We love talking special teams around here. Often, yes, it’s to add context and sometimes defend the bad rap the unit gets. But other times, the criticism is more than fair. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kick return game. It’s been baaaaaad.
In 2017, they finished 29th in kick return average, 19.1, even with a 97 yard touchdown by JuJu Smith-Schuster in the finale against Cleveland. So they traded for Ryan Switzer last summer, an accomplished return man at North Carolina and his rookie year in Dallas (averaged 25 per return in 2017) to try and fix the problem.