BEREA — Dave Zastudil is one person who can’t be blamed for the 10-6 loss to the Steelers on Sunday night.
The punter from Bay Village averaged 53 yards on five kicks, including a 52.8-yard net. He also landed two inside the 20-yard line on a night with winds gusting to 60 mph.
“It’s the best game I’ve ever had,” he said.
The gross and net averages were the best of Zastudil’s seven-year career. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the net is a franchise record, dating to 1970 when return yards were first recorded by the NFL.
“I have to give him a lot of credit because he saved a lot of field position,” coach Romeo Crennel said.
Zastudil’s performance was even more impressive considering he kicked into the wind all five times. He called it one of the worst three conditions he’s had to kick in.
“It was very difficult,” he said. “The wind was swirling and it was gusting a lot.
“You can’t try to overkick it. Try and make contact and the ball will go.”
Zastudil said he moved about a yard closer to the line of scrimmage to make it easier to catch the snap. Other than that, he stuck to his game plan.
“There really isn’t any trick or strategy,” he said. “Just going out there and making sure to drop the ball a little lower, hold onto it a little longer because you know the ball’s going to move. So I just tried to do that and stay short on my steps. And just drive the ball.
“If you hit a solid ball, it will cut through that wind and that’s what happened.”
To kick or not to kick?
For the second straight week, Crennel stood by his decision to kick a field goal in the fourth quarter. Trailing the Steelers 10-3 with 3:24 left, Crennel ordered a 38-yard Phil Dawson field goal on fourth-and-7.
The kick was good, but the defense didn’t stop Pittsburgh until all three timeouts were used and only 26 seconds remained. Crennel said needing 7 yards for a first down made the decision to kick easier, but that wasn’t the overriding factor.
“The points on the board, that gives you a chance to win,” he said. “You stop them and give your offense the ball back, that gives you the chance to win.”

Edwards drops ball

Braylon Edwards’ bad start continued with two more drops against the Steelers.
He dropped a third-down pass in he first quarter when he was late turning around, and the second drop came at the 5-yard line on a post in the third quarter. Edwards was drilled by safety Ryan Clark, but he had already dropped the ball.
Edwards finished with three catches for 32 yards.
Crennel blamed the drops on Edwards missing three weeks of the preseason with stitches in his foot.
“I think Braylon is trying pretty hard when a ball comes his way because last game he dropped some,” Crennel said. “Sometimes when you try hard, you tighten up a little bit and you don’t relax. He’s got to get to the point where he can relax and look the ball in and let it come to him the way it used to.”

Injury report

Receiver Donte Stallworth jogged and stretched before the game, but wasn’t able to play for the second straight week.
“I’ll know more Wednesday whether he’ll be ready for the next game or not,” Crennel said. “Donte has shown that he can be a part of this offense, that he can make some plays.”
• Receiver/returner Joshua Cribbs injured a hamstring on a punt return in the fourth quarter. Cribbs also said his sprained ankle was sore. Crennel said Cribbs was healthy enough to return.
• Special teamer Kris Griffin left the game with a calf injury and didn’t return.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. 

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