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It's unclear what the Steelers history is with players with two last names, but it sounds promising.
The Steelers signed Hall Davis, a defensive end who was taken in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. 'Tis the season for nondescript roster moves. Hall, a Louisiana-Lafayette product (like cornerback Ike Taylor), didn't make it through the preseason with the Rams in 2010. He was traded to the Washington Redskins for a conditional pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, but lasted one day in Washington before being released.
Tennessee signed him to their practice squad for the 2010 season, but didn't make that team the following year, either. He signed a future's contract with Oakland in 2012, and eventually ended up in Cleveland and Dallas at various points.
There's always a quiet sense of excitement when the Steelers sign defensive linemen to either the practice squad or to a future's contract. Defensive line coach John Mitchell has the reputation as being among the best teachers in the game, regardless of position, and bringing in younger players to work with him over an extended period of time always is an optimistic thing.
The Steelers already have promising young defensive linemen Nick Williams and Brian Arnfelt on their roster (Williams was placed on injured reserve at the start of the season and Arnfelt has been on the practice squad all year, both of whom will have a chance to make the team in 2014).
For a defense that appears to have hit the height of its ability, the idea of re-stocking talent through all means necessary is probably a good idea. It's a long shot for Davis to stick with this club in the future, but there are only so many picks a team can use in a draft, and there are only so many players they can sign to the roster. Casting a wide net in search of talent is wise.
