PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The first third down conversion last week didn’t come until the final drive. The Steelers are seven of 33 in the last three games on third down. What Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf said of corrections.
Metcalf is counted on to help make those plays, but either he hasn’t been open, Rodgers hasn’t had time or they just haven’t executed. The veteran receiver said they come in every week and see it.
“Every time we come in here and watch the film, it's always one guy here or there,” Metcalf said. “So it's just all of us got to be on the same page, whether that's communicating throughout the week or answering any questions that you feel like you have before we step out there on the field.”
Down and distance plays into the success rate, and while many of the third down misses were third-and-seven or longer, they missed on a third-and-two, third-and-five and third-and-four over the course of the game. The stat that doesn’t make sense for a team over halfway through the season, the Steelers are only converting 30% of third downs at home, but 42% on the road.
“We were zero for our first eight or nine,” Rodgers said. “Obviously the field position didn’t help, but when you're backed up, you've got to get a first down, a couple of first downs to shift that. We didn’t do that and turned the ball over too many times.”
Rodgers said there are things they are working on, but didn’t want to elaborate what they might be, just that they are working on solutions.
How about more Jaylen Warren on third down? Rodgers has clamored for him to be more included in the game plan, he said it again after the game.
“I'd love to see Jaylen on the first, second on the third down, but I'd love to see Kenny (Kenneth Gainwell) on first, second on third downs,” Rodgers said. “We've got a luxury of those two guys. I think we need to keep getting Jaylen more runs on first and second down and mix him in on third down. But Kenny's done a great job on third down for us.”
Before this season, third down is where Warren really got his opportunities. Often of his first three seasons it was Najee Harris on first and second half with Warren coming in during obvious passing situations due to his pass blocking abilities and chance to make something happen with a dump-down pass.
Steelers say they have identified the problems, are working on solutions. Can they execute better Sunday when it matters? Only Atlanta has been worse in the last three games.