15 cuts today

Exactly...they should have cut one of the other camp fodder type guys and kept Hrap one more game...let him kick the whole game and see how he did and then go from there...

 

didn't we just sign suisham? would we be on the hook for alot of dead money and then would have to pay the kid too? not sure if this had anything to do with it or not.

 

Maybe Suisham has pictures of Tomlin making love to a goat????

Just saying.

 

I thought we all agreed never to bring this incident up again?

 

A shame about Ivy and Rolle. Both have potential, but clearly not considered enough.

I don't think there was a big enough difference between Suisham and Hrappman, to be honest. Yes, he was good. But, like Cundiff, would we be investing in that much better a kicker? In those terms, I say go with experience. Even though I can't believe we can't find anyone better....

 

Mentally Rolle should have no problem playing our system, athletically I think he struggled. Golden outplayed him for sure.

 

Actually I laughed my ass off but would be upset if it happened here. Pay attention.[/quote:23op2ki0][/quote:23op2ki0]

I will admit to being upset when he missed the kick, and even more so when the pass was dropped. I hate the Ravens, but i can respect them. No way I can say the second part about the Patriots.

 

You just had to work Kapinos/Sepulveda into this, like there's any evidence whatsoever that was the wrong decision. I feel like we've been down this road before, but maybe it'll work this time... Since making the decision, they've been proven right in virtually every way. Think about it. Sepulveda outkicked Kapinos in the 2011 regular season (numbers below). Then the concern about him kicked in and we had to drop him. When they dropped Kapinos early on they were betting he'd still be available if Sep hurt his knee again, and he was! Kap stepped in and they had their cake and ate it too. How is that the wrong decision?

I know, I know, and yes, Kapinos outperformed Sepulveda in the 2011 preseason. But they had each only punted 9 times. That's a pretty small sample size. And to get a larger one, they wouldn't just have to guess like we would have to do with Hrapmann. Sep and Kap both each punted for us the year before! All you had to do was go and see how Kap did in the regular season. Isn't that a better way to judge, anyway, if possible? Or would you have David Gilreath replace Emmanuel Sanders on the roster if he outperforms him in preseason?

So how did they do in 2010?

Sep 56 punts, 45.5 gross, 39.1 net, 3.54 return yards per punt*
Kap 14 punts, 41.1 gross, 32.3 net, 6.00 return yards per punt*

That's what the team was looking at when deciding which punter to keep. Kapinos had an amazing preseason that year, but they had bigger things to consider. Sep was a proven commodity (except for his injuries, which they could get around if Kap was still available later in the season which, again, he was) and Kap wasn't. He had talent but still put up very low numbers. The year before, in 2009, he was with Green Bay, and the numbers were almost just as bad (43.8, 34.1), and that's off of a full 16 game schedule with 66 punts. This is what Kapinos had been for 2 years in the NFL. Sep had been far better. And you want them to erase it all for one good preseason with 9 punts.

So that's what they did in 2010, before they decided to keep Sep over Kap. Here's what happened after that decision, in 2011:

Sep 25 punts, 46.1 gross, 39.1 net, 1.48 return yards per punt*
Kap 34 punts, 45.0 gross, 38.3 net, 6.12 return yards per punt*

Kapinos definitely closed the gap on Sepulveda. In order to be a better punter, he'd have to make amazing strides from the past two years and show tons of improvement, be much more consistent, and kick more long balls. It would have to be the best year of his life, and by a wide margin. And guess what, it was. He did all those things, and he had a great year. And it still wasn't as good as Sepulveda's, who's year was very predictable (in terms of punting and knee injuries). And once again, the minute he went down they were able to pick up Kapinos, so I really in no way see how this was the wrong decision. It's not like they blew their chance with Jeremy and had to see him thrive on another team. He was sitting around waiting for them like they figured he would be.

****The return yards per punt obviously has some room for error. You could make a great punt with tons of hang time, your team could be there in perfect position, and they still all miss and the guy runs for 50 yards. Or you could leave tons of room for a return, and the returner could bobble and drop the ball and gain nothing. However, both guys were playing with the same coverage units, so after 25 & 34 punts I think we can put some faith in those numbers. Through the first half of the season, at the time Sep went out, the Steelers had only allowed 37 punt return yards on 25 punts. That's incredible. It's the best in the league by miles. It's no coincidence, either. I watched those punts during my evaluations, and the returners just have nowhere to go by the time they catch the ball. There's enough hang time that they pretty much have no chance and are instantly tackled. Kapinos couldn't do that as consistently. His returners had more time, more room to run -- and no, that doesn't mean he kicked it farther. Sep had more distance and more hang time. Punting isn't just about getting one extra yard. It's not just about kicking the ball to the other side of the field. It's about making sure the team stays at the other end of the field.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for the kickers, I don't really disagree. I'm surprised Hrapmann got cut in this round. I thought he'd at least last until the final preseason game. I hadn't really made up my mind about who I wanted yet, but I liked Hrapmann and it seemed like most of his kicks were nice and smooth, down the middle. However, I would point out that he is partially to blame for the tipped kick against Indy. Yeah, those guys shouldn't have been there, but he kicked that ball WAY too low, and off to the side. In fact, I'm not 100% sure it would have gone in had it not been tipped. From that distance it's a chip shot, and it's called a chip shot for a reason. You don't need distance, you just chip it straight up in the air over everybody. That was a major choke job.

