The Steelers, like every other team in the NFL, bring in a group of rookies they hope is special.
This year, they are banking on their rookie draft class being really special -- or at least capable of being really good special teams players.
It was no secret the Steelers' special teams units last season were anything but what their name implied.
Placekicker Chris Boswell suffered through the worst season of his career, going from a Pro Bowl season in 2017 to one more fitting a toilet bowl. They also ranked 31st in kickoff return average, 17th in punt return average and led the league in special teams penalties.
Only the coverage units were truly above the line, as Mike Tomlin likes to say.
While many fans clamored for special teams coordinator Danny Smith to be fired for the failures, the Steelers felt Smith, whose units have traditionally been solid, wasn't the problem. It was the players and their performance they felt were the issue.
So, in this year's draft, they made sure to put a special emphasis on acquiring players they felt would improve their special teams unit.
First-round pick Devin Bush played a lot of special teams at Michigan, while the first of their two third-round picks, wide receiver Diontae Johnson, was the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year for his return skills. Corner Justin Layne, another third-round pick, also should excel there, while all three sixth-round picks, linebackers Sutton Smith and Ulysees Gilbert and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs could help out there, as well.
"We like the versatility of some of the guys that we took," Tomlin said. "Sutton Smith, we are excited about his special teams capability, watched him close down (at the Senior Bowl) in that area. This is a conversion guy, a guy that played defensive end. So, their abilities to display their special teams talents and play like linebackers is important. We got a first-hand sampling of that watching him work in Mobile. Likewise, we imagine that Gilbert is a guy who can distinguish himself in that area, as well."
The Steelers weren't done with just adding those players.
Mixed in among the undrafted rookie free agents they signed were placekicker Matthew Wright of Central Florida, tight end/long snapper Trevor Wood and punter Ian Berryman.
As things now stand, the Steelers have three placekickers, including Boswell; two punters, including incumbent Jordan Berry; and a pair of long snappers as they head into rookie mini-camp next weekend.
It's unlikely that they'll keep three placekickers, so they'll likely decide between Wright and Matt McCrane, who kicked for them in the final game of 2018 after Boswell was placed on injured reserve, taking just two to training camp.
As for the rest of the roster, special teams play will be critical -- even for Bush.
"Coach (Jim) Harbaugh always told us (at Michigan) that even if you're a starter, you'd better be ready to help out on special teams, too," Bush told me after being drafted.
So, it won't be a big deal for the Steelers' first-round pick to be used in that fashion. And Smith and Gilbert seem like naturals there, as well. In fact, Smith blocked two kicks last season at Northern Illinois.
They'll get plenty of chances to prove they can help out on special teams this season. In fact, for some of those players, it might be the only way they stick on the roster.
"You need to provide as many avenues as you can for those guys to make your team, or impact your team," Tomlin conceded.
