agreement Blitz. Glad to read Clement is getting snaps with the second string, and some instruction from the master, Aaron Smith. I just had a gut feeling about him when we signed him, and if it plays out how we hope it does, he could be a real boost in keeping our D-line fresh with some rotational/situational play. I thought the same thing when I read about Travis Williams, if he shows some return ability he can make the roster. as for Mahan, what can be said that we haven’t said 100 times….i don’t know if he’ll get cut but if he somehow makes the team this year he definitely will be cut next year. i suppose it’s possible he improves alot, since he is still young, but i don’t think technique was his biggest problem so much as his functional strength, which is where Stapleton and Hartwig both enjoy big advantages over him. maybe we are continuing to give him first-team snaps now and some in training camp to try salvage a last-ditch effort to trade him for a low-round pick or something next year, and if we can’t, then we’ll cut him. we do seem to have a glut of center options (albeit no GREAT ones) right now. but my thoughts on the C is that Hartwig starts this year and if Stapleton continues improving he becomes the Man after that, with Hartwig falling victim to a young player for the 2nd time in his career, despite solid play.

I think Mahan stays. The Steelers won’t go into the season with only Hartwig and an untested Stapleton at center. I think that they should, especially if it means they get to keep someone else at a different position. I just don’t see the Steelers cutting their crappy FA signing of last year.

Unless Ryan Mundy is better than he appears on paper, I would think they want to bring in some fresh legs at the safety spot. Carter is into his 30s now, and when he was called upon last season, wasn’t really up to the task. They didn’t bring any other safeties as free agents this year, although I suppose they could grab someone off the waiver wire later in the summer. Also Legursky over Capizzi, and possibly Stapleton. Doug seems to have the quality that Tomlin mentioned was lacking. Size and strength at the interior line positions.

Blitz, you know Datruth can’t let an opportunity past without commenting on roster spots. Here goes:

- I really like the roster that you put forth with a couple of tweaks. I would put M. Rucker in there in place of Baker just because of upside. Baker is 6’3, but he’s slow. I just like Rucker’s upside so much more. I think he’s going to be like G. Russell was this past year—give him a redshirt year and he’s going to be ready to play with the big boys. This spot also could come down to who is the best special teams player (throw Trannon into that mix as well). Since Rucker has a rep for being physical and has a chip on his shoulder for not being drafted, I like his chances.

- The only way Mahan makes another year is if he shows his performance this past year was due to aliens inhabitating his body (thus describing why he ended up on the ground so much) or the Steelers don’t want to take any type of cap hit. I think they’ll be fine with depth at the center spot (Hartwig, Stapleton, K. Simmons (emergency situation only) and Legursky on the practice squad ready to be activated if needed). I just don’t think you keep throwing good money after bad if you find out someone can’t play. Like K. Colbert has said before, “Either get’em good, or get’em gone.”

- It’s been awhile since the Steelers kept 7 DL. This could be the year to do it if the talent warrants it. I actually wouldn’t mind going with 2 youngsters over Kirschke and Eason if they show they are worthy. That way, come Decembers, the youngsters (if they are getting spot minutes all along) will have their feet wet and be ready to contribute rather than having a beat-up Kirschke running on an empty tank down the stretch or an Eason that can’t play at all. No one has mentioned DL Scott Paxson in this roster talk at all, but he has a shot to stick.

- The Steelers liked TE C. Boyd when he was here a couple of years ago. They wanted to put him on the practice squad, but the Redskins actually signed him to their regular season roster. I think he sticks over Dekker, who I can’t remember doing anything but dropping passes in the preseason during the last few years.

- I have no problem keeping T. Williams if he is your best returner of all the candidates. I do if he isn’t, even though he plays a position that you can never have enough bodies at. That might make good sense if he is talented because he’d probably be a better special teams gunner and tackler than any of the wide receiver returners trying to land a spot, since DB’s have to actually hit someone during practice. It’d also save the Steelers a roster spot and enable them to keep 7 DLs. Yeah, Blitz, you could very well be on to something.

