Projecting the Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Opening Day Roster.
Can you smell it? The aroma of the freshly mowed and painted grass? The sound of the helmets hitting each other?
It seems like, this time of year, regardless of what is going on in the rest of the world, there is an anticipation among American men, young and old, that everything seems to be just a little bit better.
Fans from every team are gathering here on Bleacher, message boards, in bars, and in offices all over the country, people are starting to break out their decorations.
THE 2010 NFL SEASON IS JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!
(You have NO IDEA how happy I am to be able to say that!)
There are writers, bloggers, internet hacks, rumor mills, national media outlets, and everyone else with a computer, from every area of America, that is going to tell you who is going to be on your favorite team.
What are the odds that we are going to get every, single one right? One in a million? Maybe, but that makes it no less fun for us to try.
Last year, I projected the Steelers 53 man roster, and was right on 43 out of the 53, so lets see how I can do this year.
Quarterback
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Forget all the talk about the Steelers starting Byron Leftwich during Ben Roethlisbergers suspension. Dennis Dixon will have a chance to play with the first team offense in the third game of the preseason, against the Denver Broncos.
Reality is, as I had mentioned before, Dixon may have been the plan from the beginning, and Mike Tomlin did not want to alert other teams of this until he didn't have a choice. Most teams use their third preseason game as the last test run, before the season starts, and Dixon will spend that time starting.
My prediction for the QB Position:
Starter—Dennis Dixon
Back up—Byron Leftwich
Charlie Batch will be the third QB, until Ben Roethlisberger returns from suspension.
Exemption—Ben Roethlisberger
Running Back
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When the Steelers did not even make an attempt to bring Willie Parker back to the team, it became obvious that Rashard Mendenhall is set to be the featured back of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. Mendenhall showed in late 2009 that he had the talent and ability, and will get the chance to be "The Man" in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh also has one of the most talented third down backs in the NFL with Mewelde Moore. Moore is great at catching the ball out of the back field, and does a decent job at picking up the blocking assignments he needs to.
Isaac Redman is going to get the chance to be the Steelers "change of pace" back, and should bring the Steelers a different dimension in their short yardage game.
In trying to decide who would be the full back that makes the roster, I looked at the Steelers depth chart, on Steelers.com, and they don't have a full back listed. If they aren't going to put one on their depth chart, what are the odds one will be kept for the regular season?
My guess is, they are going to use a Tight End, like they did last year.
Because of that, I am going to include Stefan Logan, who is listed as a Running Back, but he will be used mainly on Special Teams.
Wide Receiver
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With the departure of Santonio Holmes, the Steelers receiving corp is one of the youngest in the league, minus Hines Ward, of course.
Mike Wallace is going to have to step into the shoes left by Holmes, and is going to have to do it from day one.
Wallace has the potential, and is going to have to show it, but Hines Ward is STILL the man in Pittsburgh, make no mistake about it.
I believe the Steelers are going to keep a total of five receivers on the roster from Week 1.
Hines Ward
Mike Wallace
Arnaz Battle
Antwaan Randle El
Emmanuel Sanders
Though there may be a chance that the Steelers are going to shift some of the younger players on the roster to the regular season roster, I don't think it will happen for Week 1.
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Tight End
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Heath Miller is becoming one of the best Tight Ends in the NFL, and is a lock to make the Steelers roster, without even a thought.
After Miller, things aren't so easy.
Sean McHugh is coming off a season where he was placed on IR during training camp. He brings great blocking to the team, and has decent hands and speed (for a Tight End). He will make the roster, because there is no Full Back, and he played the position well in 2008.
David Johnson did an admirable job for a rookie last year replacing McHugh. Even though he is not having a great preseason, I believe he will make the team as the teams third Tight End.
Matt Spaeth would have been cut, in my opinion, had he not been on the team under a tender, Though he may still be gone, without a Full Back on the roster, he will be needed in the short yardage situation, and three Tight End sets, when the Steelers use a Full Back.
Offensive Line
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The biggest area of concern for any member of Steelers Nation is the offensive line. Though they have made strides to improve, they are a LONG way from being the dominant force they once were.
