My 53

[Discipline of Steel]

QB (3): Roeth, Grad, Jones RB (5): Redzone, Bell, Dwyer, Howling, Jones FB (1): Johnson WR (5): Brown, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, Moye TE (3): Miller/Spaeth, Johnson, Paulson OL (: Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Beachum, Long, Malecki DL (7): Keisel, Hood, Heyward, Woods, McLendon, Fangupo, Ta'amu LB (9): Woodley, Timmons, Foote, Worilds, Jones, Carter, Baxter, McFadden, Williams DB (9): Taylor, Allen, Gay, Brown, Polamalu, Clark, Golden, Smith, Thomas Spec (3) Sushi, Butler, Warren

[Iron City Inc.]

Our punter for 2013 is not on the roster yet.

[flippy]

QB (3): Roeth, Grad, Jones RB (5): Redzone, Bell, Dwyer, Howling, Jones FB (1): Johnson WR (5): Brown, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, Moye TE (3): Miller/Spaeth, Johnson, Paulson OL (: Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Beachum, Long, Malecki DL (7): Keisel, Hood, Heyward, Woods, McLendon, Fangupo, Ta'amu LB (9): Woodley, Timmons, Foote, Worilds, Jones, Carter, Baxter, McFadden, Williams DB (9): Taylor, Allen, Gay, Brown, Polamalu, Clark, Golden, Smith, Thomas Spec (3) Sushi, Butler, Warren

Looks like a good guess. The changes I'd make would be:

1. Dunn instead of Moye
2. Arnfelt instead of Fangupo
3. Hawthorne instead of Ta'Amu
4. Carter gets cut to be replaced by some other position. Perhaps we keep Moye, Brown, Ta'Amu, or pick up some FA OLine or TE prospect in his slot.

The 2 guys that have surprised me the most who I think have played themselves out of roster spots might be Justin Brown and Moorman. Both looked like they had a spot in camp, but have not really performed in the games.

[flippy]

Forgot Victorian. I'd put him on the roster over Smith. But he may have played himself out of a job on ST.

[Iron City Inc.]

Hey Flip good critque. I know it's a long shot but Moye and Dunn both have a shot imho.

[steelblood]

While I agree that those are the players who should make this team, I can't see us keeping less than nine OL. Hell, if Gilbert starts, he could take five guys himself.

[Oviedo]

While I agree that those are the players who should make this team, I can't see us keeping less than nine OL. Hell, if Gilbert starts, he could take five guys himself.

I think they will keep 8 OL and stash a couple of the PS. It's not like there is a risk anyone would take any of our back up OL. I still think we will see a last minute rush to grab at least one experienced guy off waivers. Hopefully they aren't naive enough to think this group will go through the season without dropping to injuries.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

QB (3): Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB (5): Redman, Dwyer, Howling, Jones, Bell
FB (1): Johnson
WR (5): Brown, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, Moye/Brown
TE (4): Miller, Spaeth, Johnson, Paulson
OL (8.): Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Beachum, Long, Malecki
DL (7): Keisel, Hood, Heyward, Woods, McLendon, Ta'amu, Arnfelt
LB (8.): Woodley, Timmons, Foote, Worilds, Jones, Carter, McFadden, Williams
CB (5): Taylor, Allen, Gay, Brown, Hawthorne
S (4): Polamalu, Clark, Golden, Thomas
Spec (3): Sushi, Butler, Warren

PS
LB Baxter
LB Garvin
OL Hubbard
WR Dunn
WR Brown/Moye
RB Alexander
DB
DL

Pup
Spence

IR
Burress
King
Embernate
Cheadle
Van Dyke
Williams

With no injuries in Carolina game...I see this as the 53 they carry into week 1.

They may carry 5 RBs if the status of Bell looks later than sooner. Trade value of a RB will go up as injuries happen and injuries could happen on the Steelers roster before Bell returns.

I think they keep one of Moye or Brown on 53 unless someone contacts them with a "panic" compensation for Cotchery trade. There may be a curve here if something happens at the RB & TE spot. They may try and tuck away both Moye & Brown on the PS and leave Dunn on 53. I have my own opinion here and that would be to try and trade Cotchery. He is the vet presence but I think Wheaton needs to get on the field ahead of him. You make Moye or Brown your #4 and the other to the PS. You keep Dunn on the 53 because he can play ST and he looks to be really close to doing something in the return game to make a difference in a game. Just my opinion.

