Elephant in the room: ST performance

[43Hitman]

In my opinion this is the one unit that can and probably will derail our season. It has progressively gotten worse through out the season. Now we have to go to KC and deal with Tyreek Hill. He wasn't a

factor in the first game, but the Chiefs hadn't really discovered what kind of weapon he can be. Now that he is on the scene, how do we contain him on ST and everywhere quite frankly? He scares

the crap out of me, I know that.

[Count Steeler]

I have been hoping for a Danny Smith firing for a long time. Would love to see it happen, after we win the SB.

[43Hitman]

I have been hoping for a Danny Smith firing for a long time. Would love to see it happen, after we win the SB.Me too. I swear I've been worrying about special teams for the entirety of my young and middle adult life. It's the one unit we just can't see to get right, and quite honestly that's not acceptable with the amount of talent this team drafts in the later rounds.

[#CRASHFormation]

Trash. Danny Smith sucks. But he's from Pittsburgh so of course we give him a job.

Shame on Tomlin for not having Justin Gilbert active so he can used as a kick returner.

[43Hitman]

Trash. Danny Smith sucks. But he's from Pittsburgh so of course we give him a job.

Shame on Tomlin for not having Justin Gilbert active so he can used as a kick returner.Ayers or Rodgers are both better options than Coates and Frenchy II in my opinion.

[#CRASHFormation]

Don't mind Coates. But Fitz being back there is ridiculous.

And Tomlin has always done this. Backup RB's as kick returners. Gary Russsell, Najeh Davenport, etc.

[pczach]

Ayers or Rodgers are both better options than Coates and Frenchy II in my opinion.


Coates has had some good returns, and shows the burst and aggressiveness necessary to pop a big one. Frenchy is a disaster back there. He is not a threat to do anything, and plays tentative. You have to explode up the field to get through gaps. He can't/won't do that. You have to be fearless.

[43Hitman]

In the news this week at Steelers team meetings: ST failures.

Hopefully Tomlin and staff will self evaluate their short-comings in this area. We have the players to bring this unit up to the standard. Now is not the time to live in our fears, thus making

changes necessary to optimize the hands being placed in the pile. Remove Frenchy at least.

I'll concede on Coates, but for some reason I always get the feeling he is about to fumble.

[GBMelBlount]

Anyone know how old Danny Smith is and how long he has been ST coach.

If someone is young sometimes it can take a few years to get up to speed.

[pczach]

In the news this week at Steelers team meetings: ST failures.

Hopefully Tomlin and staff will self evaluate their short-comings in this area. We have the players to bring this unit up to the standard. Now is not the time to live in our fears, thus making the changes necessary to optimize

the hands being placed in the pile. Remove Frenchy and Coates.


As you know, those of us in the gameday thread were horrified by the special teams. It appeared that our own special teams was the biggest threat to beating us today.

It has to get better returning and covering returns. Hill could crucify these units next week if they play like they did today.

[43Hitman]

Anyone know how old Danny Smith is and how long he has been ST coach.

If someone is young sometimes it can take a few years to get up to speed.Danny Smith (born November 7, 1953) is an American football (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football) coach who is the special teams coordinator (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_teams_coordinator) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers) of the National Football League (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League) (NFL).[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Smith_(coach)#cite_note-1)Prior to the Steelers, Smith coached the Redskins special teams from 2004 to 2012 and the Buffalo Bills’ special teams from 2001 to 2003. In Smith’s last year in Buffalo, the Bills finished third in the NFL in kickoff coverage. His kicking specialists ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage and gross and net punting average.
Smith was tight ends coach with the Detroit Lions from 1999 to 2000.
He had a four-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995 to 1998, serving two seasons as special teams coach and two coaching the defensive backs.
Before joining the NFL coaching ranks, Smith spent eight years at Georgia Tech (1987–1994) where he coached several positions including running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs. He helped coach the Yellow Jackets team that split the NCAA National Championship with Colorado in 1990.
Smith began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Edinboro State. He also coached at The Citadel, William & Mary and Clemson.
Smith entered the coaching ranks at his high school alma mater Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh where he helped tutor future Miami Dolphins quarterback and Hall of Famer Dan Marino.
Smith graduated from Edinboro State. He and his wife, Elaine, have three children: Erin, Courtney and Jason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Smith_(coach)

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As you know, those of us in the gameday thread were horrified by the special teams. It appeared that our own special teams was the biggest threat to beating us today.

