The Steelers have claimed 26-year old punter Paul Ernster off waivers from the Lions to replace the injured Daniel Sepulveda as the starting punter.  Ernster played in 2 games for the Broncos & Browns last season and he averaged 36.2 yards per punt with a net average of 35.6 yards.  Ernster pinned the opposition inside the 20 three times (25%) and he did not have a touchback.  Look for Ernster to be a gigantic dropoff from Sepulveda.  Ernster has now played in 19 games in the NFL and he has averaged 41.0 yards per punt with a net of 36.5 yards.  He has nailed the opposing team inside the 20 yard line 26 times (28.3%) and he has had 7 touchbacks.  The Steelers’ special teams will suffer with Ernster punting instead of 2nd year man Sepulveda.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost 2nd year punter Daniel Sepulveda for the season after he tore his ACL in his right knee in practice yesterday.  This is a blow to the Steelers as he was fantastic as a rookie last season.  Sepulveda played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season and he averaged 42.4 yards per punt with a net of 37.9 yards.  He only had 2 touchbacks all season long which is great and he pinned the opposition inside the 20 yard line 28 times (41.2%) which is also outstanding.  He is not replaceable and he will be missed.

29-year old kicker Jeff Reed had a career year last season for the Steelers as he only missed 2 kicks all season long.  It was an incredible feat as Reed has had big time issues kicking at Heinz Field in the past.  That makes me think that last season was a fluke for him.  Reed played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season and he made 23 of 25 field goals (92%).  Reed also nailed all 44 of his extra points last season.  Still, Reed has never been close to as good as he was last season and I have a hard time believing that he has found the light.  Reed has now played in 86 NFL games and he has made 135 of 165 field goals (81.8%).  Reed has also made 211 of 213 extra points (99.1%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+

The Steelers have two solid TEs and they should start using them more in the offense.  25-year old Heath Miller has excellent hands and the speed to get down the seam and make big plays.  But, the Steelers don’t use him enough.  With the line troubles the Steelers will likely have this season it would be smart to target Miller on the short stuff.  Miller played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 47 passes for 566 yards (12.0 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Miller to have about the same numbers this season for the Steelers.  Miller has now played in 48 games in his NFL career and he has caught 120 passes for 1,418 yards (11.8 avg) with 18 TD grabs.

6′7″, 270 pound Matt Spaeth is a good blocker and the Steelers look for him when they get near the goal line because of his size.  Spaeth played in 14 games as a rookie last season and he caught 5 passes for 34 yards (6.8 avg) with an amazing 3 TD grabs.  Look for him to at least double his catches this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-

There might be a changing of the guard at WR for the Steelers’ as Santonio Holmes might be the go to guy instead of Hines Ward.  The 24-year old Holmes has blazing speed which is something the Steelers’ don’t have a lot of in the WR corps.  Holmes played in 13 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 52 passes for 942 yards (18.1 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He also carried the football 5 times for 17 yards (3.4 ypc) last season.  Look for Holmes to have a great season if he can just stay healthy.  Holmes has now played in 29 games in his NFL career and he has caught 101 passes for 1,766 yards (17.5 avg) with 10 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 6 times for 30 yards (5.0 ypc) in his career.

32-year old Hines Ward appears to be slowing down with age and he’s having a hard time staying healthy.  Still, he’s one of the toughest players in the NFL almost crossing the line into dirty play.  But, he makes big plays whenever the Steelers’ need them.  Ward played in 13 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 71 passes for 732 yards (10.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 11 yards (3.7 ypc) last season.  Look for the Steelers’ to lessen Ward’s workload in 2008 with the idea of keeping him healthy.  Ward has now played in 154 games in his NFL career and he has caught 719 passes for 8,737 yards (12.2 avg) with 65 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 55 times for 426 yards (7.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.

24-year old Nate Washington will likely be the #3 WR on the Steelers when the season starts but it’s up to him to keep the job.  He played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 29 passes for 450 yards (15.5 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for him to have numbers like he did last season if he can hold off rookie Limas Sweed for the #3 job on the Steelers.  Washington has now played in 33 games in his NFL career and he has caught 64 passes for 1,074 yards (16.8 avg) with 9 TD grabs.

The Steelers were very happy to see 6′4″, 212 pound Limas Sweed slide to them in the NFL Draft.  He was injured last season and that caused his draft stock to fall but no one questions his ability.  Sweed played in only 6 games (all starts) at Texas last season and he caught 19 passes for 306 yards (16.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for Sweed to give the Steelers the big target they have been missing since Plaxico Burress signed with the Giants.  Sweed finished up at Texas having played in 43 games (39 starts) and he caught 124 passes for 1,915 yards (15.4 avg) with 20 TD grabs.

5′10″, 186 pound Willie Ried has never turned into the player the Steelers hoped he would and he will likely have a hard time making the team.  He played in 6 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 4 passes for 54 yards (13.5 avg).  He will have to make the team with special teams play or his time could be up in Pittsburgh.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR 2008 SEASON:  A