The Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the rollercoaster ride of a season in 2023, especially when it came to their wide receivers. Amidst the drama and turmoil, there was a silver lining in the form of Mason Rudolph, whose presence seemed to bring some calm to the storm.
AP
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph (2) celebrates with George Pickens (14), Allen Robinson II (11) and Jaylen Warren (30) after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16.
However, the real stars of the show were Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, who, despite their struggles in the media, found themselves ranked among the top wide receivers in the NFL, courtesy of ESPN Metrics.
Steelers Have Two Of The Best Wide Receivers In The NFL
Johnson's performance in the 2023 season earned him the prestigious seventh spot on ESPN's list of the greatest wide receivers in the league. Pickens secured the eighth spot on the list.
Pickens had an exceptional second season in the NFL, amassing 1,140 receiving yards on 63 catches, accompanied by five touchdowns. Particularly noteworthy was his remarkable average yards per catch of 18.1, showcasing his ability to make significant gains with each reception.
Associated Presss
Steelers' George Pickens turns a Mason Rudolph pass into an 86-yard touchdown.
In 2023, Johnson had 51 catches for 717 yards, scoring five touchdowns with an impressive average of 14.1 yards per catch. While their basic stats may not immediately scream top 10 receiver, a closer look reveals the depth of their talent. ESPN Metrics reached far beyond the surface-level statistics.
ESPN Metrics relies on Receiver Tracking Metrics (RTMs) to assess a receiver's performance comprehensively. Unlike conventional counting statistics, RTMs are per-play rate metrics that offer a more nuanced analysis. RTMs consist of four key components: Open Score, Catch Score, YAC Score, and a combination of the three. Each component is rated on a 0-99 scale, with 50 representing the league average.
Open Score measures a receiver's ability to create separation from defenders. It takes into account factors like route precision and quickness, highlighting a receiver's effectiveness in getting open.
Catch Score evaluates a receiver's hands, tracking their ability to make difficult catches, especially in contested situations. It goes beyond simple reception counts to assess the quality of receptions.
YAC Score focuses on the yards gained after the catch. It utilizes tracking data at the moment of catch to predict additional yards based on field dynamics. YAC Score reveals a receiver's knack for surpassing expectations and generating extra yards, offering valuable insights into player performance.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Diontae Johnson (18) running with the ball against the Ravens in Week 18.
Consistency is paramount across all RTMs. Each metric establishes a benchmark tailored to the specific context of the play, evaluating how effectively a receiver surpasses or falls short of this predetermined benchmark. It's not just about the yards gained, but about the receiver's ability to outperform expectations.
Certain routes, particularly non-targeted routes on screen passes, are excluded from RTM evaluation. In these instances, receivers are primarily engaged in blocking rather than creating separation. Targeted screen routes only consider Catch and YAC Scores, as openness on these routes is predominantly a result of play design.
Establishing benchmarks for each route involves meticulous consideration of various factors, including route type, depth, coverage scheme, receiver position, distance from the sideline, time elapsed after the snap, down and distance, yard line position, and play-action involvement.
The goal of these metrics extends beyond ranking receivers; they serve as tools to comprehend how receivers perform in different aspects of the game. While traditional win-rate metrics identify top receivers, RTMs shed light on their potential for breakout performances with more targets and their ability to elevate their quarterbacks' performance beyond what statistics might suggest.
In the tumultuous 2023 NFL season, Johnson and Pickens proved that their impact on the field transcended basic statistics, earning their spots among the top wide receivers in the league according to ESPN Metrics.
Despite the ups and downs, these metrics reveal the true essence of their talent, promising an exciting future for the Steelers' receiving corps. Now the next issue is going to be finding out who will be throwing them the football in 2024 and who will be coordinating the offense.
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