Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount will take over kick returning duties from Dri Archer.
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While the Pittsburgh Steelers currently have a winning record, they still have a few areas for improvement, namely in the kick returns department.
With Dri Archer returning kicks for the Steelers, Pittsburgh currently has the next-to-worst starting field position in the NFL. That’s obviously not going to cut it, especially given Archer hasn’t been able to chalk up a return for more than 23-yards this season.
Tired of the sub-par returns, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to ‘promote’ backup running back (and goal-line extraordinaire) LeGarrette Blount to the kick returning role. He’s expected to debut in his new role this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Things didn’t work out as well as they wanted before, so they switched it up,” Blount said Friday. “(And) I’m excited about it. It’s going to be fun. We’re hoping that we can get everything done the way that we want to get it done, and we hope that we can be effective with it so we can keep it going.”
While LeGarrette Blount’s rather large frame doesn’t exactly seem like the prototypical player you’d seen returning kicks, he has handled a few for the team this season after thriving in such a role for the New England Patriots last year.
In 17 returns for the Pats, Blount had a very impressive 29.1 return average. It hasn’t been as strong for the Steelers in limited attempts this season which seems to suggest the team struggles on special teams returns may have to do with blocking.
Regardless, LeGarrette Blount will get an extended opportunity to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ kick returner moving forward. Dri Archer meanwhile will likely slide into a typical special teams role.
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