Ray-Ray McCloud has carved out a great role for the Steelers, but they already had a player like him in Ryan Switzer
When Ray-Ray McCloud was signed late into the offseason, most wrote the move off as a pure camp signing. A player that would come in for the Steelers, provide a healthy body, but would ultimately be cut by the end of the process. This especially certain, as Ryan Switzer seemed to have a lock on the “undersized returner” role, as he had held it over the last two years.
At cut down day, the impossible happened: Switzer was released as the team opted to go with the newer McCloud. As of now, that move looks like a huge win, as McCloud has become a solid player both on special teams and on the offense. That said, the Steelers should have already had this in Switzer, as the players are similar in build and style. With all of that said, here is why Switzer could have been a better player than McCloud while with the Steelers.
Metrics
While it is impossible to judge two players as the same based purely on metrics, it does hold merit. No two NFL players will have the same careers, but players that have similar builds and athleticism can at least project similarly. Looking at both McCloud and Switzer, these players are almost identical in size and athletic testing.
Coming out of college, Ryan Switzer was seen as a slot receiver and returner at the NFL. He had had success at North Carolina, and he was almost a sleeper in the draft. Switzer measured in at the combine at 68.5 inches and 181 lbs. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, with other notable metrics being: broad jump (116 inches), vertical jump (32 inches), bench press (11 inches), and 3-cone (6.77 seconds).
McCloud tested similarly to Switzer. Between his combine and pro day, he weighed in at 69 inches and 190 lbs. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, with other notable metrics being: broad jump (113 inches), vertical jump (34.5 inches), bench press (13 inches), and 3-cone (6.89 seconds, via his Pro Day). (Just as a note, the only reason his 3-cone is taken from his Pro Day is due to him not completing that drill at the Combine).
On paper, these players are nearly identical from a testing standpoint. McCloud is slightly bigger, and Switzer tested slightly more athletic, but those numbers are for the most part are negligible. On paper, these players are the same.
College Stats
This is where this gets really interesting. If you line up the metrics and each player’s statistic from college, anyone would say that Switzer has the better chance of having a successful NFL career. Both of these players came out of the same division (the ACC), but one was far more productive than the other.
In four years at UNC, Switzer put up 243 receptions for 2903 yards (11.9 yards/catch) along with 19 touchdowns. During his final year as a senior, Switzer had 96 receptions for 1112 yards, great numbers for a potential pro prospect. Compare this to McCloud, who in three years at Clemson had 127 receptions for 1226 yards (9.7 yards per average) and 4 touchdowns. In his final year as a junior, McCloud only had 49 receptions for 503 and a single score.
These players were also seen as returners, not just receivers though. Switzer had a career punt return average of 10.9 yards per return with seven returns going for scores. McCloud was far less impressive, having an average punt return of 9.7 yards per return and only one for a score. Neither were consistent kick returners, but it should be noted that McCloud eight total kicks compared to Switzer’s two.
There isn’t a debate here, as Switzer had a far better college career than McCloud. With almost identical testing, these players should have had similar NFL careers. If anything, Switzer had a stronger history as an overall player, so why did he fail with the Steelers? Meanwhile, why is McCloud doing so well?
Returns for the Steelers
It is important to note that these two players came to the Steelers under different circumstances. McCloud was signed well into the offseason for virtually nothing. Switzer was traded for, albeit it was a swap of late-round picks, but it was still a trade, nonetheless. Expectations were higher for him, and when he didn’t produce, he instantly became a bust. McCloud was a shot in the dark, so the fact that the team is getting anything from him is a plus.
As returners though, the argument isn’t even close. McCloud has averaged 15 yards per punt return and 24.2 yards as a kick returner. He hasn’t scored, but he has had quite a few big returns set this offense up with good field position. Switzer struggled to make an impact as a returner, averaging a paltry 8.4 yards per punt return and 19.8 yards per kick return.
While there is little to debate here in terms of who has returned better, context can be important here. In 2018, when Switzer saw the bulk of his return work, the Steelers defense was a composite 17th best unit in the NFL (according to PFR). This goes back to the more classic “bend don’t break” style of defense the Steelers were playing. This means when teams punted, more often than not, it was pinning the Steelers back. That was a thing Switzer actually did well as a returner. Coming up to make the fair catch to only have the punt bounce into the endzone for a touchback.
Compare this to 2020, the Steelers defense is currently ranked 3rd. This means offenses are moving the ball less, meaning there is a greater opportunity for returns. McCloud has made the most of it, but would the same thing be said if he was constantly fielding the ball deep in his own territory? He has looked like a better returner with the ball in his hands, but he may have had similar struggles if the defense wasn’t playing as well as it is this year.
As an offensive weapon
Based on their base stats alone, neither McCloud nor Switzer have been dynamic threats on offense. Take away McCloud’s 58-yard rush against the Eagles, and he has barely done anything on offense with 10 receptions for 50 yards. He is currently averaging less than what Switzer averaged during his full season (7.0 yards/reception in 2018). Digging deeper, the advanced stats tell a better picture.
While both players are seen as slot options, neither have been used properly in that role. Both Switzer and McCloud have been nothing more than gadget players. Switzer lined up as a running back on occasion and was never running true routes out of the slot. His ADOT (average pass depth per target) was 3.4 in 2018 and 1.5 in 2019 (a 2.45 average). Compare that to JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers more traditional slot options, whose ADOT has averaged out at 8.13.
Worse yet is McCloud, whose ADOT to this point is -1.5. This means he has been catching the ball at or behind the line of scrimmage almost every play. He, like Switzer, aren’t running traditional routes as receivers. They are given short passes and are expected to make guys miss.
That said, getting the ball behind the line of scrimmage gives McCloud a slight advantage. He will have a blocker or two in front of him when he makes the catch which can allow for a little bit more space to make a move after the catch. Switzer was running short routes with no one preparing to block for him. It was almost like the Steelers didn’t commit to him being solely a gadget player like they have with McCloud.
So why is McCloud succeeding?
All of this comes back to the original point: why did Switzer fail while McCloud has succeeded. The simple answer on offense is neither is a true success. Switzer was poorly used in the offense, running short routes with little opportunity to make a play afterward. That isn’t to say Switzer could have been a truly dynamic slot receiver, but had he been targeted a little deeper, he could have at least functioned like more of a receiver.
McCloud has done mostly the same thing. He’s given the ball on a screen, picks up five to seven yards, and is then tackled. To be frank, they are using him better, setting him up on screens with blockers to give him a little push. That said, he isn’t being used as a receiver. It’s working for the team, but don’t confuse him with an actual receiver. He is a gadget only option right now on offense.
As for returns, McCloud seems to be more dynamic when given the chance to return. That said, he is benefiting from a stronger defense that is giving him better punt return situations. While Switzer was miserable in the role, more often than not the 2018 defense had allowed enough yards that the opposing punter was trying to pin the Steelers, not boot the ball as far away as he could. The averages don’t lie, McCloud has been far more dynamic as a returner, but he is in a far better position than Switzer ever was.
All of this to say, the reason Switzer failed with the Steelers can be summed up as expectations because of him being traded for, the miserable way the Steelers used him on offense, and the defense allowing for fewer punt return opportunities. Mix that in with an average at best skill set, and you have his Steelers career end as it did. Credit to McCloud for picking up the slack, as his vision on returns has been key in his early successes with the team, but don’t mistake him for a true offensive weapon. Overall, McCloud has been the superior player, but one has to think had their timelines flipped, the Steelers could be praising Switzer instead.