Examine: DeShon Elliott Earned His Pay Elevate

Days in the past, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave beginning sturdy security DeShon Elliott a contract extension. Right this moment, I needed to look at and supply some the explanation why he earned his substantial pay increase via his efficiency in 2024, his first season with Pittsburgh.

The first cause is being a sound tackler final season. Per Professional Soccer Focus (PFF), the place I pulled all of the stats for this text, Elliott ranked forty fifth in whole snaps with 824. Regardless of this, he tied for tenth in solo tackles (83) and tied for seventh in assisted tackles (26) amongst gamers with 800 snaps (46 qualifiers).

So, he hit properly above his weight (pun meant) when quantity in comparison with manufacturing. He was additionally high ten in a number of different stats on the place, together with fumble recoveries (first), compelled fumbles (T-second), tackles for loss (T-sixth), and stops, that are unsuccessful performs for the offense (T-tenth).

The place Elliott additionally shined extraordinarily shiny in 2024 was avoiding missed tackles. Right here’s a visible of the 46 qualifiers’ whole missed sort out charges, together with missed run sort out charges:

Elliott lands on the perfect higher proper of the chart, impressively. He posted an elite 1.8-percent in each whole and run missed sort out charges, comfortably one of the best on the place in 2024. For extra context, 4.3-percent was the second-best whole missed sort out fee, which Elliott eclipsed by 2.5-percent. Fairly a formidable feat and presence he delivered to the Black and Gold, little question.

On the flip aspect, we see this was not his counterpart’s forte in 2024. Minkah Fitzpatrick had an 8.8 whole missed sort out fee, which ranked respectively at thirteenth. Nevertheless, probably the most important distinction among the many backend teammates was the run missed sort out fee, the place Fitzpatrick posted a 14.3 missed sort out fee (T-Twenty fifth).

This isn’t to say that Fitzpatrick is a poor tackler, contemplating his 2.9-percent run missed sort out fee in 2023, which might have ranked first in the same examine of that season. Elliott posted a high ten 5.7 missed sort out fee that 12 months, pointing to Elliott demonstrating more moderen tackling consistency, significantly in opposition to the run.

Shifting again to the 2024 season, let’s shed extra mild on Elliott’s nice run protection:

On the Forty ninth-ranked run protection snaps amongst safeties, DeShon Elliott had an 87.8 run protection grade that ranked fifth on the place, together with a 5.7 cease fee (sixth). Comparatively, Fitzpatrick had a 74.3 grade (twentieth) and 1.3 cease fee (tied for third-worst).

Fitzpatrick is understood way more for his protection play prowling deep, which isn’t Elliott’s sturdy go well with. This highlights how the pairing, which could possibly be collectively for the foreseeable future, enhances one another properly.

As you in all probability guessed, DeShon Elliott’s fourth-ranked run protection grade featured a number of stats that ranked within the high ten. Alongside together with his top-ranked run missed sort out fee coated earlier, Elliott additionally was sixth in assisted run tackles, and tied for eighth in solo run tackles and common sort out depth. Very spectacular high quality over amount from Elliott as a tackler and run defender.

As I eluded to earlier, protection is a component of play that DeShon Elliott can hopefully enhance upon total. Nevertheless, he made an affect in an space I needed to share. Listed here are protection targets and yards per catch allowed from the 2024 season:

First, we word that DeShon Elliott was focused at a excessive fee in 2024 in comparison with his friends, which is to be anticipated since opposing quarterbacks are likely to keep away from Fitzpatrick usually within the passing sport. Elliott was focused 66 occasions final 12 months, tied for the third-most.

I organized most targets to greatest see which safeties noticed excessive quantity, and have been in a position to restrict yardage. This view illustrates DeShon Elliott as among the best safeties within the NFL in these phrases, tying for fourth in yards per catch allowed (9.2). Solely 4 qualifiers have been focused over 65 occasions with an above the imply yards per catch allowed, together with Elliott. Uncommon firm certainly.

A part of this (and earlier stats) is alignment, enjoying within the field greater than a free security sort like Fitzpatrick, who had extra common outcomes: 41 targets (twenty first), 11.9 yards per catch allowed (T-Twenty seventh). Elliott had 325 field snaps in 2024 (fifteenth), whereas Fitzpatrick got here in at 196 (thirty ninth). Illustrates one other method that the 2 complement one another.

Elliott additionally performed usually at slot nook, with 241 snaps there, which ranked sixth-most (out of the 46 qualifiers). This was greater than I anticipated, and one other layer of worth he provides to the staff that doesn’t precisely have one of the best choices within the slot. To match, Fitzpatrick had 94 (T-Twenty ninth).

DeShon Elliott’s manufacturing and flexibility that he supplied the Metal Metropolis in 2024 have been clearly value and deserving of the contract extension. Specifically, being high ten within the majority of compelled fumbles/recoveries, tackling, and run protection stats, but additionally offering some worth in protection that he can hopefully enhance upon in 2025.