Welcome our new punter

by steelguy99 on Nov 5, 2008 4:15 PM EST Comment 17 comments

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08310/925580-66.stm

Paul Ernster, model of consistency, takes over for Berger.

I'm very happy that Berger is out. I wish him the best, he's a tough guy, but we can't keep punting like that.

I absolutely hated Ernster during the pre-season though. We need more than anything consistency as the punter, and ernster does not bring that at all. He is going to blatantly cost us a game somewhere along the lines, anthony smith guarantees it.

The one brightside to ernster is some booming kickoffs.

Pre-season stats:

Buf - 1 for 25!

Phi - 7 - avg 37

Min - 4 avg 48

Car - 2 avg 24.5!

This is not good news. Not at all.

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Punter

Let’s play Minnesota!

by tenthmtnman on Nov 5, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and one very botched snap…

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Nov 5, 2008 4:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Can you clarify? I don’t remember all of the pre-season, which one was a botched snap?

The stats certainly wouldn’t tell all. It seems like with 2 for 24 avg something went horribly wrong. After the pre-season though and his stellar seasons before the steelers, I think we all know that he is not very good.

by steelguy99 on Nov 5, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’ve got to give Berger credit for giving everything he had on two bad hamstrings. He contributed valiantly to the end, and I wish him well.

by B&GinSLC on Nov 5, 2008 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It sucks for him because he knew that once he faltered he’d be cut and out for the season. There will be a place for him somewhere next year though if someone needs an emergency punter.

by steelguy99 on Nov 5, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

since he was cut...

… if he gets better, i suppose the steelers can re-sign him anytime. hopefully ernster does a good job, but wish berger a speedy recovery just in case…

by BoiseSteeler on Nov 6, 2008 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

more stats

Ah, some more great stats from our new pal Ernster.

I imagine these statistics include plenty of shanks, or he just gets an awful avg.

2007 browns – 7 punts for 36.6 avg (shank!)
2007 broncos – 5 punts for 35.6 avg (shank!)
2006 broncos – 41.7 avg

Something went wrong along the way with Paul. He better try real hard to right the ship.

by steelguy99 on Nov 5, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Horrible Punter

This was the Browns punter that shanked a punt in last years opener allowing the Steelers to drive 30 yards for their first TD. He was cut after that game. What is it with the affinity for ex Browns? Arians, Zierlien and now Ernster.
Do you mean to tell me there were no other punters available? I would rather go the Jeff Reed route and bring in 5 FA punters and sign the best one. We know what Ernster will do. To quote steelguy above “SHANK!”
If Art Jr is reading “This is a horrible personnel move!”

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 5, 2008 7:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not good signs

by tkired on Nov 5, 2008 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tomlin's comments

One reason they signed Ernster is his familiarity with holding for Reed and taking snaps from our furniture mover. I’d like to see us start using someone other than our punter for holds (James Harrison available?), but i’ll give this move muted hope that it doesn’t screw us.

by Chicago Steeler on Nov 6, 2008 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the devil you know...

I think this is a case of that and nothing more – maybe the front office would rather have someone that’s gonna shank one once in a while than someone they really know nothing about? Punting at the practice field is not the same as a real game…

by acrollet on Nov 5, 2008 10:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2 Words

Jeff Reed

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 6, 2008 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Environment matters

Give a guy a new place to play and things can look up.

Heck you practically have to throw out the punting records in Cleveland. The poor guy probably punted 12 times a game and wore himself out.

I trust the upper management. I cant think of too many FA signings that went horribly south.

Sigh, Sepulveda, why did you have to blow that ACL.

by Mechem on Nov 6, 2008 1:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

True – he could have punted 12 times, except oh yeah, he whiffed the very first kick of the season. There is no defending Ernster, and our upper management is far from perfect.

by steelguy99 on Nov 6, 2008 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs