The 53-man Roster...Decisions Decisions Decisions!!!!!

This is no specific list. Instead a thread about the tough decisions to be made and believe me, we're gonna loose some talent on hard decisions. J D Woods is gone in a surprise move, they cut him in the 1st rd of cuts but also choose to keep WR K. Moore around a little longer....hhhmmmm

Here is a problem- We have deep talent in the secondary, @ LBer & along the DL. We're also deep at WR & RB. We're hurting at TE but due to injuries and rules may be forced to carry 4-5 TEs on the 53. This is gonna cost us.

WRs who I think have earned a roster spot- AB, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, J. Brown & Moye- That's 6

RBs- Bell will be on the 53 due to draft status as will be F. Jones ( due to costly trade ) and W. Johnson ( FB )- That's 3 before we even speak of Redman/Dwyer & LSH. That's 6 LSH is that change of pace guy and can return kicks. Do we dare cut either Dwyer or Redman?

LBers- Its a true numbers game here. At OLB we have Woodley/Worilds & J. Jones set. ( 3) - C. Carter is looking like the light has started to come on for him and if so we need to keep him. Baxter has shown why we could afford to trade a promising A. Robinson. At ILBer we have Foote/Timmons/McFadden locked in (3) but Kion Wilson, Brian Rolle has played quite well and Vince Williams is starting to look like a draft steal. That's Eleven guys!!!

I'll bring up the secondary later on-----

Decisions Decisions------- Who is your hard and unfortunate cut and why?

Cajun-

 

If Tomlin thinks that Jarvis Jones will take that #1 from Worilds why not trade him for a value Tight end. His contract is up next year, he will not want to resign as a backup. Get some value for him while we can. If we get a good TE we will not have to carry 4-5 as you said.

 

I would cut J. Brown and see if you can get him to the PS. I would cut Dwyer. Redman can be a 3rd down back and I really like what Bell, LSH and Redman bring to the table. Redman and Dywer are too much the same type of back. Dwyer looses out due to numbers game. At LB if Jones was not hurt I would have cut Worilds. Let Jones start and learn on the fly. I would also cut Brian Rolle and Kion Wilson. So right now I would have 5 WR's, 3 TE's if possible and 9 LB's. I would also cut the TE's down and only carry 3 if possible. That way if one spot does open up we can keep another LB or Dwyer. With the talent we have at LB those would be good options for special teams.

 

Several problems with this...

* Depth. We trade Worrilds and we're 1 starter away from Chris Carter starting at OLB, which I don't want.

* Who's going to trade for an unimpressive OLB with 1 year left? If you like him, maybe you trade and extend him, but Worilds probably wants to play out his contract year as a starter, because he knows he can impress and get more on the open market. If he doesn't impress he makes the same amount of money either way... So no real reason for him to do it now

* We'll have Heath, DJ, and Paulson on the active roster, and Spaeth on IR designated to return. Who are you going to cut if you trade for a TE?

* What "value" TE is there even out there? Ideas like this are great to just throw out, but you need a team with a need a LB and a backup TE they're willing to let go.

 

Is Jones hurt to the point that he will miss the opener? I thought the tests were just precautionary.

 

first off you never know what each coach sees in a player, you never know how teams needs change fast.
Second - Everyone on this board just throws ideas out there as you put it, These boards are designed to bring them out news flash I did not get the memo that only yours are the ones we need to accept.

 

I don't think Felix is a lock to make the roster by any stretch of the imagination. He basically cost us nothing since Robinson was out of options and had been passed by on the depth chart. The only real argument for keeping him is $$$. More than likely it will come down to whether or not the Steelers want to pay both Redman and Dwyer 1.3million to be a backup.

 

If the Steelers think Spaeth can return between 8-10 wks from his surgery date I doubt they IR him. Instead of him playing week 12 he'll be playing somewhere around week/game 8. Same with Miller, if he'll be able to return before week 5 they won't PUP him but if his return is around then they'll keep him on the PUP ( week 6 return)

You're right in they'll probably keep DJ on the 53 but I like Palmer- he's not as good of a blocker but a much better playmaker and STer. Besides, they can always put beachum in there at TE.

Worilds won't be traded.

Cajun-

 

There is no-way Felix is getting cut before Bell returns to active duty. They traded a promising young OLB for him. The pre-season depth has little meaning, some but little. That last OLB spot would have come down to Robinson/Baxter & Carter. Carter the vet is showing signs of ( he's starting to get it!! ) and Baxter is showcasing himself well. Robinson did nothing to hurt himself, on the contrary he showed he had worth and value beyond our numbers game which is why we were able to get a former #1 RB. It was a good trade for both teams. Bell is out/ Redman has a neck/nerve stinger and LSH has a hammy. Felix is a lock for week one.

How long he stays is a different story.

A benefit to trading Dwyer for a future draft pick(??) is using his 1.3 mil to extend sanders/or worilds/ or Hood or Pouncey or C. Allen. I truly believe they are showcasing Dwyer for other teams while resting and protecting from injury their other RBs.

Cajun-

 

I think the only way to do this is move forward with a roster. Who gets cut will show up there...

OFFENSE: 25

QB (3) - Ben, Grad, Jones

RB (6) - Bell, Redman, Dwyer, Jones, LSH, W. Johnson (I think this is the spot off the roster we steal from later when we need to add someone. A RB is added to the PS)

WR (5) - Brown, Sanders, Cotchery, Wheaton, J. Brown (Moye has looked good, but I still think he can get to the PS while J. Brown I think teams may want.)

