Predicting this week's 45-man active roster

by acrollet on Sep 6, 2010 11:28 PM EDT

Here's my shot at who I think should/will be active this Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons come to town. More past the jump:

QB (2): Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch

RB (3): Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, Isaac Redman

TE (3): Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, D.J. Johnson

WR (5): Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antwaan Randle El, Antonio Brown, Arnaz Battle

OL (7): Max Starks, Chris Kemoeatu, Maurkice Pouncey, Trai Essex, Flozell Adams, Doug Legursky, Jonathan Scott

DL (6): Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood, Chris Hoke, Nick Eason

OLB (3): James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Thaddeus Gibson

ILB (4): James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, Keyaron Fox

S (4): Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Will Allen, Ryan Mundy

CB (5): Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, Keenan Lewis, Anthony Madison

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

Inactives (8): RB Jonathan Dwyer, G Ramon Foster, T Tony Hills, WR Emmanuel Sanders, LB Jason Worilds, LB Stevenson Sylvester, CB Crezdon Butler, QB Byron Leftwich

I feel fairly confident about this roster. Of note:

Antonio Brown and Arnaz Battle make the game day roster based on their special teams prowess, leaving Sanders to ride the pine in favor of the experience and smarts of ARE, especially with a green QB starting.
Thaddeus Gibson seems to have shown more in the pre-season, so he's active for ST work and perhaps the occasional passing down in relief of Woodley/Harrison.
Sylvester is still green and therefore inactive, but look for him to make a push to displace Foote later in the season.
Dwyer is pretty much getting a redshirt year, and I don't expect to see him active as long as the three main backs are healthy.

What do you think, people? What did I get right/wrong in your opinion? We'll get to find out soon! :)

UPDATE: edited 9/7 to replace Tony Hills with Jonathan Scott, as he's the backup LS

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I think

R. Foster will be in and T. Hills out.

Football > Soccer

by vynotty on Sep 6, 2010 11:40 PM EDT reply actions

+1

www.youtube.com/user/BLACKxGOLD

by BlackxGold on Sep 6, 2010 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

could well be

however, foster has played a lot more at guard, and i’m guessing they’ll go with hills to back up the tackle spots, and the big legursky to fill the inside…

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

We could go either ways. Personally I like Foster more because in him you have a LG and RT backup. Legursky gets C and RG and then (if Starks goes down) Essex goes to LT. With Hills you won’t need all this mixing, but I’m not confident that Hills is a quality backup.

Football > Soccer

by vynotty on Sep 7, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

What about Scott?

He can back up both left and right tackle, at least he played both in Buffalo. Him and Legursky will probably be active

by TrueSteelerForLife on Sep 7, 2010 4:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

turns out that he's the backup LS, so I'm going to make him active instead

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

But James Harrison can be the long snapper

Wait…..wut….

Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever

by Michael Hewitt on Sep 7, 2010 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

The depth chart at Steelers.com

has 92 as the 3rd string long snapper

"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." - samliam

by alfresco on Sep 7, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Scott

maybe dinged up a bit from last game. Some kind of lower leg thing.

by Steely McSmash on Sep 9, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you are probably correct

I would like to see Sanders on the roster but, with Brown and Battle doing ST, he will be the odd man out for now unless Sanders is asked to do returns.

How do I break it to the cat that since he has been declawed, the rabbit he sees in our backyard would kick his sorry butt?

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 7, 2010 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

Sylvester displacing Foote?

I don’t think so, he’ll take Gibson’s spot first. Foote is pretty safe in my opinion.

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Sep 7, 2010 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

I thought GIbson was olb

and Syl was ilb?

How do I break it to the cat that since he has been declawed, the rabbit he sees in our backyard would kick his sorry butt?

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 7, 2010 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

i was also under this impression

by hasay on Sep 7, 2010 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions

yes

sylvester is an ILB

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions

That's not what I meant

I meant as far as getting on the game day roster. I don’t think we’ll see a rookie OLB dress because the backup is Timmons at that position. Sylvester could very well be a better ST guy than both rookies (Worilds and Gibson) and so get a hat before those two.

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Sep 8, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I get what you are saying now

Someone else mentioned they felt Woodley and Harrison would need to be rested and it doesn’t make sense for Timmons to be the one who covers for them because it’il just mean he isn’t getting a rest either. I guess Fox could spell in the middle occasionally and when Timmons took a few on the outside to give them a breather but I it will be Gibson over Syl. I will not be upset if I am wrong. I like these kids though I think Worilds might need a bit more seasoning be for he is ready.

How do I break it to the cat that since he has been declawed, the rabbit he sees in our backyard would kick his sorry butt?

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 8, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hills out, J. Scott in

Hills has just about only played LT so far while he’s been developing, J. Scott has played both OT spots for Kugler. Hills has yet to be active on any game day so far as I know, Scott has some starting experience.

