they will have 3 QB’s on the roster. It is a big chance to go with 2 unless you have a WR named Kordell on the roster. With Dixon hurt I see him as a practice squad player unless he really gets better quick and performs well at Latrobe. Everyone was high on J Zab predraft so he will probably be #3.
Notice 4th rounder Hills doesn’t make your roster. Practice Squad? Think they may keep 10 OL and 6 DL but that depends on Latrobe.

I think Eason will beat out Travis because he’s younger and McBean is still on crutches so I don’t know that he will make it. Never seen Clement so I don’t know him but if he can beat out Travis we get younger in a hurry.
I think they may only keep 8 LB. Everyone is very high on Humpal but I see a 6th round LB making the practice squad unless he is a real deal. I also like A Madison to beat out Mason. He is higher on depth chart and has experience.

Biggest battles will be at LB with A Harrison, Cooper, Frazier, B Davis and Humpal fighting for 2-3 spots. Also big battle at OL to see who can block someone for Benny. Think it was a mistake to bench Starks last year (thanks Bruce & Larry) and that’s why he’s making 7 million. They don’t have confidence in Colon. I don’t have confidence in Bruce and Larry so I’m hoping they prove me wrong.

- I don’t think there’s any way that Dixon and Hills will make it to the practice squad. You have to remember that they are basically free agents when they’re on the practice squad, meaning that any team can sign them as long as they’re added to that team’s 53. Dixon and Hills might be able to be stashed on the PUP list for the first six weeks although I’m not sure if you can put two players at a time on there. I also think they have to agree to that move. Dixon sounds like a guy ready to play so that may be a problem. As much as I hate to say it, I think they’ll have to use a roster spot on Dixon.

- Looking at this 53, I have to wonder who our KR is. Moore hasn’t shown much as KR, even though he’s better than average as a PR. Reid scares the hell out of me. I don’t remember any of those defensive backs having much experience returning kicks either. Did Mendenhall return kicks at Illinois at all?

- D-Line still scares me, even more than the OL. An injury to Smith or Hampton still cripples the defense. I know some of us are still holding out hope that Booger may get signed but he’s not a starter in this league anymore. He needs limited snaps to be effective as does Kirschke. I hope you’re right about Clement, Blitz. If Eason ends up making this team, it should be a sign of bad things to come. Anyone have any injury updates on McBean? He couldn’t have gotten much better in the off season considering he’s been on crutches.

- Somebody on that OL has to go. One of those guys will get cut. I hope it’s Mahan. He may be versatile, but who really needs 3 centers. Simmons can play center if both Hartwig and Stapleton go down.

i don’t know if i would agree with you about mahan. remember his natural position is guard and he adds depth there as well.

they will definitely give moore a look in this department as well as jeremy bloom. i think this kid out of e. carolina will get a look too. travis williams – cb. anythings gotta be better than the dual disasters of chokely (condolences to whatever team you landed with) and not fast willie.

Good points, Blitz and cgolden. Here are my thought/responses:

- I’m pretty sure that we can put several players on the PUP list, and it’s very possible that we will utilize this CBA feature a lot this season. The leading candidate in my mind is McBean, since he’s on DL and has the most recent injury. Hills and Dixon are good candidates as well, but they may be recovered enough from their injuries to miss qualifying for it.

- I think there is a good chance that an UDFA DL will make the team, but I think Eason gets first dibs there. They just signed him and Kirschke to extensions, so they must be a little higher on them than we are. If they like one of the UDFA’s, they’ll keep 7 plus McBean on the PUP.

- Moore can hold onto the football which qualifies him in my mind to return kicks. We know he can do punts, and he’d be an acceptable KR, so as Blitz said, I doubt we’d use a roster spot on a specialist, considering that there’s no clear leader among the scrubs.

- Mahan is in year two of a 4 year contract with a modest signing bonus. Stapleton can backup C (and maybe guard) and we have 3 starting-ish guards on our roster already (Kemo, Colon, Simmons). My best guess is that Mahan is gone, with a $800k hit this year and $1.6M hit next year. Those numbers are much less than the base salary of a guy who’s not going to see the field. Look for Hills or a guy like Doug Legursky to take his spot as a backup guard.

- At LB, the top 6 are set (I’m including Davis). We may keep 9 as Blitz suggested since we’re still looking for Farrior’s replacement and some good special teamers. We have a good crop of backups (Fox, Humpal, Harrison, Frazier), so there should be some good competition for those last few spots. It will be up to that group to prove that they deserve the extra spot.

Momentary lapse of reason. Forgot about others being able to raid the practice squad. Think that assures Dixon a roster spot or PUP. Still think Humpal could land there. Lots of experience for the LB and ST spots.

Still think Hills makes roster. Think they will keep Mahan and Essex too. Mahan has versatility of G and C even though I agree with above that he is weak. No mention of Capizzi and several of you draftniks (not sure who) were real high on him. OL could be a disaster.

Think Moore will get first crack at KR and PR. That’s where he will earn his keep. Reid may not make the roster and I wouldn’t want him returning old milk let alone the pigskin again. I put Holmes at back up PR and try Rashard at back up KR. Check out last years stats Blitz. I think A Madison made some plays on ST and in the passing game.

I know that I’m probably in the minority here, but I love Willie Reid! I don’t know if anyone else remembers the training camp battles he had last year, but the kid has heart. I think he makes the team as the #5 receiver.
As for Dixon and Hills, I think they both make the 53 man roster. They probably won’t be active on game day, since there are only 45 active spots, but Dixon will likely be the emergency QB. Unless one of them gets injured in camp, neither one will qualify for the PUP list and neither one would ever make it to the practice squad. Somebody would pick them up off of waivers the moment the Steelers released them.
I’m thinking that we only carry 8 LBs and 9 DBs into the season, Humpel to the PS and Tyrone Carter not making the cut. That opens up the spots for Dixon and Hills, although 10 O-linemen seems a bit ridiculous…