Steelers Tomlin sends message to special team unit: 'Perform or be gone'

Last week Steeler coach Mike Tomlin sent a message to his players that allowing a touchdown, such as the one they gave up to the Bengals is unacceptable by cutting a player.

On the very first play the unit responded, and well did it again. This time it was Jamaal Charles turn, as he took one back 97 yards. So needless to say, Tomlin is fired up even more over the lack of special teams success, and sent another message out this week to his players ‘ It better not happen again’ or else.

“We are going to be aggressive about solving our ills,” Tomlin said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.  “From a turnover-takeaway ratio standpoint, and from a “touchdown while our defense is on the sideline” standpoint. I can assure of that.”

The Steelers were indeed aggressive, as they worked out eight players, signed two and released two, including the player brought in last week.

“I will make the changes that I deem necessary in terms our preparation to become a more edgy, more efficient, more productive team inside of stadiums,” he said.

Those two signed by the team are cornerback Corey Ivy along with linebacker Rocky Boiman. Ivy is a special team ace who Tomlin is familiar with as both won a Super Bowl ring with Tampa. Ivy has played in 109 career games, making 21 starts, and last played with the Ravens.

Boiman also has a Super Bowl ring, with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI. A seven year veteran, Boiman can play all three linebacker slots and has 253 career tackles and three forced fumbles.

Ironically one of the players released by the Steelers, Keiwan Ratliff, was the same player who kept Anthony Madison (who led the unit last year in tackles) from making the team.

The questions now, are the Steelers done with roster moves and can they overcome the special team’s blunders that have plagued them all year.

There was a rumor circulating on the internet that the Steelers might be looking at Ahmad Carroll. But a league source said he was not one of the players brought in by the Steelers. The source said Carroll worked out instead for the Dolphins although he was not signed by the team.

While Carroll is intriguing as his special teams play is well known, he is also a player who not only was cut because he couldn’t conform to rules, but also a player who has past run-ins with the law, was convicted on drug charges and cut because of them.

Are the Steelers that desperate that they would take a gamble on a player such as Carroll? That is  highly likely, but there are a few other players who would make nice additions to the team.

Herana Daze Jones, a safety, he led the Bengals in special teams tackles in 2006-07 and most recently saw action with the Broncos last year. New England signed him earlier this year, but he was a final cut of the team. Shantee Orr, is another player who not only would fit the special teams mold, but also is familiar with the 3-4 as an inside/outside linebacker. He has excelled on special teams.

The Steelers might also have their eye on another former Brown, as Rochester (Pa) native Kris Griffin is currently without a team. Griffin was one of the Browns best special teams players before the Eric Mangini regime.