Legursky maybe plays a little FB and backs up the 3 interior spots, Scott backs up both tackle spots. Clean and straightforward.

by barnerburner on Sep 7, 2010 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed. Backups are safety valves, and trust between a coach and player is huge. Kugler knows Scott.

by Phantaskippy on Sep 7, 2010 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Sylvester isn’t going to be taking on blockers, no way he replaces Foote.

He is adept at getting around blockers and slipping past them, I could see him backing up Farrior by the end of the season.

If sanders doesn’t make the 45 I doubt it is very long before he replaces ARE. I would not at all be surprised to see Battle off the 45 if our kick coverage looks really good, like we don’t need him and can afford a more dangerous offensive weapon.

by Phantaskippy on Sep 7, 2010 12:58 AM EDT reply actions

he's kinda small to be playing the Buck banger role

Healing from my new tattoos
Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."

by PCISteeler on Sep 7, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

i really like this

starters were obvious but theres a lot of good positional backups as well as ST gunners. allen, battle, fox, madison, gibson, and lewis should all be good there. plus a lot of the inactives are guys that cant contribute right away but could push for playing time as soon as this year.

by steel.curtain.number2 on Sep 7, 2010 1:07 AM EDT reply actions

Sylvester is out there on special teams......

My guess is he replaces Gibson, and Timmons becomes your backup OLB.

He looked like the best new ST guy, and at times he looked flat-out like the best ST guy on the team, and Tomlin is really, really concerned about ST coverage units.

No way have Tomlin and Everest made up their minds about this yet. They saw a lot of guys on special teams during the pre-season who have been cut or sent to the practice squad. Now – with the 53 in place – they determine which starters will play on the special teams, and who else will make up these units.

I think that with all the worries Tomlin has at QB and OL, he’s still deeply worried (or scared shitless) that his coverage teams will allow a big return (or more than one), and he will find a way to put Sylvester out there.

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Sep 7, 2010 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

Plus -1

Sly has been very good on special teams during the preseason. He had 2 or 3 special team tackles in that last game. So Sly could very well be active on game days.

The more I learn -The less I think I know! Just enjoy reading and sharing.

by steeler junky on Sep 7, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Plus 2

Sylvester is very aggressive and has the right quickness for excellence on ST play. His nose for the ball, and his agile build that might be a concern as an ILB suit him perfectly on ST. I hope he gets a hat – I feel like we could be excellent on kick coverage with the moves made since the end of last season.

by COSteel on Sep 7, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I really wanted to get sylvester on the gameday roster

however, battle and madison are already active – battle is a ST ace and provides depth and veteran reliability at WR – Madison is only active as a STer. I really think that one of the rookie OLBs will be active so that Woodley/Harrison can get a blow once in a while without shuffling around the ILBS.

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Minus 3 D'oh!

The argument against this is not a knock on Sylvester but a fact that you want to have Gibson or Worilds there if not both of them. There is a need to have 2 OLB backups. You could consider Timmons one but I’d put both Rooks on the active roster.

If Sylvester needs to be active for ST, knock off Foote or another DB. DO you need 9 DB active? I don’t think so.

by Steely McSmash on Sep 9, 2010 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks good to me

Maybe Scott/Foster instead of Hills, Im not sure if Hills’ play was enough to unseat guys who backed up on the active roster last year just yet, but he certainly showed improvement in the preseason.

Another note, agree that Arnaz Battle starts this week, but if our kick coverage stays solid, its not long before Emmanuel Sanders gets his reps on the actives

Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever

by Michael Hewitt on Sep 7, 2010 4:55 AM EDT reply actions

agreed on battle/sanders

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

What I like

This year as opposed to last. Is my expectation level. There is no one position that I expect a rookie or developing player to make to a higher level in order for this team to succeed.

1. Feel much better about Hoods readiness in case of injury on DL
2. Although our OL is still a work in progress, Pouncey is the only “new guy” and he has shown he is capable.
3. While we dont have a solid true OLB for backup, Timmons can take that role and we do have quality backup at ILB to replace him now.
4. Not counting on Sweed to make the next step like last year, we have EL and Battle that are proven commodities, albeit a bit limited.
5. Will Allen at safety is solid.

The only real expectation I have is at CB. Lewis must step up. But our starters all solid and proven. What team does not have a backup somewhere that is inexperienced?

All in all, should make for great competition this year and next at most positions.

If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford

by SteelObsession on Sep 7, 2010 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

Lewis doesnt step it up

Butler will be active the next week.

Healing from my new tattoos
Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."

by PCISteeler on Sep 7, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Lewis

probably only seen in the Dime or Quarters defense.

Expect Ike, BMac, Gay to be 1,2,3

by Steely McSmash on Sep 9, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Crez

Butler looks and plays like a shut down CB, making Burnett expendable. Plus Butler has the best hands of the CB’s I’ve seen on the roster. I’m all for sitting Gay down and putting Butler on the active roster.

