Steelers 2009 53-Man Roster

Arguably the most impressive person so far through Pittsburgh’s preseason missed out on the roster? I know that everyone is hoping Frank Summers is going to be the next Bettis, but he hasn’t shown the brilliance thus far. Redman has excelled and should be tested on a higher level to see if he can compete.

i’m guessing thats so since you list keiwan ratliff as cut later on. if keenan lewis is cut, that would be the highest draft pick the steelers cut right out of training camp in 10+ years.

and i really really hope someone steps up and takes carey davis’s spot on special teams

- One change I might make is to drop a LB (Bruce Davis or P. Bailey) and add LT Tony Hills to the roster. If Hills plays like he did the other night, there is no way that he isn’t making this team. You don’t cut young LT’s with upside.

- R. Lewis might have an edge over Patrick Mundy because he appears to be the better special teams and more physical player. Wow, I’d like to have a spot for A. Madison on this team just for speical teams. Maybe go with 9 OL instead of 10? I don’t know.

Man, this is going to be tough. Glad there are 3 more games to allow the players to cut themselves. Great job, deweybeachde.

I am telling you…he will be starting for us this year. Remember you heard it from me first on Aug 15.

RB-Carey Davis was good during the playoffs but if Frank Summers is as good as people say he looks (Bettis jr?) and Redman looked good the other night and winning goal line at training camp goes along way. So i see them keeping Summers and Redman (Steelers love undrafted free agents)

OL-I havent heard many good things about Urbik or Hills yet
but we need depth at center…so I see them keeping A.Q. Shipley and/or Doug Legursky
isnt Hills a bust at this point?

DB-I think we should keep Keiwan Ratliff too, he looked good and we made a move to sign him in the off season

Its nice to have some good depth going into the season

So, Tony Hills has received almost as much bashing as Sweed did last year. And now we all are praising Sweed’s improvement (although many of you will claim you knew all along, we can go back to old posts). Tony Hills is a third year 4th round tackle. Realistically, he is competing for a spot with Jason Capizzi and Jeremy Parquet. Here is why I say that, six spots are reserved for Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Stapleton, Colon and Essex. Not sure who will win the RG spot but either Essex Does and Stapleton ends up the Swing inside man or Stapler wins it and Essex is the Swing Tackle. That leaves three, maybe four spots for other guys. Urbik stays, third rounder not likely to get cut, he has potential. Down to two maybe three spots. Many people are saying Capizzi will be our Swing tackle, the Steelers love him too much to not keep him. Sorry folks, Capizzi is the first of the three out. Was cut last year, resigned on 12/23 and was inactive for every game. Parquet PLAYED guard and tackle last year in actual games and was dressed for most of the games. Down to Hills and Parquet. I have watched the game twice (Armed Forces Network Overseas) and Hills and Parquet both played on the best looking line combo we had Thursday (from L to R, Hills, Foster, Shipley, Urbik, Parquet). From Hills to Urbik was the best communication I have seen from a line combo since we had healthy Marvel, Faneca, Hartings, Simmons, and Starks. I said communication not talent level, don’t overreact yet. They were picking up stunts, shifting to the correct side etc. Parquet looked pretty good, but I just think that entire left side looked really good. I say Hills and Foster make it with Shipley on the practice squad, or number ten if we keep that many lineman.

I have a hard time seeing Redman on the outside looking in after how good he’s looked so far. I mean he has to keep up that level against better defenders, but still.

And I think Shipley still has potential to be a draft steal

My major problem with your compiled 53 man roster, is the fact that you left Tyrone Carter off of the team. If he were not on the team, that would leave the Steelers without a solid backup at the safety position. I know I, like a lot of Steeler’s fans will never forgive him for missing that tackle against the Jags in 2008, but that does not discredit his value to his team. He has an added bonus of being able to play both FS and SS.

Carey Davis is a bum and no longer deserves to wear the black and gold. The only reason we know who he is, is because Mendenhall and Parker were hurt last year. The fullback positiona is probably the least important position for the Steelers, as they mostly run the football from the singleback formation. CUT Davis and lets give Summers a chance!

Coach Tomlin likes position flexibility.
It seems like to me that whenever Carey Davis got the ball, he ended up with 1 less yard than we actually needed. I think he gets cut.
Redman and Summers can share running back and fullback duties. Tank can play special teams, I’m not sure about Isaac, but he sure looks like he could be coached to.
I’m sorry for Davis, but after the first preseason game, it looks like Summers and Redman have more upside, and can do Davis’ job too.

