BEASTwriter All-22 Review: Top 5 plays from Steelers WR Chase Claypool vs Bills
Patience was a virtue when it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers second-year WR Chase Claypool. After being completely shutout in the first half, Claypool seemed to be trending as a non-factor Week 1 vs the Buffalo Bills.
It seemed like 2020 Week 14 deja vu all over again which witnessed Claypool registering a modest 15 receiving yards on 3 catches. Could lightning strike twice?
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger targeted Claypool just twice in the first half. I broke down both of those plays for you below (along with exclusive videos via Twitter):
1st | 4:29 | 2nd & 4 @ PIT 26
Claypool was matched up 1-on-1 vs CB Tre’Davious White
Steelers 11 personnel vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool does NOT sell inside release allowing White to maintain proper leverage
White stays square at the line of scrimmage anticipating Claypool’s next move
Once Claypool comes off his stem, White breaks on the ball for incomplete pass
2nd | 14:15 | 3rd & 5 @ PIT 38
Claypool matched up 1-on-1 vs CB Levi Wallace in slot
Steelers 11 personnel (empty set) vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool runs a 17-yard rub route toward the boundary
Roethlisberger threw back shoulder and Claypool was anticipating over the top
Wallace maintained proper leverage as the ball falls incomplete
Coach OC Matt Canada
But good coaches always find a way to make the necessary halftime adjustments. At 6-4, 238, Claypool instantly creates a physical mismatch for opposing defensive coordinators. By simply using him as a decoy, you’re misusing his skill set.
During the offseason, OC Matt Canada wanted to ensure Claypool was more involved in the offense. After a hot start to kickoff his 2020 rookie campaign, Claypool cooled in the second half of the season.
Coach Canada on Claypool:
“We expect him to make a big jump. He is a really talented guy, one of those great players in that room that we are expecting to make those plays when opportunity presents themselves. I think that’s what we are searching for.”
Through his first five games, Claypool was on fire--racking up 17 catches for 335 receiving yards (19.7 avg.), and 4 TDs.
In the remaining 11 games, Claypool cooled--recording 45 catches for 538 receiving yards (12.0 avg.), and 5 TDs.
A tale of two halves, you can see why the Steelers second-round pick (No. 49) should be a primary option rather than a complementary WR2.
Coach Canada put his money where his mouth is. During second-half play Week 1 with the Steelers down 0-10, he placed his trust in the Notre Dame product--drawing up five plays for the electrifying wide receiver. All five of those plays resulted in profitable returns. (watch my Twitter videos below)
3rd | 12:22 | 1st & 10 @ BUF 34
Claypool was matched up 1-on-1 vs my No. 4 ranked CB Tre’Davious White
Steelers 11 personnel vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool sells inside release forcing White to jump off his grass
Claypool then bounces outside for free outside release
Claypool stacks White while staying tight to avoid being squeezed to boundary
Attacks ball at highest-point with 40.5 vertical jump
Results in a 22-yard catch for 1st down
3rd | 5:45 | 2nd & 10 @ PIT 36
Claypool matched up 1-on-1 vs CB Levi Wallace
Steelers 20 personnel vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool sells outside release forcing Wallace to jump off his grass
Claypool then gains inside leverage on 5-yard quick slant
Boxes out Wallace with physique at the catch point
Turns 5-yard quick slant into a 9-yard gain
3rd | 3:45 | 2nd & 10 @ BUF 29
Claypool runs a simple-end around that results in a 25-yard gain
RB Najee Harris provides seal block on CB Levi Wallace
LT Chuks Okorafor seals front side defender
TE Pat Freirmuth washes out CB Tre’Davious White
OC Kendrick Green hits second-level escorting Claypool to 4-yard line
4th | 12:16 | 3rd & 7 @ BUF 49
Claypool matched up 1-on-1 vs CB Levi Wallace
Steelers 11 personnel vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool stays tight upfield on simple go-route
Claypool turns to locate the football while Wallace does not
Claypool uses fundamentals to body up Wallace for easy 26-yard DPI
4th | 3:08 | 3rd & 7 @ BUF 41
Claypool matched up 1-on-1 vs NB Taron Johnson
Steelers 11 personnel vs Bills Cover-1
Claypool gains free inside release on an 11-yard crossing route
Claypool uses 4.42 40-yard speed to beat Johnson’s 4.5 speed
0.8 of the second differential resulted in Claypool’s 14-yard reception
Claypool impact despite box score
I always say not everything shows up in the box score. Don’t be a box score reader. That’s a lazy way of saying, I don’t know what to look for. Instead, do the research, grade every single snap, and formulate your analysis from the raw data.
On the surface, Claypool recorded just 3 catches for 45 receiving yards (15.0 avg.) But my grading system reveals his impact was above-and-beyond. Here are some underlying points to back up my analysis:
4 touches for 70 scrimmage yards (17.5 avg.) | 1st on team (min. 2 catches)
3 of his 4 touches resulted in 1st-downs | T-1st on team
Helped seal victory with 14-yard 1st-down forcing BUF to burn last two timeouts
96 yards of production | 70 scrimmage yards + 26-yard PI
-12 yards of hidden yardage | Unsportsmanlike Conduct -12
84 yards of total production | 1st on team
Week 1 Grade: 9.5/10
When grading every Claypool snap Week 1, it was evident the impact he made. In my grading system, he had zero drops, only 1 missed separation, while 75% of his touches were good for first-downs.
When you take into account the 84 yards of total production (1st on the team) on top of a near clean game, you can’t question the grade, as we peeled back multiple layers of the onion to get to the core. A solid game for the Steelers future WR1.
Fantasy outlook for WR Chase Claypool
The 2021 fantasy outlook appears bright. Although the Steelers are committed to establishing the run with RB Najee Harris--don’t sleep on Claypool as I believe he will have a stat line similar to 68 catches for 986 receiving yards (14.5 avg) and 11 TDs.
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