Tag: Danny Smith

Huge special teams mistake cost Steelers 7 points

Steelers’ fake punt misfire led to a Commanders TD, shifting momentum to Washington in their toughest game of the 2024 season.

It is safe to say Steelers’ CB James Pierre may be getting the cold shoulder from the Steel City, following what appeared to be a beautifully designed fake-punt call by Pittsburgh’s special teams coach Danny Smith—only for Pierre to drop the pass from special teams ace Miles Killebrew.

On fourth down, deep within the Steelers’ own 20-yard line, the shocking 18-yard pass from Killebrew seemed to catch Washington’s special teams unit off guard, and would have given Pittsburgh a crucial first down. However, due to Pierre’s botched execution, the Commanders took over in the red zone on downs.

A handful of plays later, this decision on special teams ultimately gifted Commanders RB Austin Ekeler a one-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 and shifting momentum away from Pittsburgh.

The special teams unit eventually rebounded in a big way, recovering a fumble off a muffed punt in the second quarter, immediately granting red-zone positioning to the Steelers offense.

Pittsburgh will need all three facets of their game to be near-perfect, as the 7-2 Commanders are their toughest opponent of the 2024 season so far.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers’ WR named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Calvin Austin’s Week 8 breakout game put the NFL on notice, resulting in being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Ladies and gentlemen, Calvin Austin III has arrived and is being recognized for his elite play in Week 8. Austin has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his dynamic 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. 

With the score tied 9-9 in the third quarter, Austin knew he needed to make a splash play—and that is exactly what he did. After helping his team take the lead with his dynamic punt return, Austin continued to make his presence felt in the receiving game, hauling in 54 yards and two total touchdowns on the night. 

Can Austin keep the momentum rolling, not only contributing to the Steelers’ top spot in the AFC North, but also locking up Pittsburgh’s WR2 spot indefinitely? Only time will tell, but Austin’s fantastic performance seemingly leads to one simple conclusion—this is only the first of many awards Austin will earn during his time in the Steel City.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers’ legendary QB gives his opinion on the team MVP in 2024 

Former Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger stated on Tuesday that he believes Pittsburgh’s current MVP is Special Teams Coach Danny Smith.

After winning two Super Bowls with two different head coaches, Steelers’ legendary QB Ben Roethlisberger is a solid judge of quality coaching ability. On this week’s episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Steelers’ QB stated that one man, and one man alone, is Pittsburgh’s MVP this season—Special Teams Coach Danny Smith. 

Smith’s unit has presented a masterclass in special teams coverage, from blocked field goals to excellent punt returns. Smith was visibly upset over a botched call against an impressive special teams effort made by FS Minkah Fitzpatrick on Week 7’s Sunday Night Football, but his demeanor quickly shifted to excitement later that night as the team successfully blocked a field goal in their win over the New York Jets. 

Roethlisberger is mostly taking this opportunity to give the Steelers’ coach his flowers, but Smith’s special teams unit has truly been a spectacle for fans this season.  

[lawrence-auto-related count=3] 

Legendary Steelers safety credits his NFL career to Danny Smith

Ex-Steelers safety Ryan Clark credited his former special teams coach Danny Smith with giving him his first NFL start.

When fans think of a Steelers legend who consistently poured his heart and soul out on the field for the team, they look no further than former safety Ryan Clark.

Clark is regarded as one of the many great safeties to come through the Steel City, and none of it would have been possible without one coach in particular. The former safety turned ESPN analyst credited Danny Smith, who is now the Steelers special teams coach, with giving him his first shot in the NFL with the Washington Redskins.

Smith made headlines last week on “Sunday Night Football” when he displayed his passion for his unit’s elite set of plays, one of which was incorrectly called back.

Clark’s admiration for Smith speaks volumes about the type of environment that Pittsburgh has fostered for generations.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers QB Justin Fields calls rumor about him returning kicks a misunderstanding

Justin Fields clarified why he was being talked about as a kick returner.

There was a rumor going around, courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, that the team might consider working new quarterback Justin Fields into the kickoff return game. I’m not sure how seriously anyone took it but when it comes from a player you have to wonder.

On Tuesday, Fields talked about the rumors after OTA practice and he laughed it off explaining the misunderstanding.

“Nah, I think everybody kind of interpreted it wrong,” Fields said. “Coach Danny was basically just trying to send a message that no matter who you are, you could be on special teams. He just used that as an example.”.

The real question was never about if the Steelers would use Fields as a kick returner. It’s all about how the Steelers coaches will incorporate Fields into the offense. Or could he actually win the starting job over Russell Wilson?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers ST coach kicks around idea of Justin Fields as a returner

Jaylen Warren gave out information he probably shouldn’t have on Cam Heyward’s podcast.

Ya know, not everything that gets talked about in NFL meets needs to be made public. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren went on Cam Heyward’s podcast and offered up some inside information about new quarterback Justin Fields that should be just enough to get all of Steeler Nation whipped into a frenzy.

According to Warren, special teams coordinator Danny Smith has discussed the possibility of using Fields as a kicker returner this season.

Whether or not having Fields return kicks is a good idea isn’t the point. The last thing Fields needs is something like this to come out given the amount of criticism he’s taken in his young career. Many of his critics questioned if he could be an NFL quarterback and honestly, it would be disrespectful to Fields if the team asked him to do this.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers ST coordinator Danny Smith suffered torn rotator cuff in sideline dust-up

Danny Smith took the worst of that big hit on the sideline last week.

There was a near brawl at the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. It was ignited when Packers offensive lineman Zach Tom took a cheap shot at Steelers safety Damontae Kazee out of bounds.

The hit did more than almost cause a brawl and even stir up Steelers kicker Chris Boswell. When Tom hit Kazee, he slung him into Pittsburgh special teams coordinator Danny Smith, causing him to suffer a torn rotator cuff.

Smith talked about the injury at the practice facility on Thursday. In his typical old codger persona, he played down tearing his rotator cuff in three places as he compared it to some of the other big hits he’s taken over the years.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Pittsburgh Steelers RB James Conner tests positive for COVID-19

Conner and special teams coordinator Danny Smith have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus.

Moments after ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that additional Steelers have tested positive for COVID-19, specific names were reported.

NFL Network’s Aditi Kinwahbala first reported Steelers running back James Conner tested positive. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed the second person is special teams coach Danny Smith.

The news comes the day after Pittsburgh placed defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt, defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Since Tuitt, Buggs and Hawkins were never reported as positive, it’s presumed they tested negative and were merely in close contact.

With the Steelers-Ravens game still three days out, if this is the end of the positive cases, the game should be on as scheduled on Tuesday. However, contact tracing is a lengthy process, and the result will inevitably mean players in close contact with Conner and Smith are placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

When tight end Vance McDonald tested positive, contact tracing landed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Jaylen Samuels, offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins and linebacker Vince Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

If anything is working in Pittsburgh’s favor that the virus hasn’t spread, it’s that the team hasn’t practiced since Nov. 25.

[vertical-gallery id=482161]

[listicle id=482283]