Predicting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2009 roster
August 31, 2009
By Donald Starver
Tomorrow the Steelers have to announce their first 5 cuts. From there, it will be a continuous process to get down to the final 53-man roster. We have already looked at most of the positions on the roster. If you haven’t been reading this series, click below to get caught up.
We’ve covered all of the positions except for the specialists, so I am going to finish those today, and then give my best guess at the final 53-man roster. Readers will note that some of my predictions have changed since we first started writing this series. We began this series prior to the start of Steelers training camp. Since that time, I have observed all of training camp plus 3 preseason games.
For example, when we covered the running backs, I thought that Frank “the tank” Summers would make the roster, but since watching the end of training camp and the last two preseason games, I believe that Isaac Redman has jumped ahead of Summers on the depth chart. So, with no further ado, here is my review of the specialists, and then my prediction of the final 53-man roster.
Specialists:
Jeff Reed – Jeff Reed is an amazing kicker. Kicking in the muddy conditions at Heinz Field is not easy. Yet Reed does it with extreme accuracy. If he played in a domed stadium, I believe Reed would make the Pro Bowl every year. If he can avoid further altercations with paper towel dispensers, Reed is guaranteed to make the team.
Jeff Reed
Piotr Czech – Czech has looked good in camp. Against any kicker other than Jeff Reed, Czech might have even had a chance of winning a position. But Czech is not going to make the Steelers’ roster. However, he has put together a nice body of work to showcase to other NFL teams.
Dan Sepulveda – If you know of anyone who criticized the Steelers for taking a punter with such a high draft pick, calmly walk up to them and smack them in the face…..hard. After watching the disastrous farce of a punting game that the Steelers had to endure last season, I now believe that Sepulveda is worth far more than the price that the Steelers paid for him. Heck, in my opinion Sepulveda is the MVP of the team.
We are soooooooooooo happy to have you back, Dan!!!!!!!!
Dan Sepulveda
Greg Warren – The long snapper position is another one that we take for granted until we are forced to watch James Harrison launch a snap into lunar orbit. Greg Warren is back from last year’s knee injury, and the Steelers are better because of it.
So, those are the final 3 players who will make the Steelers’ roster. Now it’s time for me to list my prediction for the final 53-man roster.
Quarterbacks – Roethlisberger, Batch, Dixon
Running backs – Parker, Mendenhall, Moore, Redman, Logans
Wide Receivers – Ward, Holmes, Sweed, Wallace, McDonald
Tight ends – Miller, Spaeth, Johnson (McHugh’s injury costs him a job).
Offensive linemen – Starks, Kemoeatu, Hartwig, Essex, Colon, Legursky, Hills (though I’m no fan of his), Foster, and Urbik (hasn’t shown much, but Steelers tend to hold onto high draft picks).
Defensive linemen – Hampton, Hoke, Smith, Keisel, Hood, Kirschke, and Harris.
Linebackers - James Harrison, Farrior, Timmons, Woodley, Fox, Woods, Bailey, Frazier, Arnold Harrison. Despite his early draft status, Bruce Davis has done nothing to make the team. I think he’s seen his last days as a Steeler.
Safeties – Polamalu, Clark, and Carter. Mundy goes to the practice squad, and cornerbacks Deshea Townsend and Keiwan Ratliff will also play backup safety.
Troy Polamalu
Cornerbacks – Taylor, Gay, Townsend, Lewis, Madison, Ratliff. This was one of the toughest positions to pick. Joe Burnett is a feisty kid who has lots of potential. However, Keiwan Ratliff is a veteran player who can actually play if a starter gets hurt. Anthony Madison is one of the team’s best special teams players, and Mike Tomlin values special teams. Keenan Lewis has too much size and potential to let him go. That means that Joe Burnett is the odd man out. Sorry Joe, but to the practice squad you go.
Specialists – Reed, Sepulveda, Warren
So that’s 53. There is my projection of the Steelers’ final 2009 roster. It wasn’t easy, but I think I can justify each of my picks. I know that some of you will disagree with me not selecting Shipley, Burnett, Mundy, and Davis. Others will think I’m crazy for keeping Kirschke, RaShon Harris and Keenan Lewis. So let me know what you think. Am I completely out of my mind? Do you agree with my picks? Disagree? What changes would you make? I’d love to hear your opinions.
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I would add one quick change – with Stapleton just placed on IR I would expect Legursky to now make the roster (since he can play C or G) and I agree with AQ going to the practice squad.
I agree with everything else except:
1) I think they still might keep Davis over Harrison. It’s hard to give up on a 3rd round pick so quickly.
2) Redman. Don’t get me wrong, I like his potential (Bowie State is just down the road) but I don’t know how well he plays special teams. And, as a 4th string RB, he needs to be able to play special teams. As disappointing as it seems, if neither Tank nor Redman showed anything on ST, Cary Davis might actually make the roster. I haven’t been able to see either of the past two games (due to living in Maryland) so I do not know if Redman even played on ST’s.
1donald,
i finally agree with a whole article! don’t know if that means you are coming around or it means you are slipping bit.
I’m a little on the excited side when thinking of the special teams this yr! punts over 35 yds, returns over 2yds (logans and wallace), and of course solid kicks as usual
Still can’t run though. man, really, what is the problem there? RBs can’t anticipate lanes? O-line producing no lanes, ineffective play calling? (in other words, running on predictable running downs), or what?
