The cut down deadline is quickly approaching. The Steelers have to get the roster to 53 by tomorrow at 4pm. Here's what I think they WILL do (not what I think they should do).
QB:
1.)Ben Roethlisberger
2.)Mason Rudolph
3.)Josh Dobbs
Mason Rudolph had a great preseason. He's got really good feet in the pocket and plays on schedule. Josh Dobbs' accuracy on short and intermediate routes (which the Steelers throw a ton of) has me concerned. Sorry Duck Dynasty, no room for you here.
RB:
1.)James Conner
2.)Jaylen Samuels
3.)Benny Snell
4.)Rosie Nix
I would strongly suggest cutting Benny Snell and trying to get him onto the practice squad. He had 2.0 ypc in game one, 2.3 ypc in game two, and 1.5 ypc in game three. He's impressed in pass protection and has been good on special teams. If he were an undrafted dude I don't think he would make it.
WR:
1.)Juju Smith-Schuster
2.)James Washington
3.)Donte Moncrief
4.)Ryan Switzer
5.)Diontae Johnson
I've seen some people keep seven WR's. I just don't see it. The Steelers only need to keep one of Switzer or Rogers. Diontae Spencer is a good returner, but doesn't do anything else. Plus, if you carry six or seven WR's, it makes it tough to keep Tuzar Skipper and Ulysees Gilbert.
TE:
1.)Vance McDonald
2.)Some other guy
3.)Xavier Grimble
This is pretty self-explanatory. The Steelers don't have their number two tight end on their roster. Kevin Radar flashed early, but didn't get better. Gentry had a chance to fight off an interception last night and it didn't happen. Go get a dude.
OL:
1.)Maurkice Pouncey
2.)David DeCastro
3.)Alejandro Villanueva
4.)Ramon Foster
5.)Matt Feiler
6.)Chukes Okorafor
7.)B.J. Finney
8.)Zach Banner
9.)Fred Johnson
The Steelers like to keep a whole bunch of offensive lineman. For good reason. I'm in the same boat. Hopefully Banner and Fred Johnson don't have to play. That being said, it's good to have a few guys that could develop. We all remember what happened with Al Villanueva, right?
DL:
1.)Cam Heyward
2.)Stephon Tuitt
3.)Javon Hargrave
4.)Tyson AluAlu
5.)Daniel McCullers
6.)Isaiah Buggs
Daniel McCullers is going to be on scholarship, again, for the 6th year. He only played 12 snaps in 2018. Isaiah Buggs is intriguing. Behind O-line, this is the strongest group on the team.
OLB:
1.)T.J. Watt
2.)Bud Dupree
3.)Anthony Chickillo
4.)Ola Adeniyi
5.)Tuzar Skipper
It's possible the Steelers can be creative and open up another roster spot if they were to place Ola on the short term IR. If not, I'm keeping five OLB's. Tuzar had a sack in every preseason game. He earned it.
ILB:
1.)Devin Bush
2.)Mark Barron
3.)Vince Williams
4.)Tyler Matekevich
5.)Ulysees Gilbert
Matekevich should never see a snap in the defense. He's the Steelers best special teams player, though, so he is going to make the roster. Gilbert had a great preseason and deserves to make this team. See peeps, this is why you can't keep 25 WR's.
CB:
1.)Joe Haden
2.)Steve Nelson
3.)Artie Burns
4.)Cameron Sutton
5.)Mike Hilton
6.)Justin Layne
The CB position was obvious. Only question is when a deal with Haden goes down. They've only got about a week to make it happen.
S:
1.)Sean Davis
2.)Terrell Edmunds
3.)Kameron Kelly
4.)Jordan Dangerfield
Kameron Kelly can play both safety positions, which is more than I can say about Dangerfield. Jordan is a good special teams player, though. I think he will make it.
K:
1.)Chris Boswell
P:
1.)Jordan Berry
LS:
1.)Kameron Canaday
Boswell looked like his 2017 self in camp and in the preseason. I liked Tomlin's decision to not allow him to eff it up last night.