Under Danny Smith, Steelers were solid on kick coverage last year — 6th in opponent punt return average, 8th on kickoffs. 15th in net punting — 26 punts inside the 20 vs. 3 touchbacks. Not great on returns — 21st in punt return average, 28th in kickoff return average.

9 comments

1. Anyone is an upgrade

2. Just be average and this will be the greatest ST turn around in the history of the sport

3. I’m not concerned about our kick returns. Those are “nice to haves.”

   But the nonsense of being dogshit in kick coverage has to be nipped in the bud. I don’t know if we directly lost games because of teams like the Bills were taking over at the 50 or better (for them) multiple times a game…but it certainly helped them win.

   If we’re top 8 in kick coverage, that’s massive improvement. Punting and field goal kicking themselves are likely punter and kick dependent, so I’m not worried about any correlation of stats for those on pooch punting, but we also need to not get them blocked either.

4. Huge upgrade.

5. Smith remains one of the best ST coaches in the league. You all have to understand what a big hire this is. The return average numbers was also because they didn’t have great personnel there.

6. What’s a return?

7. STs coaches are mostly about coverage and protections on kicks. Danny Smith is supposed to be one of the best.

8. Returns is all just who your returner is.

9. I like keeping track of close games 3 points or less as the best ST can do enough to swing the outcome. And NFL stats don’t keep track of impactful ST plays blocked kicks long returns that lead to points missed FG etc