2If burnett is cut, he will never see the PS. Another team will pick him up off the waiver list. I say Detroit because they would have him first due to waiver position. He had two very correctable fumble mistakes, he made them while running with the ball, not fielding them. Everyone hated on ben at first because he holds onto to the ball, and look now. Joe just has the it factor for being in place on pass to break it up or intercept. after he gets his playing time he will be a good cb. UCF has the knack for picking up great CBs. So coaches decision, quit on a guy who can be something special or keep a cb that is just serviceable. Remember coach wants “starters in waiting” Burnett has that potential.
3Bradford,
Interesting comment. However, I have to ask who you will drop in place of Burnett. That is the hard part. Who does Joe beat out? Keenan Lewis?
It is not a definite that he will be picked up off the practice squad. After all, every team is in the same position right now. They are all deciding which players to let go. Every team will have a few players that they want to keep but have to let go.
4Uh oh!!!! Tony agrees with an entire article. I must have done something wrong. I’d better go back and rewrite it.
BTW, I agree with you on the running game. They are still not where they need to be.
5Its hard to cut k.lewis because of the high pick, but burnett has shown more through training camp, Lewis showed more in mini camp. However lewis size and strength keeps him. I know tomlin loves special teams but at the CB burnett can fit better than madison, especially at nickel.
Burnett just wont clear waivers, K.smith and Dante will lobby hard for him in detroit. Another CB that made some plays and started off with a fumble from UCF was a guy called asante samuel. And Joe was better than him at UCF.
I agree it will be a hard cut to make but just like with chezck, great audition for another team. But once cut we will never see him again. Just would hate for us to cut a guy with a three year contract for one time filler in ratliff or madison and see him light it up elsewhere. But right now our depth will kill him from our team.
6John,
I think you’re right about Legursky in the short term. But when Stapleton is healthy, he pushes Legursky off the active roster.
I can’t see Carey Davis making the roster. He brings nothing to the table that we can’t get from other players. The H-backs are more effective blockers. Parker, Mendy, and Moore are better runners. Most of the defensive players are better at special teams. I can’t see him winning a position.
7Bradford,
8Don’t underestimate Madison. He is a demon on special teams. He was one of our leading tacklers (I think he was THE leading tackler on special teams). Ratliff might be expendable, but then there isn’t enough veteran depth. I don’t want to have to depend on Joe Burnett or Keenan Lewis at cornerback just yet.
Like I said depth may kill burnett off this team, he will make another, unlike willie reid of the past.
9Stapleton won’t push Legursky anywhere until, at least, next offseason. He’s on the IR so he is done for the year.
On Davis, I hope your right. Not that I have anything against him, its just that he’s reached his plateau (which wasn’t that high) and many others have more upside. The big question, considering McHugh’s injury, is whether they are comfortable with a rookie FB (Johnson) since none of the other RB’s are FB material.
Burnett is a tough cut to make because of the uncertainty of clearing waivers. However, I think that they will try it and hope for the best. Ratliff’s experience and ability to play CB and S should make the difference between him and Burnett.
So P.Squad prediction: AQ, Burnett, Tank, Mundy, Riley, Tyler or Baker (not sure if he’s eligible), and a LB and DE/NT. I have no idea who the LB or DE/NT would be.
10John,
11Wow, I completely missed that announcement. Stapleton is done for the year? Ouch!
Yeah he is done for the year,
12If they wanted to keep him they had to wait to first cuts to put him on IR. They had to wait because he is not an invested vet. non-vested players if put on ir before first cuts, they have to be put on waivers
Okay, I’ve made the change to the roster and removed Stapleton. The offensive line was the one area that couldn’t bear a loss like this. Oh well.
13nice write & and thanks for doing the position by position look throughout the preseason. i see your logic on your picks agree with 95% of it, but i’m going a little different with 2 of mine
14C. Davis instead of Redman- i agree with you that davis isn’t special & I was hoping someone would step up and take his spot. but i can’t see giving the starting FB spot to a 7th rd rookie week 1. while having a guy taking up a spot on the roster who would only be the #4 rb, see 3 carries a game, & not contribute much on special teams. they probably wouldn’t even dress redman on game days until someone gets hurt & if that’s the case why not give that spot to someone like burnett & call up redman from the PS when someone gets hurt.
burnett instead of A. harrison-i love your take on only 3 safeties (remember me thinking they’d cut carter in your dback post…only mundy hasn’t developed as much). i agree with the ppl above that burnett will not clear waivers since he has a lot of up side & we wouldn’t want to cut any other dback. i think you get the spot from harrison since he’d be the #9 lb. sorry for the longer comment
I would keep Tank over Redman. I just think that in the long run, Tank brings more to the table (FB, Special Teams, etc, etc).
Plus I am not sold on this whole “it’s all about the RB on the goal-line” stuff. It’s really more about the OL getting a push and the FB making the right read on his block.
Logan stays for sure, but I think you could almost slate him for WR as much as RB. I think again, that while McDonald looked GREAT in preseason, Logan brings more to the table over all. Plus, if you need to go 5 wide, you still have Heath, Moore, and Logan who can all fill out that spot fine (and will be active).
I also agree that Burnett will not clear waivers. So I would keep 7 DB over 7 DL. Kirschke has played well in the past, but I like our youngsters and think they can fill in ok. If Casey goes down, you got Hoke. If you need a back up for then, I would consider running some 2-4-5 nickel. Or hell, with Fox looking decent, I would even maybe consider a 2-5-4 package where Fox playes the old Foote roll, and Timmons they can put Timmons in different spots to augment Polamalu.
So to sum it up.
15Tank over Redman (I know, it doesn’t follow the whole love affair with Redman thing)
And Burnett over Kirschke.
Or maybe dump McDonald and keep Kirschke if you have to. The cuts are gonna be a tough call this year.
16