Final 2016 Steelers special teams snap counts stresses importance of roster depth
It’s funny what you can learn from the amount of playing time each individual athlete receives in a given game. Sometimes, a player may fit a situational game plan, such as a receiver playing more in three or more receiver sets to stretch a defense, or a left tackle enters a game to “ground and pound” an opponent. Perhaps the defense requires more defensive backs against a pass happy opponent.
Of course, injuries also play a role in who comes in, and who goes out, week-to-week, and of course, within the same game.
In examining snap counts for the Steelers special teams unit over the course of the 2016 season, a number of interesting things stand out.
| Player | Position | ST Snaps | ST Snap Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56-A.Chickillo | LB | 277 | 62.40% |
| 44-T.Matakevich | LB | 269 | 60.60% |
| 33-F.Toussaint | RB | 248 | 55.90% |
| 37-J.Dangerfield | DB | 227 | 51.10% |
| 98-V.Williams | LB | 222 | 50.00% |
| 54-L.Fort | LB | 207 | 46.60% |
| 25-A.Burns | DB | 196 | 44.10% |
| 14-S.Coates | WR | 190 | 42.80% |
| 28-S.Davis | DB | 183 | 41.20% |
| 45-R.Nix | FB | 169 | 38.10% |
| 9-C.Boswell | ST | 144 | 32.40% |
| 60-G.Warren | ST | 140 | 31.50% |
| 4-J.Berry | ST | 140 | 31.50% |
| 29-S.Thomas | DB | 126 | 28.40% |
| 21-R.Golden | DB | 114 | 25.70% |
| 88-D.Heyward-Bey | WR | 114 | 25.70% |
| 24-J.Gilbert | DB | 112 | 25.20% |
| 51-S.Johnson | LB | 101 | 22.70% |
| 81-J.James | TE | 97 | 21.80% |
| 91-S.Tuitt | DL | 97 | 21.80% |
| 50-R.Shazier | LB | 87 | 19.60% |
| 82-D.Johnson | TE | 84 | 18.90% |
| 79-J.Hargrave | DL | 81 | 18.20% |
| 93-D.McCullers | DL | 74 | 16.70% |
| 20-A.Shabazz | DB | 73 | 16.40% |
| 55-A.Moats | LB | 70 | 15.80% |
| 78-A.Villanueva | OL | 68 | 15.30% |
| 31-R.Cockrell | DB | 68 | 15.30% |
| 23-M.Mitchell | DB | 68 | 15.30% |
| 66-D.DeCastro | OL | 67 | 15.10% |
| 84-A.Brown | WR | 67 | 15.10% |
| 74-C.Hubbard | OL | 67 | 15.10% |
| 85-X.Grimble | TE | 64 | 14.40% |
| 94-L.Timmons | LB | 60 | 13.50% |
| 83-C.Hamilton | WR | 56 | 12.60% |
| 96-L.Walton | DL | 55 | 12.40% |
| 73-R.Foster | OL | 54 | 12.20% |
| 97-C.Heyward | DL | 45 | 10.10% |
| 77-M.Gilbert | OL | 41 | 9.20% |
| 92-J.Harrison | LB | 38 | 8.60% |
| 22-W.Gay | DB | 35 | 7.90% |
| 90-R.Mathews | DL | 35 | 7.90% |
| 67-B.Finney | OL | 35 | 7.90% |
| 95-J.Jones | LB | 32 | 7.20% |
| 17-E.Rogers | WR | 18 | 4.10% |
| 68-R.Harris | OL | 17 | 3.80% |
| 48-B.Dupree | LB | 12 | 2.70% |
| 4-R.Bullock | ST | 10 | 2.30% |
| 62-J.Maxey | DL | 7 | 1.60% |
| 38-D.Richardson | RB | 7 | 1.60% |
| 26-L.Bell | RB | 5 | 1.10% |
| 34-D.Williams | RB | 2 | 0.50% |
| 11-M.Wheaton | WR | 2 | 0.50% |
Biggest Surprises
I’m probably more surprised that last year’s top two picks (Artie Burns and Sean Davis) played on special teams as much as they did. Each became starters midway through the season, so to see them log as much time on kick and punt coverage teams as they did, was unexpected.
Missed time due to injury
Remember when Antonio Brown wasn’t going to return punts?
There’s a good Internet joke about “Pepperidge Farm remembers” that would fit well here. But sticking with the title, Eli Rogers started the season as the Steelers punt returner and lost his job following a foot injury. Even after nursing the wound back to health, Brown assumed his previous duties and never gave them up.
The search to supplant AB on the punt return unit likely continues into 2017. But it helps knowing there are a few candidates who would fill the role if necessary.
Robert Golden, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Shamarko Thomas were considered solid special teamers, but each saw their playing time diminish due to injuries throughout the season. Thomas was eventually placed on injured reserve on Christmas Eve, before Pittsburgh’s Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens. DHB missed seven games during the 2016 season, while missed a couple, but was barely involved in most games as a defender as the season got longer.
LB Steven Johnson was yet another player penciled in to play special teams who would become injured and be placed on IR before the end of the season.
Each of these players had to be replaced with someone, stressing a need for depth, even at special teams. Yet, with only 53 players on an active roster, holding onto athletes for special teams only play can be difficult.
Next surprise
James Harrison on special teams?
Talk about a team-first mentality! A veteran like Harrison puts his money where his mouth is by registering some special teams playing time even at the ripe age of 38 (during the 2016 season).
If that’s not admirable, I’m not sure what is!
Other observations
If you asked me before the season if Sammie Coates would be returning kicks and playing as much on special teams coverage as he did, I would be equally surprised. The Steelers continue to put two returners back on kick returns, with Fitzgerald Toussaint gaining his playing time as a specialist.
I think it’s also worth noting who did play a lot of special teams snaps. Anthony Chickillo and Tyler Matakevich are late round picks who have secured their roster spots by providing a special teams spark. Each sits fairly deep at their position on the depth chart.
Jordan Dangerfield had been biting and clawing for a roster spot for several seasons, before making the 53-man roster in 2016. Following in his footsteps were L.J. Fort and Al-Hajj Shabazz, who were a part of several transactions on-and-off of the active roster and practice squads throughout the season.
Vince Williams was a major special teams contributor in 2016 but is expected to be a full-time starter at inside linebacker in 2017. Having played half of the unit’s snaps, another player could rise to earn a spot on the roster by filling the void which could be left by Williams.
Some other notables include Roosevelt Nix, a special teams ace who missed time early in 2016, and former long snapper Greg Warren, who will be replaced by 2016 sixth-round pick Colin Holba. Nix has the ability to create great field position for the defense on coverage teams, while Warren was a consistent snapper who also provided the same coverage abilities. A healthy Nix should improve any deficiencies in the third phase of football, while the hope is that Holba can maintain the standard set by Warren before him.
Regardless, you can see how special teams units shuffle the deck throughout the season. Injuries and covering for those injured starters create a chaos on the kick and punt teams quite unlike the offense or defense. Consider the Steelers gave Justin Gilbert a shot at returning kicks, and even Markus Wheaton and Daryl Richardson had their opportunities as well. In addition, even K Chris Boswell sat out a game and was replaced by Randy Bullock, who proved to be a reliable substitution.
Anyone who remembers names like Jacoby Jones or Josh Scobee can sympathize with how important special teams play can factor into the outcome of a football game. Hopefully, the Steelers will have better fortune going forward in regard to injuries, and can adequately keep their special teams depth chart intact without major alterations in 2017.
