Kevin Gorman: Pressure brings out best in Steelers kicker Chris Boswell

[polamalubeast]

Mike Tomlin promised to “create a little pressure” for Chris Boswell this preseason, pushing the fifth-year kicker to return to Pro Bowl form for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That became the burning question throughout training camp: What constituted a pressure kick? The countdown kicks at Saint Vincent or the field-goal showdown during Family Fest at Heinz Field? Or were the Steelers saving it for game situations?

“They’re all just kicks,” Boswell said with shrug. “The pressure is the outside stuff put on you. That never really changes anything about kicking. That doesn’t change when you kick. A kick is a kick. You’ve just got to play it by that.”

But Boswell knows this: a miss isn’t just a miss.

Too many more of those could cost Boswell his job, especially coming off a season in which he converted a career-worst 65 percent (13 of 20) field goals — including a pair of potential game-winners — and missed five extra points (43 of 48).

In an eight-minute interview at his locker Wednesday afternoon at UPMC Rooney Sports Performance Complex on the South Side — and, trust me, that’s an eternity for the soft-spoken Texan — Boswell took a shot at every question I asked.

His answers split the uprights.

It started with how he handled being asked about the Steelers signing Matthew Wright, a rookie from UCF, to challenge for kicking duties.

“It’s good for everybody. Every other position has competition, per se. Why not have it for us?” Boswell said. “It does bring out the best in everybody. We’ll see where it goes.”

Has it brought out the best in Boswell?

“It’s taken me to another level,” Boswell said. “I’ve just got to keep it there.”

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https://triblive.com/sports/kevin-go...chris-boswell/

[hawaiiansteeler]

yeah, pressure should brought out the best in Boz last season

[polamalubeast]

yeah, pressure should brought out the best in Boz last season

It was awful (either in the clutch or an extra point in the middle of the game), but at least he was very good in this situation in his first 3 seasons, so we can have hope with him.

But the question, is the Steelers fan, the coaches and the players would trust Boswell if in week 1 in Foxboro,the Steelers trail by by 1-2 points with very few second left in the game and Boswell need to make a 45 yard FG to win this game?

Where would your confidence level on him to make that kick?

Confident like in 2017 ... or no confidence like in 2018 or in between? ... The good news right now is that his kicks are right down in the middle, which is a great sign for him, but he needs to continue!