It has to get better returning and covering returns. Hill could crucify these units next week if they play like they did today.I haven't worried about a unit this much since the Kordell Era. I literally hold my breath on every punt and kick-off.

[SteelerFanInStl]

Danny Smith should've been fired years ago.

[Hawkman]

Maybe Frank Beamer will come out of retirement to coach ST. VT won games with their special teams.

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Danny Smith should've been fired years ago.

Sad thing, what was before him was worse......and I'm not one to say "fire the guy".

[st33lersguy]

Didn't kc have a punt return td called back? I seem to remember yes.
This is going to be a problem matchup

[SteelMayhem72]

Sorry for the double post

[LloydWoodson]

Cosign: Hill scares the hell out of me. Boz better be kicking for the bleachers. Touchbacks all day.

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Sorry for the double post

It's OK. I have you blocked anyways was just curious to see what you said.

[Butch]

Didn't kc have a punt return td called back? I seem to remember yes.
This is going to be a problem matchup

Yes they did in the 1st half

[SteelMayhem72]

Cosign: Hill scares the hell out of me. Boz better be kicking for the bleachers. Touchbacks all day.

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It's OK. I have you blocked anyways was just curious to see what you said.I just got you off block as well to see what you said...lol...its all good

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Actually my double post was in another thread

[Craic]

As to the Steelers returns, It's a shame to see how little we get.

As to Miami's big return today . . . Meh. Can't blame that on the coach as much as the ref.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll59/meraby/pic%201.png

Miami blocker is directly behind Steelers player


http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll59/meraby/pic%202.png


Miami blocker pushes Steelers player down from the back, allowing returner to get a corner and turn up field.

[#CRASHFormation]

That was one of three different blocks in the back on that play.

[SteelerFanInStl]

As to the Steelers returns, It's a shame to see how little we get.

As to Miami's big return today . . . Meh. Can't blame that on the coach as much as the ref.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll59/meraby/pic%201.png

Miami blocker is directly behind Steelers player


http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll59/meraby/pic%202.png


Miami blocker pushes Steelers player down from the back, allowing returner to get a corner and turn up field.
Yea, i get so tired of that blatant crap not getting called.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

[Psycho Ward 86]

kick high and short for the chiefs game

[86WARD]

I have been hoping for a Danny Smith firing for a long time. Would love to see it happen, after we win the SB.

This would wrap up the perfect season for me...it would be a dream. I would give up 3 first round picks for that to happen and throw a painful 6-10 season in there too...lol.

[tube517]

This would wrap up the perfect season for me...it would be a dream. I would give up 3 first round picks for that to happen and throw a painful 6-10 season in there too...lol.

I'll just take the Super Bowl win and the Danny Smith firing lol

[LloydWoodson]

I just got you off block as well to see what you said...lol...its all good

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Actually my double post was in another thread

I know you are but what am I?

[Steeldude]

Does anyone have stats on Danny Smith's special teams while in Buffalo and Washington? Is it the players or the coach? How much is there to teach about defending returns?

On the long return it appeared Shabazz failed to contain.

[Steelermania]

Is there a team that has struggled on both sides of the kickoff game for as many years as the Steelers? This has been a problem all through Tomlin's tenure, and was a huge headache under Cowher as well. Makes you understand why they reached for Dri Archer.

[polamalubeast]

Our special team have always been a weakness even with Cowher.

The special team has been the reason why the steelers have lost the AFC title game in 2001.Hopefully it will never happen another time that our special team costs us a playoffs game.

