Continuing with part 75 of our 90ish-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man (now 80-,man) roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look at Steelers depth linebacker:

Robert Spillane

Position: LB
Height: 6’ 1”
Weight: 229 lbs
College: Western Michigan
Draft: UDFA in 2018 (Titans)

2019 Stats

8 Games played
11 Tackles

Contract remaining

Expires in 2021
$675,000 salary cap number (.3% of total cap)
$0 Dead money
$675,000 Savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

60/40 he does. You may have thought to yourself that there is no way that Robert Spillane will be making this team in 2020. But here's where you’re probably wrong, the Steelers typically carry nine total inside and outside linebackers. When you take out the obvious names (T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree, Alex Highsmith, Ola Adeniyi, Tuzar Skipper, Devin Bush, Vince Williams, and Ulysees Gilbert III) you're still left with one linebacking spot available, and there's only three inside backers in that list above. So that brings our attention to probably two names, Leo Lewis or incumbent Robert Spillane. Sure he might not be the sexy pick but Robert Spillane racked up an insane 11 special team tackles in just 8 games last year, and that alone might win him a job in Pittsburgh.

2020 projection

In this scenario I’m going to say Spillane does infect make this team. He’s only ever going to play special team minutes and maybe a very rare defensive snap here and there if the Steelers are desperate. In the event of injury I think the Steelers will defiantly look to free agency to fill the hole because both Robert Spillane and Ulysees Gilbert are very young and aren't ready to be thrust into a role like that.

Projected stats:

16 Games played
20 Tackles

Summary

As far as special teamer go, Robert Spillane might be one of the best at the role on the Steelers roster. You need guys like that on your team to play in those situations. So unless someone can come in and prove they are equal as a special teamer and have more ability to play inside linebacker, I don’t think Robert Spillane is going anywhere.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett -Cut
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney -Cut
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree
Eric Ebron
Terrell Edmunds
Trey Edmunds
Matt Feiler
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Zach Gentry
Ulysees Gilbert III
Derwin Gray
Joe Haden
J.C. Hassenauer
Quadree Henderson -Cut
Dewayne Hendrix -Cut
Cam Heyward
Alex Highsmith
Mike Hilton
Devlin Hodges
John Houston
Anthony Johnson
Diontae Johnson
Jarron Jones
John Keenoy
Tyree Kinnel -Cut
Christian Kuntz -Cut
Justin Layne
Leo Lewis
James Lockhart
Paxton Lynch
Dan McCullers
Vance McDonald
Anthony McFarland Jr.
Henry Mondeaux
Christian Montano -Cut
Alexander Myres
Steven Nelson
Spencer Nigh
Chuks Okorafor
James Pierre
Maurkice Pouncey
Kevin Rader
Dax Raymond
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Jaylen Samuels
Tuzar Skipper
Wendall Smallwood
Juju Smith-Schuster
Benny Snell Jr.