Steelers News: The Pittsburgh Steelers return game is dreadful, but who is to blame?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 6 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Los Angeles Chargers we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers’ return game, both kickoff and punt teams, are absolutely dreadful to watch. But who is to blame?

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers return team is so bad Mike Tomlin elected to NOT take the football to start overtime. Think about that...

Tim Benz: Steelers are dealing with many unhappy returns

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mike Tomlin’s hunch about his dreadful kick return team was so bleak, the Steelers’ head coach felt the need to give up possession of the football after winning the overtime coin toss last Sunday.

That was an overreaction from Tomlin. And it was the wrong move.

Yes, I say that regardless of the fact Baltimore ended up punting and regardless of what defenders of Tomlin’s choice may say.

But that’s a story for another column.

Oh, wait. It was already written? Who knew?

Irrespective of your opinion on that decision — whether your opinion is right like mine or wrong like Tomlin’s and that of all the people in my Twitter timeline — the fact remains that there is some logic as to why he made the call.

Stretched though that logic may be, I see where the coach was coming from because his kick return unit was THAT bad Sunday. And, let’s be honest, Baltimore’s kickoff team was THAT good.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The Steelers will need to make a roster move soon to allow Trey Edmunds to be promoted to the 53-man roster, and he is ready for his opportunity.

Trey Edmunds eager to seize likely 53-man roster spot, increased role with Steelers

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

With Jaylen Samuels down, the proverbial next man up onto the Pittsburgh Steelers’ active roster figures to be Trey Edmunds.

Edmunds has spent most of the past year-plus on the Steelers practice squad, though he did appear in four late-season 2018 games. When this summer’s training camp shook out, Edmunds was No. 4 on the Steelers’ running backs depth chart behind James Conner, Samuels and rookie Benny Snell.

Snell figures to be in line for a promotion to a bigger role, with Edmunds likely earning the promotion to the 53-man roster to backfill.

“I have been preparing since OTAs, so I absolutely will be ready,” said Edmunds, the older brother of Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds. “There’s always things to learn, but I have definitely been in it and definitely prepared and preparing as if I am ready.”

Edmunds arguably outperformed Snell during camp but as a fourth-round pick with impressive college credentials Snell was all but guaranteed a roster spot. Coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday praised Snell’s work over five games, particularly his special teams play.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Is Devlin Hodges ready for his crash course on the Steelers’ playbook?

Devlin Hodges getting crash course in Steelers offense

By: Darrin Gant, ProFootballTalk

This week has been different for Devlin Hodges. Primarily, because he’s throwing passes.

The Steelers backup quarterback, who could be pressed into service depending on the condition of Mason Rudolph, is getting all the first team reps in practice this week, after not really throwing at all last week. He wasn’t on the roster at all to start the season, but the trade for Joshua Dobbs and the season-ending injury to Ben Roethlisberger made him necessary.

Hodges was on the roster, but didn’t even get scout team reps last week, since the Steelers brought in mobile quarterback Taryn Christion to the practice squad so he could mimic Lamar Jackson in practice. That left Hodges just a few 7-on-7 throws.

“Honestly, I got no reps with the team, with the ones,” Hodges said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I didn’t even get any reps on the scout team because we brought in a guy to be Lamar Jackson. . . .

“Having a chance to prepare with the ones and being in the huddle, it’s confidence. I’m comfortable being in the huddle with a group of guys and potentially being in there Sunday. . . . It helps a lot. You’re talking about getting throws in that you normally don’t get as the backup or the No. 3 guy. You’re not getting a lot of throws in, so as far as getting the timing down with the receivers and being in the huddle is a confidence booster.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Devlin Hodges Media Availability

• Social Media Madness