Who makes it and who doesn't

[Oviedo]

Here is one view posted on ESPN 1250. Seems very reasonable

Minicamp gives a chance to really start to piece together the depth chart. Here's a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 certainties to make the team, in addition to the players who are likely to make the team and those whose chances will be questionable as training camp begins in late July:

QUARTERBACK
LOCKS (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon
QUESTION MARKS (1):Charlie Batch (Will they keep 4 QBs through Ben's suspension?)

RUNNING BACK
LOCKS (2): Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore
LIKELY(2):Frank Summers (got lots of first-team reps in minicamp), Jonathan Dwyer
QUESTION MARKS (3): Issac Redman (looking like Redman has to beat out Dwyer for a spot), Justin Vincent, Demetrius Taylor (the only true fullback will get his shot to blow people up in Latrobe)

WIDE RECEIVER
LOCKS (2):Hines Ward, Mike Wallace
LIKELY (3): Emmanuel Sanders, Antwaan Randle El, Arnaz Battle
QUESTION MARKS (6): Limas Sweed (possible IR), Stefan Logan (in trouble if Randle El, Wallace, and/or Antonio Brown take his return duties), Antonio Brown, Tyler Grisham, Jason Chery, Brandon London

TIGHT END
LOCKS (1): Heath Miller
LIKELY (2):Matt Spaeth, David Johnson
QUESTION MARKS (2): Sean McHugh, Eugene Bright

TACKLE
LOCKS (3): Max Starks, Willie Colon
LIKELY (1): Jonathan Scott (was running second team RT in minicamp)
QUESTION MARKS (2): Tony Hills (second team LT in minicamp, but needs to show big improvement in Latrobe), Kyle Jolly

GUARD
LOCKS (3): Chris Kemoeatu, Trai Essex (also can play tackle), Maurkice Pouncey (replaces Essex at starting RG in Week 5?)
LIKELY (1):Ramon Foster (2nd team LG in minicamp)
QUESTION MARKS (3):Chris Scott (the 5th round draft pick will have to show promise at guard or tackle), Kraig Urbik (see center position below), Dorian Brooks

CENTER
LOCKS (1): Justin Hartwig
LIKELY (1): Doug Legursky (was running 1st team center at minicamp with Hartwig coming off shoulder surgery)
QUESTION MARKS (2): Kraig Urbik (taking reps at second team center in minicamp, in addition to third team left guard), Bradley Vierling

NOSE TACKLE
LOCKS (1): Casey Hampton
LIKELY (1): Chris Hoke
QUESTION MARKS (2): Scott Paxson (a good insurance policy, but has no more practice squad availability), Cordarrow Thompson

DEFENSIVE END
LOCKS (3): Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood
LIKELY (1): Nick Eason
QUESTION MARKS (3): Sunny Harris (the team likes him, but is there room to keep? Probably has to beat out Eason), Steve McLendon, Doug Worthington

INSIDE LINEBACKER
LOCKS (4): James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, Keyaron Fox
QUESTION MARKS (4): Stevenson Sylvester, Patrick Bailey (special teams ace facing a tough numbers game), Derrick Doggett, Renauld Williams

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
LOCKS (3): James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley
LIKELY (2): Jason Worilds, Thaddeus Gibson
QUESTION MARKS (3): Andre Frazier (feeling what Bailey is feeling), Johnny Williams, Lindsey Witten

CORNERBACK
LOCKS (2): Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden
LIKELY (4): William Gay, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis, Crezdon Butler
QUESTION MARKS (3): Anthony Madison (doubtful special teams is enough reason to keep him this year with Arnaz Battle a good gunner on punt coverage), Dexter Pittman, Trae Williams

SAFETY
LOCKS (4): Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Will Allen (former special teams captain), Ryan Mundy
QUESTION MARKS (3): Tuff Harris, Justin Thornton, Da'mon Cromartie-Smith

SPECIALISTS
LOCKS (2): Daniel Sepulveda, Jeff Reed
QUESTION MARKS (4): Piotr Czech, Greg Warren, Jared Retkofsky, Adam Graessle

[plainnasty]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

Jason Worilds is a lock to make the team. I would also put E. Sanders as a lock. It's been a long time since a rookie drafted in the top 3 rds got cut by the Steelers.

I would put Ryan Mundy as likely, not a lock.

[Stewie]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

Urbik is toast!!!!

[Oviedo]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

[SMASHMOUTHFOOTBALL]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

Jason Worilds is a lock to make the team. I would also put E. Sanders as a lock. It's been a long time since a rookie drafted in the top 3 rds got cut by the Steelers.

I would put Ryan Mundy as likely, not a lock.

I agree with all of this...The one I may question is Sanders...Probably a lock but I will say Randle El is a lock more than him. No way we bring him in to cut him.

