Pittsburgh Steelers Cuts: Full Report Card for the Final 53

Now that the 53-man roster is set and the Pittsburgh Steelers have begun preparations for their 2011 season opening in Baltimore, it's time to take a look at how each player on the 53-man roster grades out on the eve of the regular season.

Here's a look, position by position, at each player who made the team and how each one can be expected to contribute in 2011.

Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger (Starter): A+

Roethlisberger will again be an elite quarterback and could put up his best season yet if he stays healthy. He had a full season's production in 12 games last year, so it's reasonable to think he could top 4,500 yards and 25 touchdown passes in 2011.

Charlie Batch: C+

Batch loses a lot of points because of his age and questions around durability. He's intelligent and doesn't make many mistakes, but his primary value at this point is as a coach in uniform and as the primary guy who can come in if Roethlisberger gets dinged up.

Dennis Dixon: D+

Harsh? Maybe a little. But Dixon hasn't shown much. He had a very mediocre preseason and continues to look like a guy who does not understand the team's offense well enough to run it consistently. He also seems to be a great athlete who just isn't going to be a quarterback at this level.

Comments: The Steelers would do well to look around for another backup option and to shop Dixon to anyone looking for a quarterback (Miami).

Running Back

Rashard Mendenhall (Starter): B

Mendenhall has put up two seasons of solid numbers, but he continues to be inconsistent within each game. Some days, he gains a ton of yards and can't be stopped. Other games, he struggles to get near 100 yards. He has improved and this should be a good year to see where he's at.

Isaac Redman: B

Redman had a big preseason and looks like a guy who can take some of the load off of Mendenhall. He is impressive between the tackles and is a big threat for the team once they get inside the red zone. He looks ready for a big year as the team's most versatile back.

Mewelde Moore: B-

Moore's primary ability is as a receiver on third downs. He's great on screens and can do some very limited damage in the running game. He's probably winding down, but he has the potential to be an important safety valve when the team needs some tough yards.

Jonathan Dwyer: C+

I give Dwyer only a C+ right now because he's got to do his damage in the regular season. We don't know enough about his real game ability yet. He's done well in his preseason looks, however, and overcame a poor offseason conditioning program. He could overtake Moore this year.

Wide Receiver

Hines Ward (Starter): B+

Ward has lost a step. It isn't much, but it's starting to show he's not invulnerable. He's also been banged up a little bit more often. I'm hoping last year was more of an exception than a new rule, but there are no guarantees after 13 years of pounding. The team would be wise to get Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown more involved.

Mike Wallace (Starter): A-

Why the minus? I want to see more consistency. Wallace is a huge threat, but he's got to catch and run with greater consistency than we've seen so far. He and Ben Roethlisberger also need to really get on the same page. They've shown some odd, off-track moments before. That needs to stop.

Emmanuel Sanders: B+

Sanders will have to shake the rust quickly after losing most of the preseason to foot surgery recovery. He looked good against Carolina, so he should be fine. If not, he'll quickly lose playing time to Antonio Brown, who had a monster preseason. Sanders has a chance to step up and become the No. 2 if he can replicate his rookie success and continue to grow.

Antonio Brown: A-

Do we buy into the preseason hype he generated? Yes. Why? We do it because Brown won't have to be the starter, but he can be their big playmaker. If you think back to Wallace's rookie year, he was a force as the third and fourth option. That could be what Brown and Sanders do this year. Brown is ahead right now.

Jerricho Cotchery: B-

Cotchery has the experience and he's been a starter. It won't be hard for him to be effective as the fifth option and he can alternate with Sanders and Brown for certain situations when the team needs a possession guy rather than all of that speed. The key for him is health. If he's healthy, he'll be useful.

Arnaz Battle: B

For what he does on special teams, he gets an A+. For his receiving skills, he gets a B-. We'll average it to a B. Battle will likely get at least a couple of looks on offense, but those will be few because of the young talent there. He could be a trade candidate if someone needs a receiver with some experience.

Tight End

Heath Miller (Starter): A-

He gets the minus for a year that was a step back in some ways. He should be a force again this year now that he'll have a full slate to work with Ben Roethlisberger. Miller is a big target, especially near the goal line and in tight spots. He almost always makes a big play.

David Johnson (Starter at FB): B

Johnson isn't a bad tight end, but he's the team's fullback and does an excellent job of it. He'll be a force in the running game and in two tight end sets. The team actually upgrades by moving him up and letting Matt Spaeth go in free agency. This could be a year for him to prove he's a Chris Cooley-type player.

Weslye Saunders: C-

I was glad the team kept Saunders over John Gilmore. Saunders has potential and room to grow. Gilmore did not. Saunders showed up toward the end of the preseason, but he's never shown yet that he's going to move up the depth chart. He'll be like an extra lineman in the jumbo package and will have to be a special teams ace for now.

