The Steelers released MLB Ulysses Gilbert III after an injury incurred during training camp confined his foot to a walking boot.
OLB Hamilcar Rashed – a UDFA out of Oregon State last year who played in one game for the Jets – was the corresponding move. Does anyone think a guy who couldn’t find the field with the New York freakin’ Jets will earn play time behind Watt, Highsmith, Avery and Tuszka?
Rashed is only here because Highsmith and Avery have lost practice time to rib and groin injuries, respectively. I don’t see him factoring into the 53-man roster.
Which begs the question: who gets Gilbert’s slot on the 53?
Mark Robinson – the rookie draft pick – would be the easy answer. Eye for an eye, MLB for MLB. His is a name we’ve heard flashing in camp reports, although evaluations don’t start in earnest until the lights come on in the preseason.
If Robinson makes the team, Marcus Allen’s $2.54 million might start to look like a hefty price for an up-back on the punting unit – especially when they’re already paying Derek Watt about $5 million this year to cover punts.
Let’s not forget the Steelers had six MLBs on their initial 53 last year as Devin Bush insurance. While we don’t feel much better about Bush now than we did a year ago, I think the team feels well enough about the guys around him (Jack, Spillane, Buddy Johnson & Mark Robinson) to only keep five.
My suggestion: keep a 7th defensive lineman. Alualu and Ogunjobi are coming off significant injuries. Heyward just posted his most dominant season ever but he’s on the wrong side of 30. They liked Loudermilk enough to trade up to draft him a year ago; he may be the second best two-gapper on this team right now. Adams was a gem of a mid-season pickup. Leal and Worm are roster locks, and even the athletic Davis brothers are poised for impressive preseasons.
We saw what happened last year when this unit thinned out; the Pittsburgh Steelers cannot be the worst rush defense two years in a row.
Steely Cam 