Steelers Could Adapt To New NFL Rule In 2023 By Unleashing This Unconventional Kickoff Return Strategy

The Pittsburgh Steelers pride themselves on formulating the best roster each year and setting up each player to succeed at their position. Naturally, the offensive and defensive depth charts get the majority of the attention, as that is where the skill positions lie. Meanwhile, the special teams unit, outside of the punter, placekicker and long snapper is left to sort itself out after determining who has earned starting spots on offense and defense and who is left to help on kick returns. That goes into the logic when crafting the special teams roster, but with only 53 names on the final roster, double duty is unavoidable.

Special teams in Pittsburgh have never been a strength. It seems every year, the Steelers sit in the bottom half of several league rankings and have trouble correcting it. While they’ve made a conscious effort in building a unit structured on the kick and punt return defense in recent years, the lack of finding a legitimate return man is glaring. One could argue that Ray-Ray McCloud and Steven Sims did their fair share of return duties in the most recent seasons, but beyond them, it has been a revolving door. But with the new NFL rules affecting the kickoff returns in the 2023 season, the Steelers find themselves with a bit of an advantage when it comes down to whittling down the roster to 53 names.

For those who may have missed the newest rules update, earlier this week NFL owners agreed to a new touchback rule on kickoffs. That rule states, in part, that if a returner calls for a fair catch on a kickoff inside of the 25-yard line, it will be dubbed as a touchback and the offense begins their possession at the 25-yard line. As you may remember from years past, this rule was only applicable if the returner was in the endzone at the time of a fair catch. This is a rule that is entering the league from the college rulebook and the premise of the objective of the rule change was player safety. So, how does this affect the Steelers’ formulation of their special teams' roster? Let’s set the stage.

Seeing as though the rule is specific to kickoff returns, as opposed to punts and kickoffs, we’ll exclusively be talking kickoff returners in Pittsburgh. Looking at past seasons, the Steelers have tried a variety of different skill sets at the kick returner position. Those include a mix of wide receivers, running backs and defensive backs. The Steelers’ attempts to find a strong return man led them to roll out defensive back Ricardo Colclough to manage the return duties in Super Bowl XL, running back Gary Russell to field the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII and even the running back tandem of Mewelde Moore and Isaac Redman catching kickoffs in Super Bowl XLV.

In each of those seasons, 2005, 2008 and 2010, the Steelers’ top average yards-per-return was in 2010 with 25.3 yards. Ironically enough, that average is tied for the highest average in Pittsburgh in the last 18 seasons (they also posted an average of 25.3 yards-per-return in 2012). The lowest in that same span came in 2019 with 18.1 yards-per-return. Further, the lack of scoring production on kickoffs has been prominent in Pittsburgh as well. The Steelers have only scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns since 2004. Those came by way of JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2017, Antonio Brown in 2010 and Allen Rossum in 2007.

As of late, the Steelers like to carry six wide receivers on their final roster with one assuming the kickoff return duties. The logic behind that is simple, coaches are looking for a reliable ball catcher with the right eyes, hands and speed. After McCloud left to join the San Francisco 49ers last year, the Steelers brought in Gunner Olszewski to compete with Sims and Calvin Austin III for the open position. 

After a less-than-impressive preseason, Sims earned the starting spot over Olszewski. But with Sims now with the Houston Texans, the starting returner position looks to fall between Austin III and Olszewski, with undrafted free agent rookie Jordan Byrd working for a final roster spot. But with the new rule change, the Steelers may be able to reallocate that roster spot to a different position that could use some added depth. Or, this could open the door for a non-traditional return man in 2023. 

The New Rule May Work In The Steelers Favor

The Steelers' offense is clearly looking to take a more possession-control, methodical approach to how they operate in 2023. Field position will always be a focal point for any team, but the Steelers have had issues establishing impressive starting field positions anyways. It is as if they've adapted their offense to cater to that note. Therefore, beginning drives on the 25-yard line isn’t necessarily a bad thing in establishing scoring drives.

Not to mention, the Steelers averaged only 21.3 yards per return last year, 22.3-yard average in 2021, and a 23.1-yard average in 2020. That indicates that on average if the Steelers would have fielded each kickoff inside the two-yard line, this would result in them getting the ball at the 25-yard line, which is where it would be on a fair catch this year. I should also note that those averages featured the efforts of Sims and McCloud; two wide receivers.

What if the Steelers leverage some of the hybrid skillsets on the roster to simply field kickoffs and call for a fair catch? I’m not saying to call for a fair catch on every single return, as NFL coordinators and coaches are smarter than that, but to have one of those Redmans, Russells, or Moores of the world taking over the return duties on kickoffs. The Steelers have built their roster with that similar "Swiss army knife" mindset on offense and defense, why not expand upon that?

Again, this may seem like an off-the-wall notion, but the rule opens up a plethora of avenues for the Steelers as they work on sculpting their final roster. To adequately provide the necessary depth at other key positions, it would make sense to evaluate those non-traditional returners throughout camp. There are a few names that could make sense.

One example could be Connor Heyward. There have been different arguments made surrounding the Steelers’ decision to carry four tight ends on the roster in addition to a fullback in Monte Pottebaum. We know Heyward has reliable hands and is athletic enough to wave for a fair catch and secure the ball. Looking back to his collegiate career at Michigan State, Heyward fielded 33 kickoffs between his freshman and sophomore seasons. 

The potential is definitely there for the second-year man. Anthony McFarland Jr could be another. He logged some time at the position in college and has the right skill set to do the job. Or this could ultimately prove to be Byrd’s big break. The new rule is providing enough of a cushion for teams who can take a small risk on a sole return specialist without having to include them in the offense. Byrd could find himself in contention for a roster spot without having to be a key component on other parts of the field.

After it is all said and done, the bottom line is this, the new rule plays perfectly into the Steelers’ past kick returner strategy. With the kickoff return standard arguably being set relatively low in Pittsburgh, what is not to say they go back to their roots and try it again in 2023? If they were able to win championships with third-down running backs and defensive backs, I’d argue there is no harm in refreshing that strategy this go-around with the new rule in the books. It could be a low-risk, moderate return move that wouldn't harm the offensive production.

What do you think of this new rule? Who do you think they should try as their kickoff returner? Let us know in the comments below!

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