Steelers 2009 53 Man Roster, Vol. 1

by Michael Bean on Mar 30, 2009 8:20 AM EDT

How about we start this new week with a very, very preliminary crack at predicting who will constitute the Pittsburgh Steelers 53 man roster when the squad is trimmed to that magical number late in training camp.

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon

Running Backs (5): Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, Gary Russell, Carey Davis

Wide Receivers (5): Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, Dallas Baker, Amani Toomer***

Tight Ends (3): Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, ~~Dezmon Sherrod,~~ Sean McHugh

Offensive Linemen (9): Justin Hartwig, Chris Kemoeatu, Willie Colon, Max Starks, Darnell Stapleton, Tony Hills, Jeremy Parquet, 2009 NFL Draft selection #1, 2009 NFL Draft selection #2

DEFENSE:

Defensive Linemen (7): Brett Keisel, Casey Hampton, Aaron Smith, Kyle Clement, Chris Hoke, Travis Kirschke, 2009 NFL Draft selection #1

Linebackers (9): James Harrison, Larry Foote, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Keyaron Fox, Andre Frazier, Arnold Harrison, Bruce Davis

Defensive Backs (9): Ike Taylor, Roy Lewis, DeShea Townsend, William Gay, Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy,Tyrone Carter, 2009 NFL Draft selection (CB)

Specialists (3): Greg Warren, Jeff Reed, Daniel Sepulveda

***Lest you think you missed some news about Amani Toomer signing with the Steelers, remember that this is just my projection. I do think we'll get another veteran WR after the draft, so I'm making a guess. I have chosen not to predict the names of our soon-to-be draft selections.

Discuss.

Poll

How many 2009 draft picks will be on the Steelers 53 man roster at the start of the 2009 season?

0

9 votes

1

14 votes

2

40 votes

3

89 votes

4

160 votes

5

83 votes

5+

30 votes

425 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Amani Toomer

Our new long snapper? :)

by Varmint on Mar 30, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

yea

when did we sign toomer?

by tannofsteel84 on Mar 30, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

just a projection my friends

by Michael Bean on Mar 30, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

its all good

i just thought i missed something :)

by tannofsteel84 on Mar 30, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

What happened to McHugh? Given that he was signed to a three year deal (admittedly with a small signing bonus) I think you can probably ink him in somewhere.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Mar 30, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

good call

forgot about him. id imagine hed make it over Sherrod. whoops

by Michael Bean on Mar 30, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Essex

Trai Essex will probably still be around. Also, not sure about Mundy with Fernando Bryant signed and Anthony Madison still in the mix.

I also hear buzz about Doug Legursky being the next Stapleton, whatever that means…

by 36chambers on Mar 30, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

doh

Essex too is probably a very safe bet. Certainly over Parquet. Mistake on my part. good call.

by Michael Bean on Mar 30, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Long snapper

warren against retkovsky (?) will be a hard one to call

by Sch Lotan on Mar 30, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

true true

And also, if this Legursky guy can play multiple positions and long snap, he might get the nod over both.

by Michael Bean on Mar 30, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m very down with a backup O-linemen being our longsnapper if he can do it.

If he ever makes it to the active roster we can always find someone moving boxes to come help out.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Mar 30, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

interesting that there's only 4 from the draft class...

that’s probably an accurate number, not in anticipation of a poor draft but because there just aren’t that many jobs to be won. with that in mind, i wonder if the FO will consider some wheeling and dealing to move up and take a guy (maybe middle of round 2?) they really like. if you figure 4 and at the most 5 guys can make the roster, there’s not much use in drafting 8 (i believe they have 8 picks). might be something they consider…

by cliff harris is still a punk! on Mar 30, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

p.s.

of course, if you knew ahead of time which 4 or 5 guys would actually make the roster, drafting would be easy…

by cliff harris is still a punk! on Mar 30, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

Where is Arnold Harrison and why Humpal is still there?

We all know Arnold resigned and Mike Humpal was released so explain to us the LB depth amigo.

by setherian on Mar 30, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, thought Humpnal was gone?

by SteelersVT on Mar 30, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Damnit

I thought I would be the only one to vote zero!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 30, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

Lol i knew there were non Steeler fans voting...

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Apr 1, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice mockup roster

Here goes a link to my article. I hope you guys like it.

Phillip Bunting
"Stairway To Seven"

by SteelersChatPack on Mar 30, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2009/3/29/814573/underdog-card-always-perfe

Oops there it is above. You might have to copy and paste in the browser.

Phillip Bunting
"Stairway To Seven"

by SteelersChatPack on Mar 30, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That article has nothing to do with this

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Apr 1, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Davis on the bubble?

