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NFL

New Steelers kicker Boswell not worried about inexperience

By FoxSports
Published | Updated
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HOUSTON, TX- AUGUST 28: Chris Boswell #2 of the Houston Texans watches his field goal spilt the uprights against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter in a pre-season NFL game on August 28, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping the third time is a charm when it comes to finding kicker Shaun Suisham's replacement.

Chris Boswell has yet to kick in a regular-season game, but he was signed over the weekend to replace Josh Scobee, who missed two field goals in the final minutes of Pittsburgh's 23-20 loss to Baltimore last Thursday. Scobee was just 6 of 10 on field goals and also missed an extra point since being acquired for a sixth-round pick from Jacksonville. The trade for Scobee came after Suisham's initial replacement, Garrett Hartley, suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in the Steelers' third preseason game.

Boswell showed he could kick in nasty weather as he edged out former Washington kicker Kai Forbath in a weekend tryout in the elements.

"It was an experience because it was pouring rain and it was windy -- all the elements you want," Boswell said after his first practice Monday per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I hear it gets bad up here, so it was a good test and good competition."

Scobee isn't the first victim of the tough kicking conditions at Heinz Field, so how can a kicker with no NFL experience succeed in Pittsburgh?

"No matter the elements, you have to find a way to put (the ball) through the pipes," Boswell said. "Kicking is kicking, and it doesn't really matter whether you are on your own or if everyone is watching. You want to take the same mental preparation on every single kick.
Boswell likely won't have to worry about the weather in his first game in a Steelers uniform. He'll make his debut on Monday Night Football in San Diego against the Chargers.

Boswell was released this summer after spending the preseason with the New York Giants. He was initially signed as an undrafted free agent out of Rice in 2014.

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