They took the first steps to correct the issue in the NFL Draft, by drafting the Center of the future, and present, with Maurkice Pouncey. Who will play around him, is HARDLY a group that will be going to the Pro Bowl.
LT - Max Starks
LG - Chris Kemoeatu
C - Maurkice Pouncey
RG - Trai Essex
RT - Jonathan Scott
The backups will be, Ramon Foster, Tony Hills, Kraig Urbik and Chris Scott.
Notable cuts will include Justin Hartwig and Flozell Adams.
Roster Count—23
Defensive Line
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As Dick LeBeau has said numerous times, the Defensive Line in the 3-4 is the key to making it work. They have to be the key, and with the age of the Steelers defensive line, I am going to go with seven players, instead of the normal six.
Casey Hampton is going to be the cog in the middle, and will play at the Pro Bowl form he normally does. Even though he is getting old, he still is able to tie up at least two blockers on every play.
Starting next to Hampton, is going to be Aaron Smith, on one side, and on the other is second year man, Evander "Ziggy" Hood.
As the key backups, the Steelers will have, Brett Keisel, Ra'Shon, "Sonny" Harris, Chris Hoke, and Nick Eason. All seven of these men will see a lot of time in rotation, but look for Ziggy Hood to be on the field a lot more than he isn't.
Linebackers
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Is it just me, of do you get excited every time you get to talk about the Steelers Linebackers? Every year, they seem to have some of the best in the NFL, and this year is going to be no different.
The starters will be LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison on the outside. Over the last two seasons, Woodley and Harrison are one of the best duos in the NFL at creating pressure on the oppositions WB.
Inside, Lawrence Timmons will be an every down back, due to his speed, and ability to cover the pass. Larry Foote, who returns from a years exile in Detroit, will start in place of James Farrior. Farrior is no longer a player that can be on the field in passing situations, and that will ultimately cost him his job in Pittsburgh.
The backups will be, Jason Worilds, Keyaron Fox, Thaddeus Gibson, and Patrick Baily. All of the back up Linebackers are going to have to play an important role in Special Teams.
Notable Cut—James Farrior.
Cornerbacks
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After a 2008 season that saw the Steelers as the best team in the NFL against the pass, 2009 was a major disappointment. Between injuries, inexperience, and just poor play, the Steelers reminded me of the days of Chad Scott, Dewayne Washington and Lee Flowers.
This years version should be CONSIDERABLY better than the unit that was on the field in 2009. Ike Taylor will start on one side, with Bryant McFadden playing opposite of him.
Keenan Lewis will play the Nickel role, and the Steelers will keep Joe Burnett and Crezdon Butler and Will Gay as the other corners on the roster.
Burnett and Butler will compete for playing time, but will have to make an impact on special teams. To sign players to replace injured players, one of them could VERY easily be let go if the situation dictates a player needs to be cut.
Safteys
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Part of the problem the Steelers defense had in 2009 was the in-ability to hold a lead in the fourth quarter. With the return of Troy Polamalu, the defense is instantly better. Ryan Clark snubbed the Miami Dolphins, to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and return next to Polamalu.
Age and injury concerns do not just go away, and the backups to Polamalu and Clark are going to have to be ready to contribute. Ryan Mundy has had numerous chances to make Clark expendable, but had not been able to do so. Mundy will make the roster again this year, but he will be on a short leash, if he is not able to provide the skill that the Steelers secondary requires.
Will Allen was brought in from Tampa Bay, and steps into a unit that is WAY better than the one he played with in Tampa. Allen will be required to contribute on Special Teams, but will also have to play on the defense to give Polamalu and Clark a break.
Special Teams
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Jeff Reed will again be kicking in the crazy winds that are in Heinz Field. It makes you wonder how important he really is to the Steelers, being able to kick with the success he has had there. There are many games that are won or lost by a field goal or less, and Reed is an important factor in those close games.
Dan Sepulveda is going to be the punter, and kick off specialist. Sepulveda has a stronger leg than Reed, and likes contact. He won't be afraid to make the tackle.
The long snapper will be Doug Legursky.
Conclusion
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This is my projected 53 man roster for the 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers. It is still subject to change, due to injury, and other factors, but it is what I believe the team will look like.
Think I am wrong? Cool, let me know why down below.
Thanks for reading!
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