- As mentioned earlier, does anyone think DL Scott Paxson from Penn State has a chance of making this squad? He’s had 2 years to get bigger and stronger on the practice squad and has made some spot plays during preseason games, which is more than what I can say for McBean and Eason. He should be pretty close to 300 lbs. now, which is a good weight for a 3-4 DL. I think LeBeau now knows that in order for B. Keisel to be most effective, he’s probably going to have to give him more of a blow during games. There is no excuse for someone to lead the team in pressures 2 years in a row but hardly ever gets a sack.

- I like the OL shakeout from B. I don’t think Capizzi is going anywhere. I like he and Hills as your backups for the future. For some reason, I think M. Smith will be sticking around. If you have your $100M quarterback, you might as well keep your LT that you won a Super Bowl with, as long as he proves he is healthy. Sign him to a 3 to 4 year extension. By that time, you’ll know if either Hills or Capizzi can be a long-term answer to either tackle spot. If M. Starks doesn’t sign a contract extension during training camp, he won’t be with the team next year. I also predict that the Steelers won’t lose both M. Smith and M. Starks next year. One of them will be staying. We just don’ t know which one right now.

Your thoughts?

Four seasons as a starter, at two different positions. You don’t kick a guy like that to the curb too quickly. Sean was new to the team and the system last year, his position coach was new, his OC was new, the head coach was new. You can’t judge a player that young on one bad season with all of those factors in play. At worst he would be the top backup at both center and guard, and the chances of the same three players all starting the full season at those positions is not great.

Do you know many people in the NFL that are 6’6’’, 221-lbs and can run a 4.47 40-yard dash. Even if you split the difference between those two times (he ran a 4.57 that day as well), you are still talking about someone running a 4.52, which is still pretty good for that size. And the fact that he bench-pressed 225-lbs 20 times shows that he has the strength to get off the press if he wants to play physically, which scouts have said that he does.

Just think about this, this is someone who has played at a small school as well as some Division I (at Minnesotta). Two to 3 years from now, he’s going to be bigger, stronger and faster and be a beast. Your top 3 WRs by that time will be Santonio, Sweed and Rucker. On the other hand, Baker runs a 4.72 on a good day. On top of that, he’s not a physical receiver. Can’t wait to see what happens when the pads go on.

Scott Paxton DT Paxson (6-4 3/8, 292) ran his 40s in 4.89 and 4.90. Had a 30½-inch vertical jump, 9-foot-3, 4.49 short shuttle, 7.36 three-cone drill, and did 21 reps.

I think one of the things Paxton definitely needed to work on was his strength. He’s had a couple of years on the practice squad to work on that. It also lets you know a little bit about the strength of Kyle Clement, who put up 37 bench presses during his Pro Day. Don’t be surprised if both Paxson and Clements stick on this roster.

They are really loaded at the RB position, and if they don’t have maximum confidence in the O line, they can rotate their backs in the lineup and run the ball 60% of the time. Saves wear and tear on Roethlisberger. There is a lot more depth at the RB position than QB.

Guys, check out the numbers of these two from their Pro Days:

Dallas Baker, 6’3’’, 208, 40 yard dash: 4.53 ( at the combine), 4.60 (Pro Day); Vertical Jump: 36 inches; Broad Jump: 10 feet, 9 inches; Bench Reps: (no reported numbers); 3-cone drill: 6.69; 20-yard dash: 2.72; 10-yard dash: 1.55.

Micah Rucker (Pro Day at University of Illinois), 6-5, 217 lbs, ran the 40 yard dash in 4.57 and 4.47; had a 39-inch vertical jump; Broad jump: 11-foot, 3-inch long jump; 4.57 short shuttle; 6.90 cone drill; 20 reps in the bench press.

Who do you guys think will get that 5th WR spot?

It isn’t likely that the 53 best players on the team will all be healthy and ready to go on the cutdown date. So there would probably be a couple extra spots available for the guys in the grey area.