[calmkiller]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

Seems solid other than calling David Pittman Dexter.

[StarSpangledSteeler]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

bingo on 3 and 4. a lot of people are ready to urbik b/c he didn't win the starting job his first year and i don't think the front office is ready to do that yet. let's see id his strength and weight has improved this off season and see if he can back up at center.

as for the d-line, i'm sick of these veteran back ups who have no real upside. give sunny and dougie a chance. they can't be that much worse than eason now, and could be a lot better with just a little playing time.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

Urbik is definitely a question mark. He is the 3rd string center behind Hartwig and Legursky (not even counting Pouncey), the 3rd string LG behind Kemo and Foster and the 4th string RG behind Essex, Pouncey and Foster.

[Oviedo]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

Urbik is definitely a question mark. He is the 3rd string center behind Hartwig and Legursky (not even counting Pouncey), the 3rd string LG behind Kemo and Foster and the 4th string RG behind Essex, Pouncey and Foster.

If you have Pouncey, do you really need Legursky as a back up Center especially if Urbik proves he can handle Center in an emergency too? That is the issue that will play out in camp. I'm betting Urbik gets the spot.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

Urbik is definitely a question mark. He is the 3rd string center behind Hartwig and Legursky (not even counting Pouncey), the 3rd string LG behind Kemo and Foster and the 4th string RG behind Essex, Pouncey and Foster.

If you have Pouncey, do you really need Legursky as a back up Center especially if Urbik proves he can handle Center in an emergency too? That is the issue that will play out in camp. I'm betting Urbik gets the spot.

I agree with you there, I believe it will come down to Legursky and Urbik battling it out for the C/G swingman spot. May the best man win...

[Oviedo]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

A couple of other comments:

1. I think McHugh is more valuable than David Johnson at TE/FB. he is much more versatile.

2. I don't think that Mundy is a "lock." If someone like Keenan Lewis can show he can play at both CB and S I think Mundy's window of opprtunity is rapidly closing or may have closed.

3. I think Urbik is being underestimated and isn't a question mark.

4. I think both Sunny Harris and Doug Worthington both have a shot to oust Nick Eason.

Urbik is definitely a question mark. He is the 3rd string center behind Hartwig and Legursky (not even counting Pouncey), the 3rd string LG behind Kemo and Foster and the 4th string RG behind Essex, Pouncey and Foster.

If you have Pouncey, do you really need Legursky as a back up Center especially if Urbik proves he can handle Center in an emergency too? That is the issue that will play out in camp. I'm betting Urbik gets the spot.

I agree with you there, I believe it will come down to Legursky and Urbik battling it out for the C/G swingman spot. May the best man win...

Here is a quote from Jim Wexell's just posted observations out of minicamp

* Kraig Urbik – Looks bigger this spring, particularly when playing center on the second line after the smaller Doug Legursky finishes with the first.

I also wouldn't give Ramon Foster a guaranteed position. He has the inside track but he could be passed up with the new OL Coach. He may have done things really well for Coach Z. that may not translate as well for Kugler.

[ANPSTEEL]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

without Tyrone Carter-

the team has no current back up for Troy, other than Ryan Mundy.

Unless the team plans on moving Will Allen to SS- Mundy is probably going to stick.

[Oviedo]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

without Tyrone Carter-

the team has no current back up for Troy, other than Ryan Mundy.

Unless the team plans on moving Will Allen to SS- Mundy is probably going to stick.

I think Will Allen is the Back up at SS.

[Northern_Blitz]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

According to this we've got 30 Locks, 18 Probables, and 37 Question Marks.

Who are the 5 ?s you take from the post (or do you cut some of the Question Marks).

First, I hope that we can take Taylor on the roster and get rid of the third TE (who would play FB). He'll likely need at least 1 year on the PS, but I hope he can play.

I also hope that Sunny Harris shows he can beat out Eason.

I'd like the following ?s to make the team:

1. Urbik (I hope he makes it so we can't cut him)
2. Cordarrow Thompson (big man of the future? Need to be younger on the DL)
3. Doug Worthington
4. Patrick Bailey (we saw last year that our ST sucked without keeping designated ST guys).
5. Greg Warren or Jared Retkofsky (I know it sucks, but we always seem to have a LS on our roster.

If Eason shows he's still worth a roster spot, DW goes to the PS.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Who makes it and who doesn't

I know it sucks, but we always seem to have a LS on our roster.

The only team that I can think of that had a position player long snapping for them is the Giants, which is ironic, since they are the team that benefitted when we had to have a position player fill in at long snapper (they have used LB Zak DeOssie and DT Jay Alford). Every other team has a designated long snapper like us.