The Steelers act swiftly to capitalize on the new KR regulations by recruiting top KR specialist Cordarrelle Patterson.
Cordarrelle Patterson signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Khan less than an hour after the taping of SCI’s Podcast No. 102, which had special guest Trai Essex asking of any excellent kick returners in the NFL to take advantage of the NFL’s new kickoff rule. Patterson is the only truly outstanding KR in today’s game,
It was, at least, once.
Can he still be that man at 33? Arthur Smith, at least, seems to think so.
After three seasons as head coach in Atlanta, Patterson is now the offensive coordinator for the Steelers. Despite not making the all-star team in those later seasons, Patterson was a four-time Pro Bowler and a unique danger at wide receiver, running back, and return specialist.
When Patterson, a wide receiver by trade, began in the backfield against the Steelers in a 2022 game, the team got a small taste of the versatile player’s abilities. On 11 carries, he gained 60 yards (5.5 ypc). Tyler Allgeier, who went on to rush for over 1,000 yards that season, was the co-starter in Smith’s backfield.
RB Bijan Robinson was selected by the Falcons with the eighth overall choice in the 2023 NFL Draft because they were the third-best rushing club in the league in 2022 but wanted more. If we subtract the rookie’s presence from Allgeier’s and Patterson’s meager 50 carries from the previous season, we see that Patterson’s workload decreased by 67 percent.
He was, in fact, thirty-two. However, it seems like Smith still believes in Patterson. Khan, who patiently waited for the show to conclude before revealing the Steelers had signed him, undoubtedly conferred with Smith over the move.
Of fact, Khan’s conduct was more likely prompted by the time of the new kickoff regulations. The Steelers get Patterson, a 6-2, 220-pound player with a 29.3 lifetime average on kickoff returns. Patterson averaged 25.6 during his final three seasons with Smith. Over the past three seasons, the Steelers have averaged 22.4 kickoff returns.
Naturally, Patterson’s stats were achieved in defiance of the antiquated regulations that mandated most kicks to soar out of the end zone, especially when Patterson was lined up as a returner.
Kickers who rocket the ball out of the end zone will now be penalized under the new rules. Additionally, there is less time and less running start for prospective tacklers to go after return men.
Even at 33, Patterson clearly possesses the size and quickness to benefit from these new regulations. Additionally, he will offer depth at both RB and WR, where there is a need for a swing man.
Though he might not be the same Cordarrelle Patterson that the Vikings saw as their first-round selection out of Tennessee in 2013, he still poses a threat.