Extremely Early Guess at the 53 Man Roster

I think you either keep Colon or Adams. Adams isn’t going to play the backup in the twilight of his career; my guess is he’d rather retire than to end his playing days as someone’s understudy.

Not to mention Adams is making starter money if he comes back and I doubt the Steelers would want to keep him around if they know he’s not going to start. Colon is also going to be expensive, probably too expensive if they intend to resign Ike and get long term deals with Woodley, Timmons, Polamalu, etc. I think Colon is gone unless he accepts significantly less money than he would probably get on the market.

Drafting Gilbert in the 2nd round says to me that the Steelers are serious about finding a long term RT with position flexibility. My guess is Adams stays for another year backed up by Gilbert while Colon hits the market.

I also don’t see Dixon being Ben’s primary backup. The coaches were more comfortable with Leftwich starting over Dixon last year and I doubt he did anything to change that with his erratic play.

And I don’t know why you sign a slow and seldom used 3rd down specialist like Moore when you’ve got a younger, cheaper option in Barton. Neither is going to see the field a whole lot, especially with Redman becoming Mendenhall’s primary backup, so I tend to think you go with the guy that’s cheaper with more upside.

I am working a UDFA piece for whenever the new CBA allows it and he is my priority one FA.

If thats the case our first round pick really is a bust.

As far as grammar, I am just a poor typist who doesn’t use spell check. As far as playing I played from the time I was 6 till i graduated from a large suburban pittsburgh high school 4a. I was an starting outside LB in high school. I’ve been an avid steeler fan since I can remember and my earliest memories are of the Steelers pre Bradshaw. When I was younger I coached LB for our local high school & coached all my sons teams as he grew up (he’s 6’5— 200 LOL) ..his best sport is hoops. As a coach I can tell you one thing.. especially with kids- its all about the talent. I have (head) coached an undefeated team as well as a winless team and as far as I know I was the same coach. I’m now retired from coaching!!! Anyway I am no super expert but I have a pretty good clue & follow things closely. To bring this full circle the talent of our db’s can no longer be covered up by our front 7. Wonder why (nearly) every year NE crushes us— its not the coaching its that we don’t have enough GOOD db’s to cover all their receivers. Brady gets rid of the ball to fast for us to be effective. This draft no matter how great Heyward turns out to be did not help us in this all important facet of the game and that was my point which I guess I didn’t get across clearly. Anyway no hard feelings here—GO STEELERS!!!!

actually he wasn’t too too bad last year…but still had to say that

here’s my take:
1) QB: dixon is cut instead of batch. this will be his first year the kid has to actually prove he can make the team by being a good backup and not because of potential cuz he ain’t gonna get much better being a 4th year backup. i don’t think he can do it.
2) RB: i think moore heads for greener pastures and by greener i’m referring to money. as long as dwyer or batch look okay, moore’s not worth more than about league min to bring back as a 3rd stringer.
3) OL: we have to have someone else on the team who can play G (maybe you’re projecting colon to be the man). otherwise legursky is backing up 3 positions by himself. i’m guessing either C. scott or williams stick.
4) DL: will be interesting to see if mclendon or eason wins out. given A. smith’s injury history along with the emergence of hood he may have to take a pay cut to stick with the team.
6) WR: i’m loving the 6 WR’s. unfortunately, El may get the axe because we could save aprox 1.5 mil (assuming there is a cap) and 2 mil in actual money if he’s cut
7) DB: i know gay has been tendered. but if butler, lewis, cortez, or brown show that they’re better than him he’s gone. i have a feeling we’ll be looking at 5 cb’s.
8) LB: couldn’t agree more.

I will make you all happy and leave the site. This is obviously a site filled with young fans and god bless you all & Lets go Steelers. I just came here to voice my displeasure with this draft.( and was subsequently attacked & responded inappropriatly) I hope I am wrong. We will see in the future.

Much of this discussed above already.

You missed out on the status of some Key FA guys. Eason, Hoke, J. Scott, A. Battle are all not mentioned at the top.

1. I’d put Lefty>Dixon
2. Aaaron Smith in my mind starts or retires. I’m guessing he starts one more year.
3. ARE might be a long shot to make the roster with more confidence in the yound guys from last year. Personally I’d keep him as the 3rd QB over Dixon.
4. UDFA could and should challenge speath. Gantt out of Mich St. would be a nice pickup.
5. Agree with sentiments that Flo or Colon make the team, not both. My guess is that Colon walks.
6. Sticking with OL, I’m seeing 10 guys this year versus the 9 you list. Need to add 2 for cutting Colon above. Add C. Scott and K. Williams/Some other Rookie or PS guy IMO. I do agree that J. Scott is the priority gameday backup but needs to be re-signed. Essex is the backup if J. Scott walks.
7. Steve McLendon is probably gone with the addition of Heyward. I know the team lists him at NT but the guy is built like an end and was added last year when we had a shortage of ends. This gives you the roster spot needed on the OL.
8. You didn’t mention Nick Eason. I think he might be the 4th DE at least to start the year as Heyward learns. The roster spot you have Hoke in is a competition between Hoke, Eason, and hopefully an UDFA like Ian Willams. Likely see Eason there with Ziggy backing up NT though.
9. DBs. 10 is a lot on the roster but it’s appropriate considering the draft picks which need to be carried there. Might be a choice of K. Lewis/W. Gay/Madison. I have to say Madison might be the best player, particularly if one of the rooks can be the nickel to start.