Mike Tomlin thought he had his Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the curve to address the changes to the kickoff. The Steelers signed the greatest kick returner in NFL history on the day the competition committee passed the changes. The only problem is that he didn’t look like the same player, and not just because of the differences in play.
I’m speaking of Cordarrelle Patterson, whom Tomlin signed to a two-year, $6 million contract as the Steelers’ new kick returner. It was a position that the team had ignored for years, and he thought Patterson could make a splash.
Last year, the NFL agreed to change the kickoff by moving the coverage team close to the return box but disallowing a running start until the ball is put into play. Early indications show that the play is safer, and returns have increased, but not to league satisfaction. Tomlin watched in dismay as his Steelers looked lost while running the new play.
“I’d like to perform better, but I think that we all probably share that posture”, Tomlin said via the team’s website of the Steelers’ struggles in the kick return department last season. While other teams struggled with the adjustment, the Steelers were near the bottom of the league.
In fact, Pittsburgh finished dead last in kick return average, producing just 23 yards per return. Only three teams finished with an average below 25—and only one below 24. Four teams finished with an average above 30, which is where Mike Tomlin probably thought Cordarrelle Patterson would help the Steelers get to. He chose to blame, at least in part, the necessary adjustment period to the novelty of the changes.
“Lack of familiarity probably was a component of that, and specifically regarding the discussions that are ongoing right now, there’s been some language changes”, the Steelers head coach noted at the annual league meetings, Tomlin being on the competition committee. The NFL agreed to alter the touchback, now going out to the 35-yard line instead of the 30. The aim is to encourage more kickoffs in play.
For what it’s worth, Cordarrelle Patterson also wasn’t a fan of the new kickoff. He also wasn’t a fan of his usage in the playoff game or of the team’s social media’s lack of acknowledgement of his birthday. If Mike Tomlin wants to improve the Steelers’ kick return game, it may have to be without his secret “weapon”. And it may solve more than one problem in the process.
Under longtime Tomlin assistant Danny Smith, the Steelers are supposed to have one of the top special teams units in the NFL. While they often produce splashy, dynamic plays, return unit quality has lagged behind. They did get a punt return touchdown out of Calvin Austin III last season. But Patterson was not the answer for kickoffs. He remains on the team, but we’ll see if he makes it to the start of the season.
