Well, this might be one of the better pieces of news so far in training camp. From Steelers.com:
Sepulveda got a chance to kick off, and he showed himself to be quite accomplished at it. On four kickoffs, Sepulveda’s hang-times were 4.07, 3.93, 3.87 and 3.70. The 4.07 kick also carried 2 yards deep in the end zone, and earlier in the evening, one of his mis-hits went 8 yards deep in the end zone.
“I liked it,” said Tomlin. “Daniel Sepulveda might provide us with a legitimate options there. I liked his placement of the ball, I liked his hang time. He’s worked a lot at it. He didn’t have any exposure in that area prior to getting here. That just speaks to what he is – he’s always willing to do whatever for us.”
Practicing kickoffs in training camp is something that a lot of punters have done in the past, but Sepulveda’s performance and Tomlin’s quote seem to suggest that he is getting a serious look at the team’s kickoff specialist. We’ll no more, certainly, once preseason starts and we see if he gets a lot of opportunities in an actual game, but at least the Steelers are toying with the idea and that’s something.
Jeff Reed‘s kickoffs were by far and away the worst in the NFL last season and Sepulveda would most definitely be an upgrade. He’s got a stronger leg and can actually tackle somebody if, God forbid, they make it past the first few waves of defenders.
The suggestion has long been thrown around that the Steelers should add a kickoff specialist to the roster a la David Buehler in Dallas. I’m not too excited about a move like that simply because it wastes a roster spot on a guy who will only kick the ball off, costing some depth in another position that the Steelers might desperately need. Adding another kickoff man is especially dumb when you already have an upgrade in Sepulveda on the 52-man roster. Hopefully this all works out.
