Sitting with a 3-2 record through five games of action normally doesn't mean people will be losing their jobs. That being said, the Pittsburgh Steelers have experienced too many inconsistencies, especially on special teams, to not look at some changes. Maybe they won't fire a coach in the middle of the season, but special teams coordinator Danny Crossman is struggling to lead his group.
Not only is Pittsburgh struggling on special teams, but they are one of the worst units in the entire NFL, particularly in certain categories.
Through five weeks of action, the Steelers' third phase of football is ranked dead last in kick returns and ranked 26th in punt returns. Their kick coverage is no better, as it ranks 28th in the league. Those are some abysmal numbers for Crossman to change for the better.
It will be interesting to see if the Steelers change their ideology when it comes to firing coaches under contract and letting coaches go during the season. Although Crossman might not be on the verge of getting fired this week, he is starting to see his job security becoming less certain. Unless his special teams unit finds success going forward, it makes no sense to keep him around.
Danny Crossman is the first coach to hit the hot seat for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season
Losing a game on special teams is something no one wants to see, but Pittsburgh could be flirting with that disaster if their issues keep happening.
They have allowed a couple of near-problematic returns this season, which could completely alter a game. Maybe the Steelers will start to take Danny Crossman's job security seriously before they finally see someone house a punt or kick against them.
Although Mike McCarthy knew Crossman fairly well- and that's why he was hired- making him their special teams coach still doesn't add up. Yes, he has a solid chunk of experience in the job throughout his career, but he's never produced great success.
Despite having 33 years of coaching experience, Crossman has been someone who has led some of the special teams' units in the past.
During his NFL career, Crossman has been a special teams coordinator in 19 of his 22 pro seasons as a coach. While he has found success in the past, it has been a long time since those days. His time with the Miami Dolphins ended poorly. He provided rankings that were close to the bottom of the NFL in almost every category. Crossman's hiring might've been McCarthy's first mistake.
With the drafting of Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round, there should be no excuse for the punt and kick return units being ranked so low. It is up to Crossman and those units to work together to get their numbers into better standings. Anything short of a big improvement should get the Steelers' top decision-makers to take notice. Right now, the third phase of football is on a path to disaster.
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