NOT SO SPECIAL

Bad special teams can ruin a season.

Ask the 2009 Steelers about that. Jeff Reed attacking a Sheetz towel dispenser was good news compared to the way the rest of the year went.

That was the infamous “unleash hell” season, when Mike Tomlin vowed his team would “not go gently” as the season crumbled all around him. Those Steelers amazingly allowed four kickoff returns for touchdowns, not to mention a 55-yard punt return to Josh Cribbs in a horrifying loss to the Cleveland Browns.

I am reminded of that group as these Steelers teeter on the brink of disaster heading into Oakland on Sunday (the ’09 team lost to a terrible Raiders team at Heinz Field).

It would be no small feat to outdo Bob Ligashesky’s ‘09 special teams, but say this much for Danny Smith’s guys: They’re giving it a real shot.

That’s not to say it’s all bad. The Steelers blocked a punt against the Chargers and pulled off the old kicker-to-tackle touchdown pass in Denver. But this group is mostly an abomination.

The return game stinks. The kicking game stinks. The coverage mostly stinks. The players often do not appear to know the rules (they run away from free kicks and touch blocked punts). And if they do know the rules, they don’t seem especially inclined to follow them (NFL-leading 25 penalties).

Special teams should be calming the waters at a time like this, not whipping up tsunamis. The Steelers have enough problems — covering wide receivers with linebackers, throwing interceptions like confetti and watching their ground game disappear — without having to suffer, say, another missed extra point.

Here’s a number that should open your eyes: The Steelers are the only team in the NFL with at least 20 special teams penalties (accepted penalties). Their 25 is six more than second-place Jacksonville. Many teams are in single-digits.

Pro Football Focus has the Steelers’ special teams ranked 31st overall, which would be awesome in a 200-team league. This one has only 32. And only the Cleve Brownies are worse.

Let’s break it down …



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