We’re through the first four practices of the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. Monday is the team’s first off day with the pads coming on Tuesday, the first of six straight practices where we’ll learn a lot about this team. As we’ve been doing for years, we’re sharing our training camp stats.
A little background. Sure, “camp stats” seem over the top. But we do them for a couple reasons. One, to separate ourselves from all the other practice reports. That’s just the truth. We like to go the extra mile and offer something unique. Two, it helps provide context to confirm or challenge the eye test, especially as practices stack up and feel like they run together. Three, we can use the relative data – these numbers compared to past years – to offer benchmarks and baselines. These numbers should be taken in context and they’re just one piece of the puzzle but they help offer hard data on what’s happening at camp.
Let’s get into the stats.
Training Camp Stats (Practices #1-4)
Quarterbacks
Kenny Pickett: 26/45 (57.8 percent) 296 yards (6.6 YPA) 6 TDs 0 INTs – 11.4 YPC
Mason Rudolph: 23/37 (62.2 percent) 273 yards (7.4 YPA) 0 TDs 3 INTs – 11.9 YPC
Mitch Trubisky: 13/28 (46.4 percent) 107 yards (3.8 YPA) 3 TDs 0 INTs – 8.2 YPC
Tanner Morgan: 2/7 (28.6 percent) 13 yards (1.9 YPA) 0 TDs 0 INTs – 6.5 YPC
QB Reps
Kenny Pickett: 60 (12-16-16-16)
Mason Rudolph: 50 (11-12-12-15)
Mitch Trubisky: 43 (12-16-15-0)
Tanner Morgan: 12 (0-0-0-12)
Some thoughts here. Kenny Pickett’s completion percentage might not look great, but his numbers are far better than a year ago. Through his first four practices as a rookie, he completed just 50 percent of his throws, his YPA was only 2.1, and his YPC was 4.2. Compare that to his second year.
Pickett In 2022
Completion percentage:Â 50.0
YPA:Â 2.1
YPC:Â 4.2
Pickett In 2023
Completion percentage:Â 57.8
YPA:Â 6.6
YPC:Â 11.4
Everything trending up, clearly.
It’s the opposite for Trubisky, who had a 9.9 YPC last year. That number’s fallen to 8.2 while his YPA has decreased by more than a yard. He’s been pretty conservative with the football so far. Not putting a ton of stock here, small sample size and he’s a known vet, but those are the numbers.
Running Backs
Najee Harris: 7 carries, 23 yards (3.3 YPC)
Jaylen Warren: 6 carries, 26 yards (4.3 YPC)
Anthony McFarland Jr: 6 carries, 23 yards (3.8 YPC)
Jason Huntley: 5 carries, 28 yards (5.6 YPC)
Darius Hagans: 3 carries, 9 yards (3.0 YPC)
Jordan Byrd: 1 carry, 14 yards
Alfonzo Graham: 1 carry, 5 yards
Connor Heyward: 1 carry, 0 yards
Not much to note here and hard to put stock in these padless practices. Two jet runs so far, one by Byrd and one by McFarland.
CATCHES/TARGETS/YARDS/TOUCHDOWNS – CATCH PERCENTAGE
Gunner Olszewski: 6/11 54 yards 1 TD – 54.5 percent
Pat Freiermuth: 5/9 43 yards 1 TD – 55.6 percent
George Pickens: 5/8 100 yards 1 TD- 62.5 percent
Allen Robinson: 5/7 52 yards 1 TD – 71.4 percent
Dez Fitzpatrick: 5/7 49 yards 1 TD – 71.4 percent
Calvin Austin III: 3/7 73 yards – 42.9 percent
Zach Gentry: 5/6 36 yards 2 TDs- 83.3 percent
Cody White: 4/6 47 yards – 66.7 percent
Anthony McFarland: 4/6 20 yards 1 TD – 66.7 percent
Darnell Washington: 2/6 17 yards – 33.3 percent
Connor Heyward: 3/5 26 yards 1 TD – 60 percent
Ja’Marcus Bradley: 3/5 25 yards – 60 percent
Hakeem Butler: 2/5 35 yards – 40 percent
Najee Harris: 2/5 6 yards – 40 percent
Diontae Johnson: 3/3 32 yards – 100 percent
Rodney Williams: 2/3 22 yards – 66.7 percent
Miles Boykin: 1/3 12 yards – 33.3 percent
Dan Chisena: 1/2 19 yards – 50 percent
Jason Huntley: 1/1 10 yards – 100 percent
Jaylen Warren: 1/1 8 yards – 100 percent
Jordan Byrd: 1/1 4 yards – 100 percent
Darius Hagans: 1/1 3 yards – 100 percent
Drops
Calvin Austin III: 3
George Pickens: 1
Connor Heyward: 1
Darnell Washington: 1
Ja’Marcus Bradley: 1
Hakeem Butler: 1
Gunner Olszewski: 1
– Olszewski having a solid start to camp just as he did last season. Showing plus body control along the sideline and easily leads the team in targets.
– Feast or famine for Austin. Two long catches, 41 and 27 yards, but a sub-50 percent completion rate with three drops. Should note none of the three were super egregious, nothing that him right in the chest, but they were grabs he can make but struggles because of difficulty extending outside his frame.
– Zach Gentry has been working underneath and been efficient and effective. Tight ends have been involved this summer.
– Quiet start for Darnell Washington. A drop, a false start, and hasn’t done much with his six targets. Hoping it gets better throughout camp. Still early, of course, and he’s a rookie. It’s not always perfect.
– Najee Harris also involved in the pass game less than I thought.
Interceptions
Kenny Robinson: 2
Elijah Riley: 1
