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AkronSteel
09-04-2011, 02:25 PM
The eight players signed include running back John Clay, tight end Jamie McCoy, wide receiver Tyler Grisham, offensive linemen Trevis Turner and John Malecki, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant, linebacker Mortty Ivy and defensive back Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith.

I like this unit that they brought back!!! Bryant and Ivy have the potential to make the team down the road. Grisham is a fan favorite and a scrappy kid who knows the offense and can step right in if needed and know what he is doing! Cromartie-Smith seems to be someone that the team likes, this will be his 2nd go around on the PS. Clay and McCoy are two young offensive guys who can possibly turn into something down the road.

insanesteelersfan
09-04-2011, 02:29 PM
That seems like a good list. However I wouldn't mind seeing them try to sign rookie undrafted free agent Derrick Locke to the PS. Locke was a RB out of Kentucky who was someone I was hoping we would take a look at. He is a better runner/WR out of the backfield then Baron Batch was coming out. Now he is not quite as big and durable as Batch. But is a fine Blocker, and is much faster then Batch. The Eagles had no choice to release him a few days ago. And if he is still out there, I would like to see the steelers sign him.

steelfin
09-04-2011, 02:33 PM
What about Butler? Did someone else pick him up or was he not eligible for the PS?

NJ-STEELER
09-04-2011, 02:37 PM
Arizona picked up crez

SanAntonioSteelerFan
09-04-2011, 02:38 PM
Arizona picked up crez

SurPRAHHZ, SurPRAHHHHZ!!!

AkronSteel
09-04-2011, 02:39 PM
Arizona picked up crez

Can't make it on the big squad??? Might as well join the minors (Steelers West)!!! LOL

AkronSteel
09-04-2011, 02:42 PM
I'm really happy the team resigned Bryant. He will probably make the 53 next year and take Aaron's spot on the roster. I have to believe this is Smitty's last go around. The team is also protecting itself against another injury to Smith, knock on wood please!!! I just have the feeling he will either be on the roster sometime this year or next!!!

steelz09
09-04-2011, 03:16 PM
who picke-up of warren?

fezziwig
09-04-2011, 03:17 PM
I thought the Steelers might have taken a QB to join the practice squad. No one that I had in mind but, the way Batch and Dixon gets hurt you never know.

Lonbull
09-04-2011, 04:23 PM
Hoping for Mario Harvey to make the team....but the list looks solid to me!

L.B.

Keyplay1
09-04-2011, 05:21 PM
Arizona picked up crez

@#%T----- What do you mean picked up?

NJ-STEELER
09-04-2011, 05:27 PM
Claimed him off waivers

Keyplay1
09-04-2011, 05:43 PM
Claimed him off waivers

I see. ty

SteelBucks
09-04-2011, 06:45 PM
Arizona picked up crez

Leave it to Whiz to pick up our scraps.

NJ-STEELER
09-04-2011, 06:52 PM
Our old DB Coach is their new defensive coordinator

steelblood
09-04-2011, 07:39 PM
That seems like a good list. However I wouldn't mind seeing them try to sign rookie undrafted free agent Derrick Locke to the PS. Locke was a RB out of Kentucky who was someone I was hoping we would take a look at. He is a better runner/WR out of the backfield then Baron Batch was coming out. Now he is not quite as big and durable as Batch. But is a fine Blocker, and is much faster then Batch. The Eagles had no choice to release him a few days ago. And if he is still out there, I would like to see the steelers sign him.

"Not... as... durable as Batch"? Wow that is not a ringing endorsement. Batch has been injured quite a bit throughout his career.

papillon
09-04-2011, 08:27 PM
Did a team pick up Keith Williams?

Pappy

winwithd
09-04-2011, 08:45 PM
Does the team ever address questions about their thinking regarding who they chose for the PS? I would really like to know what they saw in Chris Scott over Crezdon Butler. Im glad they kept Ivy. Anyone think Turner and Malecki played particularly well? I usually dont notice the OL unless it is pretty obvious.

steelerkeylargo
09-04-2011, 09:40 PM
Did a team pick up Keith Williams?

Pappy

I hope someone other than Pittsburgh does...he sucks.

hawaiiansteel
09-04-2011, 09:44 PM
Did a team pick up Keith Williams?

Pappy

I hope someone other than Pittsburgh does...he sucks.

I gotta give you props skl, you called that one about a half second after we drafted Williams... :Cheers

steelerkeylargo
09-04-2011, 09:49 PM
Did a team pick up Keith Williams?

Pappy

I hope someone other than Pittsburgh does...he sucks.

I gotta give you props skl, you called that one about a half second after we drafted Williams... :Cheers

All things being equal I wish he had of proven me wrong!!!!

RuthlessBurgher
09-04-2011, 10:01 PM
Really happy to see Bryant and Ivy on the squad in particular. Would have liked to have seen them find a way to get Donovan Warren on the P.S. as well, though. Although Grisham is a better all-around WR than Wes Lyons, the big fella could have potentially offered us something in the future that no one else could.

