Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach

fer522 · 01-30-2013, 05:10 PM

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 30, 2013, 5:35 PM EST

AP
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for a new special teams after Amos Jones elected to join Bruce Arians’ staff with the Arizona Cardinals.

A day after receiving permission to interview Washington Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith, it appears the Steelers have found their man. According to Dan Hellie of NBC4 in Washington D.C., Smith will leave the Redskins to return home to Pittsburgh.

Smith has served as the Redskins special teams coach since 2004.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...coach/related/

fer522 · 01-30-2013, 05:12 PM

The Steelers are reportedly prepared to announce a new addition to their coaching staff, after their former special teams coordinator became a Cardinal and flew the coop.

As was reported previously on Behind The Steel Curtain, the Pittsburgh Steelers had requested permission for the second time to interview Washington Redskins special teams coach, Danny Smith. This time they were granted permission and the interview took place, and apparently it was a successful one.

Dan Hellie, of Washington D.C. NBC affiliate WRC, is reporting sources claiming Smith is preparing to become the new ST coach in Pitsburgh. Hellie's job requires him to maintain an intimacy with the team he is paid to follow. While his report has yet to be confirmed, there would be little reason to fabricate a definite departure of a positional coach.

Smith has led the Redskins special teams units since 2004. He spent prior years with the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

In Pittsburgh, Smith will have plenty to do if the job is actually made his. While the Steelers were able to create room for returners to create positive field position, poor discipline and foolish penalties repeatedly negated any progress. The team also seeks to improve its kick coverage units, which allowed a few untimely returns in crucial moments.

Sophomore punter Drew Butler will require some fine tuning as he played like an undrafted rookie at times during 2012, failing to trap opponents in their own territory or affect the battle for field position. Mostly reliable Shaun Suisham could become a cap casualty in 2013, forcing the team to develop an unestablished youngster.

To top it off, the team's resident longsnapper Greg Warren is an unrestricted free agent whose accrued seasons may demand a higher salary than the team is willing to commit. Warren has been solid throughout his time in Pittsburgh, although his worst snap of the season played a part in the Steelers demise during the final stretch of the 2012 regular season.

While Smith's presence does not automatically mean increased production or guaranteed fixes, perhaps a fresh perspective may be enough for the Steelers special teams units to break out of some counter-productive bad habits.

http://www.twackle.com/sitebar?url=h...ms-coach-hired

FrancoLambert · 01-30-2013, 05:19 PM

Allright all you stat mavens out there...go get em. Good hire?

Quackjack · 01-30-2013, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrancoLambert

Allright all you stat mavens out there...go get em. Good hire?

I watch 'Skins games. His choice of kick returner was bad for a while, but other then that he's ok. 8/10

fer522 · 01-30-2013, 05:31 PM

is this guy better than Amos? that's all i'd like to know

wwhickok · 01-30-2013, 05:49 PM

First, Danny is a Pittsburgh guy, thats his hometown, went to school at Edinboro State. In 2011to the Redskins ST Unit ranked #1 in Kick Return yards allowed. 20.8 avg.

However I believe it was in the 2011 season that the redskins had a record 5 blocked FG attempts. Also in the first two games of the season the redskins had two blocked punts.

Overall, Im not thrilled about this hire, Smith is a Pittsburgh native which is likely why he was hired.

kan_t · 01-30-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fer522

is this guy better than Amos? that's all i'd like to know

He needs to do a terrible job to match Amos' last year result.

GMU Steeler · 01-30-2013, 10:08 PM

Is what it is. Saw a few Skins games. Their ST didn't seem particularly bad or good to me.

Lady Steel · 01-30-2013, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Mostly reliable Shaun Suisham could become a cap casualty in 2013

What? Noooooo, not Sweet Cheeks!

Congratulations to ST Coach, Danny Smith. Our special teams can't get any worse, can they?