[EzraTank]

In my opinion this is the one unit that can and probably will derail our season. It has progressively gotten worse through out the season. Now we have to go to KC and deal with Tyreek Hill. He wasn't a

factor in the first game, but the Chiefs hadn't really discovered what kind of weapon he can be. Now that he is on the scene, how do we contain him on ST and everywhere quite frankly? He scares

the crap out of me, I know that.

The best way to deal with Tyrek Hill and ST is make sure you don't punt until the 4th quarter like we did yesterday. Then instruct Chris Boswell to kick every kick off out of the endzone.

[AtlantaDan]

Does anyone have stats on Danny Smith's special teams while in Buffalo and Washington? Is it the players or the coach? How much is there to teach about defending returns?

He was not fired by Washington from his last ST coach position in 2013, but unlike a prior effort by the Steelers to hire him in 2010 the Redskins did not block him from leaving

Longtime Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2013/01/28/redskins-danny-smith-to-interview-for-steelers-special-teams-coaching-job/) has accepted the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Wednesday.

Smith, who has coached Washington’s special teams since 2004, received permission to interview with the Steelers earlier this week. He has long been pursued by opposing teams, but the Redskins have always worked to keep him on staff.

The Steelers asked to interview Smith in 2010, but were denied. But the Redskins allowed Smith to interview with his hometown team this offseason.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2013/01/30/special-teams-coach-danny-smith-leaving-for-pittsburgh-steelers/?utm_term=.0ef6beafe7c9

It may be the players, but it is easier to fire the assistant coach than everyone playing on special teams and the Steelers special teams are awful

[tube517]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst


I took a very quick glance at his previous years in Washington and he wasn't anything special over there.

Truthfully, I don't know the rating system here but it's the only thing I could find in a few minutes.

Too lazy to look further but it's probably Haley's fault, No Joe Thomas or Darren Sproles as well.

[86WARD]

Even with the players, the lack of return yardage, poor decisions, penalties...they are there every year. Smith is the most consistent thing

[43Hitman]

Indeed. The coverage teams are what concerns me most, they seem to be horrible every year.

[tube517]

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/11755702-74/roethlisberger-ayers-snaps


If the Steelers are interested in making a change in kick returners, rookie receiver Demarcus Ayers said he's ready, willing and able to do the job.

Ayers finished his college career at Houston with the school's third-most career kickoff return yards (1,613), and he had a career-long 95-yard return in 2013 against BYU.

“I would love to be back there — or whoever gives us the best chance to give us great field position,” Ayers said. “We have to be on the same page and get more out of that group.”

The Steelers had arguably their worst return day against the Dolphins. Three first-half drives began at their 15, 17 and 18. The long return was a 22-yarder by Sammie Coates. Fitzgerald Touissant had returns of 12 and 15 yards.

[fansince'76]

Too lazy to look further but it's probably Haley's fault, No Joe Thomas or Darren Sproles as well.

Damn 3-TE formations. :chuckle:

[polamalubeast]

818871016776749057

[Mojouw]

The Steelers Special Teams Bus:

https://crazysmartcluelessdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/short-short-bus.jpg

[tube517]

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/special-teams-far-special-per-tomlin/


“We’ve not been special on special teams,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin attributed some of that to injuries. Not having Darrius Heyward-Bey for part of the year and losing Shamarko Thomas for the entire season. And the present day problems of not having Anthony Chickillo, Robert Golden, and a banged up Vince Williams.

Now, you can add Fitzgerald Toussaint to the injury report with a concussion, stressing the team’s kick return and upback situation.

To the former, the kick return situation, which I’m sure interests many more fans, Tomlin left a possible replacement up in the air. He said Demarcus Ayers or Justin Gilbert could still be viable options for the team.

“They are relative to what we’re looking at. Same thing could’ve been said about Cobi. We’ll see what happens. Stay tuned.”

