Steelers hire Danny Smith Special Teams Coach

**fezziwig** · 01-31-2013, 08:53 AM

Seems like the guy can't keep a job.

**Ghost** · 01-31-2013, 09:07 AM

This is from an article in the Post Gazette Wednesday. I find it somewhat horrifying that he was not going to make a change. It doesn't speak well of his decision making after this season's specail teams sh*t fest. How could he possibly not have been looking to make a change?

Tomlin intended to retain Jones for the 2013 season, but Jones opted to become special teams coordinator in Arizona because of his friendship with new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, a former Steelers offensive coordinator.
Read more: [URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/redskins-special-teams-coordinator-danny-smith-may-take-position-with-steelers-672662/#ixzz2JYdkBM7F[/URL]

They were also looking at Thomas McGaughey, ST coach for LSU for the last 2 years and a ST assistant for the NY Giants for three years. Be nice to bring in a young, hungry guy trying to make it back to the NFL instead of an old, tired retread who wasn't good at Washington.

**pfelix73** · 01-31-2013, 10:16 AM

Exactly. These next 2 years are going to be a make or break for this entire coaching staff......Some of his decisions are questionable at times...yikes.

**Slapstick** · 01-31-2013, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by fezziwig

Seems like the guy can't keep a job.

Please tell me you're joking...I missed the smiley...

**RuthlessBurgher** · 01-31-2013, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by Slapstick

Please tell me you're joking...I missed the smiley...

Yeah, saying it seems like the guy can't keep a job is an awfully odd statement. All assistant coaches bounce around in the NFL, but this guy's been in Washington since 2004. That's an absolute eternity for any coach under Dan Snyder. He was there for 4 years under Joe Gibbs, and when Joe retired, he was retained by new head coach Jim Zorn. He coached another 2 years under Zorn, and when Zorn was fired, he was retained yet again by new head coach Mike Shanahan. He's coached another 3 years under Shanahan.

**squidkid** · 01-31-2013, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by RuthlessBurgher

Yeah, saying it seems like the guy can't keep a job is an awfully odd statement. All assistant coaches bounce around in the NFL, but this guy's been in Washington since 2004. That's an absolute eternity for any coach under Dan Snyder. He was there for 4 years under Joe Gibbs, and when Joe retired, he was retained by new head coach Jim Zorn. He coached another 2 years under Zorn, and when Zorn was fired, he was retained yet again by new head coach Mike Shanahan. He's coached another 3 years under Shanahan.

so is this good or bad?
the guy wasnt wanted by anyone else all those years and was never promoted within. you would think if he was 'all that', he wouldhave made a move somewhere in there. No?

**RuthlessBurgher** · 01-31-2013, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by squidkid

so is this good or bad?
the guy wasnt wanted by anyone else all those years and was never promoted within. you would think if he was 'all that', he wouldhave made a move somewhere in there. No?

Wasn't wanted by anyone else all those years? We requested an interview with him a few years back when he ultimately hired Al Everest, but the Skins blocked us from interviewing him back then. They didn't block us from interviewing him now.

Never promoted from within? The special teams coach is a coordinator. Offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator. The only possible promotion from a coordinator position would be head coach.

He was kept from one coaching regime to another in Washington (twice) simply because he is a good special teams coordinator (just like Dick LeBeau was kept from the Cowher to Tomlin coaching regime because he is a good defensive coordinator).

**supersteeler** · 01-31-2013, 01:48 PM

The special teams were a thorn in the Steelers side for years, lets just hope that thorn didn't penetrate the skin this time.

**Mister Pittsburgh** · 01-31-2013, 01:52 PM

Question....Did Tomlin say after firing Al Everest that he would personally have a hand in special teams this past season? I can't remember if I read an article in a paper that he said that, or just heard on a board or from someone else that he said it.

**squidkid** · 01-31-2013, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by RuthlessBurgher

Wasn't wanted by anyone else all those years? We requested an interview with him a few years back when he ultimately hired Al Everest, but the Skins blocked us from interviewing him back then. They didn't block us from interviewing him now.

Never promoted from within? The special teams coach is a coordinator. Offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator. The only possible promotion from a coordinator position would be head coach.

He was kept from one coaching regime to another in Washington (twice) simply because he is a good special teams coordinator (just like Dick LeBeau was kept from the Cowher to Tomlin coaching regime because he is a good defensive coordinator).

okay, i can see you are in love with this hire. i expect our special teams will be much much improved.

**squidkid** · 01-31-2013, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by Mister Pittsburgh

Question....Did Tomlin say after firing Al Everest that he would personally have a hand in special teams this past season? I can't remember if I read an article in a paper that he said that, or just heard on a board or from someone else that he said it.

i think i heard he was gonna unleash hell on the special teams

**RuthlessBurgher** · 01-31-2013, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by squidkid

okay, i can see you are in love with this hire. i expect our special teams will be much much improved.

Not in love with the hire per se. Don't know enough about him yet. We'll have to wait and see. The proof is in the pudding. I was just saying that there must be something there for him to stick with a team twice through head coaching changes (where typically an entire staff is sent packing unless there is someone like Dick LeBeau there). Personally, I tend to prefer younger, enthusiatic guys than 59 year olds to come in and coach special teams (since they are typically dealing with the youngest players on the roster all the time, so it might be better for the rooks to have someone that they might be able to relate to a little better), but I'm giving this one the benefit of the doubt for the time being. This is also the second time that we approached the Skins about this guy, so there must be something there that the Steelers really like, I would imagine.

**squidkid** · 01-31-2013, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by RuthlessBurgher

Not in love with the hire per se. Don't know enough about him yet. We'll have to wait and see. The proof is in the pudding. I was just saying that there must be something there for him to stick with a team twice through head coaching changes (where typically an entire staff is sent packing unless there is someone like Dick LeBeau there). Personally, I tend to prefer younger, enthusiatic guys than 59 year olds to come in and coach special teams (since they are typically dealing with the youngest players on the roster all the time, so it might be better for the rooks to have someone that they might be able to relate to a little better), but I'm giving this one the benefit of the doubt for the time being. This is also the second time that we approached the Skins about this guy, so there must be something there that the Steelers really like, I would imagine.

good response. i agree with you wholeheartedly witht he age thing but maybe he's a young 59, like DL is a young 100 and whatever he is...

**squidkid** · 01-31-2013, 05:08 PM

2012 -16
2011 -22
2010 -26
2009 -27
2008 -18
2007 -16
2006 -11
2005 -5
2004 -26
this was with the redskins (18th rank average)
------------------------------------------

2003 -24
2002- 20
2001 -28
this was with the bills (24th rank average)

not sure where this poster got his info but it doesnt look like an impressive resume.

Steelers hire Danny Smith Special Teams Coach

Steelers hire Danny Smith Special Teams Coach

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