Pittsburgh Steelers: Scobee, Bryant, And Roster Cuts
By Harv Aronson
In Steelers Nation there was a huge sigh when kicker Shaun Suisham was lost for the season with a knee injury. Along came Garrett Hartley, a proven and successful kicker. Last week, Hartley too suffered an injury that essentially ended his short Pittsburgh Steelers career.
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It didn’t take long for Pittsburgh to find their third kicker of 2015. The Jacksonville Jaguars believed their long-time placekicker Josh Scobee is past his prime and dealt him to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round draft choice.
Statistically speaking, one might not think Scobee is one of the leagues’ better kickers, but that aside, Scobee is one of the more consistent and solid kickers Pittsburgh could have acquired. Steelers fans should be excited out bringing the ex-Jaguar to town and he certainly could challenge Shaun Suisham next summer for the permanent job at that position.
For his career, Josh Scobee has nailed nearly 81% of his field goal attempts. In 11 seasons in the NFL, Scobee has missed just five extra point attempts. On field goal attempts over 50 yards, Scobee has made more than half of the 42 tries he has attempted (26). From inside the 30-yard line, Josh Scobee has gone wide left or right on just two of 68 attempts.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Josh Scobee entered the league in 2004 as a fifth-around draft pick by Jacksonville. It is Jason Meyers that the Jags opted to use as their kicker for 2015.
Monday also saw a handful of players become ex-Steelers as Mike Tomlin paired down his roster to the required 75 players.
Those unfortunate players who were handed pink slips are Miles Dieffenbach, Ian Wild, C.J. Goodwin, Cameron Clear, Ray Hamilton, Niko Davis, Kenzel Doe, Braylon Heard, Joe Kruger, Joe Okafor, Collin Rahrig, Kevin Whimpey, and Jordan Sullen.
Offensive lineman Mike Adams was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list and rookie Senquez Golson will have to wait until 2016 to make his NFL debut as he goes on IR.
“It is a disappointment to our entire organization as well as our fans” Kevin Colbert on Martavis Bryant
The biggest disappointment this summer has to be the story of Maratavis Bryant. After failing a drug test, positive for marijuana use, Bryant has now been suspended for four games, a penalty held up by the NFL on Monday.
Reportedly, the Steelers were wary of Bryant getting in trouble as he has done before with pot smoking, and that was the reason for drafting Sammie Coates. It is being called a pick for “insurance reasons” related to Martavis Bryant and his background. A huge disappointment all the way around and not a smart way to get in the good graces of Steelers Nation.
Kevin Colbert reacted to the suspension with the following remarks:
“We are disappointed in Martavis’ actions that has led to his four-game suspension. It is a disappointment to our entire organization as well as our fans, but we will continue to support Martavis during his suspension. It is very unfortunate his actions have put our team in this situation to begin the year, but we are confident he will learn from his mistake and return in excellent shape in Week 5.”
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