The NFL admits that they blew the call on the Pittsburgh Steelers' game-changing PAT block
No one in the NFL practices special teams with the intent that the Pittsburgh Steelers do. Under the tutelage of coordinator Danny Smith, the team has blocked a punt, point after attempt or field goal four times this season. But only three have counted after the officials on Sunday night overturned a PAT that Minkah […]
No one in the NFL practices special teams with the intent that the Pittsburgh Steelers do.
Under the tutelage of coordinator Danny Smith, the team has blocked a punt, point after attempt or field goal four times this season.
But only three have counted after the officials on Sunday night overturned a PAT that Minkah Fitzpatrick sent back into New York Jets kicker's lap.
Well, according to HC Mike Tomlin, the NFL league office admitted that was the wrong call:
NY says Minkah's block sould have counted
"I did talk to New York, and they did tell me makers block was legal, which I knew in stadium, but that's life," HC Mike Tomlin told the media on Tuesday. "None of us are perfect, man, there's gonna be mistakes made in game. There are strategies, mistakes made by guys like me. There are playing mistakes made by players, and there are officiating mistakes. The bottom line is, if you're capable and and you're on your job for 60 minutes, mistakes by others often doesn't define the outcome of games, but it is a shame, because that was a significant play by Mink [Minkah Fitzpatrick], and it did create a two-point scenario for them. That kind of could have changed the texture of how that game was unfolding, but that's life, man. You got to smile in the face of it, and I expect our group to do so."
The Steelers aren't afraid to put their best players on special teams, as they never neglect the critical third element of football. Field position, extra points, field goals and blocks are all game-changers, and the second block by Dean Lowry did count and certainly changed the game.
"Can't say enough about our block units. It's not just an agenda for us. We try to live it," added Tomlin. "We develop skills in that area. If you just look at the type of guys that block kicks for us and in recent experience, Minkah [Fitzpatrick] plays safety. Connor [Heyward] is a tight end, Dean [Lowry] is a defensive lineman and Miles Killebrew is a safety. They play various home positions, but they're all teamers, and that's the way we work to develop skill in that area. To not make any assumptions regarding who is capable of what, and to to position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities. And I just can't say enough about [Special teams coordinator] Danny [Smith] and that group and and how they make that vision reality."
