53 Man Predictions

With the final round of cuts coming on Saturday at 6pm, it is time to get my predictions for this year's roster ready to roll. Most of the choices are cake and won't really shock anyone, however there are a few close calls and I broke down some of my "shocker" picks so you all could see where my thought process was.


QB (3)
Ben Roethlisberger, Charile Batch, Dennis Dixon

RB (4)
Rashard Mendenhall, Issac Redman, Mewelde Moore, Jonathan Dwyer

WR (5)**
Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, Jerricho Cotchery

TE (3)
Heath Miller, David Johnson, Weslye Saunders

OT (4)
Jonathan Scott, Marcus Gilbert, Willie Colon, Trai Essex*

OG (3)
Chris Kemoeatu, Ramon Foster, Tony Hills

C (2)
Maurkice Pouncey, Doug Legursky

DE (4)
Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward

DT (3)
Casey Hampton, Chris Hoke, Steve McLendon*

OLB (4)
James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds, Chris Carter*

ILB (4)
James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Stevenson Sylvester, Mortty Ivy*

CB (7)
Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, Keenan Lewis, Crezdon Butler, Curtis Brown, Donovan Warren*

S (4)
Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy, Will Allen*

ST (3)
Shaun Suisham, Daniel Sepulveda, Greg Warren

*Trai Essex
I don't see him getting cut after being signed in what I consider to be desperation time. He is experienced and knows the offense, unlike rookie Keith Williams. He can play both tackle and guard spots and even started at center in the final preseason contest. He has also started 25 games in a Steeler uniform over his career.

*Steve McLendon
Has been really impressive but I don't think he has been impressive enough to unseat Chris Hoke, yet. He should sneak into the roster because the Steelers will most likely put Byron Leftwich on IR.

*Chris Carter
He has not been a factor in the preseason at all. The pass rush the Steelers had hoped for has really been missing and it is possible that the Steelers will keep him on the roster because of the lack of an off-season.

*Mortty Ivy
This is my "reach". With the Steelers fretting about the salary cap I think that Larry Foote could be gone along with his 3 million dollar contract. Foote has not made a huge case to stay around and Ivy has done some really good things. He was a tackle machine against the Redskins and forced a turnover late against the Falcons. He is cheaper than Foote and could be a good backup and special teamer.

*Donovan Warren
He has played well when given the opportunity and with Cortez Allen being injured the entire off-season, I don't see them taking the risk. Allen will get on the practice squad as he is edged out for the final corner spot.

*Will Allen
This is a toss up for me. Allen has not been impressive in the preseason and is much more expensive than the rookie Brent Greenwood, but with no off-season I don't see the Steelers taking a risk here.

**Arnaz Battle
Biggest question becomes do you get a sixth receiver or a seventh cornerback? I am guessing they will go with the corner because we won't use our fifth receiver anyway. If they do go the other way, Battle will make the roster for his special teams skills.

Practice Squad
Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Keith Williams, Corbin Bryant, Jamie McCoy, Brent Greenwood, Mario Harvey, Tyler Grisham