Suisham The Man in Pittsburgh

After years of camp battles, it appears as though Wallaceburg’s Shaun Suisham will walk into the NFL season as the Pittsburgh Steelers uncontested starting kicker.

Although the Steelers did have other kickers in camp, none were expected to challenge Suisham for his position.

In Thursday’s opening preseason game, a 24-23 loss to Philadelphia, Suisham went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts successfully kicking a long 46-yard field goal in the first quarter, followed by a 31-yard field goal in the second. Suisham also successfully kicked his only extra point attempt.

In 2011, Suisham played all 16 games for the Steelers, making 74.2% of his kicks with a season long of 51-yards. In 80 career NFL games, Suisham has a field goal completion rate of 79.5%. He helped the Steelers advance to the Super Bowl in 2010.

Suisham was also 3-for-3 on field goals during last season’s postseason.

As the preseason started Thursday, the Steelers had Daniel Hrapmann in camp to kick alongside Suisham. Hrapmann split kicking with Suisham in the team’s opening game, and went 1-for-1 kicking a 43-yard field goal.