I wished to have a look at how Pittsburgh Steelers security Minkah Fitzpatrick fared in over-the-middle protection final season. It’s an fascinating matter, with a number of followers feeling that his efficiency has tailed off as a result of a scarcity of baseline interception manufacturing in comparison with earlier in his profession.
The purpose of this text is to see if extra superior metrics assist or debunk that thought when Fitzpatrick is over the center in protection. Let’s begin with over-the-middle protection snaps and targets:
Immediately, we see that Fitzpatrick had one of many highest snap counts in over the center protection. These 82 snaps had been second-most amongst qualifiers (81 gamers, 50 or extra over the center protection snaps). So, the amount was actually there. We additionally see that quarterbacks prevented him total with solely 5 over-the-middle targets.
This provides particular stat context to an enormous worth Fitzpatrick brings, erasing areas of the sector that makes life on opposing passing offenses harder. It doesn’t present up within the field rating, however main props are deserving and refreshing to have on the again finish of the protection.
Now, let’s have a look at a visible of over-the-middle completion price and quarterback score allowed:
As soon as once more, we see that components of Fitzpatrick’s protection had been elite in comparison with his friends. A 20-percent completion price allowed tied for third-best, and an unbelievable 3.3 QB score allowed ranked second.
Weighing this, together with the second most over-the-middle protection snaps and only one completion allowed, ought to amplify the appreciation Fitzpatrick deserves. Whereas his turnover manufacturing has lacked lately, with just one interception in 2024, it came to visit the center of the sector. He had a huge fourth quarter pink zone interception because the Steelers trailed the rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.
In addition, he added 25 return yards on that choose, together with a further move defensed. Additionally, no touchdowns allowed or dropped interceptions both, cashing in when he was within the place to make performs. This examine actually emphasizes the sentiment many people have at Steelers Depot: Put respect on the title Minkah Fitzpatrick, like opposing passing offenses do.
