Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-Man Roster Prediction: Starting CB Doesn't Make the Cut

After looking terrible against the Washington Redskins, the Pittsburgh Steelers came out with vengeance against the Philadelphia Eagles.

There are still two more Preseason games for guys to prove themselves and many position battles to be figured out.

Here is how I think the Steelers 53-man roster will ultimately pan out and also who the team will keep on the Practice Squad.

Quarterback

Even though Ben Roethlisberger did not get his third Super Bowl trophy last season, he is still the best quarterback in the NFL.

He has the size, accuracy, toughness, competitiveness and the most important quality you want in any quarterback, he just wins.

Byron Leftwich is clearly the best option behind Ben at this point and should be the backup unless something drastic happens.

Charlie Batch did a good job starting last season when the Steelers needed him however, I still think the team will hang on to Dennis Dixon for one more season.

Starter: Ben Roethlisberger

Backup: Byron Leftwich

Third String: Dennis Dixon

Gone: Charlie Batch

Roster Spots: three

Half Back

Rashard Mendenhall may have made headlines in the offseason for his comments, however, he is still one of the most complete backs in the NFL.

He still needs to work on his fumbling problem as he lost two in the playoffs including one against the Packers in the Super Bowl.

Isaac Redman looks like a beast in the preseason and with Baron Batch going on IR, Mewelde Moore will be the third-down back.

Jonathan Dwyer is the guy who benefits most from the Batch injury and actually looked pretty good against the Eagles so he gets that last running back spot.

As far as fullback I think it will be a full committee this season with David Johnson, Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Doug Legursky and even John Clay if he shows enough value at the position.

Starter: Rashard Mendenhall

Primary Backup: Isaac Redman

Third Down Back: Mewelde Moore

Backup: Jonathan Dwyer

Fullback: David Johnson/Jonathan Dwyer/Isaac Redman/Doug Legursky

IR: Baron Batch

Gone: John Clay, James Johnson

Roster Spots: four

Total: seven

Tight End

Most of the offense took a slight hit in 2010 with Ben Roethlisberger missing the first four games and that included Heath Miller.

With that said, Heath is still one of the best tight ends in the game and there is steep competition for who will be backing him up.

David Johnson has had a pretty good camp and could possibly be ready for a larger role in the Steelers offense, or the team could just choose to continue to use him as an H-Back/fullback type of player.

When the Steelers signed Weslye Saunders I thought he could have a decent year as a rookie until they brought in John Gilmore.

Gilmore is more of a blocking tight end however, and there is no way that the Steelers will be able to sneak Saunders onto the Practice Squad so they’ll keep him.

Starter: Heath Miller

Backup: David Johnson

Backup: John Gilmore

Backup: Weslye Saunders

Gone: Jamie McCoy, Vaughn Charlton, Miguel Chavis

Roster Spots: 4

Total: 11

Wide Receivers

Mike Wallace has become one of the best receivers in the NFL with great speed and is always improving his hands and route running.

Hines Ward may have had a down year in 2010 however, he is still more than capable of being productive and with Ben Roethlisberger back, he should be fine in 2011.

Emmanuel Sanders seemed poised to become a big part of the Steelers offense in his second year although he has not been healthy yet this camp.

With Sanders hurt, it has given Antonio Brown the opportunity for more playing time and he has looked great in camp and the preseason.

Jerricho Cotchery was a late signing yet he could become a great pickup for the Steelers as a good veteran receiver.

Arnaz Battle and Tyler Grisham made pushes for roster spots in camp however, I think the Steelers are going to need those spots for other positions.

Starter: Hines Ward

Starter: Mike Wallace

No. 3 slot: Emmanuel Sanders

No. 4: Antonio Brown

No. 5: Jerricho Cotchery

Gone: Arnaz Battle, Tyler Grisham, Terrence McCrae, Armand Robinson, Kenny Moore, Eric Greenwood, Wes Lyons

Roster Spots: Five

Total: 16

Offensive Line

The Steelers' offensive line has been all over the place so far in camp and the preseason and there are a few spots still up for grabs.

At this point I see the starting offensive line being Jonathan Scott, Chris Kemoeatu, Maurkice Pouncey, Trai Essex and Willie Colon.

I’m hoping that Marcus Gilbert can stay healthy and still fight for at worst the starting left tackle spot, however, I think the Steelers may choose to develop him for a year barring injury.

I had high hopes for Chris Scott coming into camp but he has looked really bad so far and now I think his best case scenario is landing on the practice Squad.

The one real surprise is Tony Hills making the team since I did not think he would even get an offer from the Steelers and now he started at guard against the Eagles.

Left Tackle: Jonathan Scott

Left Guard: Chris Kemoeatu

Center: Maurkice Pouncey

Right Guard: Trai Essex

Right Tackle: Willie Colon

Backup: Doug Legursky

Backup: Ramon Foster

Backup: Marcus Gilbert

Backup: Tony Hills

Gone: Chris Scott, Colin Miller, John Malecki, Keith Williams, Trevis Turner

Roster Spots: Nine

Total: 25

Defensive Line

The Steelers defensive line is the best in the league and now they will be getting Aaron Smith back healthy.

