Red Zone offense. Improvement is needed.

[Coach]

We got a franchise QB in his prime, perhaps the best WR in the game, a good OL, one of the best back in the league in RB in Bell, and a very good one in Williams.


Yet the 2015 Steelers scored a touchdown in the red zone 57 percent of the time they got there. This was good enough for No. 13 in the NFL ( 16 or 17 would be average ). With all the weapons they have, the notion that they couldn’t get a touchdown six times out of 10 trips is a bit disconcerting.


Why is this so? It is play calling / coaching calls, penalites, or lack of offensive talent?

 

[POP]

One thing that puzzled me, is if they are so confident in going for a 2 point conversion, why do they suck at red zone scoring? I know it's not the identical, same thing, but you'd think if they were proficient at one, they'd also be good at the other.

 

[AvonOhioSteeler]

I think the there are 2 common themes of teams that excel in the red zone. A running QB like Cam Newton is huge. Big Ben really isn't a threat to run it in from 10 yards out. As is having a huge receiver that can get the football at its highest point in tight coverage like Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, AJ Green, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Gates. Even when these guys don't score, they attract a ton of attention in the red zone and open things up for other players. While Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the NFL, his skill set is more suited to play between the 20s with lots of open field. MB had potential here. Maybe Ladarius Green helps us here this coming season?

 

[ark steel]

While increasing the red zone % would be nice, they were 7th in Scoring per drive, which doesn't suck.

Before the why is it so issue for RZ%, it would be nice to see the total number of trips to the red zone compared to other teams. It would, also, be nice to see the plays of the individual drives after entering the RZ. Would one more TD over what we got had them ranked considerably higher? A couple of teams were within 1.5% or so above the Steelers.

4 or 5 of the teams with higher RZ%'s didn't even make the playoffs.

 

[Coach]

One thing that puzzled me, is if they are so confident in going for a 2 point conversion, why do they suck at red zone scoring? I know it's not the identical, same thing, but you'd think if they were proficient at one, they'd also be good at the other.

The Steelers were 8 for 11 on 2 point conversions. Simply amazing.

2 point tries can't hurt a team. Only the offense can score.

On regular downs, a fumble or interception can result in a return score. So there is a danger element.

I think Haley's playcalling is the main reason why the team doesn't score more touchdowns in the offense.

 

[Coach]

4 or 5 of the teams with higher RZ%'s didn't even make the playoffs.

Ark Steel,

Would that mean that 8 or 9 teams with a higher RZ% did make the playoffs? We were 13th in RZ%

This shows RZ% is a very important indicator to make the 12 team playoff format. Field goals ar nice, but you need to score touchdowns, at least two of them to win most games.

 

[ark steel]

Ark Steel,

Would that mean that 8 or 9 teams with a higher RZ% did make the playoffs? We were 13th in RZ%

This shows RZ% is a very important indicator to make the 12 team playoff format. Field goals ar nice, but you need to score touchdowns, at least two of them to win most games.

Didn't disagree that higher RZ% is more better. I think points per drive would be a better indicator, though, and should cover a larger # than the # of times a team gets in the RZ.

The thing I was trying to point out is that, without knowing the # of trips to the RZ, a team with a high RZ% may actually show as 6/10 for 60%, but a team who got to the red zone 20 times may have gotten 11 TD for 55%. Which team was better?

Overall RZ scoring has improved over the years.

[TABLE="class: cms_table"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]RZ[/TD]
[TD]G2G[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2015[/TD]
[TD]60.71%[/TD]
[TD]74.19%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2014[/TD]
[TD]52.73%[/TD]
[TD]66.67%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2013[/TD]
[TD]52.83%[/TD]
[TD]75.00%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2012[/TD]
[TD]55.10%[/TD]
[TD]83.33%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2011[/TD]
[TD]50.94%[/TD]
[TD]63.33%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2010[/TD]
[TD]48.00%[/TD]
[TD]68.00%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2009[/TD]
[TD]48.21%[/TD]
[TD]64.52%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2008[/TD]
[TD]55.10%[/TD]
[TD]58.62%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2007[/TD]
[TD]58.18%[/TD]
[TD]70.83%[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[POP]

I think the there are 2 common themes of teams that excel in the red zone. A running QB like Cam Newton is huge. Big Ben really isn't a threat to run it in from 10 yards out. As is having a huge receiver that can get the football at its highest point in tight coverage like Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, AJ Green, Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Gates. Even when these guys don't score, they attract a ton of attention in the red zone and open things up for other players. While Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the NFL, his skill set is more suited to play between the 20s with lots of open field. MB had potential here. Maybe Ladarius Green helps us here this coming season?

AB can be a good red zone WR in different ways than a big one. When he and Ben are on same page, he can do a double move to get open, as I have seen him do last season; he can come off the LOS, juke like he is going outside, and then cut to the middle and get wide open and Ben drills the pass.

 

[POP]

I think Haley's playcalling is the main reason why the team doesn't score more touchdowns in the offense.

Guess what happens as they are driving down the field? Ben calls a lot of plays.

What happens when in RZ? Haley usually calls the plays. Coincidence?

When Haley calls the plays, we suck.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Bell didn't play much in 2015, he will improve the red zone offense in 2016.

 

[GMC]

Bell missing time and Vick and Jones playing a quarter of the season didn't help.

 

[POP]

Bell didn't play much in 2015, he will improve the red zone offense in 2016.

That is a good point. I believe you are right; if Bell is in there we are tougher to defend in the RZ. You HAVE to put a man on him, and if that man is a LB, he will mostly like beat him on a pass play. He causes real match up problems. If they counter with adding more DBs, we can run the ball down their throat. Pick your poison.

