The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been overly impressive on special teams aside from kicker, Chris Boswell for several years now. Pressley Harvin III and previous punters have been inconsistent in recent seasons and aside from the field goal defense, the majority of an important, but underrated third phase of the game has been underwhelming. That group was almost the reason why Mike Tomlin's team blew a 13-point halftime lead against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in Week 12. Danny Smith has been the special teams coordinator since 2013, but his seat is just as hot, and maybe even hotter, than offensive coordinator, Matt Canada's.
Steelers' special teams coordinator, Danny Smith roams the field in Pittsburgh, PA prior to a 2021 regular season matchup. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Just three minutes into the second half on Monday evening, the Colts had 96 yards of total offense. One would expect them to be blown out at that time, but they remained in the game due to 196 yards on kick returns up to that point. Dallis Flowers, one of the return men for Indianapolis averaged 45 yards per kick return with his sidekick, Isaiah Rodgers. The big run back for Flowers was an 89-yard run back to begin the second half from Flowers. The dynamic return gave the home team life and brought them right back into the game.
Tomlin did not mince words in his postgame press conference. After he discussed the in-game injuries, he immediately seemed to attack the kick coverage team, who was missing key contributor, Miles Boykin who missed the game due to an oblique injury.
"I thought our kickoff unit's gotta be better. I thought that was a catalyst for whatever got started for them in the second half. The field position component of it was a big negative. We gotta get better there. The field position component was a negative there in that aspect of the game. That's what jumped out at me."
Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin gets his team ready for a big matchup against the Indianapolis Colts as he looks on during practice. | Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin was asked again at the end of his meeting with the media about what may have changed after holding a decent lead and he went right after Smith's unit once again.
"Kick off coverage," Tomlin said simply.
The kick return team wasn't good even before the game-altering run back to start the second half, but there is no denying that Tomlin was visibly frustrated even after a victory due to the performance put forth by a special teams unit that has been questionable for some time now. Smith could be in his last year with the Steelers if his group continues to perform poorly. Organizations love change when a season goes bad and at 4-7, several coaches could be on the chopping block, including Smith.
How much of a factor do you think the kickoff return team's deficiencies had in the Colts' near comeback? Let us know in the comments below!
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