My Final 53

While I'll leave room for someone to make a final push in the final preseason game to change my mind, I believe I have enough information to make my final picks.... note, this is not a prediction, this is an opinion:

QB (3): Ben, Landry, Dobbs
- Was glad to see Landry lock down the backup job. Dobbs is the 3

RB (4): Bell, Conner, Watson, Nix
- Watson was simply too good IMO. I understand it's more likely they attempt to sneak him on to the practice squad, but I'd rather keep the guy who runs like a tank and has the feet and vision to hit a hole.

WR (5): Brown, Bryant, Eli, JuJu, DHB
- Surprise, neither Coates or Hunter did enough to really belong on an NFL roster, and seeing as though their path to snaps, not only this year, but next year, are blocked by 4 better WRs... there's really no point in keeping either one.

TE (4): James, Johnson, Grimble, McGee
- McGee was so damn good as a blocker. This is probably an unlikely scenario, but I don't want to lose McGee, he could be a long term replacement for Johnson's role (he's 30 and takes up over 1 million NEXT year). Keep McGee because he adds value this year, but even more value long term.

OL (9): Al, Foster, Pouncey, Decastro, Gilbert, Hawkins, Hubbard, Finney, Feiler
- Feiler's versatitlity was on display last week. Hubbard is going to be a UFA next year, and probably can't be afforded. Keep Feiler because he adds value this year, but even more value long term.

(25)

DL (6): Heyward, Hargrave, Tuitt, Alualu, Walton, Maxey
- Buh Bye McCullers

ILB (4): Shazier, Williams, Matakevich, Fort
- Sorry Steven Johnson, I went with extra OL and TE

OLB (5): Dupree, Watt, Harrison, Chickillo, Moats
- Simple

CB (6): Burns, Cockrell, Sensabaugh, Gay, Sutton, Hilton
- Need the depth

S (4): Mitchell, Davis, Golden, Dangerfield
- Weak group, but gotta develop talent on practice squad.

 

I would substitute Allen for McGee. Both are glaring needs next year (or sooner) , but less likely to be claimed by another team.

 

Solid list - well solid until the D backfield.

 

I think they will be able to get Allen to the practice squad. Hard to believe that many teams will have a 53 man roster spot for a developmental prospect that they didn't have in their camp to evaluate and develop. A 2nd year TE (McGee) is far more likely to get picked up IMO.

 

I think this is pretty much on target. Would love to see Hooks make it, but he just doesn't appear to be good enough. Missing half of tc for bs certainly didn't help his cause any.

 

Well done- I'd consider keeping 5 ILBs and 3 TEs due to our LBs health history.

 

I'll put Keith Kelsey on the PS for that purpose. Steven Johnson is a special teams only player, and I feel very comfortable with our backup Lbers filling that special teams spot (Fort, Chick, Moats, Red)

 

I hope you're right about Watson making the 53 at RB.

 

I would really consider Practice Squad with Dobbs. What would be the odds he would actually get taken from the practice squad by somebody?

I think it would be low. But Steelers traditional like to keep 3 QB's on the 53 man.

 

I would be surprised if we didn't pick someone up at Safety after cut day.

 

Very high... QB potential is hard to come by.

For example, the Cardinals are carrying both Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert, career backups. You don't think they'd dump one for someone they could develop?

Dobbs would never make it to the practice squad, he would be claimed the day he hit waivers

 

feiler out. would love too keep him but the numbers are not there.
mcgee to the PS. personally i'd cut DJ for him but i doubt they will. nix brings added blocking as does hubbard.
maxey to the PS with hooks for the start of the season. we keep the top 5 right now.
allen on the 53. too much upside and size. he would start to learn to be a safety.
DHB out, hunter in. more future giving him a year with mann to coach him before he retires. juju's injuries so far another reason.
trey williams in. AB finally taken off punt ret. duties.

 

Would keep 6 WRs....replace DHB with Coates(can be gunner like DHB and return kicks too if need be and would like to see them keep Ayers if healthy as number 6...
Don't need 4 TEs ...choose between DJ and McGee.....DJ has been here long enough and will be a phone call away...
Also like Allen on 53 too much of a weakness in the secondary to risk losing him maybe Maxey to PS like others have said....

Not sure TWs one punt return is enough to make a roster it will be AB all day or maybe Sutton or Ayers (if they keep him )can step up in that department....

 

Mike T values ST'S way to much for DHB to be cut. If a punt went 45 yards in the air DHB would be 5 yards closer to the returner than any other Gunner we have . His speed will save us from some big returns. Most big returns happen when the punter out kicks the coverage . The speed of DHB all , but negates that .

 

I currently have Brian Allen on my own 53 given his impressive growth since training camp but Jake McGee and Matt Feiler are more deserving and rightfully so.



This is not even accounting for Mike Hilton; by far the best of the
"bubble players this preseason in terms of stating his case.

 

If I thought Brian Allen would get picked up off waivers, I'd keep him on the 53 (at the expense of McGee or Feiler), I just don't think he'd get picked up. Fans need to realize every team in the league has their own "Brian Allen's". Young, developmental rookies that they are working with in their system. Most teams don't have 53 man roster space for said players, hence the practice squad. The rules are designed to allow teams to develop players on the practice squad, which is why you can't claim a player to add to your practice squad, but instead have to add him to the 53 man. 5th round rookies get waived around the league every year, and very few are claimed.

 

Coates is a big downgrade to DHB on special teams.
Coates has done nothing to make the team.
Ayers has done nothing to make the team
Hunter has done very little to make the team

Players need to earn roster spots... not be gifted them because of draft status.

I agree we don't NEED 4 TEs, but in evaluating performance, roster make up, and future contracts. I arrived at the decision to keep McGee. If I had to make 1 change to my current roster it would be trying to sneak McGee on to the practice squad. But I do think NFL teams are always looking for capable blockers, which would make him more of a 50/50 coin flip to clear.

I recognize that people are likely to include Allen out of roster fear.

You're confusing Terrell Watson (who I kept) with Tyrell Williams (who returned one punt).

 

They are if you don't waste a roster spot on an unneeded 6th WR
(I showed the #s are there)

Yea, that's very likely.

top 5?

that would be nice

This only makes sense on a video game roster

 

Pretty much agree with most of it but I'd go McGee over Johnson at TE just for age and money savings. But I think they'll try to PS McGee.

Same with Feiler. Give him the big bucks on the PS like they did with Finney couple years ago because I think they'd go with another ILB.

Brian Allen on the PS all day imo. Ayers is the one who I think would get poached. With Edelman done, I'd hate to see him go there.

 

Feiler isn't eligible for PS

 

QBs are different