The Steelers cut their roster down to the mandatory 53-man squad today. The team has more moves to be made before they take the field against the Bills next weekend, but here’s a look at where they stand, what surprised me and where there’s work to be done.
Quarterback
Their group (3): Haskins, Roethlisberger, Rudolph.
My group (3): Haskins, Roethlisberger, Rudolph.
Analysis: No surprises here, especially after the team announced Josh Dobbs was heading to IR. Before you ask: no, Cam Newton will not be walking through that door. This is the unit you spent all camp working with and it doesn’t make sense to bring a guy in off the street and start from scratch.
Running Back
My group (5): Ballage, Harris, McFarland Jr., Snell Jr., Watt.
Their group (5): Ballage, Harris, McFarland Jr., Snell Jr., Watt.
Analysis: Lot of power runners in this RB room. Part of me thought they’d stick with Samuels over Snell – despite a collar-loosener of a preseason – to balance the speed/power distribution. Snell’s special teams acumen probably gave him the edge.
Tight End
My group (3): Ebron, Freiermuth, Gentry.
Their group (3): Ebron, Freiermuth, Gentry
Analysis: Freiermuth is a lethal redzone threat, but his contribution to the unit as a blocker made Kevin Rader obsolete. Look for him to resurface on the practice squad, but hope he doesn’t need to be elevated.
Wide Receiver
My group (5): D. Johnson, Claypool, McCloud, Smith-Schuster, Washington.
Their group (5): Claypool, D. Johnson, McCloud, Smith-Schuster, Washington
Analysis: Another group I nailed. McCloud makes this team largely due to Matthew Sexton taking a swan dive in the preseason finale. With the offensive firepower this team has, I don’t ever need to see him run a route.
Offensive Line
My group (9): Banner, Dotson, Green, Haeg, Hassenaeur, Moore Jr., Finney, Okorafor, Turner.
Their group (8): Banner, Dotson, Green, Haeg, Hassenauer, Moore Jr., Okorafor, Turner.
Analysis: The Finney loss was the surprise of cut-down day. So we have Dotson at the Left Guard, Turner at RG, and J.C. Hassenaeur backing up the entire interior of the offensive line? Haeg can play inside as well, but any way you slice it this is easily the thinnest group on the roster.
Defensive Line
My group (6): Alualu, Buggs, Heyward, Loudermilk, Tuitt, Wormley.
Their group (8): Alualu, Buggs, Davis, Heyward, Loudermilk, Mondeaux, Tuitt, Wormley.
Analysis: Talent warrants the unprecedented depth here. Buggs, Wormley and Davis all represented themselves well in the preseason. Loudermilk has shown flashes of the traits the team coveted enough to trade up in the draft to get him. For a man of 6’7”, though, he’s only 240 pounds. Expect a redshirt season from him while he bulks up. Mondeaux might be shuffled if the team adds another CB.
Inside Linebacker
My group (5): Allen, Bush, UG3, Johnson, Schobert.
Their group (6): Allen, Bush, UG3, B. Johnson, Schobert, Spillane.
Analysis: The unit may have benefited from Marcus Allen’s hamstring uncertainty. Spillane can stuff the run, but I hate seeing him in coverage. Let’s hope Keith Butler has given up on his Jackie Moon, “Everybody Cover Everybody” defense.
Outside Linebacker
My group (5): Highsmith, Ingram, Jones, Marsh, Watt,
Their group (4): Highsmith, Ingram III, Jones, Watt.
Analysis: DL is the deepest unit on the roster, this is the most talented. Highsmith and Ingram looked like monsters this preseason, and TJ Watt hasn’t stepped on the field yet. Jamir Jones was the Ola Adeniyi of a few preseasons ago; let’s hope his progression follows a different trajectory. Cassius Marsh is the odd man out; he didn’t do a ton in the preseason, but I thought they’d keep an extra guy here considering how much Keith Butler blitzes.
Corner Back
My group (5): Haden, Layne, Pierre, Maulet, Sutton.
Their group (4): Haden, Layne, Pierre, Sutton.
Analysis: Only 8 Defensive Backs on the roster. Nobody took the slot job by the throat in the preseason; look for the team to make an addition there before going up against Josh Allen and Cole Beasley.
Safeties
My group (4): Edmunds, Fitzpatrick, Killebrew, Norwood.
Their group (4): Edmunds, Fitzpatrick, Killebrew, Norwood.
Analysis: The only group on the defense I nailed. This is likely Terrell Edmunds’s final year as a Steeler; Miles Killebrew has primarily worked on special teams so the SS position will be a priority next offseason. Tre Norwood was a 7th rounder who played CB in college, and got some work as the slot corner against Carolina. He doesn’t seem to be the answer as a blitzer, and his ranginess and coverage ability make him ideal on the back end.
Specialists
My group (3): Boswell, Harvin, Canaday.
Their group (3): Boswell, Harvin III, Kuntz.
Analysis: Who was that Steelers punter from a few years ago with the arms? Daniel Sepulveda? Presley Harvin III is 5’11” and 263 pounds of “you better run your ass out of bounds.” Let’s hope he doesn’t have to use it too often. I thought the team would ride with Canaday, who acquitted himself nicely in camp after a down year. The Steelers stuck with Bos after his terrible 2019, and it paid off.
Strange But True:
Eight of the Steelers’ nine draft picks in 2021 made the initial 53-man roster. On top of that, at least three – if not four – of them will start Day One against Buffalo. Admittedly, they did limp into the draft with a roster full of holes and limited cap space to bring in reinforcements. You still have to tip your hat to Colbert & Co. for doing what they did with what they had.
CamBlackburnWrites 