Hrapmann 4 touchbacks on 10 kickoffs, 6 of 6 on FGs; 2-2 from 20-29, 1-1 from 30-39, 3-3 from 40-49, with a long of 43
Suisham 7 touchbacks on 10 kickoffs, 2 of 2 on FGs; 1-1 from 30-39, 1-1 from 40-49, with a long of 46

For what it's worth, Hrapmann averaged 63.8 yards per kickoff his last year in college. Suisham averaged 66.5, 7th best in the league last year. 63.8 would have been good enough for 31st last year. I saw him kick some through the end zone too. I also saw some that didn't reach the goal line.

They probably feel like they know what they have with Suisham. Kicking's almost all mental. Maybe they think he's in a better place now. I have no idea. Maybe they figure Hrapmann will be available if they need him, like Kapinos. That will probably be true. I don't know if they made the right choice, but I do think it's too soon to make the call. But I don't know the guys, or what they do in practice.

 

What do you guys think will happen with the punter situation? Kapinos or Butler. I say this is a no brainer but admit I was suprised by the Hrapmann cut.

 

I think Butler's the new man. I'm not suprised with Hrapmann, although I was pulling for him, there was no way that the Steelers were going to go into the limited 70 man roster with 4 kickers and punters. Some one had to go. Plus look at it this way can anyone tell me a game where Suisham has costed the Steelers?? I can't name a game.

 

LOL! Snack, when are you going to learn that I inject little tidbits like Kapnos beating out Sepulveda into my posts just to see if you'll take the bait and offer a dissertative response as to why that is factually incorrect? You never disappoint. You ALWAYS take the bait.

Just kidding with you. I'll go back and forth about Wallace all day long but I'm not going to waste my time (or yours) defending Jeremy Kapinos. To me it was simple (maybe too simple). Kapinos did out-punt Sepulveda last pre-season and with Sepulveda's propensity to miss time due to injury I thought Tomlin should have given Kapinos the job. Sure he was available when we needed him but what if he wasn't available? We could have found a punter but Kapinos was punting it well in the pre-season and I thought he earned it.

At any rate, do you think Cundiff would be enough of an upgrade based on the info I posted above that we ought to take a shot at him? I await your dissert....er your response.

 

This!

 

LOL! Snack, when are you going to learn that I inject little tidbits like Kapnos beating out Sepulveda into my posts just to see if you'll take the bait and offer a dissertative response as to why that is factually incorrect? You never disappoint. You ALWAYS take the bait.

Just kidding with you. I'll go back and forth about Wallace all day long but I'm not going to waste my time (or yours) defending Jeremy Kapinos. To me it was simple (maybe too simple). Kapinos did out-punt Sepulveda last pre-season and with Sepulveda's propensity to miss time due to injury I thought Tomlin should have given Kapinos the job. Sure he was available when we needed him but what if he wasn't available? We could have found a punter but Kapinos was punting it well in the pre-season and I thought he earned it.
[/quote:2jkiv5bh]
I knew it was bait, but the world is less stupid now, and I killed some time. Worth it.

 

I knew it was bait, but the world is less stupid now, and I killed some time. Worth it.[/quote:2to6glom]


And your thoughts on Cundiff please? Cliff notes version.

 

nope.. I know it was Bryant's brother Walter, not Bryant, he was already let go,,Bryant's brother is just as bad

 

hrapmann looked very good and displayed a very strong leg on kick offs............. don't be surprised if suisham is put on a short leash..... i'm sure hrapmann is on speed dial.

 

[/quote:385bmin7]

I will admit to being upset when he missed the kick, and even more so when the pass was dropped. I hate the Ravens, but i can respect them. No way I can say the second part about the Patriots.[/quote:385bmin7]

I feel the same when it comes to both teams but I knew the pats had a better chance of losing to the Giants or GB than The rats in the superbowl!

 

No real surprises, agree with previous comments about the kicker, but then again, if on 3rd and short at the 30 yard line we run the ball instead of taking a sack while looking to throw for 20 yards we can shorten up some of the missed field goals.

 

I'm surprise Marquis Maze made it through the first cuts.

Any surprises that made the roster so far?

 

After watching our kickers throughout camp, I have faith in our special teams coordinator's decision.

Oh wait, he was cut too.