Overview
- The quarterback said frequent Cover 2 looks have limited boundary shots, so Pittsburgh will not force deep throws until it gets single-high safeties.
- Through four games, Next Gen Stats show a 2.52-second time to throw, an average depth of target just over five yards, and only six attempts traveling 20-plus air yards.
- Coaches and Rodgers note that defenses are playing nickel against 12 personnel, making effective rushing the lever to change looks and open vertical chances.
- The Week 4 win over Minnesota reinforced that plan, with Kenneth Gainwell running for 99 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers posted a season-high 131 rushing yards.
- As Cleveland looms, Rodgers highlighted Jim Schwartz’s disguised eight-man fronts that can still spin to two-high and stressed quick releases against Myles Garrett, while analysts place Pittsburgh’s approach within a league trend toward roughly 50% two-high usage and note tweaks such as jumbo packages and slot touches for DK Metcalf.