Each week one of the Steelers coordinators will share their insight in an exclusive interview that can be heard on SNR every Thursday in the 3 p.m. hour.
This version of Coordinators Corner will give you a sneak peek of what to expect, but it just touches the surface. Read what they have to say, but take my advice, listen every Thursday for the full interview. It will be worth your time.
Featured this week is special teams coordinator Danny Smith.
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Good JuJu:** It's not often a coach dishes out praise on a player, especially in the case of a rookie. But in the case of JuJu Smith-Schuster and what he has done since taking over kickoff return duties, any praise he receives is well-deserved.
Smith-Schuster averaged 26.7 yards per return in the regular season, which includes a 96-yard return for a touchdown.
"JuJu is doing a good job," said Smith. "JuJu is one (heck of a) football player. JuJu can do a lot of things for a lot of people, in a lot of different places. He takes great pride in his work. He is a productive player and he is doing well."
Age is just a number: Smith laughed when asked if the thinks about Smith-Schuster's age, as he is just 21-years old, when he is coaching him. He said he doesn't treat him any different than the veteran players because of the approach he brings.
"I think about it often, but I don't coach him like that," said Smith. "There is nothing too big for that guy. He is a tireless worker. His attention to detail is very good. His attention in this building is very good. He has laser focus on his task at hand. He is a fun guy and an easy guy to coach."
It's a snap: Kameron Canaday won the long snapping job in training camp, edging out rookie sixth-round pick Colin Holba. But Holba landed on his feet, and will face the Steelers on Sunday as he is the Jaguars long snapper.
"It was extremely close," said Smith. "Colin is a good guy, a good long snapper, I predict he will play for a long time in this league. I loved working with him, He worked his butt off here. I wish him well, except for this week."
