OTA Final Roster and Depth Chart prediction

[bigben07MVP]

This pre-season should be an interesting one for the simple fact that there will actually be an opportunity for a no-name guy to make the roster if he shines in the pre-season. Most of the time even if a guy has an amazing pre-season it only earns him a spot on the practice squad but with out lack of proven quality depth, some new young guys will have a chance to shine and contribute.
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[FourThreeMafia]

[bigben07MVP]

No one in particular but I know there have been times where a guy has been good in the pre-season but you knew while watching that there was little chance he was going to make the team because of proven veteran backups being ahead of them. My point is that there is just a lot more opportunity for young no name guys to step up this year, especially at tight end, defensive end, both linebacker spots, and corner.
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[bigben07MVP]

I also think we will see a lot more rookies on the roster this year than we're used to.
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[LTF]

[FourThreeMafia]

[SteelProven]

I think the roster is fine but I think they'll be some players pushing for starting time.

Last year E. Sanders was the heir apparent to H. Ward, but injuries open up a opportunity for A. Brown. That chance turned out to be a great season by A. Brown. But I won't be surprised if the Steelers let those two compete again.

With all the talk of C. Rainey B. Batch has become sort of a after thought. But I truly believe he could easily make the Steelers as the #2 back.

I believe C. Rainey will be listed as a RB but be used exclusively in obvious passing downs. I don't believe he has what it takes to be a effective 3rd down back, because of his lack of size at this time.

While everybody in the media is anointing L. Foote the successor to J. Farrior I believe Sly and even Spence could push for PT.

Robert Golden is a sleeper player as he's a player with experience as a CB and FS. The Steelers have had great success with at least 1 UDFA making the roster almost every year even before Tomlin arrived.
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[bigben07MVP]

Well my point is that I see most of our actual draft picks making it where it past years they have either been cut or sent to the PS.

This year I see the following making the roster:

DD
Adams
Spence
Ta'amu
Rainey
Cemons
Frederick

With Paulson and Beachem on the PS.

In past years we've had relatively high draft picks not make the final 53 or even worse cut before the season.

Chris Scott
Thaddeus Gibson
Kraig Urbik
Frank Summers
Bruce Davis
Ryan McBean

All come to mind. Now I know most of these guys were busts and just flat out sucked but I wouldn't mind going back in time and giving guys like Kraig Urbik and Ryan McBean another chance.
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[FourThreeMafia]

[whit09]

Keep in mind that McLendon plays DE as well, that's why bb07mvp only has 3 5 techs listed.

Seems like a legit final roster...

But, I think Paulson makes the team at least during the Saunders suspension.

[MightyJoeYoung]

[Gatoradus]

actually I should have clarify on the cornerback position I had; what I were saying, Steelers will employ Nickel as a starting material more rather than a normally "3rd down" cornerback. In matter of fact I wouldn't be surprise if a nickel CB get more playing time than a supposely Buck LB (Foote, or whoever gets the nod) which leave us with 3-3-5 most of the time with Polamalu/Clark playing close to line than normally. So if we follow my take on depth chart prediction, this is how my roster would look:

Active 53 men roster on opening day: (with Hampton, Mendenhall, and Saunders all are still out)

QB: Big Ben, Leftwich, Batch
RB: Redman, Dwyer, Rainey (KR/PR), Batch
FB: W. Johnson
WR: Wallace, Brown, Sanders (KR/PR), Cotchery, Clemons
TE: Miller, Pope, D. Johnson
LT: Adam, Scott (until further notice!)
LG: Colon (until further notice!), Ramon Foster
OC: Pouncey, Legursky, Warren (LS and until further notice!)
RG: DeCastro, Foster
RT: Gilbert, Essex

that's 21 offensive players.

