Ryan Mundy is one of the core special teamers the Steelers will have to replace in 2013
Throughout the preseason, training camp battles are one of the top stories for each team. The starting running back job gets all the glory. The battle for upback on punt coverage? Not so much. In general, the special teams group is one usually forgotten.
With backups on teams being turned over the most year after year, it opens up lots of opportunities for starting gigs on special teams. It’s an area the Steelers will need to address at multiple positions in 2013. And though lineups can change somewhat regularly, here’s a look at who played on special teams in Week 17 of last year.
*Curtis Brown was out with an injury but served as one of the teams gunners. Marshall McFadden was also inactive.
Kick Returns
Damon Cromartie-Smith
Brandon Johnson
Stevenson Sylvester
Will Johnson (upback)
Will Allen
Ryan Mundy
Cameron Heyward (“wedge”)
Leonard Pope (“wedge”)
Robert Golden
Chris Rainey (return man)
So who’s gone? Five Steelers. Rainey, Johnson, Allen, Mundy, and Pope. And perhaps the team becomes reluctant of playing Heyward if he sees an uptick in snaps on defense.
Kick Coverage
L1: Cortez Allen
L2: Chris Rainey
L3: Stevenson Slyvester
L4: Will Allen
L5: Brandon Johnson
K: Shaun Suisham
R5: Damon Cromartie-Smith
R4: Ryan Mundy
R3: Adrian Robinson
R2: Josh Victorian
R1: Robert Golden
Three no longer on the team. Rainey, Johnson, and Mundy. Cortez Allen could be taken off to focus on being the starting cornerback and avoid having to sprint downfield before taking over on defense.
Punt Coverage:
Gunners: Chris Rainey, Damon Cromartie-Smith
On the LOS: L-R. Brandon Johnson, Jason Worilds, Greg Warren, Will Johnson, Stevenson Sylvester
Upback: Ryan Mundy
End protectors, off LOS: Robert Golden, Will Allen
Another three no longer with the team. Rainey, Johnson, and Mundy. If Worilds claims the starting OLB gig, don’t expect to see him used all the time on special teams.
Mundy is a big loss and was an important piece of the punt protection unit. Typically, the upback is responsible for three things.
1. Counting the number of defenders in the box
2. Making the blocking call between the center and him (center block left/upback right and vice versa)
3. A “set” call that allows the long snapper to hike the ball.
Definitely something to keep an eye on starting with Saturday’s game against the Giants.
Field Goal Kick
Kicker: Shaun Suisham
Holder: Drew Butler
Line, from L-R: Leonard Pope , Cam Heyward, Ramon Foster, Doug Legursky, Greg Warren, John Malecki, Steve McClendon, Max Starks, David Paulson
Three changes will be made as Pope, Legursky, and Starks are on other teams. If Butler loses the punting job, you can chalk up a fourth (although Moorman would almost certainly fill that role). The odds are in favor of John Malecki making the team but there aren’t any guarantees.
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Of course, in multiple instances there was overlap. You don’t have to find three different players to replace Chris Rainey. But when watching the Steelers in the preseason, pay as much attention as to who fills these slots as much as you will the batlle between Bell and Redman or Worilds and Jones.