JVip · 01-30-2013, 11:43 PM

Good hire in my opinion, last year was an off year for the skins special teams

01-30-2013, 05:12 PM	#2
fer522 Head Coach Archery 2000 Champion! Archery Champion! Ms Pacman Champion! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: right here Posts: 1,682 Member Number: 16190 Thanks: 139 Thanked 142 Times in 97 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach The Steelers are reportedly prepared to announce a new addition to their coaching staff, after their former special teams coordinator became a Cardinal and flew the coop. As was reported previously on Behind The Steel Curtain, the Pittsburgh Steelers had requested permission for the second time to interview Washington Redskins special teams coach, Danny Smith. This time they were granted permission and the interview took place, and apparently it was a successful one. Dan Hellie, of Washington D.C. NBC affiliate WRC, is reporting sources claiming Smith is preparing to become the new ST coach in Pitsburgh. Hellie's job requires him to maintain an intimacy with the team he is paid to follow. While his report has yet to be confirmed, there would be little reason to fabricate a definite departure of a positional coach. Smith has led the Redskins special teams units since 2004. He spent prior years with the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. In Pittsburgh, Smith will have plenty to do if the job is actually made his. While the Steelers were able to create room for returners to create positive field position, poor discipline and foolish penalties repeatedly negated any progress. The team also seeks to improve its kick coverage units, which allowed a few untimely returns in crucial moments. Sophomore punter Drew Butler will require some fine tuning as he played like an undrafted rookie at times during 2012, failing to trap opponents in their own territory or affect the battle for field position. Mostly reliable Shaun Suisham could become a cap casualty in 2013, forcing the team to develop an unestablished youngster. To top it off, the team's resident longsnapper Greg Warren is an unrestricted free agent whose accrued seasons may demand a higher salary than the team is willing to commit. Warren has been solid throughout his time in Pittsburgh, although his worst snap of the season played a part in the Steelers demise during the final stretch of the 2012 regular season. While Smith's presence does not automatically mean increased production or guaranteed fixes, perhaps a fresh perspective may be enough for the Steelers special teams units to break out of some counter-productive bad habits. http://www.twackle.com/sitebar?url=h...ms-coach-hired __________________

01-30-2013, 05:19 PM	#3
FrancoLambert Team Captain Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: tony soprano's neighborhood Posts: 910 Member Number: 20827 Thanks: 89 Thanked 113 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach Allright all you stat mavens out there...go get em. Good hire?

01-30-2013, 05:31 PM	#5
fer522 Head Coach Archery 2000 Champion! Archery Champion! Ms Pacman Champion! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: right here Posts: 1,682 Member Number: 16190 Thanks: 139 Thanked 142 Times in 97 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach is this guy better than Amos? that's all i'd like to know __________________

01-30-2013, 05:49 PM	#6
wwhickok Starter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 418 Gender: Male Member Number: 24713 Thanks: 9 Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach First, Danny is a Pittsburgh guy, thats his hometown, went to school at Edinboro State. In 2011to the Redskins ST Unit ranked #1 in Kick Return yards allowed. 20.8 avg. However I believe it was in the 2011 season that the redskins had a record 5 blocked FG attempts. Also in the first two games of the season the redskins had two blocked punts. Overall, Im not thrilled about this hire, Smith is a Pittsburgh native which is likely why he was hired. __________________ The Stong Conquer the Weak, The Mighty Make the Rules -- self-written.

01-30-2013, 10:08 PM	#8
GMU Steeler Team President Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 2,292 Member Number: 16173 Thanks: 3 Thanked 75 Times in 61 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach Is what it is. Saw a few Skins games. Their ST didn't seem particularly bad or good to me.

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01-30-2013, 05:10 PM	#1
fer522 Head Coach Archery 2000 Champion! Archery Champion! Ms Pacman Champion! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: right here Posts: 1,682 Member Number: 16190 Thanks: 139 Thanked 142 Times in 97 Posts	Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 30, 2013, 5:35 PM EST AP The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for a new special teams after Amos Jones elected to join Bruce Arians’ staff with the Arizona Cardinals. A day after receiving permission to interview Washington Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith, it appears the Steelers have found their man. According to Dan Hellie of NBC4 in Washington D.C., Smith will leave the Redskins to return home to Pittsburgh. Smith has served as the Redskins special teams coach since 2004. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...coach/related/ __________________

01-30-2013, 11:43 PM	#10
JVip Draft Prospect Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 68 Member Number: 24397 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Steelers to hire Redskins Danny Smith as special teams coach Good hire in my opinion, last year was an off year for the skins special teams

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