A new chapter for the Pittsburgh Steelers is here. Continuing to learn more about the coaching staff, today I’ll provide some play-action stats from Sports Info Solutions (SIS) for HC Mike McCarthy (and offensive play caller) along with DC Patrick Graham.
Let’s start with McCarthy. The visual below includes play-action dropbacks for frequency and Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (ANY/A) for quality since 2015:
Jumping out positively is McCarthy’s time in Dallas. In all five seasons there, his offenses were above the mean in attempts and ANY/A off play-action. Rather encouraging results in McCarthy’s most recent coaching stint. Especially when considering quarterback injuries within that time and staying quite consistent in play-action despite that fact.
A big takeaway for Pittsburgh is being below the mean in the majority of the span in play-action attempts. The span from 2015-18 was a quality over quantity, with above the mean ANY/A, but less than 100 play-action snaps each season.
The only time Pittsburgh landed above the mean in each was 2024, though that team was barely above the mean in play-action ANY/A. In six of the last seven seasons, the Steelers had a below the mean ANY/A. This matches the eye test, with Pittsburgh needing to improve its play-action quality at a minimum.
It seems fair to be optimistic seeing McCarthy’s resume in Dallas. His final four years in Green Bay weren’t as strong, though, with 2018 being the only time they were above average in each. The 2015 and 2016 seasons were below the mean in both, and 2017 was above the play-action dropback mean.
Not ideal, especially with the potential of Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, who quarterbacked most of those Packers teams. Last year in Pittsburgh was the third worst play-action ANY/A on the chart to boot.
So in the last nine seasons McCarthy has coached, seven teams were above the dropback mean and six had above average ANY/A compared to Pittsburgh on play-action. On paper, it’s a positive trend in play-action on offense seems reasonable to expect.
Now for Patrick Graham on the defensive side of the ball. Here are attempts faced and play-action rating against since 2019:
Far from ideal results for Graham. Only one of his defenses landed above the mean in play-action rating against, the 2023 Raiders. So six out of seven seasons that Graham’s been a defensive coordinator were below the play-action rating against mean. Whoof. Overall, opposing offenses ran play-action on Graham’s defenses far more than Pittsburgh, as well.
Compared to Graham, Pittsburgh landed below the play-action mean every year since 2019. Of the 15 NFL defenses that faced play-action least in the span, the Steelers accounted for a whopping seven of those teams. Four above average rating against results came in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2025.
The 2019 Steelers were the second best 73.0 rating against across the NFL in the span, following that up with the third best 73.4 rating against in 2020. Below the mark seasons were 2021, 2022 and 2024.
When Graham was DC of the Giants, they faced 207 play-action attempts in 2021 and 195 in 2022, second and fourth most of any defense in the time frame. Being in the same division as Dallas, when McCarthy was the head coach and offensive play caller, brought some of that pain to Graham’s poor results.
Miami in 2019 was an even worse play-action rating against for Graham, besting only his 2025 Raiders, who were the worst on the chart. Overall struggles, capped off with his most recent season being his worst rating against result. Yikes. Yes, many factors go into stats such as player talent, etc. But seeing how poor Graham’s resume looks in this regard was disappointing.
Here’s to hoping a change to the Steelers, who have been a quality over quantity play-action defense, can come away with strong results in 2026.