It’s no surprise that a Danny Smith-led unit is one of the best in the NFL, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are winning games thanks to their kickoff unit. The Steelers rank third in EPA (estimated points added) on kickoffs at 0.8, per data from The Athletic, behind the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers.
While The Athletic article primarily focuses on Seattle and Carolina, it’s notable that the Steelers have been among the best kickoff teams in the league. While their average opponent starting field position of 28.4 ranks fifth in the league, the Steelers generated a key turnover off a kickoff in Week 1 against the New York Jets. At the same time, they also took advantage of a penalty to smartly kick the ball out of bounds and start the Colts at their own 25-yard line in Week 9.
It’s no surprise Seattle ranks ahead of the Steelers after they scored a touchdown on a kickoff against Pittsburgh in Week 2, a play that turned the tide of the game. While Carolina and Seattle each have an EPA of 1.5 or better on kickoffs, the Steelers are the best team in the AFC by a fairly wide margin. The Houston Texans are the second-best team in the AFC with an EPA of just 0.2 on kickoffs.
In a league where the new kickoff rules have been talked about ad nauseam as everyone tries to find an edge, the Steelers are using it to their advantage. Notably, their Week 12 opponent, the Chicago Bears, is one of the worst in the NFL when it comes to kickoffs, as they rank 31st in the league, with an EPA of -0.8 on kickoffs, meaning they’re costing themselves almost a full point per game on kickoffs.
For a Steelers team that’s struggled with consistency, getting an advantage in every area counts. So far, the Steelers are finding an advantage on kickoffs, and it’s helping them win games. Smith has long been regarded as one of the NFL’s best special teams coordinators, and the numbers this season back it up. Of course, the Steelers have also placed significant emphasis on finding players who can contribute on special teams, and the likes of Ben Skowronek, Kenneth Gainwell, and Connor Heyward deserve praise.
But Smith has done a great job finding advantages for the Steelers, and it’s no small feat that they’re one of the best kickoff teams in the league.
