Boswell gets shot with Steelers
PITTSBURGH – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin likes to describe veteran players as “been-there, done-that guys.”
His new placekicker, certainly doesn’t fit that bill.
Chris Boswell has neither been there nor done that in the NFL, having never attempted a regular-season kick.
He’ll get his first chance Monday night when the Steelers (2-2) play at San Diego (2-2).
The Steelers hope the stage isn’t too big for the strong-legged first-year player.
“The kid has to do his job like anybody else,” Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith told Steelers.com. “Everybody in this program is being evaluated on a consistent basis and he’s no different than anybody else. He’ll be evaluated every day.
“We’re just looking for some consistency. We gotta make some kicks.”
That’s something his predecessor, Josh Scobee, didn’t do with enough regularity.
Scobee, who the Steelers acquired via a trade with Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick after Shaun Suisham and Garrett Hartley were both injured in the preseason, missed four of 10 field-goal attempts in four games. He missed attempts from 41 and 49 yards in the final three minutes of a 23-20 overtime loss to the Ravens Oct. 1, something that was the final straw for Tomlin.
Boswell, along with veterans Kai Forbath and Randy Bullock, went through a tryout at Heinz Field last week. Boswell won the job.
“It was an experience,” said Boswell, who played collegiately at Rice. “It was pouring rain, windy, all the elements you want. I hear it gets pretty bad up here, so it was a good test. There was good competition.”
Now, the only competition Boswell has is himself. Make his kicks, and he’ll continue to be the Steelers’ kicker. Start missing, and it might be time to start packing again.
It’s something he knows a little about.
Boswell was with Houston in 2014 as a rookie, kicking behind Bullock. He made both of his field-goal attempts in the preseason, but the team released him, signed him to the practice squad, then released him again.
Boswell then kicked for the Giants in the 2015 preseason when regular kicker Josh Brown was injured. He made all four of his attempts.
But can he do it in a regular-season game with the added pressure of a Monday night game?
“Kicking is kicking,” Boswell said. “It really doesn’t matter who is watching. Whether it’s on your own or it’s on Monday Night Football, you want to take the same mental preparation going into every single kick. You don’t want to take any kicks off. It’s the same mental attitude every single kick.”
The Steelers have kept an eye on Boswell since his days at Rice, where he made 13 kicks beyond 50 yards.
It was his workout at Heinz Field, a notoriously difficult place to kick, along with his versatility – he also punted for the Texans – that was the deciding factor for the Steelers.
“When he came out of Rice, he was in Houston and in his first experience he showed some versatility,” Tomlin said. “He handled kickoffs, field goals and punted as well. He’s an athlete who happens to placekick. That’s attractive to us. We will see where we go with it.”
Boswell hopes to make the most of the opportunity. He’s already been cut twice in the league. He doesn’t want it to happen a third time. And the Steelers don’t want to use a fifth placekicker this season.
“I don’t want to let anybody down,” Boswell said. “It means a lot to me. I am ready to do my best.”
Linebacker Ryan Shazier, who practiced all week, was ruled out of Monday night’s game with shoulder weakness. Shazier hasn’t played since recording a career-high 15 tackles against San Francisco Sept. 20. … Cornerback Cortez Allen (knee) is questionable, while tight end Matt Spaeth (hand), defensive tackle Daniel McCullers (knee), wide receiver Markus Wheaton (knee) and safety Ross Ventrone (hamstring) all are probable. … The Steelers do not have to list wide receiver Martavis Bryant on their injury list because Bryant is not yet on the 53-man roster. … For San Diego, guard Orlando Franklin, receiver Stevie Johnson, cornerback Craig Mager and linebacker Tourek Williams are out. Guard King Dunlap is doubtful.