[Psycho Ward 86]

just put Ayers or Gilbert back there geez. We have 1 return for 40+ yards all season, averaging 21.5 per clip. How embarrassing. We have nothing to lose their. Yeah, a lot of it is our blocking too, but Frenchy and Coates havent exactly been dynamic return guys regardless.

If i were a team facing the steelers, i wouldnt even have my kicker do touchbacks. id just kick it high and short to Frenchy. We are THAT bad at returns.

[pczach]

The Steelers Special Teams Bus:

https://crazysmartcluelessdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/short-short-bus.jpg



You DID NOT just drop the short bus comment!!!!!!! That's just wrong!


:toofunny:

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just put Ayers or Gilbert back there geez. We have 1 return for 40+ yards all season, averaging 21.5 per clip. How embarrassing. We have nothing to lose their. Yeah, a lot of it is our blocking too, but Frenchy and Coates havent exactly been dynamic return guys regardless.

If i were a team facing the steelers, i wouldnt even have my kicker do touchbacks. id just kick it high and short to Frenchy. We are THAT bad at returns.


I agree. Frenchy has done nothing. Coates is ok, but nothing special so far.

Gilbert was used as a special weapon to take away Kelce against the Chiefs last time, and he is explosive in the return game.

Ayers deserves a chance to return kicks.

If you are going to have these guys on the roster, use them.

[86WARD]

Tomlin refuses to use the proper players back there for whatever reason. I blame Danny Smith...just because it's proven that he's terrible.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Robert Golden is practicing fully on Wednesday. He's our special team captain so that's huge for us. Gonna need to pull the stops against Tyreek Hill.

No Vince Williams at practice yet. I think he gets forgotten in the mix as far as our ST coverage units go because of how good DHB, Golden, and Nix are, but he's damn important

[tube517]

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/gilbert-set-replace-toussaint-steelers-kickoff-return-team/

Gilbert Set To Replace Toussaint On Steelers Kickoff Return Team

[86WARD]

That will be interesting to watch...

[43Hitman]

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/01/gilbert-set-replace-toussaint-steelers-kickoff-return-team/

Gilbert Set To Replace Toussaint On Steelers Kickoff Return TeamI've been hoping for this. I wonder though, if he kills it, what effect this has on Danny Smith's job? Meaning; why wasn't Gilbert back there earlier in the season? If that happens I'm sure the answer is "he wasn't ready".

[tube517]

I've been hoping for this. I wonder though, if he kills it, what effect this has on Danny Smith's job? Meaning; why wasn't Gilbert back there earlier in the season? If that happens I'm sure the answer is "he wasn't ready".

Apparently, Tomlin prefers returners to be from the offense (WR or RB) for whatever reason. Gilbert played KR in the earlier Miami and the Cheats** game.

[43Hitman]

Apparently, Tomlin prefers returners to be from the offense (WR or RB) for whatever reason. Gilbert played KR in the earlier Miami and the Cheats** game.How did I miss that? lol. Maybe Tomlin figures an offensive guy touches the ball more, therefore is less likely to muff it?

[DesertSteel]

Hester sure would've been a nice pickup.

[teegre]

Hester sure would've been a nice pickup.

Except that just like yesterday, our special teams would have gotten his long returns called back. :doh:

[polamalubeast]

Very good game in coverage!

[fansince'76]

Very good game in coverage!

Agreed. :applaudit:

[tube517]

Vince Williams was a beast.

[Hawkman]

Vince Williams was a beast.

He was possessed! On that early big hit to Hill, JJ was right behind Vince.

[polamalubeast]

820858392717754368

[teegre]

Why are you hating on Danny Smith you trolls? He's in the NFL and you're in your mothers basements.

Leave him alone.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmRgAuk7T50

[teegre]

Yup, three TE formation we ran from our own goaline again and went three and out.

Then gave the Chiefs a free three points.

Oh I forgot, only YOU are allowed to bash Haley.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-KmOd3i7s

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

He was possessed! On that early big hit to Hill, JJ was right behind Vince. Agreed VW was a beast.

[tube517]

821409177272778756

821409566483214337