They already have Brett Keisel at No. 1 defensive end and Ziggy Hood showed last season that he is a dominant force on the other side when in the game.

With Smith and Keisel starting and Hood as the backup, the Steelers defensive line should be just as stout as last season.

Then throw in first-round pick Cameron Heyward, who has been impressive so far in camp and could contribute in his rookie year.

Casey Hampton is back plugging up the middle and Chris Hoke has been a solid backup at both DT and DE.

Starter: Aaron Smith

Starter: Brett Keisel

Starter: Casey Hampton

Primary Backup: Ziggy Hood

Backup: Chris Hoke

Backup: Cameron Heyward

Gone: Corbin Bryant, Jarrett Crittenton, Steve McClendon, Anthony Grey

Roster Spots: six

Total: 31

Linebacker

Because of the Steelers having greater needs at other positions, I do not see the team keeping an extra linebacker on the roster.

I thought at the beginning of camp that they would definitely find a roster spot for Mario Harvey, however, he has not played at all due to injury and I see him going to the practice Squad now.

There is no question to who are the starters and that will be LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison, James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons.

I was hoping that Larry Foote would be overtaken by a guy like Mario Harvey as I stated, but now I think they keep him for one more season.

Stevenson Sylvester and Jason Worilds will be a lot more involved with the defense in 2011 and will still be major contributors on special teams.

This will basically be a red shirt year for Chris Carter who probably won’t see the field barring injury and even then he'll only play on special teams.

Starter: LaMarr Woodley

Starter: James Harrison

Starter: Lawrence Timmons

Starter: James Farrior

Backup: Larry Foote

Backup: Chris Carter

Backup: Jason Worilds

Backup: Stevenson Sylvester

Gone: Mortty Ivy, Mario Harvey, Baraka Atkins, Chris Ellis, Chris McCoy

Roster Spots: Eight

Total: 39

Cornerback

There is no question with Ike Taylor starting on one side but I think the recent good play of Keenan Lewis could allow the Steelers to cut Bryant McFadden.

I would rather them keep McFadden and cut William Gay, however, if the team is comfortable with Lewis starting, I am all for it.

It is time in my opinion to see what some of these young corners can do even though I know that thinking burned the Steelers with Gay a couple years ago.

There have been some reports that rookie Cortez Allen could be placed on injured reserve before the season and if that happens I could see the team then keeping McFadden but more likely an extra linebacker or offensive lineman.

I think there is also a chance that Donovan Warren gets some significant playing time in 2011 as he has looked pretty good so far in the preseason.

Starter: Ike Taylor

Starter: Keenan Lewis

No. 3: William Gay

No. 4 Curtis Brown

No. 5: Donovan Warren

No. 6: Crezdon Butler

No. 7: Cortez Allen

Gone: Bryant McFadden, Niles Brinkley, Kevin Dockery, Macho Harris  

Roster Spots: Seven

Total: 46

Safety

The combination of Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark will roam the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary for at least one more season.

Troy makes the entire defense better and elevates Clark’s game to another level while both of them are on the field.

Ryan Mundy showed to be serviceable last season when Troy was hurt and I do not see anyone unseating him as the primary backup at safety.

I thought there was a chance that Will Allen could be cut if Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith showed enough in camp, however, I just do not think that is going to happen at this point.

Starter: Ryan Clark

Starter: Troy Polamalu

Backup: Ryan Mundy

Backup: Will Allen

Gone: Da’Mon Cromartie Smith, Brent Greenwood

Roster Spots: Four

Total: 50

Special Teams

I was surprised to see the Steelers not bring in an undrafted free-agent kicker to camp since I thought there were a few interesting guys out there.

As it stands, Shaun Suisham is set to be the kicker for the Steelers this season although he has not attempted a field goal in the first two preseason games.

Daniel Sepulveda has proven to be the best guy for the punting job even though he has shown to be a bit injury prone.

I thought this would be the season that Greg Warren would be replaced at long snapper, however, in the end I see the Steelers keeping him in that spot.

Kicker: Shaun Suisham

Punter: Daniel Sepulveda

Long Snapper: Greg Warren

Gone: Jeremy Kapinos, Swayze Waters

Roster Spots: Three

Total: 53

Practice Squad

I am really hoping that pretty much all of these guys make it to the practice squad and do not get picked up by other teams.

I can see Cromartie-Smith, Clay, Scott, Grey and Harvey all making the team next season if they are not signed by anyone else.

Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith SS

John Clay RB

Chris Scott T/G

Kyle Jolly T

Anthony Grey NT

Tyler Grisham WR

Mario Harvey LB

Jamie McCoy TE