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When the Pittsburgh Steelers transitioned from longtime special teams coordinator Danny Smith to former Miami Dolphins coordinator Danny Crossman, fans focused heavily on kickoff coverage metrics. Yet a deeper look at recent league-tracking data reveals a stark reality: replacing Smith means trying to replicate the NFL’s premier splash-play unit.
While kickoff return yardage was a frequent source of fan frustration, Smith’s defining strength was his ability to manufacture game-altering momentum.
On a recent episode of his podcast, “Locked on Steelers,” Christopher Carter shared metrics from SumerSports that span 2022 to 2024. During that time, Pittsburgh stood in an elite class of its own regarding kick-rush units and protection schemes.
"Steelers fans, I think, might not value how much Danny Smith put in to create and to prevent the blocked kick and punt scenarios," Carter explains. "When you look at blocked kicks, field goals, and punts, that is where Danny Smith was in his bag. And in that in that three-year span alone, the Steelers had nine total blocks in those in those three years."
During that same three-season window, Crossman’s Miami units managed just two total blocks, ranking near the bottom of the league. Furthermore, Pittsburgh surrendered only two blocked kicks under Smith, establishing an NFL-best net differential of plus-seven that constantly flipped field position in close games.
"The Dolphins, where they ranked there? They only did it twice in that span. Ranked 26th in the NFL," the breakdown highlights. "And with the net difference of how many were actually there, they had a net differential of blocked blocks that they made versus blocks they allowed of a plus seven. That was also number one in the NFL in that time."
Crossman may well improve Pittsburgh’s kickoff return coverage. However, if his special teams units fail to generate the high-impact splash plays that defined Smith's tenure, the Steelers risk losing one of their most valuable competitive edges.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Why replacing Danny Smith could cost the Steelers splash plays
Continue reading...
While kickoff return yardage was a frequent source of fan frustration, Smith’s defining strength was his ability to manufacture game-altering momentum.
On a recent episode of his podcast, “Locked on Steelers,” Christopher Carter shared metrics from SumerSports that span 2022 to 2024. During that time, Pittsburgh stood in an elite class of its own regarding kick-rush units and protection schemes.
"Steelers fans, I think, might not value how much Danny Smith put in to create and to prevent the blocked kick and punt scenarios," Carter explains. "When you look at blocked kicks, field goals, and punts, that is where Danny Smith was in his bag. And in that in that three-year span alone, the Steelers had nine total blocks in those in those three years."
During that same three-season window, Crossman’s Miami units managed just two total blocks, ranking near the bottom of the league. Furthermore, Pittsburgh surrendered only two blocked kicks under Smith, establishing an NFL-best net differential of plus-seven that constantly flipped field position in close games.
"The Dolphins, where they ranked there? They only did it twice in that span. Ranked 26th in the NFL," the breakdown highlights. "And with the net difference of how many were actually there, they had a net differential of blocked blocks that they made versus blocks they allowed of a plus seven. That was also number one in the NFL in that time."
Crossman may well improve Pittsburgh’s kickoff return coverage. However, if his special teams units fail to generate the high-impact splash plays that defined Smith's tenure, the Steelers risk losing one of their most valuable competitive edges.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Why replacing Danny Smith could cost the Steelers splash plays
Continue reading...
