The Steelers Kick Return Game Is…Good?

[polamalubeast]

There’s only so much of 2020 I can handle. What’s putting me over the top is the realization the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kick return game might actually not suck.


For the last three seasons, Pittsburgh has finished in the bottom five in kick return average. For the past two, they’ve been 31st. Even with Ray-Ray McCloud, there was no reason to expect anything different this season. New returner, same terrible output.

Not so fast.

It’s only been six weeks, five games for the Steelers, but Pittsburgh’s kick return game is among the best in football. They currently sit with the fifth best average. Here are those top five.

1. Baltimore – 33.9
2. Indianapolis – 29.9
3. Chicago – 28.6
4. Detroit – 27.4
5. Pittsburgh – 27.1

In 2017, 2018, and 2019, the average was under 20 yards. Now it’s way over.

....

Steelers KR average 2017-2020 (minimum five returns)

Ray-Ray McCloud: 27.5
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 26.7
Terrell Watson: 20.0
Ryan Switzer: 19.8
Kerrith Whyte Jr.: 18.7
Martavis Bryant: 16.8
Fitzgerald Toussaint: 15.7


read more


https://steelersdepot.com/2020/10/th...-game-is-good/

[tube517]

Ray Ray is going to break one soon.

Then Danny Smith can change from bubble yum to the fake tobacco chewing gum.

[86WARD]

One of the things that is happening is that Ray Ray isn’t grabbing the ball 8 yards deep with the coverage crashing down and running out of the end zone to make it to the 12 yard line. I’m not sure that’s actually a difference maker here but visually it seems like he’s a lot smarter in that area than some of the other guys.

[86WARD]

Ray Ray is going to break one soon.

Then Danny Smith can change from bubble yum to the fake tobacco chewing gum.

Yes!!! It’s got that feeling to it every game that he’s getting closer and closer to breaking a long TD return or run.

[polamalubeast]

One of the things that is happening is that Ray Ray isn’t grabbing the ball 8 yards deep with the coverage crashing down and running out of the end zone to make it to the 12 yard line. I’m not sure that’s actually a difference maker here but visually it seems like he’s a lot smarter in that area than some of the other guys.

When you caught the ball 8 yards deep in the end zone and you return the kick at the 12 yards line,it count for a return of 20 yards.

[86WARD]

I read that wrong. I was thinking starting field position for some reason.

[polamalubeast]

The steelers also need to stick with Ray-Ray McCloud in punt return even with Diontae Johnson back...The health of Johnson is very important and Ray-Ray McCloud is also good in punt return(12.4 yards in punt return for him)