 28 | 0 | 28 | Y |
10/25/20 | TEN | 2 | 14:22 | 3 | 12 | TENÂ 33 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 2 | DL | 20 | 1 | 21 | N |
11/8/20 | DAL | 4 | 15:00 | 2 | 6 | DALÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 3 | DM | 23 | 8 | 31 | Y |
11/15/20 | CIN | 1 | 2:52 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 26 | Y | N | N | N | D.Johnson | 1 | DL | 36 | 10 | 46 | N |
11/15/20 | CIN | 2 | 9:21 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 41 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 4 | DR | 21 | 3 | 24 | N |
11/22/20 | JAX | 2 | 7:07 | 2 | 7 | JAXÂ 31 | Y | N | N | N | C.Claypool | 5 | DR | 30 | 1 | 31 | Y |
11/22/20 | JAX | 2 | 1:02 | 2 | 10 | JAXÂ 24 | Y | N | N | N | D.Johnson | 1 | DL | 23 | 0 | 23 | N |
12/2/20 | BAL | 2 | 14:23 | 2 | 7 | BALÂ 49 | Y | Y | N | N | E.Ebron | 1 | DL | 24 | 3 | 27 | N |
12/7/20 | WAS | 1 | 4:46 | 2 | 10 | PITÂ 23 | Y | N | N | N | J.Washington | 4 | DR | 24 | 6 | 30 | N |
12/7/20 | WAS | 2 | 8:21 | 2 | 14 | WASÂ 35 | Y | N | N | Y | C.Claypool | 3 | DM | 30 | 0 | 30 | N |
12/7/20 | WAS | 4 | 0:12 | 2 | 10 | PITÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | E.Ebron | 1 | DL | 20 | 2 | 22 | N |
12/13/20 | BUF | 2 | 1 | 10 | BUF 19 | Y | N | N | N | J.Washington | 4 | DM | 23 | 0 | 19 | Y | |
12/21/20 | CIN | 3 | 12:11 | 1 | 10 | CINÂ 23 | Y | N | N | N | D.Johnson | 5 | DR | 23 | 0 | 23 | Y |
12/27/20 | IND | 3 | 7:09 | 1 | 10 | INDÂ 48 | Y | N | N | N | C.Claypool | 4 | DR | 23 | 11 | 34 | N |
12/27/20 | IND | 3 | 3:23 | 1 | 10 | INDÂ 39 | Y | N | N | N | D.Johnson | 5 | DR | 39 | 0 | 39 | Y |
12/27/20 | IND | 4 | 7:43 | 1 | 10 | INDÂ 25 | Y | N | N | N | J.Smith-Schuster | 2 | DL | 25 | 0 | 25 | Y |
1/10/2021 | CLE | 2 | 4:36 | 1 | 10 | PITÂ 49 | Y | Y | N | N | J.Washington | 5 | DR | 20 | 7 | 27 | N |
1/10/2021 | CLE | 4 | 11:13 | 1 | 10 | CLEÂ 29 | Y | Y | N | N | C.Claypool | 4 | DM | 25 | 4 | 29 | Y |
1/10/2021 | CLE | 4 | 1:44 | 4 | 10 | CLEÂ 40 | Y | N | N | Y | J.Smith-Schuster | 2 | DM | 33 | 0 | 33 | N |