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Daniel Sepulveda Placed on Injured Reserve for Third Time in Four Seasons

Ahh, that's more like it.  Having already been dealt considerable adversity in 2011, the Pittsburgh Steelers now must proceed in the second half of the season without their starting punter, Daniel Sepulveda, who was placed on Injured Reserve Saturday. 

Jeremy Kapinos, who filled in adequately when Sepulveda was placed on IR last winter, was signed and will punt against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Kapinos, a Penn State graduate, averaged 41.1 yards per punt in four regular season games last year for Pittsburgh; he was better in the playoffs, averaging just over 48 yards per boot on his eight punts. Kapinos competed well with Sepulveda this training camp and arguably was more deserving of the job this season based on his work this preseason.

Sepulveda has now been placed on IR for the third time in four seasons due to recurring issues with his right knee on the leg he plants on as a left-footed punter.  Heading into Week 9, the former fourth round pick in 2007 ranked ninth in the AFC with a 46.1-yard average and eighth with a net average of 39.1 yards. Ed Bouchette reports that the Steelers said Sepulveda injured the knee during last week's practice.

Tough luck for Sepulveda, who by all accounts is a great guy and well-liked by his teammates and the community.  One has to wonder if he's punted for the last time in Pittsburgh.

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Sad story, but let’s remember never to use two draft picks on a punter with an injury history ever again. Kapinos will do just fine.

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Nov 5, 2011 7:42 PM EDT reply actions  

isn't that just peachy

getting hurt that many times is bad, getting hurt in just practice doesn’t sound good at all.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." ~Jack Lambert.

"Superman ain't got nothing on me, ... Kryptonite? C'mon now. It's just that you're never going to hear me say that somebody is tougher than me, ... Because I don't believe somebody else could be tougher than me." ~James Harrison

by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Nov 5, 2011 7:48 PM EDT reply actions  

Interesting stat to remember...

In the two Super Bowl appearances we have had since drafting him, he has played in neither.

Those who can...do.
Those who can't... post on message boards using a screen name boasting the name of those who can.

by Craig Sager's Wardrobe on Nov 5, 2011 7:58 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I like the way you think.

by Dr. Spaceman on Nov 5, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Sionora Sepulveda

Yeah, when they cut him prior to camp it was a mild surprise when they resigned him, and just looking at the numbers Kapinos seemed as good as if not a better job.

I agree, Sepulveda seems to have punted his last time for the Steelers.

Look at the “bright” side. This gives Ed Bouchette yet another opportunity to criticize the Steelers for picking him so high (I agree with him, I am just tired of him gloating about it.)

by Hombre de Acero on Nov 5, 2011 8:01 PM EDT reply actions  

This could be a blessing

From what i saw in pre-season, Kapinos was pretty good.

This message will self destruct

by FrankWyt on Nov 5, 2011 9:30 PM EDT reply actions  

Bye bye Danny boy

It is a sad story, but Danny’s time in Black and Gold must now be over. I never understood trading up and taking a punter in the 4th round, and Danny’s numbers never justified the move. For that kind of investment, he needed to be consistently in the top 3 in the Conference in stats, and he could never get there. Maybe he would have been a better punter if he were healthy, but we will never know.

by jmn501 on Nov 5, 2011 9:34 PM EDT reply actions  

Look at it this way

everytime Sepulveda goes on the IR, Pittsburgh makes it to the Super bowl.

by Anthony Defeo on Nov 5, 2011 9:59 PM EDT reply actions  

i DO NOT want to jinx it

But both in 2008 an 2010 we lost 2/3 of the usual special teams unit before we got to the Super Bowl – in 2008 it was Robopunter and Greg Warren (LS), and in 2010 – Robopunter & kicker (when we cut Jeff Reed). I hope the injury bug will spare us a bit this year (not that it has been kind to the Steelers’ offense AND defense until now).

Life's a journey, not a destination.

by kliuch on Nov 6, 2011 5:56 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions  

Sucks

Sepulveda delivered pretty damned well when healthy; but looks like he’s just not wired right. I wish him the best; from everything I’ve heard and read he gave his all and was a true Steeler (and that says a lot). Plus, he has a higher passer rating than Ben !.
Best of luck Daniel


"Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball." - Roberto Clemente

by michaelbro8 on Nov 5, 2011 10:01 PM EDT reply actions  

Hate to say it

But this is one more case of staying with a player one year too long.

I don’t want to sound heartless, but if someone goes on IR twice in three years, it’s time to part ways.

by Steelzombie on Nov 5, 2011 10:45 PM EDT reply actions  

agree

This is definitely one of the worst moves they have made. Drafting him in the 4th round? Geeze, maybe we could of had a quality tackle or guard in that year. Anyway, I agree and I think that the second mistake Pittsburgh made was keeping him last year for his second IR season. It’s almost like they are trying to keep him for his 4th round pick status. Kappy did just as good as him if not better in camp and preseason. Saw both of them at camp and Kappy was cranking them with great hang time. We will be fine…….

by lamberts58 on Nov 6, 2011 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

I tend to agree, except for the “quality tackle or guard” bit. Where praytell, are those hiding in the fourth round?

by gostevego on Nov 6, 2011 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

yeah, sorry.

Any quality line men are almost always snatched up in the first round, second at the worst.

This message will self destruct

by FrankWyt on Nov 6, 2011 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

bummer

I hope Sepulveda recovers for his long term health. I really enjoyed his punting and tackling when he played.

by tkired on Nov 6, 2011 12:11 AM EDT reply actions  

Sucks

for Sepulveda, but this works out well for his and Kapinos’ supporters.

by pistil_stamen on Nov 6, 2011 1:53 AM EDT reply actions  

Continuing the strain of "These Guys Are People So Be Nice"....

I like Robo Punter.

But I like my team more. I’ll take Kapinos’ 41+ average combined with health vs. Sepulvedas 46+ and inconsistent availability.

Unfortunately, I’m one that doesn’t wonder if he’s punted for the last time…I’d be surprised if he punts for us again. That’s sad. He’s by all accounts a good guy, good teammate, and tough competitor…

I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. For more info, please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com

by Fifty-Eight on Nov 6, 2011 1:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Penn State Tradition

This does mean that the Steelers now have a Penn State alum on the starting roster. That’s necessary for a SB win, right?

The stars are aligning…

by bornem17 on Nov 6, 2011 7:26 AM EST reply actions  

Sorry DS, I wish you well.

"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Nov 6, 2011 10:36 AM EST reply actions  

bummer

for Sepulveda. He gave it a good go, got a few decent paychecks, and has a knee that will ache the rest of his life.

Who holds now for Suisham? Maybe Charlie Batch could have something to do.

by stylepoints on Nov 6, 2011 11:56 AM EST reply actions  

Truth is, the Steelers teams of the 70's never had decent special teams units, and they turned out just fine.

I like Sepulveda and he might be super talented as far as punters go, but I was puzzled when they decided to sign him in the offseason. And not only because he was injured twice, but because Kapinos seemed to be a pretty decent punter in his own right and was probably a little cheaper.

by Anthony Defeo on Nov 6, 2011 12:22 PM EST reply actions  

A punter shouldnt get injured this badly this often

Kapinos time from here on out, sorry Danny, you couldve been special (cant say that for many punters) but this is just how it goes sometimes

Formerly known as Steeler_

BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia

by Michael Hewitt on Nov 6, 2011 7:09 PM EST reply actions  


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