TE (3) - Miller, Spaeth (IR to Return), Johnson, Paulson (with Beachum able to be another blocker at TE, we move forward from here and hope to make it until Heath is ready or Spaeth is back)

OLine (8) - Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Beachum, Malecki, and Hubbard (Long goes to PS and Whimper is on speed dial assuming no one of significance is cut by another team).

DEFENSE: 25

Dline (6) - Keisel, Hood, Heyward, McLendon, Woods and Ta'amu (I don't care what the depth chart says)

OLB (4) - Woodley, Worilds, Jones, and Carter (I think he survives...for now.)

ILB (5) - Foote, Timmons, McFadden, Williams, and Wilson (if Rolle was better as Special Teams I think he would win the spot. Gavin goes to PS since Rolle isn't eligible)

CB (5) - Ike, Allen, Brown, Gay, and Hawthorne (while Victorian is probably the better cover man, the 4th and 5th guys here are probably only going to be special teams guys unless an injury happens. If Hawthorne plays Victorian to a draw, his draft status will earn him the spot)

S (5) - Troy, Clark, Shamarko, and Golden. The last guy here should probably be DCS, but I still think Ventrone has a shot, I really do. He was all over the place last game. One great special teams play coupled with DCS's missed assignment for the punt block and this goes to Ventrone...IMO.


PRACTICE SQUAD: 8

A RB - Not sure Alvester is the guy here, but he can earn that tonight
Moye - Moye is here over J. Brown cause I just don't think anyone would grab him AND put him on the active roster like they might Brown.
J. Long - At least 1 Olineman will be here. Wouldn't be surprised to see at least 1 more.
Arnfelt - No brainer. I seriously thought about putting him on the active cause I REALLY like him. As I type I am having 2nd thoughts.
Baxter - No Brainer IF they keep Carter
Gavin - I really liked what I have seen. Would love to get some work with him to see if he could develop.

I think one DB and one OL will be added in addition to the 6 above. Do they come from our roster? I doubt it. .

 

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Looking at this roster...I see Safety as being our #1 pick next year in the draft with ILB and CB being options as well.

 

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. THe only thing Carter is starting to get is that he needs to find a new line of work. The only thing the guy has shown in 4 years is an inability to stay healthy. If Robinson was some big part of their plans they would have kept him.

 

I think CB is our biggest need next year. Follow that with a beast TE.

Getting back to the topic on hand--- decisions--- I agree with Ventrone, he is showing flashes and I'd love to see him develop on the PS.

I thought we'd only keep 7 OL ( dangerous) but its looking like they may keep wimper---he's not looking SO bad @ OG and is a vet. Long I think has the best chance to make the 53 over hubbard.

Hawthorne-just haven't seen enough of him to put him over Victorian- we could possibly get by with 4 CB ( PS Hawthorne) since Thomas and Golden can double as cover guys.

I think your list of TE is leaving us vulnerable and weak. Miller I doubt will help us before the 5th game but he almost has to be on the 53. DJ is what we already know. Paulson can catch but not a blocker. Palmer is a better STer and playmaker but he too is a weak blocker. What do we do?


I'd love to see us trade Dwyer & (??? ) for a beast TE.


Cajun-

 

baxter over carter and arnfelt over taamu

 

I could see BOTH of those happening.

 

I can see that argument as well. That being said, I did some reading this afternoon, and I don't think there is a S who fits us with first round talent at this point anyway.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to derail your topic with the draft talk.

Ventrone can contribute now as the #5 safety if he is the better special teams player. That is the question to me. They seem to like Golden and Shamarko for the D, so in this case, I want that #5 assuming we keep him, to be for special teams.

The reason I picked Hubbard over the other 2 is looking at the play charts from last week. Hubbard was a special teams contributor while Whimper wasn't. I find that weird since they are both 2nd line on the depth chart. If Whimper was going to have to play, I'm not sure they would give him special team blocking assignments. Also, I truly believe that if you cut Whimper now, you can avoid paying his salary for the year if you need to waive him later. Nobody is signing him off the street. Long, I'm just not sold on.

Hawthorne only needs to show he can be trusted on special teams. The #5 CB with where we are right now, making a 53 man roster, is all about special teams. I also think there is precedent for a guy we haven't seen much who was injured early in camp sticking around...See Cortez Allen. That worked out pretty well, so I still think this is where we go.

When it comes to TE, personally I would something completely different than I have listed above, but I don't think that is going to happen. I would keep Miller on PUP until he is ready, I would IR (not able to return) Spaeth, keep Palmer for now and hope the waiver wire brings me someone I like better. The prediction above is based on what the reports currently say. I wouldn't pull Heath off the PUP until you need to in order to keep the roster spot.

 

See my bolded comments below.

 

I just don't see that happening. Maybe at one point it might have, but not now IMO.

 

i hope the cut whimper and bring someone better from the streets after the last round of cuts

 

Good topic, Cajun. I've added a few thoughts above.

 

Well, I can tell you that we are all going to be in here questioning this the day after the cuts are made.

Dunn is going to be a very interesting cut. Strong arguments can be made both ways. He has to play tonight in order to make the squad IMO, but you never know.