Oviedo
09-05-2011, 10:48 AM
Arizona picked up crez

Can't make it on the big squad??? Might as well join the minors (Steelers West)!!! LOL

Exactly. Go play for a JV coach and maybe you can make him happy. It's almost pathetic how Whis is a bottom feeder for Steelers castoffs. Can't the guy do anything for himself?

Djfan
09-05-2011, 10:52 AM
I can't help but think that we will regret the Crez Butler cut.

fezziwig
09-05-2011, 11:10 AM
I didn't think Butler was that good. The guy made a lot of tackles but, I took that as he wasn't defending the pass/ball/player and was only showing up for the tackles.
Too many times he was being beat and I remember him best for being a few steps behind the receivers. We won't need to miss Butler, we have Gay for that kind of action.

I would like to cap off my comment with, the coaches know what they are doing when it comes to the secondary but I can't. They still kept Gay and after each season we all realize our secondary needs help and yet they do nothing about it.

I really think the coaches figure enough quarterback pressures will help the secondary out but, we can't always count on Woodley and Harrison to get 30 sum sacks each season.

I'm happy with Ike and seldom do you see a team have two terrific corners but with that said, this defense depends on Troy too much.
Compete against the Cheats, Packers or any ball throwing team and our defense is usually in for a back breaking day.
Lebeau really needs to figure out how to make do with the players that they have if, they're not going to add a better corner.

Oviedo
09-05-2011, 02:18 PM
I didn't think Butler was that good. The guy made a lot of tackles but, I took that as he wasn't defending the pass/ball/player and was only showing up for the tackles.
Too many times he was being beat and I remember him best for being a few steps behind the receivers. We won't need to miss Butler, we have Gay for that kind of action.

I would like to cap off my comment with, the coaches know what they are doing when it comes to the secondary but I can't. They still kept Gay and after each season we all realize our secondary needs help and yet they do nothing about it.

I really think the coaches figure enough quarterback pressures will help the secondary out but, we can't always count on Woodley and Harrison to get 30 sum sacks each season.

I'm happy with Ike and seldom do you see a team have two terrific corners but with that said, this defense depends on Troy too much.
Compete against the Cheats, Packers or any ball throwing team and our defense is usually in for a back breaking day.
Lebeau really needs to figure out how to make do with the players that they have if, they're not going to add a better corner.

The over dependence on Troy is our Achilles Heel ( or Troy's). If injuries occur again this season, I'm not sure what the right thing to do with him is.

hawaiiansteel
09-05-2011, 02:54 PM
Steelers Make Correct Calls on 53-Man Roster, But Maybe Not the Practice Squad

Posted on September 4, 2011 by ted


Questionable Decisions on Practice Squad

Practice squads should obviously be used to add depth for practice at positions not as plentiful on the roster. However, it is also a good place to store and develop potential contributors, who have a good chance to make the roster in the future or possibly even that season in the event of injury, and/or to keep players who add a different skill-set than is found on the regular roster at their position group.

The best addition to the practice squad was rookie defensive end Corbin Bryant, who some thought had a realistic chance to make the roster, although that seemed highly unlikely with Chris Hoke and Steve McLendon battling for the final 1-2 roster spots (both were fortunately kept) on the defensive line. Bryant, however, will benefit from a year on the practice squad and will likely be favored to earn a regular roster spot in 2012, particularly if Aaron Smith retires after this season.

6-foot-8-inch Wes Lyons offered more physical potential, but I have no problem with bringing back Tyler Grisham for his third and final season of practice-squad eligibility. Grisham is a far better option to be promoted this year to varsity if one of the Steelers’ top five receivers goes down and may finally make the team next fall when Pittsburgh will likely not keep as many veteran reserves throughout its roster due to salary-cap issues.

Among the eight players on the 2011 Steelers’ practice squad, the other excellent signing was the return of 2010 practice-squad member Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, an athletic safety prospect who could be signed to the 53-man roster in the event of an injury and/or become a cheaper replacement for current No. 4 safety Will Allen on the 2012 Steelers.

I was less thrilled with the other five, although I understand the logic of adding Jamie McCoy, since he adds both a fourth tight end and second h-back/fullback to the overall roster. If starting h-back/fullback D.J. Johnson or reserve tight end Weslye Saunders are lost to injury, the Steelers could easily bring up McCoy from their practice squad, and he already knows the offense.

Less logical and more irritating was the signing of bruising, one-dimensional tailback John Clay, who was not very impressive in the preseason. The team already has three power tailbacks among the four on its roster in starter Reshard Mendenhall, Issac Redman (an emerging force and complete No. 2 tailback) and second-year player Jonathan Dwyer, who showed up fat for training camp but capped off an impressive preseason with a team-high 88 rushing yards on 13 carries against the Panthers on Thursday.

