The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had an elite kick returner in years. This season, it may not matter. Just a few weeks ago, the NFL approved a new rule that will allow teams to get the ball at the 25-yard line with a fair catch inside that yard mark. As a result, teams will have a decision to make on kickoffs now. Do you let your returner decide for himself whether to return the ball, or fair catch? Ultimately, the rule limits the danger that kickoffs bring, which has been the place of several concussions over the years.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers returner Gunner Olszewski was a massive disappointment in 2022, as he lost his job just a month into the season.
Last offseason, Ray-Ray McCloud left via free agency for the San Francisco 49ers. Assuming he makes their 53-man roster, the Steelers will face him Week 1 this year. Anyways, the front office responded to his departure by signing prolific returner Gunner Olszewski to a two-year, $4 million deal. Simply put, that experiment ended up being a disaster. After multiple mishaps, he was benched about a month into the season in favor of Steven Sims Jr.
Now that Sims is gone as well, the Steelers don't exactly have a return man at the moment. Olszewski seems unlikely to make the roster at this point, as there are other guys that offer more in the wide receiver room. Anthony Miller and 2022 fourth-rounder Calvin Austin III make the most sense as possible return men for the black and gold. Heading into 2023 though, the coaching staff admitted they have no idea what they will do via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
"[Mike] Tomlin said he 'had no idea' how the new rule would be approached tactically. 'I don’t think that any of us do,' Tomlin said. 'I think anything that we say this time of year is somewhat speculative and so I will hold my cards.'"
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin remains one of the best coaches in the league, but the lack of recent playoff success has been quite alarming.
As Adamski mentioned, special teams coordinator Danny Smith said that the team's handling of kickoffs would be "situational" this year. Smith has drawn criticism at times over the years, but he will be entering his 11th season in Pittsburgh. The team's 21.2 yards per kickoff return in 2022 ranked just 25th across the NFL. It's been a problem for the Steelers for years now.
Somehow, their punt return team may be even worse. In 2022, their 5.9 yards per return ranked just 30th in the NFL. They had just two returns of 20 or more yards, along with five total fumbles. In other words, this rule change could actually end up benefitting Tomlin and his team.
How does new kickoff rule impact Steelers?
Despite the team's unclear starter at the position, it isn't as big of a deal as a year ago. While the rule change doesn't yet get rid of kickoffs, things seem to be trending in that direction. Regardless, they will still need a plan of action moving forward. With such limited options, no offense to Miller and Austin, it may be wise for them to fair catch most kickoffs in 2023 and beyond.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Calvin Austin III (#19) participates during 2022 training camp.
Who do you think will ultimately be the team's returners in 2023? Does this rule change actually benefit the black and gold? Do you think the NFL was smart for making this rule change to prevent concussions? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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