Home 2014 NFL Draft Steelers Need Upgrades in the Return Game Too

Steelers Need Upgrades in the Return Game Too

by Steeldad

Antonio Brown Steelers Wide ReceiverNaturally, much of the talk this offseason has centered on the offense and the defense in Pittsburgh yet one of the most important facets of professional football is special teams.

This is an area where the Steelers need to make a significant addition.

While Antonio Brown is a fantastic punt returner, the Steelers cannot afford to use him on each and every return.

Your number one wide receiver just shouldn’t see that much action in what has to be one of the more dangerous positions on the field.

If you look at the current roster, there is very little NFL experience in the way of punt and kick returning. Outside of Brown the only other receiver with any return experience is Markus Wheaton and that would be stretching the term ‘experience.’

The ideal situation for the Steelers would be to get a guy in the draft who can play a position but also can bring return experience to the table as well. This could be a wide receiver, cornerback or running back. The advantage of getting a multiple threat guy is that you don’t have to waste a roster spot on just a ‘return specialist.’

Right now, guys like Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State and Odell Beckham Jr of LSU are guys that would fit the mold for what the Steelers should be looking for but that won’t be a deal maker by any stretch. They will look for position strength first and return skills second.

That said, a skilled return man is something I believe the Steelers need to look for in this upcoming draft. You cannot measure the importance of field position in today’s NFL.

Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard weekly on Trib-Live Radio talking Steelers and is a blogger for ESPN 970 in Pittsburgh.

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10 comments

steelbydesign April 7, 2014 - 3:06 pm

I expect a scat back in the mold of Chris Rainey to get drafted. That’s a good possibility of a return man as well.

steeldad April 7, 2014 - 10:59 pm

I agree Chris. Seastrunk from Baylor I would think….

robert henderson April 8, 2014 - 7:22 pm

Some Draftniks have Odell Beckham as the Steelers pick in Rd 1. He covers both needs Wr & Returner.
If Justin Gilbert is on the board at 15 snatch him and he can do returns as he learns the defense.

Vittorio April 9, 2014 - 2:12 am

Odell Beckham Jr is not an answer. Why is everybody so against having a Tall WR for Ben? If you people expect me to believe that another TE is the answer you are dead wrong. 3 guys in this draft I would want the Steelers to not only look at but take one of them as well: Evans, Benjamin and Coleman. Put 1 of those 3 guys opposite of AB and you will see how much better there redzone scoring can be. If the Steelers can’t find a guy for KR or PR then there is only 1 option left on this team: Markus Wheaton. Let him be that guy who is on special teams making the returns. It’s an option only to be considered if the Steelers can’t find one in the draft. You people may not like the idea in fact you would hate that idea and that’s fine but consider this: Are you really sure the Steelers will find that type of guy in the draft?

steeldad April 9, 2014 - 3:38 pm

The reality is that the tall WR the steelers may want could be off the board by 15. Then the problem will become whether they should scoop up the best WR possible at 15 or wait until round 2 and have to settle for someone? If Dennard, Gilbert, Evans and Benjamin are off the board I can see Beckham being the pick.

Vittorio April 9, 2014 - 10:51 pm

The Steelers already have enough small guys so taking Beckham is a foolish pick and I will berate them if they do take him. They have no redzone threat, a guy who can snag the ball out of the air and haul it in. I’ve seen some work of Beckham and the experts say he creates space on those slants and shallow crosses and to me why take that guy when you have AB for that. There is a very good chance that Benjamin is there at 15 and of course people say he is a reach. Well I counter with: No Defensive player they take will start. I wish people would understand that but they way you people talk these days you shove that fact to the side and refuse to acknowledged that fact for obvious reasons which I still don’t know about and I don’t wish to know. They are missing a Big Target and WR is the only option to go. I still see no value in taking a younger TE to replace Miller when his time is not even over. All these TE’s that are in this draft are just going to play that Slot WR/TE spot and to me why waste 2 spots for someone that should only be playing 1 spot.

robert henderson April 17, 2014 - 7:46 pm

It’s been said that Benjamin would be a better TE and should be used like NE uses Gronk or NO uses Jimmy Graham. I’d love to have Benjamin as a TE and take a Wr.

steeldad April 18, 2014 - 2:19 pm

I think in theory its a great idea Rob. I’m just not sure what his skills are in terms of blocking. Obviously, he’d be a match-up nightmare in the slot.

j.hackers April 10, 2014 - 11:14 am

what is the over/under number of brown stepping out of bounds?

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