Every since being ran over by AP, Gay has been soft.

by 72Steeler on Sep 7, 2010 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

I like Butlers skills

But he is raw. He will make rookie mistakes. I do believe he will be contributing much more later in the season and possibly replace gay (I hope). The difference for the begining of the season ala no BB, is that we need to limit those mistakes even if it means giving up that big int on defense. When BB gets back and we can truly be a come from behind team again as has been proven in the past then I am all for it.

Troy will give us the needed INT when we need it. Shit, his hair will probably catch one.

If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford

by SteelObsession on Sep 7, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

But if Butler continues to improve. I look for him to get some work behind Ike. Ike’s contract is in it’s last year and the Steelers will want to see how much Butler can handle.

The more I learn -The less I think I know! Just enjoy reading and sharing.

by steeler junky on Sep 7, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Also agreed. This should be fun to watch.

If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford

by SteelObsession on Sep 7, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

only one change

I think Gibson sits for Sylvester, call me crazy but i think Sylvester looked far better then Gibson did in the pre-season. And i think he played better on ST’s. Just MHO

by Jersey Mike on Sep 7, 2010 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

Sylvester deserves to be active

I really believe that Sylvester deserves a spot on the 45 man roster, specifically for his ST play. Every time I seen a kickoff of some type I seen #47(55 now) around the ball if not making a play.

I understand everyone is high on Crezdon Butler, I am as well don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think you can throw him out there right now and expect him to be as good as he was in pre-season. Let him continue proving himself in practice and then earn his spot on the roster where he will contribute.

by Systemize on Sep 7, 2010 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

see my reasoning above

sylvester looks great on ST, but I think he has to beat out one of foote or fox as an ILB to make the gameday roster, because you don’t make Tomlin’s roster unless you can either start at a position, or do multiple things…

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

That works on offense

Or for the DBs maybe, because of the different packages that can include some different people. But no rookie is going to play LB for us this year unless things go real bad injury wise. If Sly is better than Gibson and Worilds on teams, he’s in even if he is the 5th ILB. At least that’s what I think…

Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"

by Steelfrog on Sep 8, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think they carry 4 gameday safeties, as two of the CBs could fill in in a pinch if two safeties got hurt. Plus Sanders/Sylvester for whatever Safety you remove.

by klompus on Sep 7, 2010 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

I think I agree

Mundy doesn’t do anything for ST’s so we can put him on the shelf.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 7, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

they do actually carry 2 safeties on gameday, or did last year – if you look at the gamebook for the titans game, (before troy got hurt) both carter and mundy were active.

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

but...

last year Burnett and Lewis were redshirting rookies so we were thin on experienced corners Also Mundy played in the dime pkg.

How many total DB did we have?

by Steely McSmash on Sep 9, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

there were 8 DBs active

Taylor, Clark, Polamalu, Gay, Lewis, Carter, Townsend, Mundy

Burnett & Ratliff were inactive

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 10, 2010 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

and Tone played the dime bag

sorry random, but it just came to mind when I saw the word dime and had to poast it

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 10, 2010 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions

6 wr

sanders in, another position out and brown kr. sanders or brown will start to take playing time away from randel El as they learn more of the offense. they will need these two to be ready for big games at the end of the year.

"sale the team" sweetleb

by sweetleb on Sep 7, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

what position would you take out to add that 6th wr?

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

johnson or eason

probably johnson, maybe even battle. sanders has to play and brown is the primary kr.

"sale the team" sweetleb

by sweetleb on Sep 8, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

no way johnson comes out

he’s the starting fullback… as for eason, I would be amazed if they only had 5 D linemen active – none of the starters are spring chickens, and they’re going to need some rest from time to time. If battle was going to be inactive the first game of the season, I doubt they would have kept him and his salary on the team… but hey, we’ll see who’s right soon :)

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 8, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

some coach i remember was quoted as saying all six linemen on the roster will be used to keep things fresh

by klompus on Sep 8, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

the linebackers

why is it so hard to believe that the Steelers won’t carry the 5 ILB’s in week 1? When its plain that Timmons will be the first one to shift to OLB if an injury occurs.

by Jersey Mike on Sep 7, 2010 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

because woodley and harrison played nearly every snap last year

i would imagine that the coaches would want someone to give them a blow that’s not already a starter…

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Sep 7, 2010 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you pretty much nailed it

Encouraged by the inactive list this year. Most seasons many of the inactive are just filling out the roster and you gotta worry if they’re needed. I’m liking Sanders, Gibson/Sylvester, Dwyer and Butler all to make game day decisions tough…“gotta sore ankle? that’s OK, rest up we got you covered”

by steelerwheeler on Sep 8, 2010 9:05 AM EDT reply actions