Steelers players help decide final roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game of the 2009 season by a score of 21-10. However, winning or losing was the least of coach Mike Tomlin’s concerns.
With final 53-man rosters due to the NFL on Saturday, Tomlin and his staff have some very tough decisions to make. The players who hadn’t yet secured a place on the Steelers’ roster had one final opportunity to do so. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, and this game was the ultimate example of that.
Because the goal of the game was to evaluate players who were “on the bubble”, Tomlin barely even played most of his starters. Instead, players like Mike Reilly, Justin Vincent, Keenan Lewis, Ryan Mundy got to show their stuff.
“I don’t make the decisions,” said Tomlin, “They make the decisions by how they play.”
The player who did the most to help his cause was Stefan Logan. On his first and only punt return of the game, he returned the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. Welcome to the Steelers, Mr. Logan.
Stefan Logan scores TD
Others who helped their causes included Isaac Redman, Keenan Lewis, Ryan Mundy, and Arnold Harrison.
Isaac Redman led the team in rushing with 79 yards on 12 carries, while also scoring a touchdown. He averaged an impressive 6.6 yards per carry. He also fought for some tough yards on his touchdown run. Redman ends the preseason as the Steelers rushing leader and touchdown leader. Not a bad resume to leave for the coaches.
Rookie RB Isaac Redman
Rookie cornerback Keenan Lewis also helped himself. Lewis had been very impressive at Steelers training camp, but hadn’t shown as much during the first 3 preseason games. However, in this final opportunity to shine, Lewis led all tacklers with 10 tackles while also adding 2 passes defensed.
Second year safety Ryan Mundy also helped his cause. Mundy had 5 solo tackles and one assist. But much more important than the tackles was the fact that Mundy intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
“Any time you run one back, that gets your attention” Tomlin said.
Linebacker Arnold Harrison helped his cause by doing a very good imitation of James Harrison. He recorded a sack, forced a fumble, and recovered the fumble, all on the same play. He also combined with Ryan Mundy to stop the Panthers on a fourth and one play.
One player who could have done more to help his own cause was rookie RB Frank “the Tank” Summers. Summers only gained 4 yards on one carry. However, Summers does benefit from the fact that he had several nice blocks, and he is a good special teams tackler.
The Steelers don’t have much time before their first game, since they kick off the NFL season next Thursday against the Tennessee Titans. Thus, coach Tomlin said that he is going to announce his final roster at a press conference today at 4:00 PM.
We will all be waiting anxiously to see who makes the team.
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Redman didn’t make it. Damn.
1Well, the press conference was less than illuminating. Apparently, they have made all of the decisions but are not going to mention them until tomorrow (when the deadline is). This is a smart thing to do but a little dissappointing.
Based on the reporting of the Post Gazette, however, it appears that Burnett probably made the team (if Madison was cut) and Tank made the team (if both Redman and Davis were cut). Or perhaps they plan to cut tank and keep Johnson and McHugh. I guess it’s all still gueswork until tomorrow.
One interesting thing is that both B.Davis and Woods were cut. That leaves them with only 8 LB’s unless either Korte or Schantz made the team.
One last note, I was listening to ESPN 1250 Pittsburgh today and Logan, Crow…etc. were also bemoaning the loss of Redman, particularly against Tank. This didn’t make too much sense to me as they play separate positions. Tank was competing as FB (against Davis and the TE/FB hybrids) and Redman was competing as a RB (against Parker, Mendenhall and Moore). Hence, Redman was essentially competing on the proposition that the Steelers should carry 4 RB’s and only 1 TE/FB hybrid. That outcome was possible but unlikely. While I applaud his effort, Redman was always a long shot to make the starting roster.
2Yeah, they’re playing their cards very close to the vest. It makes sense, but it’s disappointing to us fans.
I was very surprised the Donovan Woods didn’t make it. He’s played great. I thought Redman outplayed Summers, but I guess Summers’ special teams ability took him over the top.
I was really surprised about Anthony Madison. I knew he couldn’t make it as a DB, but he was a special teams demon. They are giving up a lot of special teams tackles.
I will be really surprised to hear that Joe Burnett made the team, but it looks like he did. Very interesting.
3