Preseason Roster

This is the preseason Steelers roster with a little insight to people's chances of making the roster. I realize this might be a little early for projections, but I'm just too excited for football season to be starting again.

Few teams are probably as happy as the Steelers to get into training camp and start off the 2010 season. Injuries, suspensions, questionable decisions by players, trading away a super bowl MVP...it makes a fan miss the usual boring Steeler offseason. There were a few positives, Coach Tomlin along with most the Front Office got contract extensions and we brought back a few Steelers that we had lost to free agency in past years. As for players we lost, Steeler free agents were in less demand that usual. Although Darnell Stapleton, Carey Davis, Travis Kirschke, and Tyrone Carter are no longer on the team no team has shown interest in them. The only significant Steelers that was signed by other teams were Willie Parker & Deshea Townsend and the Steelers basically let them walk away.

I divided the roster up into groups: those practically guaranteed a roster spot, those with a good chance but still fighting for a roster spot, and those that are a long shot. I considered a player to have a guaranteed roster spot if they were a starter last year & haven't lost their starting spot yet or if a significant investment was recently made to get them (high draft pick or signing bonus). For example, the earliest draft pick cut during preseason in the past 10 years was 4th rd Danny Farmer. I also listed who I think the week 1 starters will be, some info about the players, and explained my side on any significant position battles.

Special Teams: 4 players (minimum is 3)

Key Battles: Logan vs. other bubble players & KRs: I think he'll have to show he's more than just a return man while still proving he's by far the best KR on the roster. Unfortunately, being used as a WR/RB in unique plays may have more to do with Arians than Logan. I think hope Logan makes the team but it's certainly not written in stone.

Offensive Line: 9 players (minimum is 8)

Key Battles: Pouncey vs Essex: Regardless of who wins the battle to start at RG, it's highly unlikely Essex will be cut since he's versatile and a potential starter at 2 different positions. The starting roster coming out of training camp will most likely be Starks, Kemoeatu, Hartwig, Essex, and Adams. I do hope Pouncey is quick to replace Essex because Essex did not look good last year.
-Adams vs Essex vs J. Scott vs Hills: Adams spot is certainly not set and he could easily be cut if J. Scott or Essex prove to be a better tackle. He received no guaranteed money and essentially signed a one year contract (no way he'll get the 5 mil next year as a 36yo). But Adams getting signed for $2.5 mil right before training camp doesn't speak too highly of the other potential candidates at tackle. If J. Scott proves to be a solid tackle he can still make the team as a backup if he loses the starting job to Adams. With all the new competition at tackle, this is the make or break year for Hills. He won't be able to make the team just because there wasn't any decent competition, he's not Practice Squad eligible and he has used up all patience being an inexperienced player buys. I have a feeling he won't be on the roster come week 1. Newly drafted C. Scott will start out the year on the Physically Unable to Perform and probably won't make it back in time to participate in preseason. Since he's a later rd pick, he's likely to go straight from the PUP to the PS.
-Pouncey vs Legursky: With the addition of Pouncey, it makes Legursky expendable. I doubt we keep 3 centers but at least he's practice squad eligible.
-Pouncey vs Foster vs Urbik: Urbik will have some competition as well with both Pouncey and Foster at guard. Good news is that if Urbik is cut he'll be eligible for the practice squad, but that's unlikely because he only has to show he has potential & the Steelers will find a spot for him. I think he'll end up on the team. Foster has a great chance of making the team with how well he played last year.

Tight ends: 4 players (minimum is 3)

Key Battles: McHugh vs Johnson: You might think I'm drinking the same Kool-Aid Arians is for thinking the Steelers might keep 4 tight ends. Realistically, they'll probably only keep 3 but I'll explain my reasoning later. Personally, I hope it's Spaeth that ends up being cut instead of either McHugh or Johnson because of his poor blocking. For that to happen McHugh or Johnson will have to prove themselves as an adequate receiving TE incase Miller goes down with an injury.