LE: Hood, Bryant
NT: McLendon, Ta'amu
RE: Keisel, Heyward
LOLB: Woodley, Worilds
LILB: Foote, Sylvester
RILB: Timmons, Spence
ROLB: Harrison, Carter
CB: Taylor, Lewis, C. Allen, C. Brown, Golden
FS: Clark, Mundy
SS: Polamalu, Rolle

That's 23 defensive players.

K: Hrapmann
P: Butler

That's 46 in total. Throw in additional lineman, perhaps wr, a defensive back and few more. I don't think one of our RB will get cut at all even after Mendenhall come back to be honest.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Morty Ivy, Ryan Lee, Damon Cromartie-Smith, Connor Dixon, Troy Smith, Jamon Meredith, Andre Freeman, or Terrence Frederick making the roster. All of them are either once at one point activated to our roster or rookies that I like or Steelers might like them just better.

Keep that in mind, it's very possible we are keeping two FBs, unlikely but with Haley you can never be too sure until you see the complete roster on opening day.

[turtle28]

QB:
1.] Ben Roelthisberger
2.] Byron Leftwhich
3.] Troy Smith
Total: 3

RB:
1.] Isaac Redman
2.] Rashard Mendenhall
3.] Baron Batch
4.] Chris Rainey
Total: 4

FB:
1.] David Johnson
Total: 1

WR:
1.] Mike Wallace
2.] Antonio Brown
3.] Emmanuel Sanders
4.] Jerricho Cotchery
5.] Marquise Maze
Total: 5

TE:
1.] Heath Miller
2.] Leonard Pope
3.] Wesley Saunders
Total: 3

LT:
1.] Mike Adams
2.] Johnathan Scott
Total: 2

LG:
1.] Willie Colon
2.] Ramon Foster
Total: 2

C:
1.] Maurkice Pouncey
2.] Doug Legursky
Total: 2

RG:
1.] David DeCastro
2.] Trai Essex
Total: 2

RT:
1.] Marcus Gilbert
2.] Chris Scott
Total: 2

DEFENSE:

DE:
1.] Brett Keisel
2.] Ziggy Hood
3.] Cameron Heyward
[4]4.][/b] Al Woods
Total: 4

NT:
1.] Alameda Ta'amu
2.] Steve McLendon
3.] Casey Hampton (starts on pup list, starts when he comes back)
Total: 3

OLB:
1.]James Harrison
2.] LaMarr Woodley
3.] Jason Worilds
4.] Chris Carter
Total: 4

ILB:
1.] Lawrence Timmons
2.] Larry Foote
3.] Stevenson Sylvester
4.] Sean Spence
Total: 4

CB:
1.] Ike Taylor
2.] Keenan Lewis
3.] Cortez Allen
4.] Curtis Brown
5.] Terrance Frederick
Total: 5

FS:
1.] Ryan Clark
2.] Ryan Mundy
Total: 2

SS:
1.] Troy Polumalu
2.] Damon Cromartie-Smith
Total: 2

K:
1.] Shaun Suisham

P:
1.] Jeremy Kapinos

LS:
1.] Greg Warren

Total: 53
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mike23md
Days until:Minicamp 21; Training camp 65; Eagles @ Redskins 111 RIP SSF

[FourThreeMafia]

Man...on paper our offense looks like it has the POTENTIAL to be extremely strong the next few years. Obviously, with the possibility or Wallace and/or Mendenhall to be gone, it could get a little weaker, but still....the OLine is incredibly young and as long as its a solid-good line, its a non issue for awhile. Then, even if we lose Wallace next season (which I dont think will happen), our WR corps is still strong. I know Sanders hasnt been healthy long enough to prove anything, but I feel he can be a top class number 2 WR in this league. TE needs a little work. Heath is good but not great, and he is getting older. I wouldnt call TE a weakness, but adding another playmaker at TE in the next 2 years would be welcomed. And at RB...if Mendy can be retained for cheap, I would do it. I dont think he is anything special but he is a good player, and Id prefer not to have to worry about RB next year.
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[turtle28]