Green Bay Packers v. Steelers: Snap Counts, Grades & Takeaways

The Green Bay Packers came away with the 27-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Just as I did following the San Francisco game, below I take a look at the snap counts for each player and provide my thoughts on the play of each position group. Unlike last week, we saw more opportunities on offense for several players, and unfortunately, more snaps for the backup cornerbacks with Jaire Alexander’s injury.

I’ve also included each players Week 4 grade from PFF ($$). While grades should be taken with a grain of salt, they can help illustrate how a player performed in comparison to everyone else within the position group.

For reference, 90.0 and up is considered elite, 80-89.9 is good/high quality, 70-79.9 is average, 60-69.9 is below average, and below 60.0 is classified as poor.

Green Bay Packers Offense

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (72 snaps)

This was far from Aaron Rodgers’ best performance, but the Green Bay Packers were able to move the ball through the air fairly consistently. Rodgers completed 20 of his 36 pass attempts for 248 yards at 6.9 yards per attempt with two passing touchdowns and another on the ground.

The offensive line gave Rodgers time in the pocket, and collectively, the Packers were 9/15 on third-down conversion attempts, with Rodgers relying heavily on Randall Cobb in those situations.

PFF Grade: Rodgers (64.8)

Running back: Aaron Jones (45), AJ Dillon (29)

AJ Dillon came into this game with just 18 carries over the first three games–for some context, Aaron Jones had 19 carries against San Francisco. But on Sunday, we saw an equal distribution, with both backs tallying 15 carries.

This is a Pittsburgh defense that allowed only 88 rushing yards per game prior to the contest, but Jones and Dillon would run for 129 yards on 4.0 yards per carry. The run game is what makes this Green Bay offense go, and for the most part, the Packers stuck with it once again.

PFF Grades: Jones (74.2), Dillon (84.8)

Wide receiver: Davante Adams (63), Allen Lazard (57), Randall Cobb (33), Amari Rodgers (11), Equanimeous St. Brown (7)

Similar to the running back position, we saw a more equal distribution of the ball among the Green Bay pass catchers. Against the Niners, Davante Adams was targeted 18 times while everyone else — including the running backs and tight ends — combined for 12 targets. However, in this game, Adams still had 11 targets, but everyone else would combine for 24.

Cobb led the way with 69 receiving yards, including four third-down conversions and two touchdowns. Adams posted 64 yards on six receptions, Jones had 51 yards, and Allen Lazard had 33 yards on a pair of catches. We also saw more jet-action with Amari Rodgers.

PFF Grades: Adams (76.9), Cobb (90.5), Lazard (61.3), Rodgers (59.7), St. Brown (56.6)

Tight end: Robert Tonyan (56), Marcedes Lewis (35), Josiah Deguara (24)

Robert Tonyan was targeted seven times, two of which could have gone for big plays; however, he finished with only two receptions for eight yards.

Both Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis were again utilized as help in pass protection against a good Pittsburgh pass rush, while it was a rough day for Josiah Deguara, who was called for a penalty and could be seen missing a block.

PFF Grades: Tonyan (46.3), Lewis (55.1), Deguara (29.2)

Offensive line: Yosh Nijman (72), Jon Runyan (72), Josh Myers (72), Royce Newman (72), Billy Turner (72)

Headlined by TJ Watt, this is a Steelers pass-rush that can get after the quarterback, but once again, this young Green Bay Packers offensive line unit held up quite well. Rodgers had time to go through his reads, averaging 2.52 seconds in the pocket before delivering the ball, and was pressured only 10 times, according to PFF ($$).

On the ground, as I already mentioned, the Packers would average 4.0 yards per rush and total 129 rushing yards. We rarely heard Watt’s name called during the game.

PFF Grades: Turner (63.9), Runyan (61.6), Nijman (57.6), Myers (52.1), Newman (44.2)

Green Bay Packers Defense

Interior defensive line: Kenny Clark (50), Dean Lowry (38), Kingsley Keke (30), TJ Slaton (9), Jack Heflin (3)

The Green Bay Packers need someone — or multiple defenders — to step up next to Kenny Clark each week. Against the 49ers, that was Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster; this week, that was Kingsley Keke, who has had a rough start to the season.