None of those three are slated to be unrestricted free agents until after 2012 at the earliest, so Clay does not add any new skills to the current team and is unlikely to make the 2012 roster when the only Pittsburgh tailback who might not return is veteran third-down specialist Mewelde Moore, and he would likely be replaced by Baron Batch or another speedster — not a Big 10 plugger like Clay.

Instead, the Steelers should have kept preseason standout Donovan Warren, who seemingly would have a decent shot of making the roster and possibly contributing at corner in 2012 when Pittsburgh will likely cut ways with either McFadden and/or Gay. Yes, the Steelers do not need a seventh cornerback among their 61 players practicing, but a seventh cornerback is more needed than a fifth tailback, particularly a fourth power tailback.

Former West Virginia star Mortty Ivy is now in his third season of bouncing around various NFL practice squads, although he has yet to play in a real game. The undersized 239-pound Ivvy had a very strong preseason on special teams and played well at linebacker. Thus, he earned his spot on the practice squad as the Steelers’ No. 9 linebacker through in-game performances. That said, I still would have preferred keeping rookie Mario Harvey, a bigger, faster, inside linebacker with more upside, but who was bothered by nagging injuries this fall.

By keeping only nine offensive linemen on its 53-man roster, Pittsburgh needed two offensive linemen for the practice squad. Most assumed that one would be guard Keith Williams, a sixth-round pick in April who was impressive early in training camp but fell victim to the numbers game after Essex was re-signed. Now, Williams has not been claimed by any other team. Maybe the Steelers offered him a spot on the practice squad, but he turned them down to join another franchise’s practice squad, where he sees a better opportunity.

But if that was not the case (and we will soon learn what happened), Pittsburgh keeping journeyman interior lineman John Malecki over the more-talented Williams was a questionable choice. Trevis Turner, the final member of the practice squad, is an intriguing prospect. He is a raw 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle with good feet from Abilene Christian.

Thus, the mammoth Turner is the type of player perfect for the 11th offensive-line spot on the practice squad, although he appears to be a long way away from and probably a longshot for ever making a 53-man roster. Still, how could anyone complain about giving the last spot on the practice squad to a 24-year-old father of three sets of twins. Turner’s six children leads all 63 players (including Baron and Byron Leftwich on IR) currently under contract for the Steelers, beating out the five each fathered by 35-year-old defensive linemen Hoke and Smith. In addition to his own 330-pound frame, this guy has mouths to feed.

Regardless, I have learned not to get too excited or upset about practice-squad signees. Rarely do players signed to the practice squad end up contributors for the Steelers and even rarer are those not signed that Pittsburgh fans ultimately regret or even remember a few years down the road. For now, though, I am penciling in Bryant on the projected 53-man roster for the Steelers in 2012 and no one else from this practice squad.

http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/09/s ... #more-6198 (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/09/steelers-correct-calls-53man-roster-practice-squad/#more-6198)

RuthlessBurgher
09-05-2011, 03:00 PM
Still, how could anyone complain about giving the last spot on the practice squad to a 24-year-old father of three sets of twins.

THREE SETS OF TWINS??? Dear Lord!!! I have never heard of such a thing...

As for the article itself, I agree wholeheartedly about removing John Clay from the P.S. in favor of Donovan Warren. Although I am a fan of Mario Harvey, Mortty Ivy showed too much this preseason...he earned his spot, no doubt. I wouldn't have minded if they found a spot for Harvey somewhere on the P.S., since I think he could have a future, just not in place of Ivy.

ikestops85
09-05-2011, 03:13 PM
I don't think Clay showed that much this pre-season to be signed to the practice squad. I would much rather had Warren in his place. I'm also disappointed we didn't sign Lyons. I thought he showed a lot of potential. His catch in the last preseason game on the deep throw was great. Erased all memories of Sweed. :P

fezziwig
09-05-2011, 03:46 PM
I felt the same way about Lyons and I would have loved to seen what Lyons would have been like with Ben throwing to him. I mentioned this on another board and one poster said, " Lyons wasn't doing too good in practice and despite the catch he made in our last preseason game, he's not that good of a player. "

How true any of that is I, don't know. Again, I would have loved to seen him more with the first team and either Ben or Batch tossing the ball at him.

DukieBoy
09-05-2011, 04:03 PM
Still, how could anyone complain about giving the last spot on the practice squad to a 24-year-old father of three sets of twins.

THREE SETS OF TWINS??? Dear Lord!!! I have never heard of such a thing...

As for the article itself, I agree wholeheartedly about removing John Clay from the P.S. in favor of Donovan Warren. Although I am a fan of Mario Harvey, Mortty Ivy showed too much this preseason...he earned his spot, no doubt. I wouldn't have minded if they found a spot for Harvey somewhere on the P.S., since I think he could have a future, just not in place of Ivy.
That woman, what she's been through. And they are young, perhaps just getting started.