Steelers special teams: How much better do Cordarrelle Patterson, Cameron Johnston make them?

North Shore Drive podcast - Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze the special teams unit. Is position coach Danny Smith ready for all the changes to the NFL kickoff rules, having just turned 70? Does Cordarrelle Patterson have the kick returning job locked down? Or will there be some competition? Will Cameron Johnston be an upgrade over Pressley Harvin III at punter? And how much will he need to adapt to AFC North weather conditions after playing in a dome with the Houston Texans?

Our duo tackles those topics, then ponders GM Omar Khan's moves to cut WR Denzel Mims and S Trenton Thompson a little more than a month before training camp. And later, sports columnist Jason Mackey joins to weigh in on potential trade options for GM Ben Cherington and the Pirates as he looks to bolster the offense in support of standout pitchers Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones ahead of the MLB trade deadline.