https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-2-a-days-miles-killebrew-christian-kuntz-significant-parts-of-special-teams-unit/
Steelers 2-a-days: Miles Killebrew, Christian Kuntz significant parts of special teams unit
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2022 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, two per day, between June 11 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
S MILES KILLEBREW
Experience: 7th season
Contract status: $1.517 million cap hit in 2022, signed through 2023
2022 outlook: The Steelers got more than enough return on their $1.127 million investment in Killebrew last season based on two plays alone. Killebrew blocked punts during games against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers. The former was a significant aspect of a big season-opening win; the latter in an unlikely comeback that ultimately was for naught. But that Killebrew alone accounted for a full one-sixth (two of the 12) of the blocked punts in the NFL last season shows why the Steelers signed him and why they kept him. Killebrew also blocked a punt while with the Detroit Lions in 2020.
Killebrew ranked second on the Steelers in special-teams snaps played last season with 335. A “core” special teamer, he also contributed 44 snaps as a subpackage safety. While his role on defense (if any) always will be limited, Killebrew is well-liked by coaches and teammates and in addition to the occasional “splash” he brings on special teams is reliable and knowledgeable about all the special teams units. That’s why he’ll have a job again in 2022.
“I definitely feel as If I’ve progressed as a long snapper in the last three years,” said Christian Kuntz, who left Duquesne as the Northeast Conference’s all-time sacks leader. https://t.co/WW46kABhBj— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 3, 2021
LS CHRISTIAN KUNTZ
Experience: Last season was his first appearing in regular-season games but had spent time with four NFL teams on offseason or camp rosters or practice squads since 2017
Contract status: $825,000 cap hit in 2022, after which will be an exclusive rights free agent
2022 outlook: A former standout athlete at Chartiers Valley who played football at Duquesne University, Kuntz made his NFL debut at age 27 last season. In his fifth NFL training camp, he finally won a roster spot via winning the long-snapper job by beating out incumbent Kameron Canaday.
From there, Kuntz fell off into the relative obscurity that comes with the position as a long snapper — and that’s a good thing. Typically, the only times their names are brought up is when something goes wrong. And Kuntz offered no such gaffes — even while working with an inexperienced rookie in holder and punter Pressley Harvin III. Chris Boswell made more than 90% of his kicks, some in late-game pressure situations, and a piece of the credit for those goes to Kuntz. As a reward, he is reporting to training camp with no competition on the roster. That’s a compliment from the Steelers in how they viewed his performance last season.
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