With the Pittsburgh Steelers first preseason game now in the books, it’s time for another 53 man roster prediction. Injuries have dictated that I make a few changes this time around and in case you missed it, here is my pre training camp stab at the final roster.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on my selections in the comments below in addition to adding your own 53-man prediction.
Offense (24)
Quarterbacks (3) – Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones
Analysis: (No Changes) I really have no reason to change anything here after the first preseason game and it certainly doesn’t bode well for Tajh Boyd that he didn’t play any snaps against the Vikings
Running Backs (3*) – DeAngelo Williams, Dri Archer, Josh Harris
Analysis: (No Changes) Once again, no changes to this grouping and barring injuries, it will remain like this the rest of the way.
Fullbacks (1) – Will Johnson
Analysis: (No Changes) Johnson’s spot on the roster is uber safe.
Wide Receivers (5) – Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates
Analysis: At this point, I doubt seriously that a young wide receiver is going to push Heyward-Bey off the roster.
Tight Ends (3) – Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, Jesse James
Analysis: (No Changes) He may have a case of the drops right now, but James is still way inside the bubble right now. Besides, barring injury, he’s going to be used mostly on special teams this year.
Offensive Linemen (9) – Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Ramon Foster, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, Kelvin Beachum, Cody Wallace, Chris Hubbard, Alejandro Villanueva
Analysis: (No Changes) I’m standing pat here as well. If Villanueva continues to play like he did against the Vikings, he’ll be hard to keep off the roster. At that point the team will need to decide what to do with a hopefully healthy Mike Adams.
Defense (26)
Defensive Linemen (6) – Steve McLendon, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Daniel McCullers, Cam Thomas, L.T. Walton
Analysis: (Two Changes) Two changes here. First the injury to Clifton Geathers now cements a spot for Thomas. Additionally, Walton looks like a keeper right now as far as the 6th spot goes. Ethan Hemer might be the only one to challenge him.
Inside Linebackers (5) – Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams, Sean Spence, Terence Garvin
Analysis: (No Changes) The groin injury that Jordan Zumwalt suffered Tuesday during practice won’t help his cause even though he played well against the Vikings. Garvin also played well in that game and is the better special teams player.
Outside Linebackers (5) – Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats, James Harrison, Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo
Analysis: (No Changes) No reason to make changes with this group.
Cornerbacks (6) – Cortez Allen, William Gay, Antwon Blake, Brandon Boykin, Doran Grant, B.W. Webb
Analysis: (One Change) In comes Boykin via a trade and he’ll replace Senquez Golson, who will likely start the season on the Reserve PUP list.
Safeties (4) – Mike Mitchell, Shamarko Thomas, Will Allen, Robert Golden
Analysis: (No Changes) I would like to fit Ross Ventrone in here for special teams, but still cant find him a roster spot.
Specialists (3)
Kicker (1) – Garrett Hartley
Analysis: (One Change) Shaun Suisham is now out for the season and will be placed on injured reserve in a few days.
Punter (1) – Brad Wing
Analysis: (No Changes) Wing will be pushed by newcomer Jordan Berry but as it stands right now, I have no reason to go against the incumbent.
Long Snapper (1) – Greg Warren
Analysis: (No Changes) Barring injury, Warren will be the long snapper once again.
Reserve/Suspended (1) – Le’Veon Bell
Analysis: No explanation needed.
Reserve/Injured (2) – Shaun Suisham, Clifton Geathers
Analysis: No explanation needed.
Reserve/PUP (1) – Senquez Golson
Analysis: No explanation needed.
Practice Squad (10) – (Several Changes) Cameron Clear, Miles Dieffenbach, Kevin Fogg, C.J. Goodwin, Ethan Hemer, Gerod Holliman, Shakim Phillips, B.J. Finney, Jawon Chisolm, Howard Jones
Analysis: Several changes here thanks mostly to injuries.
Steelers 2015 Roster Prediction – 8/12/15
| Offense | ||
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Adams, Mike | T |
| 13 | Archer, Dri | RB/WR |
| 68 | Beachum, Kelvin | T |
| 84 | Brown, Antonio | WR |
| 10 | Bryant, Martavis | WR |
| 14 | Coates, Sammie | WR |
| 66 | DeCastro, David | G |
| 73 | Foster, Ramon | G |
| 77 | Gilbert, Marcus | T |
| 5 | Gradkowski, Bruce | QB |
| 25 | Harris, Josh | RB |
| 88 | Heyward-Bey, Darrius | WR |
| 74 | Hubbard, Chris | G |
| 81 | James, Jesse | TE |
| 46 | Johnson, Will | FB/TE |
| 3 | Jones, Landry | QB |
| 83 | Miller, Heath | TE |
| 53 | Pouncey, Maurkice | C |
| 7 | Roethlisberger, Ben | QB |
| 89 | Spaeth, Matt | TE |
| 78 | Villanueva, Alejandro | T |
| 72 | Wallace, Cody | C/G |
| 11 | Wheaton, Markus | WR |
| 34 | Williams, DeAngelo | RB |
| Defense | ||
| 28 | Allen, Cortez | CB |
| 20 | Allen, Will | S |
| 41 | Blake, Antwon | CB |
| 25 | Boykin, Brandon | CB |
| 40 | Chickillo, Anthony | OLB |
| 48 | Dupree, Bud | OLB |
| 57 | Garvin, Terence | ILB |
| 22 | Gay, William | CB |
| 21 | Golden, Robert | S |
| 24 | Grant, Doran | CB |
| 92 | Harrison, James | OLB |
| 97 | Heyward, Cameron | DE |
| 95 | Jones, Jarvis | OLB |
| 62 | McCullers, Daniel | NT |
| 90 | McLendon, Steve | NT |
| 23 | Mitchell, Mike | S |
| 55 | Moats, Arthur | OLB |
| 50 | Shazier, Ryan | ILB |
| 51 | Spence, Sean | ILB |
| 93 | Thomas, Cam | DE |
| 29 | Thomas, Shamarko | S |
| 94 | Timmons, Lawrence | ILB |
| 91 | Tuitt, Stephon | DE |
| 78 | Walton, L.T. | DE |
| 39 | Webb, B.W. | CB |
| 98 | Williams, Vince | ILB |
| Specialists | ||
| 8 | Hartley, Garrett | K |
| 60 | Warren, Greg | LS |
| 9 | Wing, Brad | P |
| Reserve/Suspended | ||
| 26 | Bell, Le’Veon | RB |
| Reserve/Injured | ||
| 6 | Suisham, Shaun | K |
| 96 | Geathers, Clifton | DE |
| Reserve/PUP | ||
| 27 | Golson, Senquez | CB |
| Practice Squad | ||
| 85 | Clear, Cameron | TE |
| 65 | Dieffenbach, Miles | G |
| 30 | Fogg, Kevin | CB |
| 18 | Goodwin, C.J. | WR |
| 79 | Hemer, Ethan | DE |
| 31 | Holliman, Gerod | S |
| 67 | Finney, B.J. | C/G |
| 19 | Phillips, Shakim | WR |
| 49 | Chisholm, Jawon | RB |
| 44 | Jones, Howard | OLB |
