The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for a highly anticipated season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers will hit the road to face a revamped Falcons team, and the game is loaded with intriguing storylines. One of the biggest is Arthur Smith's return to Atlanta, where he served as head coach for the past three seasons, finishing each with a 7-10 record. Despite being fired, Smith has downplayed any emotional stakes, saying he's treating it like any other game, though those close to him believe he'll be eager to prove a point.
Another compelling angle is the friendship between Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris. The two have a longstanding relationship, and their playful banter leading up to the game adds to the excitement.
Additionally, Steelers’ new return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson will face his former team. Patterson, who spent the last three seasons in Atlanta under Smith, is now ready to help the Steelers take down his old squad. Falcons Special Teams Coordinator Marquice Williams, who knows Patterson well, spoke to the Atlanta media about the unique challenge of facing his former player on Sunday.
"I respect the he** out of him and I'm excited for him come Sunday."
Williams was careful to show respect when discussing the challenge of facing Patterson. He repeatedly emphasized that this isn’t the first time he’s had to go up against him, noting Patterson's history of making big returns against his units in the past.
When asked how he plans to contain Patterson on Sunday, Williams acknowledged the difficulty, admitting that it won't be an easy task.
"Contain, that's a great question Taylor. A guy like CP is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He is an explosive returner and he's always one play away from scoring a touchdown. There's a reason why he's number one in NFL history when it comes to that play kickoff return."
Williams elaborated on what makes Patterson such a formidable return specialist, emphasizing his speed and playmaking ability. His primary goal is to neutralize Patterson and prevent him from making any impactful plays on Sunday.
"A guy like him, you got to limit his opportunities. I have coached against him many of times when I was with the Chargers, he was with the Raiders. I'm like oh man, we are playing outside and it's windy. You have to kick it to him... As a coach and a team, expect every ball that you kick to be returned because he's a fearless returner. He does a great job of getting vertical with the ball."
Williams highlighted that Patterson's special qualities include his teammates' deep affection for him, which he believes motivates them to block harder for him on returns. Despite having faced his former player before, this matchup will be different due to the NFL's new kickoff rule.
This offseason, the NFL altered the kickoff rule to address a significant drop in kickoff return rates and to enhance excitement while also aiming to reduce injuries.
This change has already made the game more engaging, but it presents a challenge for special teams coordinators who must adapt to the new rules without making critical errors. Facing Patterson on kickoffs will undoubtedly add to the difficulty for the Falcons.
Steelers' Cordarrelle Patterson Could Have A Larger Role On Offense Than Expected
Steelers fans are eagerly anticipating how Patterson will perform in this revenge game against his former team. Signed primarily as a return specialist, Patterson also has experience as a wide receiver and running back.
There’s speculation that he might be utilized in multiple roles for the Steelers in 2024. It will be thrilling to see if Patterson can capitalize on this opportunity with a standout performance or even a kickoff return touchdown against his old team.
