One random Steelers play: A high-stakes RPO

As at all times, we begin by pausing earlier than the snap:

Here, the Steelers are in determined want of a tying landing within the last minute of the sport, and to make issues worse, they’re out of timeouts. After a 29-yard catch and run from Pat Freiermuth on the prior play, Pittsburgh is in no-huddle.

This can be a pleasant snapshot of how tough the Steelers receiver room was at instances final season. This was the primary week of DK Metcalf’s suspension following his Week 16 incident with a Lions fan, whereas Calvin Austin III was out of the lineup with a hamstring harm.

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But regardless of being energetic, Roman Wilson barely broke into the rotation towards the Browns, logging single-digit snaps and no catches. Instead, on the sphere in a game-deciding drive are midseason veteran signings Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, in addition to Scotty Miller. Still, Pittsburgh does have robust receiving weapons at tight finish and operating again on the sphere, with Pat Freiermuth and Kenneth Gainwell within the sport.

The Browns, recognizing it’s a pass-heavy state of affairs, are of their dime package deal (six defensive backs) on protection, with three safeties, three cornerbacks, and only one linebacker. They’re in a two-high shell, ensuring to maintain all the pieces in entrance of them — simply don’t surrender a landing, and it’s a win for Cleveland.

Pittsburgh’s play name is an RPO right here: a run-pass possibility the place Rodgers can select handy the ball to Kenneth Gainwell on the weak aspect zone run, or try a go. The route ideas Rodgers has to select from are a fade from Miller on the X, a bubble display to Thielen from the slot with MVS blocking, and a seam/spot path to Pat Freiermuth.

It must be a fast throw from the quarterback. With the offensive line run blocking (watch how far left guard Spencer Anderson climbs to the second stage of the protection), an unlawful man downfield penalty is a giant danger.

There’s not a vertical possibility right here moreover a low-percentage throw to Miller, nevertheless it’s an amazing play name because the Browns are giving up lots of house close to the road of scrimmage. Whether Rodgers chooses Freiermuth, Thielen, or a handoff to Gainwell, there’s a very good shot at a stable acquire.

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Rodgers makes up his thoughts shortly, taking simply over a second from snap to throw, faking the handoff and hitting Freiermuth in a spot within the protection as the 2 closest defenders are a tick sluggish to react.

It’s not an amazing throw, however contemplating Rodgers has no time to even step into it, it’s adequate. Freiermuth has to make a full 360 to seize the ball and proceed upfield, however he does so easily — regardless of making the catch on the 16-yard line, he’s in a position to flip and drag himself previous the 10-yard line to set the Steelers up for first and purpose.

The play took 21 seconds of the Steelers’ remaining 53, however the Steelers had been nonetheless in a position to get 4 extra performs out of the sport. However, the deficiencies within the staff’s passing sport confirmed up in a giant method: After finishing a fast out to Thielen, three successive finish zone pictures to Valdes-Scantling fell incomplete, and the Steelers misplaced. And to make it much more painful, Rodgers and MVS solely seemed like they had been on the identical web page on a type of throws.

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The Browns would take over on downs, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders kneeling out the clock to safe the Cleveland win.

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