If the report is good on Miller to return to starting line-up before week 4, I think they carry Miller & Spaeth on 53. Then the Steelers have the option of designating Spaeth to IR with return. Spaeth may just go to IR if his timetable doesn't look good and/or if they really like someone on the waiver wire.

They release Whimper & carry long so Whimper's salary isn't guaranteed. They may look to waiver wire for some depth and that may push Long to PS. Whimper will always be there to pick up after week 1 imo.

DL speaks for itself. I think they keep Ta'amu & Arnfelt because of their upside shown. The other 5 alone give you 5 DEs & 3 NTs so they have a luxury.

LB is difficult. They are going to let some talent leave. Rolle loses out on numbers because of the RB & TE heavy depth chart with injuries. I think they will fear Williams being snatched up trying to sneak him on PS. They will try & tuck away Baxter & Garvin on PS. Both have shown tremendous upside but need development. Wilson & Rolle showed enough to make this team but they are deep & talented.

I think one of the DBs that don't make the 53 (Green, D Smith, Victorian) may make PS or it may be an outside body. Cromartie-Smith gets lost in numbers. Golden & Thomas are already ahead of him imo and Golden & Thomas have shown they could man-up in the slot so they give you a 6th CB.

ST looks to be easy. No competition for 2 of them. The arrow on Butler & Moorman are pointing in two different directions and Moorman hasn't shown he still has enough in the tank to separate himself from Butler.

[Oviedo]

QB (3): Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB (5): Redman, Dwyer, Howling, Jones, Bell
FB (1): Johnson
WR (5): Brown, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, Moye/Brown
TE (4): Miller, Spaeth, Johnson, Paulson
OL (8.): Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Beachum, Long, Malecki
DL (7): Keisel, Hood, Heyward, Woods, McLendon, Ta'amu, Arnfelt
LB (8.): Woodley, Timmons, Foote, Worilds, Jones, Carter, McFadden, Williams
CB (5): Taylor, Allen, Gay, Brown, Hawthorne
S (4): Polamalu, Clark, Golden, Thomas
Spec (3): Sushi, Butler, Warren

PS
LB Baxter
LB Garvin
OL Hubbard
WR Dunn
WR Brown/Moye
RB Alexander
DB
DL

Pup
Spence

IR
Burress
King
Embernate
Cheadle
Van Dyke
Williams

With no injuries in Carolina game...I see this as the 53 they carry into week 1.

They may carry 5 RBs if the status of Bell looks later than sooner. Trade value of a RB will go up as injuries happen and injuries could happen on the Steelers roster before Bell returns.

I think they keep one of Moye or Brown on 53 unless someone contacts them with a "panic" compensation for Cotchery trade. There may be a curve here if something happens at the RB & TE spot. They may try and tuck away both Moye & Brown on the PS and leave Dunn on 53. I have my own opinion here and that would be to try and trade Cotchery. He is the vet presence but I think Wheaton needs to get on the field ahead of him. You make Moye or Brown your #4 and the other to the PS. You keep Dunn on the 53 because he can play ST and he looks to be really close to doing something in the return game to make a difference in a game. Just my opinion.

If the report is good on Miller to return to starting line-up before week 4, I think they carry Miller & Spaeth on 53. Then the Steelers have the option of designating Spaeth to IR with return. Spaeth may just go to IR if his timetable doesn't look good and/or if they really like someone on the waiver wire.

They release Whimper & carry long so Whimper's salary isn't guaranteed. They may look to waiver wire for some depth and that may push Long to PS. Whimper will always be there to pick up after week 1 imo.

DL speaks for itself. I think they keep Ta'amu & Arnfelt because of their upside shown. The other 5 alone give you 5 DEs & 3 NTs so they have a luxury.

LB is difficult. They are going to let some talent leave. Rolle loses out on numbers because of the RB & TE heavy depth chart with injuries. I think they will fear Williams being snatched up trying to sneak him on PS. They will try & tuck away Baxter & Garvin on PS. Both have shown tremendous upside but need development. Wilson & Rolle showed enough to make this team but they are deep & talented.

I think one of the DBs that don't make the 53 (Green, D Smith, Victorian) may make PS or it may be an outside body. Cromartie-Smith gets lost in numbers. Golden & Thomas are already ahead of him imo and Golden & Thomas have shown they could man-up in the slot so they give you a 6th CB.

ST looks to be easy. No competition for 2 of them. The arrow on Butler & Moorman are pointing in two different directions and Moorman hasn't shown he still has enough in the tank to separate himself from Butler.

