Steelers rocket scientists in tough contests
If we’re all forced to move to outer space someday — someday soon, at the rate things are going — then the Steelers could be light years ahead of the competition. I feel safe in saying they are the only team in NFL history with two rocket scientists on the roster.
Quarterback Josh Dobbs has an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Tennessee. Kicker Matthew Wright has one from Central Florida and was quoted thusly by his hometown news organization lancasteronline. com: “Being an astronaut is something that’s kind of propelled me.”
So the first question here has to be: Have these two men spoken yet, and would any of us understand anything they’re saying?
“I’ve met him,” Wright said Wednesday after practice in Latrobe. “And it’s just kind of something where if [ rocket science] comes up, it comes up, but we’re not gonna force a conversation like that.”
Fair enough. And besides, Wright and Dobbs have more important issues at hand — like how they are mired in two of hottest camp competitions as the Steelers head into the Bruce Arians Bowl Friday at Heinz Field, also known as the exhibition opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Both are fighting long odds. Dobbs is trying to beat out Mason Rudolph for the backup quarterback job. Rudolph was the higher draft pick. Dobbs, who is starting Friday, will have to thoroughly outplay him over the next few weeks to retain the No. 2 spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.
Wright, an undrafted free agent, is trying to win the place- kicking job from incumbent Chris Boswell. Mike Tomlin said the two will alternate kicks Friday.
Boswell’s first attempt will probably be the most scrutinized exhibition kick in NFL history. An entire region will be watching to see if he might still have the yips — if he’s still Pedro Alvarez throwing to first — or if he appears more settled after a disastrous season.
Boswell has a $ 2 million bonus
waiting for him if he wins the competition. Practice Wednesday marked a small step for him ( and a large step for mankind, if I were to keep the space- travel puns rolling, and I certainly intend to). Near the end of practice, the kickers alternated attempts from the same distances — first 33 yards, then 52, 39, 51 with a countdown, 33 and 41. Boswell went 6 for 6, while Wright badly missed a 52yarder ( short and right).
“There’s things I can work on,” Wright said. “The 52yarder, I hit that one weird today and the other day. I’ll figure that out before the game. I’m real excited to show what I can do.” Technique issue?
“I think it’s something to do with my technique, something to do with my head a little bit on that certain kick,” he said. “I just need to straighten that out, and I’ll be good.”
Wright is pleased with his camp performance. He does not have a big- bang type of leg. His game is consistency from shorter range.
“I’ve made mostly everything inside 50,” he said. “That’s what I think my speciality is.”
Wright rarely attempted long kicks at UCF, partly because, as he put it, his offense wasn’t shy about going for it in enemy territory.
“I tried a 54- yarder at the end of a half, and someone let a blocker through,” Wright said. “I wasn’t very happy about that.”
It’s funny, you know? All these giant men, all these elite athletes sweating out every drill, banging heads in the blazing sun, and their season could come down to a simple kick. Boswell probably turned a 10- win team into a 13- win team two years ago. He hurt the Steelers badly last season.
Part of me wonders if Wright was brought here as a scare tactic more than anything else, but he didn’t flinch when I asked if he believes he was invited with a legit chance to win.
“There’s a lot of kickers out there, and for them to call me, I feel like that gave me a little inspiration to think that, ‘ Yeah, there’s a chance,’ ” he said. “And the way I’ve been kicking, I feel I’ve been keeping up for the most part.”
Meanwhile, while Wright would be over the moon if he won the job ( sorry), he already has worked for Lockheed Martin, one of the largest defense contractors in the world, so he probably has some nice fallback options.
He won’t be thinking about that Friday, though. I wondered if it was the biggest game of his life.
“I’d say the biggest game is the next game,” Wright said “It’s probably the most cliche thing you can say, but I’m just trying to focus on the next kick.”
Rest assured, more than a few folks will be watching.