Final 53 Prediction

[AkronSteel]

QB: Ben, Charlie and Dixon (3)

This position has been set since before training camp

RB: FWP, Mendenhall, Mewelde, Logan and Davis (5)

FWP, Mendenhall, and Mewelde were locks in the spring. Logan has just shown way too much on returns not to keep him. I would love to see Summers beat out Davis but I just don't see it.

WR: Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace and McDonald (5)

These five guys will make our offense more dangerous this year. It's a well rounded group that brings a wide variety of qualities. Best WR unit in years!!!

TE: Miller, Spaeth and Johnson (3)

I would say that Johnson definitely earned his spot.

OL: Max, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Urbik, Legursky, Foster and Hills (9)

The team really needs depth at tackle. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone picked up after final cuts. Legursky has shown that he has position flexibility and that is something that Tomlin really likes with his backup OL.

DL: Aaron, Big Snack, Keisel, Hood, Hoke, Eason and Harris (7)

This is a group that needs some bolstering in the offseason but the starting 3 are experienced and will contribute to another deep playoff run. Hood has shown that he has the potential to be a substantial player for the organization for a long time. I think the team will cut ties with Kirschke to save cash and to be younger up front which is why I think Harris will make the final cut.

LB: Jimmy Hate, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Woods and Bailey (

This is the best LB unit in the league, and it has some quality depth. I think Woods has the potential to be a very good player for the team down the road and Fox has gotten better than he was last year and he wasn't bad then.

DB: Ike, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, Keenan Lewis, Carter, Ratliff, Burnett and Roy Lewis (10)

I like Roy Lewis making the team over Mundy because of position flexibilty and his tackling ability. I think this is a quality unit that will get better as the season goes on.

ST: Reed, Sepulveda and Warren (3)

All these were locked up before camp even started.

This is a really good team that I believe will have a great year and will contend for home-field advantage in the AFC. They are as good as anyone in the league and if they stay healthy could very well be playing in February.

Time to get it started. Bring on the Titans, its time for the towel to get its revenge.

[Oviedo]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

That would be my roster. Only change I would make would be Mundy for Roy Lewis.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ditto except remove Davis and insert Redman. We really need someone that can punch it in like Redman can. I think Johnson can fill the blocking FB role. The only problem with losing Davis is that we are losing a good special teams player and if we don't keep Madison, that makes two very good special teamers that would be gone.

Also, I'd like to see Mundy instead of Carter. We need some young safeties and even though we'd lose a good experienced player in Carter, I think it would be worth it to keep Mundy who has the potential to be probably much better than Carter.

[D Rock]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Davis (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald, Logan (6)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods (
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)


PS: Reilly, Summers, Schantz, McClendon, Grisham, Shipley, Czech, and....can Capizzi still be on it?


Not a whole lot different there in my guess, but a couple guys are changed.

[AngryAsian]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Davis (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald, Logan (6)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods (
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)


PS: Reilly, Summers, Schantz, McClendon, Grisham, Shipley, Czech, and....can Capizzi still be on it?


Not a whole lot different there in my guess, but a couple guys are changed.

DING DING DING..... WE HAVE A WINNER.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Davis (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald, Logan (6)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods (
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)


PS: Reilly, Summers, Schantz, McClendon, Grisham, Shipley, Czech, and....can Capizzi still be on it?


Not a whole lot different there in my guess, but a couple guys are changed.

The only change I would make would be to cut Carey Davis (D.J. Johnson is a much better blocking FB than Davis, and having the Tank on the practice squad as a FB option who could be called up in case something happens to Johnson makes Davis expendable) and keep Arnold Harrison (people say we keep Davis on the roster for his special teams contributions, but A. Harrison would provide just as much, if not more, to our coverage teams than C. Davis did. Plus I think he is a better option as a OLB than Pat Bailey, who is almost strictly a ST player). I'd also officially classify Logan as a RB instead of a WR even though any impact he would have in the offense would be more out of the slot (a role similar to RB's Darren Sproles, Leon Washington, and Reggie Bush).

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Logan (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald (5)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
J. Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods A. Harrison (9)
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)

[Discipline of Steel]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Davis (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald, Logan (6)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods (
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)


PS: Reilly, Summers, Schantz, McClendon, Grisham, Shipley, Czech, and....can Capizzi still be on it?


Not a whole lot different there in my guess, but a couple guys are changed.

The only change I would make would be to cut Carey Davis (D.J. Johnson is a much better blocking FB than Davis, and having the Tank on the practice squad as a FB option who could be called up in case something happens to Johnson makes Davis expendable) and keep Arnold Harrison (people say we keep Davis on the roster for his special teams contributions, but A. Harrison would provide just as much, if not more, to our coverage teams than C. Davis did. Plus I think he is a better option as a OLB than Pat Bailey, who is almost strictly a ST player). I'd also officially classify Logan as a RB instead of a WR even though any impact he would have in the offense would be more out of the slot (a role similar to RB's Darren Sproles, Leon Washington, and Reggie Bush).

