In the midst of a block party that's gone on for three weeks and counting, Steelers special-team players have been singing the praises of special teams coordinator Danny Smith.
Smith sang back today prior to practice.
"It's these guys, it really is," Smith insisted. "They work their butts off for me, they do, they really do. And that ain't easy and that don't happen everywhere. I've been at different places and been in different setups and different cultures and things like that. These guys are special, they really are, all of them.
"You go into training camp, you don't really know where they're gonna fit or what they're gonna do or how much they're gonna help or whatever it might be. I just love being around these guys, man, I love it. I truly love it."
The Steelers have blocked a kick in three consecutive games heading into their upcoming Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Football Giants at Acrisure Stadium.
That hasn't happened in the NFL since the New England Patriots did it in 2017.
The last time the Steelers reeled off such a streak was in 1991.
Their current run doesn't included an extra point blocked by free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick last Sunday night against the New York Jets that was nullified by a leverage penalty. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday he had been informed by the NFL Fitzpatrick's block was legal and should have been allowed to stand.
"It's developed into a culture," Smith continued. "It's a process, to be honest with you. It's maybe finding something, maybe being strong at something or maybe finding a weakness. There's a thought process that goes through it and then the development of a skill set. We're on a roll right now. That breeds success, too, because of that confidence, so we're headed in a good direction.
"But to be honest with you, you know how it goes. There's weeks go, man, I call it, call it, call it, all of a sudden we get one, 'Danny, great call.' I've been calling that damn thing for six weeks, to be honest about it. But we believe in it, we developed it, the players have obviously bought in and they're having success at it, which I'm happy for."
The Steelers' "block culture" has weaponized special teams beyond Chris Boswell's field goals, tight kick coverage, an explosive return or a field-flipping punt.
It's a gratifying development for Smith, who first started coaching special teams in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and has done so for the Steelers since 2013.
"Back in the day when I first started it was just don't mess it up," Smith recalled. "West Coast offenses were putting on 40 points a game and just don't screw it up. It's evolved into so much more and it's fun to be at a place where it's very important and to get the players, to get the coaches, to get Mike ultimately with it.
"It's always been important to him and he makes it and I make it important to the players and they've taken off with it."
