Danny Smith may not fully agree with the notion but if you want to increase your odds of making the Pittsburgh Steelers, you better impress him. Tackles and tackles alone are far from the only part of the evaluation process. There’s technique/avoiding penalties, blocks, IQ and awareness, and a dozen other factors to consider.
But objectively, tackles mean something. That’s why Tyler Matakevich stuck around. Almost no one in the league made the play as often as he did. Same with all the great special teamers over the last 20 years.
I’ve gone through the ESPN box score of the Steelers’ four preseason games and totaled up the special teams tackles, kicks and punts, by each player.