I think deweybeachde nailed it with some exceptions. Lazy Sunday morning, so here’s my take:

RB (5) Parker, Mendy, Moore, Davis, Summers
(Get over it, Davis is going nowhere. He’s a BA and Tomlin favorite, Redman could still make a push, but Tank is more versatile. Plus, Redman would be easier to sneak on PS)

WR (5) Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald

QB (3) Ben, Batch, Dixon

TE (3) Miller, Spaeth, McHugh

OL (9) Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Stapleton, Hills, Urbik, Foster
(the last 3 have to be on the roster, otherwise someone will snatch them befor they make the PS. They have the most upside. The Big Legursky and Shipley are redundant, so we can risk losing one. If Stapleton is done, Legursky makes the squad. Capizzi and the rest are retreads)

DL (7) A. Smith, Hampton, Keisel, Hood, Hoke, Kirschke, Harris
(Tough call between Harris and Eason. Eason was a good back-up last year. I think they’ll keep Harris because he’d likely not make it to the PS. Plus, Hood can replace Eason’s contributions immediately.

LB (9) Woodley, Farrior, Timmons, J. Harrison, Frazier, Fox, Davis, Bailey, Woods

CB (5) Taylor, Gay, K. Lewis, Burnett, Madison
(Ratliff could push Madison, but I think Madison is too valuable on ST. Plus, Townsend can swing as back-up CB and free safety)

S (4) Troy, Clark, Townsend, Mundy
(Little Evil is out. He is so slow and I think 34 this year. Mundy has to make the team as a hedge in case we lose Clark next year. Need some youth at Safety, as Troy and Clark will undoubtedly be hurt some time this year)

ST (3) Reed, Sepulveda, Warren

Guys, I’m thinking that the Steelers could save a roster spot and give an extended look to a young lineman (Legursky, Capizzi) by putting Stapleton on the PUP list to begin the season (he would miss the first 6 games, but would free up a roster spot).

Also, Tomlin said he’s strictly looking at Tank at the FB position because he seems to really like the “combat” in there. John Mitchell said that since R. Harris played so impressively the last game and set the bar high, then that is what he’s going to expect from him everytime he steps on the field. Mitchell also said that the trio of Hood, R. Harris and McClendon are the most advanced rookie DL as a group that he has coached during his 16 years with the Steelers.

I think S Ryan Mundy has to step up his game to make this team because S/CB Roy Lewis showed up a lot more in this game than he did, especially on special teams. I wouldn’t be surprised if the backup safeties on this team end up being Roy Lewis and Keiwan Ratliff.

just scored 5 times in the goal-line drill according to Wexell’s twitter. 3 against 1st team, 2 against 2nd team. Hartwig being back certainly helps the first team, but still, that’s huge for Redman’s stock.

during the goal line drill redman had 7 attempts, five scores, one disputed, one stuffed. is he a fluke? maybe, but three against first team d speaks volumes. the reason he was the only back to carry the ball was to find out.

i was really hoping the tank was our man, but it appears he likes fullback…warrior type…likes to hit people. reminds me of when kryder came on to the scene and put ray lewis on his butt.

what bout him..he has been a solid db for many years with the steelers and i dont feel like he is gtting worse

Hopefully the two will get a lot of time next preseason game. I would be interested to see tank at FB for FWP/Mendenhall and Redman w/Davis. I think we would learn one heck of a lot about tank/redman/mendenhall and davis if we mixed that up vs 1st teamers.

cause there are a lot of people here fighting for jobs and a lot of quality depth. I sense a serios aarrss-kicking on Saturday. I think we’re going to see a good dose of Redman carrying the rock and Tank at FB, plus both on special teams. There’s serious competition at 2nd team OL positions, LB, DL (I’m on the Rashon Harris bandwagon, even though he’s only played one preseason game, send Eason packing along with Carey Davis) and the secondary. Too bad we have to wait a whole week to see this.

Isacc Redman is a halfback. Anyone saying he makes it over C. Davis… come on. I want Carey Davis off this roster as much as the next guy, but unless your willing to say good bye to the I Form forever we need a FB of some sort. We don’t run I Form enough already, I’m not willing to let it go all together.

play well and show that he is just as good if not better on special teams than C. Davis is during the next 3 preseason games. And he’ll be given that opportunity.