Offensive Tackles

Willie Colon (Starter, RT): B+

Colon is the team's best lineman not named Maurkice Pouncey and he's looked very good since returning from his injury. They need him to be on his game with all of the flux and issues along the line. Colon is their only proven tackle, so his work will be key in the development of Marcus Gilbert and Chris Scott.

Jonathan Scott (Starter, LT): D+

I'll give him a minimally passing grade, but this grade will go down quick if Ben Roethlisberger gets hit a lot or hurt. The Baltimore game, against their big defensive front, will tell a lot about Scott's chances of sticking for the season. The team would have been better off with rookie Marcus Gilbert. 

Marcus Gilbert: C+

Gilbert will hopefully shake the injury-prone title that he received by getting injured during non-contact drills at the start of camp. He's looked decent during the preseason and actually is playing better than Scott right now. He'll get the first call if Scott struggles and should be the team's starting left tackle next year.

Chris Scott: C

Scott hasn't gotten much time and he's been so-so in his chances. That means we don't really know enough about him right now. He hasn't done enough to unseat Jonathan Scott, so that means he must need some more work. He'll be the backup on the right side for now.

Offensive Guards

Chris Kemoeatu (Starter, LG): C+

Kemoeatu has the opportunity to be a force, but he often makes stupid mistakes and has lapses in controlling his vicious temper, which leads to penalties. The big issue is his run protection, which still needs some work. The Steelers pulled him for runs to the right last year, a sign he's making progress.

Doug Legursky (Starter, RG): B+

Legursky was a super sub last year, playing all of the positions and even starting at center in the Super Bowl. He's acquitted himself well so far and is looking like a guy who could be a long-term fixture in Pittsburgh. He's the kind of blue-collar lineman that does well in this system.

Ramon Foster: B-

Foster did well as a starter last season, but lost out to Legursky this year. He could be more valuable as a backup because he can slide out to the tackle spots if needed. He might end up getting some time there if Jonathan Scott struggles. Otherwise, he'll be one of the first guys in at guard.

Center

Maurkice Pouncey (Starter): A

If Pouncey can stay healthy, there's no reason to think he won't challenge for another Pro Bowl berth. He's a tough, big guy who can hold up against big tackles, take on multiple blockers and get to the second level. He's good in both run- and pass-protection. He's the team's best lineman.

Trai Essex: C

Essex is a big step down from Pouncey, but he's versatile and can play guard or tackle as well. That makes him a very valuable piece. He also knows the system and played well at center against Carolina's backups. As long as he's not starting, he's likely a useful piece for the team.

Defensive End

Aaron Smith (Starter, LDE): B-

Smith is a great player, but the injury concerns have really brought down his grade. If he's on the field every down, I'm not sure he'll make it through a full season. This is probably one of his last years in the league, but it's best right now if he spends some time in a platoon.

Brett Keisel (Starter, RDE): A-

Keisel has come a long way from an unknown seventh-round pick to the football embodiment of "fear the beard." He's a sturdy starter who probably has at least a few years left. He's not a bad pass-rushing end in a scheme that doesn't emphasize that very much.

Ziggy Hood: B+

Hood is getting better each time he plays and should platoon with Smith this season. He'll eventually be the starter on the left side, where he proved to be a solid run defender and improving pass rusher. He will make Lamarr Woodley even more dangerous.

Cameron Heyward: B-

Heyward looked good in his first preseason, but his contributions this year will likely be limited to special teams and mop-up duty. He has the tools and talent to eventually be one of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL, but he's not there yet.

Defensive Tackle

Casey Hampton (Starter): A

Hampton looks like he's ready for another solid year. He showed up in the best shape ever (which, for him, is a huge accomplishment) and still has two years left on his extension. What happens after that is anyone's guess, but he'll be their top player in the middle until he's done.

Chris Hoke: C+

Hoke is a solid player and backup who's been in the system for the better part of a decade, but he's not young and there are no guarantees that he'll be able to keep contributing as Hampton's relief. It's hard to argue with his work, however.

Steve McLendon: C+

I'm going to leave him even with Hoke because if he was higher, the team would've cut Hoke loose. McLendon, however, seems to be a player the team is keeping an eye on for the future. If he can continue to develop, he'll be the replacement at nose tackle.

Outside Linebacker

James Harrison (Starter, ROLB): A+

Harrison is a great player and one of the most feared in the NFL. He's one of the best linebackers in the NFL and should be effective for several more years in this system. The only concern right now for Harrison is lingering back issues from offseason surgery.