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Logan (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald (5)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
J. Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods A. Harrison (9)
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)

Yes on keeping Redman! He proved to be more than one dimensional last night.

I am not totally sold on Burnett. I know he has had some good plays but has had some bad ones as well, which includes whiffing on a tackle last night. His stock as a potentially dynamic returner was devalued by Sproles, Im mean Logan's performance last night. I think he is on the bubble and Ratliff is not getting his due consideration as a competant veteran. Yes, Kiewan Ratliff is an ugly name but he is a proven commodity after all.

By the way, did anyone else notice that all of our tackles last night were made by the reserve secondary? KLewis 10, Mundy 6, RLewis 7, Burnett 6, Carter 3, Ratliff 3, and finally a LB BDavis 3.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Davis (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald, Logan (6)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods (
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)


PS: Reilly, Summers, Schantz, McClendon, Grisham, Shipley, Czech, and....can Capizzi still be on it?


Not a whole lot different there in my guess, but a couple guys are changed.

The only change I would make would be to cut Carey Davis (D.J. Johnson is a much better blocking FB than Davis, and having the Tank on the practice squad as a FB option who could be called up in case something happens to Johnson makes Davis expendable) and keep Arnold Harrison (people say we keep Davis on the roster for his special teams contributions, but A. Harrison would provide just as much, if not more, to our coverage teams than C. Davis did. Plus I think he is a better option as a OLB than Pat Bailey, who is almost strictly a ST player). I'd also officially classify Logan as a RB instead of a WR even though any impact he would have in the offense would be more out of the slot (a role similar to RB's Darren Sproles, Leon Washington, and Reggie Bush).

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Logan (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald (5)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
J. Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods A. Harrison (9)
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, R Lewis (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)

The only change is Ratliff for Roy Lewis. That gives a little more position flexibility and experience in the secondary. Hopefully Burnett can fill the role of gunner on ST instead of Madison and we can make up for the ST tackles that C. Davis had last year.

Ben, Batch, Dixon (3)
FWP, Mendy, Moore, Redman, Logan (5)
Heath, Spaeth, Johnson (3)
Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald (5)
Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky (C/G), Foster (G/T), Hills (T), Urbik (G) (9)
Hampton, Keisel, Smith, Hood, Eason, Hoke, Harris (7)
J. Harrison, Timmons, Farrior, Woodley, Frazier, Fox, Bailey, Woods, A. Harrison (9)
Taylor, Gay, Troy, Clark, Deshea, K Lewis, Burnett, Mundy, Ratliff (9)
Reed, Warren, Sepulveda (3)

[pfelix73]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

"Also, I'd like to see Mundy instead of Carter. We need some young safeties and even though we'd lose a good experienced player in Carter, I think it would be worth it to keep Mundy who has the potential to be probably much better than Carter."

I will agree with this statement posted above. A surprise cut could very well be Ty Carter.....

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

The only change is Ratliff for Roy Lewis. That gives a little more position flexibility and experience in the secondary. Hopefully Burnett can fill the role of gunner on ST instead of Madison and we can make up for the ST tackles that C. Davis had last year.

FWIW, Roy Lewis has just as much position flexibility as Ratliff. Roy came to us as a UDFA CB last year, and the team also worked him at safety. I like his promise more than a guy that was let go by the Bengals and Colts defenses.

[papillon]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

If Redman goes to the PS, he's gone, a team will look at film and bring him in for depth at RB. Trying to hide him there will be a mistake in my opinion. Summers, may or may not, clear the PS, but the Steelers can't protect both.

I don't see Parker and Mendenhall both getting through the season unscathed, neither has proven that they can do that in recent history. The Steelers are going to need another RB this year and Logan isn't him (WR maybe, not an RB).

Keeping 10 secondary players seems like a luxury, but maybe not. Of course, if any of the 10 listed in the first post go to PS chances are real good they get picked up by another team. I thi9nk I would let Ratliff go and keep Redman or Summers on the 53; the Steelers have players that can play safety if needed. This would also put Logan as a WR where he belongs.

The Steelers are going to have to expose a good football player to other teams or not put Logan on the roster (unlikely at this point) to protect some of their good young talent.

Just my 2 cents...

Pappy

[phillyesq]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Interestingly, Douchette thinks that Tank is an odds on favorite to make the roster:

Summers is the odds-on favorite to make it. He started at fullback and threw a good block on the first play from offense last night, operating out of the I-formation. Mendenhall picked up 3 yards. Later in the period, Summers again set up as the fullback in the I-formation on third-and-1. Quarterback Charlie Batch handed Summers the ball, and he ground out 4 yards and a first down at the Carolina 21. Several plays later, Redman scored from 10 out for a 14-0 Steelers lead.