 

[chipped ham]

That is a good point. I believe you are right; if Bell is in there we are tougher to defend in the RZ. You HAVE to put a man on him, and if that man is a LB, he will mostly like beat him on a pass play. He causes real match up problems. If they counter with adding more DBs, we can run the ball down their throat. Pick your poison.

And this is exactly what the "We're equally fine with Williams over Bell" crowd doesn't get. Bell is so good in space and getting open, he's truly a double threat be it running or catching. His absence killed in the red zone because Williams just isn't as good as him. That's not to say Williams sucks, oh no. He's just not a healthy Le'veon Bell. If Bell recaptures that 2014 version, we're gonna be pretty ******* set.

 

[ark steel]

http://nflsavant.com/targets.php?rz=redzone&ddlYear=2015&week=&ddlTeam=PIT&ddlPosition=

This site gives some stats on targets in the RZ. Running and Receiving. Odd that, on the running they list Williams twice. No idea of accuracy of the stats. Seems you can click on the player name to see a breakdown of the individual plays.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I still think they throw too much when they get close and the D has less ground to cover. Having Bell out for much of the season probably resulted in more throwing too. Just seems that too often they come away with 3 instead of 7.

 

[POP]

And this is exactly what the "We're equally fine with Williams over Bell" crowd doesn't get. Bell is so good in space and getting open, he's truly a double threat be it running or catching. His absence killed in the red zone because Williams just isn't as good as him. That's not to say Williams sucks, oh no. He's just not a healthy Le'veon Bell. If Bell recaptures that 2014 version, we're gonna be pretty ******* set.

Williams does run with good power down near the goal line; I admit that. And he _can_ catch for a back fairly well. But, like you said, he ain't no Bell.

Bell has Marshall Faulk-like skills coming out of the backfield. Super hard to defend him. I love when a LB tries to cover him. FAIL. No chance.

 

[ark steel]

I still think they throw too much when they get close and the D has less ground to cover. Having Bell out for much of the season probably resulted in more throwing too. Just seems that too often they come away with 3 instead of 7.

Probably, has something to do with it. Brown's slipperiness is still there, but defenders don't have to worry about him getting 20 yards downfield.

 

[TDX27]

With a healthy Bell and Brown and with Green and Coates (both big tall receivers that can go up and get the ball), I think we should be much better. Health and play calling will be the keys.

 

[Litos]

Bell and Green will help AB in the RZ, even Jesse James can be helpful chipping on the block and moving to the open space like Heeeeaaath used to do

 

[Stryker]

I think our coaches are doing the right thing by going for 2. Not only were we very efficient at it, it creates a comfort with getting into the endzone when you're close to the line. It was the first year doing it last year, and last year's RZ% was a HUGE improvement over the previous year. I expect it to improve this year as well with the focus on going for 2.

 

[SteelerAl]

Just another case of Coach misusing statistics. There's nothing wrong with our redzone offense. I don't think we are likely to be #1 in the NFL is this category because AB, Wheaton and Coates are all under 6'2" and we don't have a Gronk-like force at tight end. But the reason our RZ% in 2015 left something to be desired is easily explained by the following:

1) Missed time by Bell, Ben and Bryant;
2) Heath Miller was not capable of getting much separation at his age; and
3) We got into the red zone ALOT. If you're basing your conclusions solely based on touchdown percentage, it's tough to be near the top of the league in TD% when you have so many opportunities (i.e. it's easier to convert at a 75% rate if you only get to the red zone twice per game vs. 4 times).

 

[SteelerAl]

It's worth noting the Ben and Bell were almost never on the field at the same time last season. When Bell returned from suspension in game #3, Ben went out with the knee injury. When Ben returned from the knee injury (the home game vs. the Bengals), Bell suffered his knee injury.

When you actually think about that, doesn't it seem pretty damn stupid to say things like "we've got a great QB and a great RB, why was our red zone offense so average last year?". The answer is we never had both of those things on the damn field.

 

[stillwright]

]I still think they throw too much when they get close and the D has less ground to cover[/B]. Having Bell out for much of the season probably resulted in more throwing too. Just seems that too often they come away with 3 instead of 7.

I have no problem with them throwing....what kills me is when they motion the RB out of the back field and take away the guessing game for the defense. This also happens a ton in third and short a lot.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Barring injuries, I'm not really concerned about the offense at all, as with Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown all on the field at the same time, they're going to score......a lot.

The concern lies with the pass defense. If the likes of Dupree, Cockrell and Golson fulfill the expectations the team has for them, this is easily a 12+ win team, IMO.

 

[slashsteel]

We got a franchise QB in his prime, perhaps the best WR in the game, a good OL, one of the best back in the league in RB in Bell, and a very good one in Williams.


Yet the 2015 Steelers scored a touchdown in the red zone 57 percent of the time they got there. This was good enough for No. 13 in the NFL ( 16 or 17 would be average ). With all the weapons they have, the notion that they couldn’t get a touchdown six times out of 10 trips is a bit disconcerting.


Why is this so? It is play calling / coaching calls, penalites, or lack of offensive talent?

JoelBushbaum
Member
Rating: 2.3/5 this site
20151 posts this site
Red zone. Some work is needed.
Thursday at 11:59 AM
(6 votes)


We got a franchise QB in his prime, perhaps the best WR in the game, a good OL, one of the best back in the league in RB in Bell, and a very good one in Williams.


Yet the 2015 Steelers scored a touchdown in the red zone 57 percent of the time they got there. This was good enough for No. 13 in the NFL ( 16 or 17 would be average ). With all the weapons they have, the notion that they couldn’t get a touchdown six times out of 10 trips is a bit disconcerting.


Why is this so? It is play calling / coaching calls, penalties, or lack of offensive talent?

are yinz Joel Bushbaum on Scout.com ?