Lamarr Woodley (Starter, LOLB): A+

Woodley is another one of the league's top linebackers and now has a secure future with the Steelers. As long as the team continues to employ him on blitzes, the rest of the league will envy their defense. Woodley is a sack master who might end up with the best sack total on the team and in the NFL this year.

Jason Worilds: B-

Worilds has looked good and seems to be developing well. He's the likely heir on the right when Harrison is done, but for now he's a pass-rush specialist and is contributing on special teams regularly. He'll have another year like that, but will remain stuck behind the starters until Harrison slows down.

Chris Carter: C

We haven't seen enough yet to really grade him against the other guys, but Carter looks like a guy who could eventually develop into a great backup and possibly a starter. The Steelers have great success with linebackers and that could continue with Carter.

Inside Linebacker

James Farrior (Starter, LILB): B+

Farrior, like Hines Ward, is the elder statesman among the starters. He's the leader and captain of the defense, but he's starting to show signs of being finished. He'll likely get this year and maybe next before Stevenson Sylvester can truly challenge him.

Lawrence Timmons (Starter, RILB): A+

Timmons could step up this year and be the best inside linebacker in the NFL—he's that good. He's become a dangerous rusher who can gash the middle and get through blockers quickly. He should see an uptick in sacks this year and might end up being the most dangerous guy on the team.

Stevenson Sylvester: B-

If I judge solely on his preseason, this would be a little lower. Sylvester hasn't looked as effective so far in 2011, but now that he'll get some real game work, I'm hopeful that his production will increase considerably. He still needs work, but he's still the future at the position.

Larry Foote: B

Foote is a good backup and still has the ability to start if Farrior gets hurt or falls apart. He's a little slower than he was in 2008, when he started on the inside, but he can still bring it and still gets to the quarterback.

Cornerback

Ike Taylor (Starter, RCB): B+

Taylor is back after a hand injury limited him to two plays in the preseason. He'll be fine, however, and should continue to be a force in coverage. He doesn't make a lot of flashy plays and can be baited into pass interference, but he's the best cover guy on the team and can stop any receiver.

Bryant McFadden (Starter, LCB): B-

McFadden also lost a lot of the preseason due to injury, but before that he looked like a guy poised to finally arrive as a starter. McFadden is running out of chances, but he could end up being a big part of the team's success if he can make some plays and cover better than he did in 2010.

Keenan Lewis: C+

Lewis had a good enough preseason that he should be the team's nickel corner this year, but they are being stubborn with William Gay. Lewis is better in coverage than McFadden and could be better at making plays than Taylor. It will be interesting to see what he does over a full season.

William Gay: F

Do I really need to get into this again? He can't cover, draws throws from quarterbacks because he can't cover, doesn't make big plays and commits a ton of mistakes and stupid penalties. Why he's still on the team is a mystery to me.

Cortez Allen: I

He gets an incomplete because he got only a handful of snaps in the preseason. He's shown talent and is picking up the system quickly, but he won't have much of an impact in 2011 and may not dress for each game.

Curtis Brown: I

That's the same as Allen. Brown had some chances, but hasn't shown enough yet. He is learning and probably will spend the year watching more often than not. I wouldn't be surprised if he only dressed a handful of times this year.

Safety

Troy Polamalu (Starter, SS): A

He loses the plus until he stays on the field for a full season, but Polamalu is the league's best safety and has changed the way the position is played. He's a big play guy when healthy and looks like he's ready to really earn his Pro Bowl berth this season.

Ryan Clark (Starter, FS): B+

He's a hard hitter, good in coverage and can make some plays with his hands. He's the perfect complement to Polamalu's blitzing and unpredictable skill set. Clark doesn't get enough credit outside of town for the work he's done here, but he's one of the league's better safeties.

Will Allen: C+

Allen is a great backup and can play either position without embarrassing himself. He's not fast enough or consistent enough to start, but he's a great backup for the team and is an ace on special teams.

Ryan Mundy: C+

He's improved a lot in the past couple of years and was very good subbing for Polamalu down the stretch last year. He doesn't make a ton of big plays, but he's decent in coverage and plays the position the way Ike Taylor plays corner.

Specialists

Shaun Suisham (K): B-

He's cleared up a little bit of concern about his leg strength, but one 52-yard field goal doesn't make him a long-term solution. The team would have done better to go with a younger guy like Josh Jasper at the position, but will go with Suisham at least for right now.

Daniel Sepulveda (P): A-

Sepulveda has looked strong after another knee injury and seems to be showing no ill effects. He's been booming kicks again in the preseason and looks ready for a solid year. He beat out Jeremy Kapinos in a close battle and that says the team trusts him.

Greg Warren (LS): A

Warren is steady and has settled in well as the team's long snapper. He's sure-handed and doesn't make mistakes with the snaps or with his blocking. You never see someone beat him up the middle, which is a good sign.