Steelers cut backup LB Harrison and promoted Woods from practice squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting rid of miserable kickoff coverage and cut the first player after the team allowed a league-high three kickoff return touchdowns in four games. This unfortunate first player is backup linebacker Arnold Harrison.

Having played games wearing the Steelers jersey since 2005, Harrison missed last season with a knee injury and became expendable this season as the Steelers allowed as many as three kickoff return touchdowns for the first time since 1986. Coach Mike Tomlin decided to give up Harrison and promote Donovan Woods from the practice squad after watching game tapes.

“We’re looking at schematics and potentially making some changes, but we’re also moving some people around, putting some new people in position to play,” Tomlin said. “He (Woods) is going to have an opportunity to run down the middle of that unit to see if he can bring some energy to that group. But Donovan Woods is not all of a sudden going to make us the most dynamic kickoff coverage team in the NFL. It’s detail. It’s about shedding blocks and making tackles.”

But kickoff returns are only part of the Steelers’ problem. The team has also allowed returns on fumbles and interceptions. Perhaps Tomlin still needs do more to reverse the team’s declining tendency.