[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09247/995567-66.stm#ixzz0Q9rR4lOx[/url]

I'd love to see Summers, but I fear that it will be Davis. Redman is interesting. I wonder if his conditioning issues send him to the p.s., or if he earned a roster spot.

I also thought that Capizzi would take the swing tackle position, but from what I'm seeing, it seems like the consensus is that Hills somehow earned the spot?

[Discipline of Steel]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Interestingly, Douchette thinks that Tank is an odds on favorite to make the roster:

Summers is the odds-on favorite to make it. He started at fullback and threw a good block on the first play from offense last night, operating out of the I-formation. Mendenhall picked up 3 yards. Later in the period, Summers again set up as the fullback in the I-formation on third-and-1. Quarterback Charlie Batch handed Summers the ball, and he ground out 4 yards and a first down at the Carolina 21. Several plays later, Redman scored from 10 out for a 14-0 Steelers lead.

[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09247/995567-66.stm#ixzz0Q9rR4lOx[/url]

I'd love to see Summers, but I fear that it will be Davis. Redman is interesting. I wonder if his conditioning issues send him to the p.s., or if he earned a roster spot.

I also thought that Capizzi would take the swing tackle position, but from what I'm seeing, it seems like the consensus is that Hills somehow earned the spot?

Personally, I think Capizzi will also make the roster in place of Ramon Foster, to have better depth than just Tony Hills at OT. Legursky and Urbik would be the 2 backup OG, according to concensus.

[Lebsteel]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Interestingly, Douchette thinks that Tank is an odds on favorite to make the roster:

Summers is the odds-on favorite to make it. He started at fullback and threw a good block on the first play from offense last night, operating out of the I-formation. Mendenhall picked up 3 yards. Later in the period, Summers again set up as the fullback in the I-formation on third-and-1. Quarterback Charlie Batch handed Summers the ball, and he ground out 4 yards and a first down at the Carolina 21. Several plays later, Redman scored from 10 out for a 14-0 Steelers lead.

[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09247/995567-66.stm#ixzz0Q9rR4lOx[/url]

I'd love to see Summers, but I fear that it will be Davis. Redman is interesting. I wonder if his conditioning issues send him to the p.s., or if he earned a roster spot.

I also thought that Capizzi would take the swing tackle position, but from what I'm seeing, it seems like the consensus is that Hills somehow earned the spot?

Personally, I think Capizzi will also make the roster in place of Ramon Foster, to have better depth than just Tony Hills at OT. Legursky and Urbik would be the 2 backup OG, according to concensus.

Yea, I was hoping that might be the case with Capizzi, but Foster played guard and tackle last night and Capizzi didn't get in until well after Foster. Not sure exactly what that means, other than Capizzi was the last lineman to play and maybe that is where he is ranked. I'm sure hoping it is either Foster or Capizzi along with Hills. Some people have ragged on Hills, but every time I've watched him he has done very well. Look at the Redman touchdown last night. He made a great block to seal the left side. Urbik also knocked down a lineman and then stood up a linebacker and took him out of the play.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Final 53 Prediction

Interestingly, Douchette thinks that Tank is an odds on favorite to make the roster:

Summers is the odds-on favorite to make it. He started at fullback and threw a good block on the first play from offense last night, operating out of the I-formation. Mendenhall picked up 3 yards. Later in the period, Summers again set up as the fullback in the I-formation on third-and-1. Quarterback Charlie Batch handed Summers the ball, and he ground out 4 yards and a first down at the Carolina 21. Several plays later, Redman scored from 10 out for a 14-0 Steelers lead.

[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09247/995567-66.stm#ixzz0Q9rR4lOx[/url]

I'd love to see Summers, but I fear that it will be Davis. Redman is interesting. I wonder if his conditioning issues send him to the p.s., or if he earned a roster spot.

I also thought that Capizzi would take the swing tackle position, but from what I'm seeing, it seems like the consensus is that Hills somehow earned the spot?

Personally, I think Capizzi will also make the roster in place of Ramon Foster, to have better depth than just Tony Hills at OT. Legursky and Urbik would be the 2 backup OG, according to concensus.

Yea, I was hoping that might be the case with Capizzi, but Foster played guard and tackle last night and Capizzi didn't get in until well after Foster. Not sure exactly what that means, other than Capizzi was the last lineman to play and maybe that is where he is ranked. I'm sure hoping it is either Foster or Capizzi along with Hills. Some people have ragged on Hills, but every time I've watched him he has done very well. Look at the Redman touchdown last night. He made a great block to seal the left side. Urbik also knocked down a lineman and then stood up a linebacker and took him out of the play.

I wasn't paying attention to the blocking on that play. It looked almost as if all 11 Panthers had a free shot at Redman, and he still broke every tackle on the way to the end zone.