I think Tank is a better runner and receiver (though he dropped his only pass the other night) than Davis is right now. He just has to improve his blocking and match him on special teams. And that shouldn’t be too difficult considering C. Davis only made 6 special teams tackles all year. (Yes, he knocked a Raven woozy on a kickoff return in the AFC championship game, but 6 special teams tackles when you are on the kickoff and punt coverage teams is nothing special).

Here are Carey Davis’ stats from this past year: 12 rushes for 35 yards (2.9 average) & 5 receptions for 25 yards (5.4 average) & 6 special teams tackles, zero TD’s, 1 first down picked up all year. That’s it.

I think C. Davis is very vulnerable and that Tank is better now and has more upside. Wex isn’t always right folks. Let’s let this play out and see.

I think would be awesome because so far, he has shown some decent lead blocking stuff. Also, it will be nice to have someone who is a talented RUNNER run the ball on a quick hand off up the gut. Krieder used to get 5-8 yards a pop once or twice a game on quick un expected RB run’s. Imagine that with someone who was an established college runner.

Is Nick Eason on IR or something? If not, he is a lock and RaShon Harris is out.
Also – Possibly Tyrone Carter in favor of Patrick Bailey

Did you see the game the other night? Sonny Harris was the most active DL to take the field. On that one play where he got the half sack (it should have been a full sack), he basically took his guy, threw him to the side and exploded upfield for about 5 to 7 yards to smack St. Pierre. Eason can’t do that. Right now, I think Harris is better Hood. He’s definitely more stout at the point of attack.

but he sure made up for it in that game. I think Coach Mitchell told us all we need to know about Harris when he said that the young DL “set the bar pretty high” with his first time performance and that he’s going to expect that from him everytime he takes the field.

There is a lot of intrigue right now with roster spots right now. Can the Tank and Redman make it? How many OL, DBs and LBs will the team keep this year? What do we have with Mendenhall? Will Burnett and Wallace be that boost the team has lacked in the return game?

Three more preseason games to figure this out.

but it’s not like the Tank and Harris have world beaters in front of them in Carey Davis and Nick Eason. I think Tomlin will give the rookies an opportunity to show that they deserve a seat on the bus.

This year’s draft could end up being pretty damn good for a team coming off the Super Bowl. And as always, let the play between the white lines determine who goes and who stays.

Datruth4life….you going to WEC in Youngstown on Sept. 2? Totally unrelated, but I’m hearing a few Steelers greats will be there.

The only Steelers events I’ll be doing this season are the Chargers game, the Dolphins game and maybe the championship parade next year. Other than that ….

Here it is, my first 53 -man roster for the preseason:

QB – Roethlisberger, Batch and Dixon (3)
RB – Parker, Mendenhall, Moore, Redman and Summers (5)
WR – Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace and McDonald (5)
TE – Miller, Spaeth and McHugh (3)
Tackle – Starks, Colon, Hills, Capizzi (4)
Guard – Kemoeatu, Essex, R. Foster, Urbik (4)
Center – Hartwig and Legursky (2)

DE – Smith, Keisel, Kirschke, Hood and Harris (5)
NT – Hampton and Hoke (2)
OLB – J. Harrison, Woodley, Frazier, Bailey (4)
ILB – Farrier, Timmons, Fox and Woods (4)
CB – Taylor, Gay, K. Lewis, Burnett, Ratliff and Madison (6)
S – Polamalu, Clark, Townsend (3)

K – Reed (1)
P – Sepulveda (1)
LS – Warren (1)

Darnell Stapleton: Placed on the PUP list to begin the season

Practice squad: Nance, Grisham, D. Johnson, A.Q. Shipley, Vincent, McClendon, P. Mundy, R. Lewis

The one player I struggled with to leave off is S\CB Roy Lewis. The way he played special teams during the first game and the hits he delivered in the secondary, coupled with the fact that he can play safety and corner does make it a tossup between he and K. Ratliffe. I would like to have a young backup at safety on this team though, but what can you do.

Glad I don’t have to make these choices. That is why Tomlin is paid the big bucks.

Nick Eason has to stay so does A.Q. Ship carey davis is out as well is travis k.