VigilantZombie Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I mean perhaps we just see different things in Spencer. He could be a dynamic player I suppose but he also muffed a punt early in preseason. He did alright with his receiving opportunities. All I am saying is, if they decided to play it safe at 1 position instead of taking a leap of faith, I'm good with it being at returner. On a side note, can you imagine our offense if we draft another quality WR next season? Good lord.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warfelg Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Way too much is being made of Switzer vs other potential returners. Switzer returns punts and kicks, has good ball security, and only lost yards on 3 punt returns last year. Also the fair catch thing....dear lord that's not a Tomlin thing. Sure it's driven by him, but Danny Smith is the biggest reason we fair catch so many even when AB was back there (under Danny Smith we lead the league in fair catches). Danny typically rushes 9 (hat on a hat) for a chance to get a block. But that also means you lose more blockers to rushing and gunners are 1 on 1 vs 2 on 1 that you see from other teams. More free tacklers + gunners with easier paths = high fair catch rate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcash4 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) 44 minutes ago, warfelg said: Sure it's driven by him, but Danny Smith is the biggest reason I have never known a coordinator not to follow the directive of a head coach -- specifically not follow terms of what that HCs emphasis during planning and installation are. Things that make sense working together: Safety on the catch being an emphasis, going after the punt being the result. Danny Smith's Washington Redskins lead ST unit had 7, 9, and 13 fair catches in his last three seasons with Washington before coming to Pittsburgh, whereas the Steelers ranked top 10 in fair catches from 2008-2013 (all But Tomlins first years as HC). No, Im gonna stick with its Tomlin. Edited September 3, 2019 by Dcash4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chieferific Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I mean, is he calling Fair Catch that many times with wide open lanes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantZombie Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 7 minutes ago, Chieferific said: I mean, is he calling Fair Catch that many times with wide open lanes? Imo, no not reslly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcash4 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 20 minutes ago, Chieferific said: I mean, is he calling Fair Catch that many times with wide open lanes? No, most likely not, but as War pointed out in how we attack the punt return game, that's more likely a choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chieferific Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 34 minutes ago, Dcash4 said: No, most likely not, but as War pointed out in how we attack the punt return game, that's more likely a choice. Exactly, so he can't be criticized for Fair Catching. Which was what I was getting at (as you prolly already knew). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcash4 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 23 minutes ago, Chieferific said: Exactly, so he can't be criticized for Fair Catching. Which was what I was getting at (as you prolly already knew). Right, and you wont see any criticism of them for that from me. I don't blame the returners for fair catching balls. That's how they are being directed is my point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chieferific Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Just now, Dcash4 said: Right, and you wont see any criticism of them for that from me. I don't blame the returners for fair catching balls. That's how they are being directed is my point. Oh I know, it wasn't you who was criticizing him for Fair Catching. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warfelg Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Just want to bring up returns under Danny Smith (what the steelers did while smith was in Washington): 04 - 7.9 YPPR [8.3], 20th [18th] 05 - 6.0 YPPR [10.2], 28th [3rd] 06 - 8.8 YPPR [8.4], 14th [19th] 07 - 7.5 YPPR [6.1], 26th [30th] 08 - 8.4 YPPR [6.0], 21st [31st] 09 - 4.8 YPPR [8.1], 31st [18th] 10 - 10.8 YPPR [6.1], 10th [31st] 11 - 8.9 YPPR [10.5], 21st [13th] 12 - 9.3 YPPR [7.3], 17th [28th] 13 - 12.8, 4th 14 - 10.0 10th 15 - 8.3, 16th 16 - 8.4, 16th 17 - 6.9, 23rd 18 - 8.1, 17th Seems as though even before his time in Pittsburgh, just punt returns alone, Danny Smith's ST units has been.....exceedingly average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantZombie Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Tomlin has one flaw that drives me nuts at times and I think it can be attributed to his acceptance of ST also. He talks a lot about Splash plays. Yeah those big momentum swinging turnovers or deep throws are awesome, but you know what's better? Quality football. Danny Smith was brought here because he is aggressive-minded. He is always trying for the block on punts instead of giving the returner a chance. Because that's what Tomlin wants, 'splash plays' and if he can let Danny try for them that's what he is going to do imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warfelg Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 3 minutes ago, wwhickok said: Tomlin has one flaw that drives me nuts at times and I think it can be attributed to his acceptance of ST also. He talks a lot about Splash plays. Yeah those big momentum swinging turnovers or deep throws are awesome, but you know what's better? Quality football. Danny Smith was brought here because he is aggressive-minded. He is always trying for the block on punts instead of giving the returner a chance. Because that's what Tomlin wants, 'splash plays' and if he can let Danny try for them that's what he is going to do imo Very much agreed. And that tendency can lead to a lot of returns that go no where. I think Tomlin's 'input' here would be telling them if the obvious return isn't there do the safe thing. AB (and now Switz) often take returns right to the sideline and never really try to cut back, rather go OB. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 punt and kick returns arent that big of a part of the game it use to be.......the difference form last tho middle(rankings) from middle to first is hardly noticeable during a game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantZombie Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 That's mainly because elite returnmen are rare. When AB was doing it, he often got huge gains if he had space to work with. But also, it would sort of seem that punts have become somewhat easier to block..maybe I'm wrong and I just think there has been more than there has? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantZombie Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 What I'm saying I guess is that the league has become more aggressive in tactics and as such the 'special' stuff isnt the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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