When you're giving up a kick return for a touchdown every week, sitting still and hoping everything will get better isn't really an option.So for the second consecutive week, the Steelers are shuffling the last couple of spots on the roster in an attempt to improve their coverage teams. Linebacker Donovan Woods, the guy the Steelers added last week to try to fix the problem, was cut along with cornerback Keiwan Ratliff. In their place the Steelers signed ex-Raven defensive back Corey Ivy and well-traveled linebacker Rocky Boiman. Both have plenty of experience on special teams, which is the only place they will be expected to play in the short-term.
Pittsburgh's kick coverage amazingly has gotten worse and worse the more the coaching staff has tried to fix the problem. Last week Football Outsiders mentioned that Pittsburgh was getting close to the record for the worst kick coverage unit since 1994 -- the first year FO has the play-by-play data they need for their extensive stats. This week, Pittsburgh has passed the 1995 Bills. The Steelers are so bad that the difference between them and the 31st kick coverage team (the Lions) is the same as the difference from the Lions to the ninth-best unit in the league.
While Pittsburgh keeps trying out new coverage specialists, it's worth asking why they haven't tried out some kickoff specialists. Jeff Reed is last in the league in average kickoff distance (according to Football Outsiders) and what his kickoffs lack for in distance they compliment with poor hang time. Signing an inaccurate kicker with a cannon of a leg would do more than any one coverage specialist.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I'm surprised that they don't stick Sepulveda in for the kickoffs. I know punting and kicking off a tee are probably two different things but at least he'll actually be looking to tackle someone.
What is so hard about stopping the guy running straight at you with the ball? Pittsburgh kicks off, or punts, then they run down the field and block their opposite number on the return team, while letting the guy with the ball run right past them. Tackle the guy with the ball, not your counterpart. It's not a hard concept to grasp. Simply go after the guy with the ball.
And fine the kicker his game check everytime he shy's away from the return man. Reed is a primma donna pussy afraid to tackle someone.
,,,,,Y,,,,, is reed still on the team
Reed's job is to kickoff and make FGs. If it comes down to him making tackles, we have bigger problems than a pansy at PK. I have been screaming for him to kick it out of bounds for a month now. Give it to them at the 40 and take the "what if" factor out of it. We would be better off cutting Logan, since the guy can't cover kicks to save his life and has no interest in returning them, either.
get a kicker with a huge leg to do kick offs and put a couple more starters on the special teams. if the steelers do not want to do that kick the ball out of bounds, better to give the other team the ball at the 45 then give up a touchdown(laughs!!!)