1. Mike goes deep
Pittsburgh Steelers trade acquisition Mike Williams is 30 years old and in the midst of a season in which he has fewer catches (12) than the wide receivers he is intended to be an upgrade over (Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson have 14 catches apiece in eight games).
It’s fair to posit that Williams’ best football is behind him. But from 2018-21, he was legitimate No. 1 wide receiver-caliber — particularly on deep balls. And that’s an area in which Williams still could contribute to the Steelers offense.
Over Williams’ aforementioned most productive four-season span, he averaged 59 catches, 978 yards and seven touchdowns. It was being a deep threat where Williams stood out most.
According to Next Gen Stats, Williams led the NFL in average depth of targeted pass in 2019 at 17.4 yards down the field. He also finished among the top 10 in that category in 2018 and 2020.
Per Pro Football Focus data, Williams was among the NFL leaders in touchdowns on passes caught 20 or more yards downfield between 2018-21 with 10. In 2019 and 2021, he was among the top 10 in the NFL in deep targets and catches.
2. Russ throws deep
Why Williams’ history of downfield plays is so relevant to the Steelers is that he would seem to be another ideal fit with their quarterback, who likewise has plenty of data to support his proficiency with deep passing plays.
Over the first nine seasons of Russell Wilson’s career, he never finished lower than a tie for 10th in the NFL in passing attempts of 20-plus yards downfield, completions of 20-plus yards downfield or in touchdowns on passes of 20-plus yards downfield. He also never finished lower than ninth in PFF grading for such deep balls. During Wilson’s 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, he never finished lower than fifth in the NFL in passes caught 20 or more yards past beyond line of scrimmage.
In two starts with the Steelers, Wilson is 5 for 7 with a touchdown on “deep” passes.
3. That’s special
Danny Smith and his special teams units have gotten plenty of plaudits this season — and for good reason after multiple blocked field goals and extra points, a blocked punt, Chris Boswell’s near-perfect field-goal kicking and Calvin Austin III’s punt-return touchdown in the Steelers’ most recent game.
Notice something missing from that list? Kickoffs have been the Steelers (relative) weakness. They rank dead last in kickoff return average (21.0 yards) and have not had a kick return of longer than 32 yards. Only three teams have yet to hit that standard.
The Steelers are also in the bottom half of the league in opponent kick return average (27.3).
Punts, of course, are a far different story — the Steelers are second in the NFL in opponent return average (4.8 yards) and themselves rank seventh at 12.9 yards.
PFF’s grades rank the Steelers as the league’s third-best special-teams unit overall.
4. Your vote, your choice
In a quirk relating to that the NFL’s interconference scheduling format revolves on four-year cycles similar to U.S. presidential elections, the Steelers for the fourth time over the past five elections for president are playing in proximity to our nation’s capital within five days of it.
In 2008, the Steelers played at the then-Redskins on the eve of Election Day. In 2016 and 2020, the Steelers played against the Ravens in Baltimore two days before those elections. (Yes, M&T Bank Stadium is 40 miles from Washington, D.C., but don’t forget that the Commanders don’t play in the District of Columbia but in Landover, Md. — itself, some 15 miles from the White House, so Baltimore stands for this frivolous purpose).
For those wondering. … The Steelers won their 2008 and 2020 games in the Washington/Baltimore Metro area — and the Democratic candidates prevailed in the election each time. When the Steelers lost at the Ravens on Nov. 6, 2016, the Republican party nominee won that week. An ominous sign for the Steelers on Sunday?