Runningbacks: 3 players (minimum is 3)

Key Battles: McHugh/Johnson vs Summers/Taylor: The reason for keeping both Johnson and McHugh is that they both can play fullback & both looked far better than Summers last year. Plus, neither is PS eligible (unlike Summers & Taylor). I don't think this will be the year the Steelers go back to having actual FB on the roster.
-Redman vs Dwyer vs Summers: Summers could make the team as a running back and not a fullback but I think Dwyer wins this battle. Dwyer will beat out Redman to make the team since the team invested a draft pick in Dwyer and he's 4 ½ years younger. I do concede to the Redman fan club out there that he does have a legit chance to make the team.
-Some ppl have postulated that Moore might be cut for salary cap reasons, but I don't think there is a real chance of that. There isn't another running back on the Steelers roster besides Mendenhall who has a regular season carry. I think this is the end of the line for Justin Vincent, who has used up all of his practice squad eligibility.

Quarterbacks: 3 players (minimum is 3)

Key Battle: Leftwich vs Dixon: I think the starting job belongs to Leftwich right now. Dixon will have to serious outplay Leftwich to steal the job away, which will be difficult with 3 different ppl needing to get reps with the first team. Batch is just here for moral support and veteran insight & Ben will retake the starting job come week 5.

Wide receivers: 5 players (minimum is 5)

Unlike a lot of ppl, I think it's pretty straight forward the WRs who will make the team. There is little chance either Battle or Randle el are cut because they each received about a $1 mil signing bonus this offseason. Sanders' spot is practically guaranteed due to how high he was drafted. Brown has said to have looked good in OTA's, but OTA's are a lot different than the real thing. He does have a fighting chance of making the team, but then the Steelers would have to carry 6 WRs. I think the late 6th rd pick will probably end up on the practice squad, unless he really impresses during preseason & the Steelers don't think he'll be safe there. His best chance is if he takes Logan's KR job. Grisham will probably be back on the PS.

Defensive Line: 7 players (minimum is 7)

Key Battles: Harris vs Worthington: I think Harris will make the team since he seemed to show last year that he has potential. People have said positive things about Worthington during OTA's, but with the high age of most of the starters on Dline having backups with experience in the Steelers system is a premium. I think he'll end up on the PS.
-Hoke has a lot of experience and has been a solid backup. Paxson, on the other hand, has yet to prove himself as a reliable backup. Eason is the only DE backup who has starting experience so he'll probably make the team.

Linebackers: 9 players (minimum is 8)

Key Battles: Sylvester & Gibson vs Bailey & Frazier: Sylvester & Gibson seem to have great potential on defense and special teams, the later is something the other backup linebackers seemed to struggle with last year. Frazier & Bailey do have a decent chance of making the team, but they'll have to show they've improved on special teams.
-Gibson vs Frazier: If neither Worilds nor Gibson look great at OLB, Frazier will stay because otherwise we won't have decent backup at OLB.

Defensive Backs: 10 players (minimum is 9)

Key Battles: Burnett vs Butler vs Lewis vs Madison vs Gay: At least one player will be cut from this group. The Steelers have 3 young guys with potential that they probably won't want to lose (Burnett, Butler, and Lewis). It is worth mentioning Gay, Butler, Lewis, or Burnett could be cut if they don't seem to be improving and are far behind the rest of the CB's. With all the young draft picks at CB's, I think Madison will have a tough time making the team. He only seems to be a good special teamer and is really lacking as a CB.
-Allen's spot is guaranteed because of the $1 mil signing bonus get got this offseason. Mundy will probably be the last safety just because of a lack of serious competition.

Although 95% of the spots are decided by people competing against others playing the same position, the last few spots on the team are competitions between people of different roster spots (ex. Logan vs Butler). Right now, I have 54 players making the team and I'm curious who you think that last cut will be.