The Pittsburgh Steelers reunited with one other former participant this week, bringing again CB James Pierre. Initially signed by Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Pierre spent 4 seasons with the Steelers by way of the 2023 season.
Final yr was a relatively painful exhibiting for him defensively, significantly struggling in protection on a minimal 26 snaps, together with a landing allowed. There have been some brilliant moments beforehand, however total being below-the-line on that facet of the ball was seemingly a motive the group was comfy transferring on.
The place Pierre has excelled, and sure present his worth, is on particular groups. He was introduced again following WR Ben Skowronek touchdown on injured reserve, who carried out nicely in an vital gunner function in Week 2. Contemplating these details, the timing of Pierre’s signing and his expertise with Pittsburgh in that function, any potential alternatives would seemingly come on this side of the sport.
So, let’s look again at Pierre’s particular groups profession.
Right here’s how he fared in his 4 seasons so far, particular groups snaps (minimal of 175 per season) and PFF particular groups grades:
First, we get a way of Pierre’s invaluable expertise, with practically 200 particular groups snaps in every season (his least was 196 in 2022). Final season featured his most snaps (269), however we see the final two years have been his lowest particular groups grades, significantly 2022 (46.7). He tied for his most solo tackles that yr (six), a quantity he achieved in three of his 4 seasons.
A primary motive for his low 2022 grade was a career-high three penalties, tying for twelfth most out of the 139 qualifying CBs. Pierre had at the very least one penalty in each season, along with his least coming in 2021 and final yr. 2023 was additionally a below-average grade amongst qualifiers (59.5), and whereas PFF’s opinions are simply that, it’s not nice to see Pierre’s two most up-to-date campaigns as his worst marks.
Beforehand, he fared nicely amongst his friends. Pierre’s finest 71.7 particular groups grade got here in his second season (2021), rating twenty fifth amongst qualifiers. As a rookie, that quantity was 68.3, tying for thirty eighth. He had 11 and 9 mixed tackles his first two seasons, however two missed tackles in every.
Pierre’s strongest grades coming in these years level to some in any other case encouraging play, contemplating PFF extremely dings gamers for missed tackles and penalties. The brilliant facet is he cleaned that up, with no missed tackles on particular groups the final two seasons, which deserves kudos.
Not solely did Pierre play a substantial quantity, he was additionally a core particular teamer with expertise on 5 models. I alluded to his gunner play, the place Pittsburgh would seemingly make the most of him. So far, Pierre has 267 punt protection snaps, together with 250-plus on the punt return (276), and his highest snap rely on kick protection (293).
Final season, Pierre performed most on punt protection with 84 snaps, which was third-most amongst qualifiers. That may seemingly be the case once more if he certainly sees the sphere as I count on.
With the ability to carry Pierre again, contemplating his familiarity with Pittsburgh and particular groups expertise, makes a number of sense. Right here’s to hoping he exhibits out, significantly at gunner which had been below-the-line total in 2024. Filling that void, vacated by Skowronek’s unlucky damage after a promising efficiency, could be big. Particular groups matter, and Pierre might be a distinction maker.