Hasn't Spaeth already been put in the "IR-to return" list?

I do hope they keep Ta'amu over Fangupo but I guess either could end up on the PS.

I think they also stash Golic on the PS.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Hasn't Spaeth already been put in the "IR-to return" list?

I do hope they keep Ta'amu over Fangupo but I guess either could end up on the PS.

I think they also stash Golic on the PS.

You have to be a member of the 53 before you could receive that designation. That is what sucks about it. They will have to carry him and possibly lose a player they released that they were going to bring back to 53.

[Oviedo]

You have to be a member of the 53 before you could receive that designation. That is what sucks about it. They will have to carry him and possibly lose a player they released that they were going to bring back to 53.

Cut David Johnson. It's not like anyone is going to rush out to sign a TE who has done nothing this preseason after coming off a major injury. He'll be there waiting to resign if we can't find better which would be hard to believe if we were really looking.

[Discipline of Steel]

If the report is good on Miller to return to starting line-up before week 4, I think they carry Miller & Spaeth on 53. Then the Steelers have the option of designating Spaeth to IR with return. Spaeth may just go to IR if his timetable doesn't look good and/or if they really like someone on the waiver wire.
DL speaks for itself. I think they keep Ta'amu & Arnfelt because of their upside shown. The other 5 alone give you 5 DEs & 3 NTs so they have a luxury.

Our 53s are fairly similar except your 4 TEs take away one from the LB position, likely Baxter who has turned heads. Looking like Miller will be ready before Spaeth but prob neither should play before our bye week. In any case, I guessed one would go on that 6 week PUP list but the rules are cloudy to me so I just counted them both as one. Arnfelt is enticing but I picked the three NT because McLendon can play DE from what I hear...and may do so on occasion when we want to get a bigger body in the middle. More flexibility was the reasoning there. Either way, 7 players for 3 positions is a high ratio but the Giants have proven a well stocked DL pays dividends.

[Discipline of Steel]

Cut David Johnson. It's not like anyone is going to rush out to sign a TE who has done nothing this preseason after coming off a major injury. He'll be there waiting to resign if we can't find better which would be hard to believe if we were really looking.

The sticker there is that cutting DJ would leave us with one TE for the first quarter of the season...and Paulson cant block too well. An honest evaluation reveals DJ is far ahead of Paulson in that regard. Doesn't mean he wont get cut when Miller and Spaeth return though. I know, I know, Im not a big fan either...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Cut David Johnson. It's not like anyone is going to rush out to sign a TE who has done nothing this preseason after coming off a major injury. He'll be there waiting to resign if we can't find better which would be hard to believe if we were really looking.

I know many aren't fans and I do believe he could be upgraded but the Steelers situation dictates he has to be here. I'm carry 4 TEs but only 2 can get on the field. They have to carry Spaeth onto the 53 if they want to IR him with designation. Johnson is here because he has been in the system. Just signing a TE off the street doesn't put him on the field right away unless his name is Pope. I'm sure some of you just threw up in your mouth.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Our 53s are fairly similar except your 4 TEs take away one from the LB position, likely Baxter who has turned heads. Looking like Miller will be ready before Spaeth but prob neither should play before our bye week. In any case, I guessed one would go on that 6 week PUP list but the rules are cloudy to me so I just counted them both as one. Arnfelt is enticing but I picked the three NT because McLendon can play DE from what I hear...and may do so on occasion when we want to get a bigger body in the middle. More flexibility was the reasoning there. Either way, 7 players for 3 positions is a high ratio but the Giants have proven a well stocked DL pays dividends.

As noted carry Spaeth over to the 53 is necessary if you want to put him on the IR with return designation. Miller is the only one who can go on the PUP but if he can get on the field before week 6 he will stay on 53. So carrying 4 TEs only gives you 2 that can play. Using that designation did push Baxter to the PS and once they IR Spaeth he may be one that they bring back up if they don't bring in a vet TE or OL. They may also bring in a vet OL and put Long back to PS. Whimper is the guy I cut because he would be on the street and putting him on the 53 gurantees his salary. Arnfelt & Ta'Amu stay because they have shown enough upside that you would think someone would sign them to there 53 off waivers. Both could be used in rotation but I would assume 1 if not both would be inactive. The flexibility of 5 DLs that give you 5 DEs & 3 NTs may allow the Steelers to have another LB, DB, etc active on gameday. That is why I went that route.