Keke had a terrific pass-rush rep that resulted in a fumble, and he’d also record two pressures and a stop. Clark continues to bully offensive lineman, and I also have to say that I was surprised that we didn’t see more of TJ Slaton, given that Lancaster was out. Jack Heflin would also take his first career NFL snaps.

PFF Grades: Keke (91.3), Clark (64.9), Lowry (62.0), Heflin (40.2), Slaton (39.6)

Edge rusher: Rashan Gary (38), Preston Smith (36), Jonathan Garvin (26), Chauncey Rivers (19)

Ben Roethlisberger was only pressured seven times by the Green Bay Packers defense, but a lot of that had to do with the quick passing game. With Roethlisberger only holding the ball for an average of 2.05 seconds, it’s nearly impossible to get to the quarterback in that amount of time.

With that said, and despite the lack of gaudy numbers, I thought that the Green Bay pass rush was effective. The threat of the pass rush dictated the game and forced Pittsburgh to rely on quick passes, just as they’ve done all season, while Big Ben did look flustered when the Packers were able to get home. And when Roethlisberger did hold the ball, Green Bay was often able to pressure him.

With Preston Smith leaving for a few snaps with an injury, that quickly shed some light on the lack of depth at the edge rusher position. Although there is certainly potential in Garvin and Rivers, there is a lot of inexperience to rely on as well.

PFF Grades: Gary (78.2), Rivers (71.5), Smith (51.7), Garvin (60.2)

Linebacker: De’Vondre Campbell (60), Oren Burks (36), Summers (9)

As I’ve said multiple times this season, the Green Bay Packers found a real upgrade in De’Vondre Campbell. He is all over the field, always around the ball, and brings a speed and coverage ability that this unit hasn’t had in years.

With Krys Barnes sidelined with a concussion, it was Oren Burks who saw the bulk of the LB2 snaps. Meanwhile, Ty Summers really struggled during his limited action.

PFF Grades: Campbell (84.8), Burks (51.2), Summers (36.5)

Cornerback: Eric Stokes (60), Chandon Sullivan (50), Jaire Alexander (36), Isaac Yiadom (18), Shemar Jean-Charles (6)

Eric Stokes was targeted a whopping 15 times and allowed 10 completions but gave up only 8.2 yards per catch, keeping everything in front of him. The reason he allowed so many completions was because of the Steelers’ quick passing game, but Stokes did not give up a big play — although his tackling could have been better — and came away with his first interception.

With Jaire Alexander injured, it was a reminder of how thin the Green Bay Packers are at cornerback. In his place, they relied on Isaac Yiadom for 18 snaps and Shemar Jean-Charles for six.

If Alexander does in fact have to miss some time, Green Bay will hopefully get Kevin King back to help bolster the depth at a key position. I also imagine that Kabion Ento will be promoted from the practice squad as well.

Then there is Chandon Sullivan, who is fortunate that Big Ben missed a wide-open JuJu Smith-Schuster on a double-move that left Sully in the dust. Had it been a better pass, it would have been an easy touchdown. Sullivan allowed three completions on four targets for 22 yards.

PFF Grades: Jean-Charles (67.1), Alexander (61.7), Yiadom (47.0), Stokes (44.4), Sulivan (63.5)

Safety: Darnell Savage (60), Adrian Amos (60), Henry Black (16)

With the Steelers and Roethlisberger relying on the quick passing game, neither Darnell Savage nor Adrian Amos were really challenged in the passing game. The duo was targeted twice and combined for five solo tackles.

We saw Henry Black utilized as the dime linebacker. Under Joe Barry, we haven’t seen nearly as much dime from this defense as we did under Mike Pettine.

PFF Grades: Amos (65.8), Savage (63.8), Black (60.2)

All snap counts and stats courtesy of PFF