Persevering with to guage new Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, as we speak’s subject is crimson zone passing. It’s a shortened space of the sector the place accuracy is extraordinarily necessary to transform the chance with a visit to the top zone.
The aim is to see what Rodgers provided final season compared to the highest 25 QBs in crimson zone makes an attempt. What may that imply for 2025?
For starters, Rodgers had 83 makes an attempt contained in the 20, fifth-most within the NFL. So, there have been ample alternatives in comparison with his friends. Compared, 2024 Steelers starter Russell Wilson had 45 makes an attempt contained in the 20, however missed the primary six video games of the season.
That may extrapolate to roughly 70 crimson zone passing makes an attempt in a full 17 sport season, nonetheless shy of Rodgers in as many video games performed. The hope is that Rodgers brings extra crimson zone journeys to Pittsburgh, growing the last word aim of scoring extra factors.
With alternatives laid out, let’s look into efficiency. Listed below are completion charges to gauge accuracy within the hardest areas of the sector. Included are contained in the 20 and inside the ten completion charges:
Neither qualifying QB was preferrred within the crimson zone final season. Wilson and Rodgers had comparable contained in the 20 completion charges (51.1, 50.6), touchdown within the backside 5 ranks. Rodgers’ 50.6 p.c was third-worst and isn’t comforting to the hope of an improved Steelers crimson zone offense.
Whereas nonetheless underneath the imply, Rodgers did discover extra success inside the ten, the place the blades of grass are minimal. His 47.5 completion charge inside the ten ranked 18th, a five-spot enchancment from contained in the 20. This, together with six of the final 10 seasons being above 50 p.c in each, level to his capability to probably look higher in 2025.
This features a current four-year stretch from 2019-2022 previous to his Achilles damage early in 2023. Some speculate that issue makes his pre-injury stats irrelevant, however to disregard the resume solely is excessive. Sure, his 2024 season with the Jets was largely disappointing, however the potential for a turnaround is there.
I additionally needed to offer crimson zone landing charges (the share of go makes an attempt that had been TDs), in the identical contained in the 20 and 10 situations:
Sadly, it’s the identical space of the chart for the gamers in our sights. Rodgers did have the higher marks of the 2, beginning with a 22.9 crimson zone TD charge (sixteenth), and 35 p.c inside the ten (fifteenth). Related rankings that didn’t characteristic the bounce on the scoreboard that his completion charge did.
Extra particularly, Rodgers had 19 contained in the 20 TDs in comparison with two interceptions, and 14 contained in the 20 touchdowns with only one INT. Each TD totals tied for ninth final season, however the landing charges on the visible emphasizes much less anticipated manufacturing given his enjoying time.
Whereas that is true, Rodgers had higher marks than Pittsburgh in 2024. Wilson had a 22.2 contained in the 20 TD charge, tying for nineteenth, just a few spots beneath Rodgers. The larger hole as soon as once more was inside the ten, the place Wilson was 27.8 p.c and third-worst, with Rodgers touchdown 9 spots increased.
The truth that Rodgers was clearly higher inside the ten, within the tightest of home windows, has me optimistic that he may present an improved crimson zone offense for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. Including to this sense is seeing nearly all of his crimson zone manufacturing throughout his final decade within the NFL being above the road.
The 2024 season was lower than preferrred for each Pittsburgh and Rodgers. However the brand new pairing appears to be like to proper the ship on the scoreboard, impacted significantly by crimson zone success. Rodgers has actually confirmed succesful, and right here’s to hoping that’s in retailer this 12 months.
