Welcome back to Steelers snap counts, the weekly column looking at and analyzing… you guessed it, the Steelers’ snap counts from Week 2 versus the Denver Broncos. You’ll find the full table with every players’ numbers, and below that, some key takeaways.
Snap counts from NFL Next Gen Stats.
Steelers Snap Counts Week 2
Player
POS
#
Offensive snaps
Defensive snaps
Special teams
Total snaps
Player
POS
#
Offensive snaps
Defensive snaps
Special teams
Total snaps
Joey Porter Jr.
CB
24
0 (0%)
56 (100%)
8 (32.0%)
64
Spencer Anderson
T
74
58 (100%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
61
Justin Fields
QB
2
58 (100%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
58
Zach Frazier
C
54
58 (100%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
58
Dan Moore Jr.
T
65
58 (100%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
58
James Daniels
G
78
58 (100%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
58
Minkah Fitzpatrick
FS
39
0 (0%)
56 (100%)
2 (8.0%)
58
Patrick Queen
ILB
6
0 (0%)
56 (100%)
2 (8.0%)
58
T.J. Watt
OLB
90
0 (0%)
50 (89.3%)
1 (4.0%)
51
Donte Jackson
CB
26
0 (0%)
49 (87.5%)
1 (4.0%)
50
Troy Fautanu
T
76
49 (84.5%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
49
Alex Highsmith
OLB
56
0 (0%)
45 (80.4%)
2 (8.0%)
47
Van Jefferson
WR
11
46 (79.3%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
46
DeShon Elliott
FS
25
0 (0%)
42 (75.0%)
3 (12.0%)
45
George Pickens
WR
14
43 (74.1%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
43
Cameron Heyward
DT
97
0 (0%)
38 (67.9%)
5 (20.0%)
43
Payton Wilson
ILB
41
0 (0%)
18 (32.1%)
20 (80.0%)
38
Beanie Bishop Jr.
CB
31
0 (0%)
35 (62.5%)
3 (12.0%)
38
Pat Freiermuth
TE
88
34 (58.6%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
37
Nick Herbig
OLB
51
0 (0%)
16 (28.6%)
21 (84.0%)
37
Darnell Washington
TE
80
27 (46.6%)
0 (0%)
6 (24.0%)
33
Calvin Austin III
WR
19
26 (44.8%)
0 (0%)
6 (24.0%)
32
MyCole Pruitt
TE
81
24 (41.4%)
0 (0%)
8 (32.0%)
32
Connor Heyward
TE
83
12 (20.7%)
0 (0%)
20 (80.0%)
32
Larry Ogunjobi
DT
99
0 (0%)
29 (51.8%)
1 (4.0%)
30
Cory Trice Jr.
CB
27
0 (0%)
19 (33.9%)
10 (40.0%)
29
Jaylen Warren
RB
30
26 (44.8%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
29
Damontae Kazee
SS
23
0 (0%)
20 (35.7%)
9 (36.0%)
29
Najee Harris
RB
22
28 (48.3%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
28
Keeanu Benton
DT
95
0 (0%)
25 (44.6%)
1 (4.0%)
26
Montravius Adams
NT
57
0 (0%)
24 (42.9%)
1 (4.0%)
25
Elandon Roberts
ILB
50
0 (0%)
20 (35.7%)
2 (8.0%)
22
Isaiahh Loudermilk
DE
92
0 (0%)
14 (25.0%)
6 (24.0%)
20
Mark Robinson
ILB
93
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
20 (80.0%)
20
Miles Killebrew
SS
28
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
20 (80.0%)
20
Tyler Matakevich
MLB
44
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
19 (76.0%)
19
Ben Skowronek
WR
15
6 (10.3%)
0 (0%)
12 (48.0%)
18
Scott Miller
WR
13
14 (24.1%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
14
Broderick Jones
T
77
9 (15.5%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
12
Darius Rush
CB
21
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
12 (48.0%)
12
Corliss Waitman
P
8
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
11 (44.0%)
11
Christian Kuntz
LS
46
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
11 (44.0%)
11
Cordarrelle Patterson
RB
84
4 (6.9%)
0 (0%)
5 (20.0%)
9
DeMarvin Leal
DE
98
0 (0%)
4 (7.1%)
3 (12.0%)
7
Chris Boswell
K
9
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
6 (24.0%)
6
Ryan McCollum
C
62
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
3
Mason McCormick
G
66
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
3 (12.0%)
3
The iron men
First off, we’ll start with the players who recorded 100% of the available reps on one side of the ball. It’s the usual suspects: Starting quarterback Justin Fields and the starting offensive line minus right tackle Troy Fautanu (84.5% due to being subbed out for Broderick Jones one drive).
On defense, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and linebacker Patrick Queen played 100% of the snaps. Donte Jackson, who hit the mark last week, recorded 87.5% due to an injury scare. Star pass-rusher T.J. Watt was also among the Steelers’ most-played defenders, logging 50/56 possible defensive snaps.
Biggest risers
Outside of the obvious (Fautanu), slot corner Beanie Bishop Jr. jumped from 54% of defensive snaps to 62.5% from Week 1 to Week 2. Defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk jumped from nine defensive snaps (18%) to 14 (25%). Due in part to Donte Jackson’s injury, Cory Trice went from six defensive snaps (12%) against the Falcons to 19 versus the Broncos (33.9%). He’d go on to record his first career interception. Safety Damontae Kazee went from 12 (24%) to 20 (35.7%).
Across special teams and offense, wide receiver Ben Skowronek went from 10 total snaps to 18, including recording his first offensive reps of the year against Denver.
On offense, Connor Heyward went from just five snaps (7.6%) to 12 (20.7%) in Week 2 while George Pickens went from 66.7% against the Falcons to 74.1% against Denver. The big winner was a healthier Jaylen Warren, who recorded 44.8% of offensive snaps after just 28.8% a week ago.
Biggest fallers
Again, we’ll ignore the obvious here with the Broderick Jones benching and look at less expected changes. After being Pittsburgh’s top skill position player in terms of offensive snaps last week (72.7%), tight end Pat Freiermuth dropped to just 58.6% in Week 2. However, tight end usage (outside of Heyward) dropped as a whole, meaning this was likely a symptom of the gameplan versus Denver.
Najee Harris also saw a drop in snaps (38 to 28 — 57.6% to 48.3%), but that was expected given Jaylen Warren’s return. For those on Cordarrelle Patterson watch, the veteran back’s offensive snaps also dropped, from nine in Week 1 to four in Week 2.
On defense, Elandon Roberts dropped from 46% of snaps to 35.7%. However, the ratio of his play time to Payton Wilson’s remains about the same.
Making the most of it award
This week’s made-up award for the biggest impact in the least snaps goes to the aforementioned Cory Trice Jr. He played just 19 defensive snaps and started on the outside for even less, but his end zone interception was the most important play of the afternoon.
The surprises
Most big surprises were covered in the risers and fallers, but one interesting thing to note is how drastically the Steelers offensive plays/defensive plays ratio changed from last week to this week. Against the Falcons, it was a whopping 66 to 50. Against the Broncos, it was 58 to 56.
Van Jefferson remains the Steelers’ top receiver in terms of playing time.
Darnell Washington out-snapped MyCole Pruitt for the first time this season. It’ll be interesting to watch if it flip-flops back and forth based on the matchup this year.
Mason McCormick is up from one snap last week to three against Denver. Progress!
What are your takeaways from this week’s snap counts? Join the Behind the Steel Curtain community and let us know in the comments!
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