Pittsburgh has a punting problem. For years, decades really, the unit hasn\u2019t been sufficient. New Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman\u2019s goal is to come in and fix that while improving or maintaining the other special teams units. History says he may fix other aspects, but not punting.<\/p>\n
Below is a chart of the average gross punting yards (how far a punt travels before the return) and NFL rank during all four of Crossman\u2019s stints in the head role: Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Included in the chart is Pittsburgh\u2019s ranking over the Mike Tomlin era, 2007-2025.<\/p>\n
The numbers below with analysis to follow:<\/p>\n
Stint
\nGross Punt Avg
\nRank<\/p>\n
Carolina (05-09)
\n44.2 yards
\n7th<\/p>\n
Detroit (10-12)
\n43.3 yards
\n26th<\/p>\n
Buffalo (13-18)
\n43.7 yards
\n29th<\/p>\n
Miami (19-24)
\n45.3 yards
\n26th<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh (07-25)
\n43.6 yards
\n32nd<\/p>\n
Crossman\u2019s numbers in Carolina were good. The rest were not. He had bottom-tier finishes in Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Perhaps Buffalo can be excused, given its cold-weather climate, naturally unfriendly to punters. Still, Detroit plays indoors (even with road games in Green Bay and Chicago, that\u2019s just a fraction of the season), and Miami is a warm-weather climate. No matter the venue over the past 15 years, the results haven\u2019t been there.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh\u2019s low finish isn\u2019t shocking. Like Buffalo, punting at Acrisure (and Cleveland, Baltimore, and Cincinnati) makes life tough. The city will always have a disadvantage. Still, there\u2019s no reason to accept finishing dead last in the league over nearly 20 years. Pittsburgh\u2019s punting has always been subpar. It\u2019s why the team\u2019s record holder is from the 60s and not the modern day, like nearly every other NFL team. Washington is the only other team in this situation, thanks to Sammy Baugh\u2019s league record that stood for generations.<\/a><\/p>\n How much can Crossman be blamed? He\u2019s not the one on the field. But he evaluates and coaches the position. The results reflect him, especially over such a long span of time, and not a cherry-picked, single-season window. There is a consistently disappointing trend. And it\u2019s gotten him fired in Buffalo and Miami.<\/p>\n