Special Teams can sometimes be my favorite thing to watch on Sunday. Who doesn’t love a
good kick off return to set the offense up in good field position, or a punt return to the house.
The NFL has made a ton of money on highlight tapes of people getting leveled on special
teams, whether it’s a crushing block, or a great tackle. Special teams is also a place for young
players to earn playing time before they start. It can also be a source of great displeasure.
Al Everest did a great job with the Steelers special teams over the last couple of seasons. He’s
had some good young talent to work with on the coverage units. Players like Curtis Brown,
Cortez Allen, Stevenson Sylvester and Antonio Brown have really helped. I think many of those
same young players, as well as rookie Sean Spence will keep our coverage units great. What
concerns me, however, are the specialists.
Shaun Suisham is a terrible NFL kicker. His 93% accuracy in 2010 is an outlier. Last season,
his FG % was 74%, which is close to his career average of 79%. This is unacceptable for an
NFL team. It is safe to say I actually miss Jeff Reed and his drunken antics. We signed a rookie,
but he’s probably just a camp leg.
Jeremy Kapinos is a capable punter. I’ll take capable over a guy who tears a knee ligament in
his plant leg ever other year like Dan Sepulveda. He’s competing with rookie free agent Drew
Butler. A lot of people seem to very high on the University of Georgia Bulldog. Butler is the son
of former Chicago Bears kicker, Kevin Butler. If he makes the team, maybe he can talk his dad
out of retirement, he can’t be worse than Suisham.
Long Snapper Greg Warren gets the ball where it needs to be. Enough said.
With good coverage units and a combination of Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Sanders returning
kicks and punts, Steelers nation should be happy about the special teams. Hopefully the kicking
follows suit.
Mason, you did a great job outlining the importance, excitment, and the lack of kicking of our special teams units. However, don't downplay the fact that Antonio Brown can still return punts when needed, Emmanuel Sanders is very capable, and I think Chris Rainey is going to make this team based on his special teams play. He is small, shifty, and can make plays when they aren't always there. Look for our RETURN game to improve this year!!
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