Daniel Sepulveda has been working on kickoffs during the Steelers training camp this year. Coach Mike Tomlin had some kind words for the punter's efforts:
Daniel Sepulveda might provide us with a legitimate options there. I liked his placement of the ball, I liked his hang time. He’s worked a lot at it. He didn’t have any exposure in that area prior to getting here. That just speaks to what he is – he’s always willing to do whatever for us.
We'll see if anything comes of this. Pittsburgh has experimented with using Sepulveda on kickoffs in prior training camps, but it's never amounted to anything during the regular season.
He certainly has the leg for it. To me, if his placement and hang time are even 80 percent as good as kicker Jeff Reed's, you've got to put him out there. The Steelers' coverage unit gave up four touchdown returns last year and on many of them, Reed -- who's supposed to be the last line of defense -- looked completely unable to even stand in the opponent's way. By contrast, Sepulveda is basically another linebacker.