Welcome to the terrible take a daily segment telling Steelers nation what's on our mind. I'm Alex Kazora

The old saying goes if you can't beat them join them that's what the Pittsburgh Steelers did with Cordell Patterson

though the organization seems skeptical over the new kickoff rules, one of the most radical rule

changes in recent league history, the team signed Patterson hours after it was officially passed at league meetings.

I'm someone typically resistant to change, keep things as they are, but I embrace this modification even if it puts the league into this great unknown.

What it's supposed to do is increase the number of returns by roughly 20% according to Saints

Special Teams Coach Darren Rizzi, while also reducing the number of violent car crashes between the coverage

team and the return team.

These changes also include two return men in the landing zone instead of the usual one of the past many years.

So having a kick or turner has gone from afterthought a placeholder really to a must.

You do not want to be the team without one in a year where you suddenly need one. In Pittsburgh site arguably the

greatest kick returner in NFL history, Patterson is right up there. Third all time and average.

First in touchdowns. He's 33. You have to at least wonder how much longer he can keep doing it,

but I bet the team can squeeze at least one more year out of him. Pittsburgh was swift and decisive.

Rule change, make the signing. That's another of the team's moves

that might not be ultra aggressive without much investment but it continues to show

their urgency the theme of the 2024-24 Steelers off season.

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