I don’t have much to go on with this speculation, other than gut feeling, but I somewhat doubt Carey Davis will be returning. If Sean McHugh has mostly replaced him as lead blocker (the few times when we have a fullback on the field) I could see him giving way to a return specialist. My logic is that its hard to justify holding a roster spot for a second string fullback in an offense that rarely uses one. If he remains, I’d expect that it would be primarily due to his contributions on special teams, and/or the lack of a good available kick returner.

by MelBlunt on Mar 30, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

Carey Davis is a return specialist...

he’s just super slow

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 30, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but if we REALLY want slow

We ought to put Big Snack back there…

by MelBlunt on Mar 30, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Snack vs. gunner

How many KO coverage gunners would leave on a cart after gunning for the snack?

Proably have a tough time even running under the ball unfortunately.

by Steely McSmash on Apr 8, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

roster

I’ve been transferring the games from tivo to discs, and in rewatching them, I’m shocked at the number of blocks Matt Spath has missed. When we lose yardage on 1st or 2nd and goal on a running play(including the SB), the majority of the time (vs. the other 5 or 6 OLmen) it’s Spath who’s missed his block, been overpowered, or failed to gain movement. What I don’t understand is why we didn’t use another OL instead of him. In ‘04 we used Starks off of the bench in short yardage. Surely ANYONE on the bench would have been better than him. If Arins continues to believe that TE’s can runblock better than OL, then we’d better draft someone who really CAN block.

by Auggie's dad on Mar 30, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

why?

Because Arians likes having a 2nd TE to confuse and befuddle the defense. He also likes having Spaeth in there so he can throw to him in a very tricky manner once a game.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Mar 30, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

At least at the goal line

we could bring Essex in during a preseason game, have him declare himself eligible, and then throw to him. From that point on, whenever he reports in as our second TE, the defense would have to pay some attention to him.

by MelBlunt on Mar 30, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Spaeth

is horrible. I made this point on the other post as well. There has got to be a TE somewhere who we can get to get rid of him. Blocking is horrible, average hands with no yac-ability. His height is a disadvantage in blocking and he is too easy to tackle once he catches the ball.

He is a 3rd round bust. He’s not even playing up to the level of a late round pick/free agent. I hope we can get somebody to beat himout of his roster spot.

by SteelerMike on Mar 30, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions

Agree

I’d say he has decent hands and gets open but that just makes him a tall and slow WR, which we don’t need. You’re spot on with the YAC. He crumples after the catch.

I’d be up for trading him for a draft pick. Maybe a poor man’s Tony Gonzalez / Dallas Clark to some team.

by Steely McSmash on Apr 8, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

quality over quanity

this post shows just our few spots are open. I agree 100% with Cliff Harris…I hope we use some of those late picks to trade up in rounds 2-4 (1st will be too expensive).

We have 9 picks total, with 2 in the 5th (Faneca comp), 2 in the 7th (Mahan trade with TB)…way too many.

I’d like to see us wheel and deal, be aggressive, to get the 5-6 highest picks we can. Possible breakdown:

2 OL
1 DL
1 CB
1 WR

by SteelerMike on Mar 30, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

Tentative Roster

1) In no order I see the Steelers drafting an OL, WR and CB with picks 1-3 depending on BPA. I see the Steelers taking a DE, OLB and possibly Shipley from PSU with the next 3 picks. All should make roster.
2) Think Carey Davis could be on bubble for RB Stefan Logan of CFL who is a KR specialist in the Sproles mode. McHugh is my 3rd TE and possible FB for Davis.
3) Woodley, Deebo, Potsy, Foote, Timmons, Frazier, Bailey, Davis and a 2nd day draft pick are my LB
4) Taylor, Gay, Townsend, Madison, Troy, Clark, Carter, Munday and a top 3 pick CB are my DB
5) Need a NT and some OL depth with the last 3 picks in rounds 6&7 that could gain some seasoning on practice squad.
6) If they take a WR at #1 they could keep 4 WR and 10 OL which would spell doom for Nance and Baker. One could end up on PS.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Mar 30, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

other competitions

I think you can take a shot at some other players competing for a roster spot. I think these are places to improve:

- Probably a WR to compete for #5 and maybe land on the practice squad
- ILB prospect to compete with Arnold Harrison also maybe PS
- SS candidate to compete with Tyrone Carter. Someone who can tacke David Gerard… I think this is a serious place to upgrade a backup since Troy misses a few games each year.
- TE to compete with Spaeth
— FB to compete with Davis
- OL prospects 2 or 3 new faces likely. Hopefully we’ll get top talent to possibly start. Also in the mix are Cappizzi and Legursky
- CB looks like Madison, Lewis, Bryant and a draft pick competing for #4 corner.
- Late round / UDFA QB prospect for camp body / PS

by Steely McSmash on Apr 8, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions