It would be foolish -- downright stupid, really -- to assume that I could guess the entire 53-man roster for any team before even the 80-man cutdown comes due. But, because I do things differently here at Snack's 'Socks, it isn't going to stop me from taking a shot or two at it. It's not like I've ever been afraid of making a fool of myself -- on the Internet, at least.
There is still a lot of time left for someone to make a run at a roster spot, even though the only real battles in camp right now are cornerback, right guard and punter. You could add left tackle in there as well, depending on how quickly Jonathan Scott can return from a hyperextended knee. The real questions, though, are how the depth guys will shake out.
Guys like Keenan Lewis and Tony Hills have spent a few years finding ways to screw up their chances but still managing to slide by. This is their do-or-die season, and right now both are doing rather than dying. Hills is possibly the front-runner for the right guard position, and Lewis currently leads the team in tackles and has a pre-season interception.
Other question marks remain, like whether or not the Steelers will try to trade Dennis Dixon. Interestingly, both head coach Mike Tomlin and personnel director Kevin Colbert attended Terrell Pryor's workout Saturday, and Pryor is a hometown kid who would probably love a chance to play in Pittsburgh. But he is inexperienced, raw and has obviously had off-field issues.
But here I am rambling. Without further adieu...
(* - Projected Starter)
Quarterback (3)
4 - Byron Leftwich
Settled down after the first few plays against the Eagles and had a very solid game; lack of pocket awareness is still a big issue but the Steelers have the luxury of having a once-successful starter backing up their top guy
*7 - Ben Roethlisberger
Returned from suspension to put up one of his best seasons ever; looks sharper than ever if the Philly game is any indication
10 - Dennis Dixon
Charlie Batch is beloved in Pittsburgh but he has only thrown four passes and played in garbage time so far in the pre-season. Dixon got a great audition against Philly and looked sharp aside from a few things that can be fixed with coaching, a far cry from his 1-10 performance against the Redskins -- bit then again, the entire team played just about the same.
Runningback (4)
21 - Mewelde Moore
May be last year in Pittsburgh if Baron Batch comes back healthy from a torn ACL
27 - Jonathan Dwyer
Has a ton of power and a lot of speed; looks like a smaller, slightly less shifty Jerome Bettis but struggles to find open holes at times
33 - Isaac Redman
Absolutely will share more snaps this year; electric every time he touches the ball and has become a big-time fan favorite
*34 - Rashard Mendenhall
Is one of the NFL's elite runners and probably tries harder on every hand-off than anyone else in the NFL since Emmitt Smith retired, but has been used too much; should share more snaps with Redman this season to stay fresh into December and January
Wide Receiver (6)
*17 - Mike Wallace
Speedster has evolved into a well-rounded #2 and could have a massive season -- he has his sights set on 2,000 yards but we'd be happy with 1,200 and ten or so TDs
81 - Arnaz Battle
Special teams ace made his case to get more offensive snaps after great game versus Philly
82 - Jerricho Cotchery
Welcome to Pittsburgh. We'll keep ya.
84 - Antonio Brown
Hines Wards' eventual replacement looks set to build on a very good rookie season
88 - Emmanuel Sanders
Rookie performance guarantees him a roster spot despite foot injury keeping him down
*86 - Hines Ward
Pittsburgh's best ever has slowed but still is the most well-rounded receiver in the NFL
Tight End/H-Back (3)
*83 - Heath Miller
One of two or three best tight ends in the NFL; catches like a receiver and blocks like a guard
*85 - David Johnson
Moderate at tight end but blocks well out of the backfield. More of an H-back than a tight end and gives Bruce Arians an excuse to follow through on his curious belief that fullbacks are useless
89 - John Gilmore
Expect this to be a one-year roster appointment; Weslye Saunders will probably make the practice squad and could take this spot in '12, or it could be someone else; this is a depth-only choice
Center (2)
*53 - Markice Pouncey
Many believe he will be the next on a short list of Steelers' greats at the line's anchor; pre-season play signals that he will follow up his Pro Bowl rookie season with an even better performance
64 - Doug Legursky
Super Bowl starter has versatility to play either guard position as well but struggles in hand-to-hand battles and big nose tackles, but he's still a good player and is well-liked by fans and coaches alike
Guard (3)
*66 - Tony Hills
Hills had his chance to shine against the Eagles and embraced it, playing as well as any other starting lineman, even after moving to left tackle following injuries to both Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert; though listed as a tackle, he has more opportunity to start as a guard
*68 - Chris Kemoeatu
Incumbent left guard has no challenge to his position; a mauler in the run game, he still has issues in pass protection
73 - Ramon Foster
Foster has the versatility to play both guard positions or center, but will find himself higher on the depth chart at guard
Tackle (5)
61 - Chris Scott
Will probably see some time at guard throughout the season, at least more so than at tackle barring injury.
65 - Marcus Gilbert
Rookie played with Pouncey at Florida and has been praised by his former 'mate; needs to recover from a hyperextended knee but should make the roster because of his high draft pick if nothing else, though he did look good in his short stint against the Eagles
*72 - Jonathan Scott
Initially was shaky after replacing Max Starks last season but had solid if unspectacular play as the season progressed; replaces Starks permanently now
*74 - Willie Colon
Returns from a torn Achilles' tendon in '10 but is now the team's best tackle, no question
Nose Tackle (2)
76 - Chris Hoke
Hoke is a gem of a backup. Any 3-4 defense would pay good money to have a backup of his caliber.
*98 - Casey Hampton
Aside from being this site's (nick)namesake, he's also still a top nose tackle. He's not quite what he was three or four years ago but he still commands the respect of at least two linemen on nearly every play.
Defensive End (4)
*91 - Aaron Smith
When healthy, is still one of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL
95 Cameron Heyward
Rookie has a nose for the ball but needs to get his emotions in check a little
96 - Ziggy Hood
Replaced Smith so well last year that he will be sharing a lot of snaps this season
*99 Brett Kiesel
Best beard in the NFL. A darn good defensive end too.
Linebacker (9)
48 - Mortty Ivy
Local kid (Monroeville, PA) who could make the roster as a backup; has nine tackles already in pre-season play, but this spot could ultimately go to someone like Chris Carter, too
50 - Larry Foote
Accepted backup role in return to Pittsburgh and still contributes; played well versus Philly
*51 - James Farrior
The rare player who seems to be getting better late into his thirties
55 - Stevenson Sylvester
Special teams beast his rookie year; will probably enter into more of a rotation this year
*56 - LaMarr Woodley
Could be the better of the two best outside 'backers in the league this year; signed for six more years of terrorizing Joe Flacco
90 - Chris Ellis
He didn't make much of an impact in Buffalo, where he was drafted #72 overall, but perhaps he can improve under position coach Keith Butler; depth only
*94 - Lawrence Timmons
Team's tackles leader in 2010 poised to only get better; first-ever draft pick by Mike Tomlin is no longer questioned
*95 - James Harrison
Still a beast but could be slowing down a little; will still likely pick up 10 or more sacks in '11
97 - Jason Worilds
Outstanding in limited play last season; will probably see more snaps in '11
Cornerback (7)
20 - Bryant McFadden
Should be looking over his shoulder; Keenan Lewis an rookie Donovan Brown have shown outstanding coverage ability and a knack for making big plays; rookie Curtis Brown could be in play, too
22 - William Gay
Kept mostly for depth, but showed flashes of brilliance against Philly, including sticking to his man like glue on Mike Vick's first toss of the game
23 - Keenan Lewis
Picked off a pass that was thrown behind his receiver, but was beaten on the play. Still, has looked more and more like the player coach Tomlin thought he was when he drafted Lewis.
*24 - Ike Taylor
Taylor got the contract he wanted after the lockout ended, and is far and away the best corner on the roster; many (myself included) believe he is among the NFL's elite at the position despite his inability to hold on to sure interceptions
28 - Crezdon Butler
Team is high on Butler and he hasn't let them down -- but he hasn't wowed anyone this year, either
*30 - Donovan Warren
Had a great, great game against the Eagles; started in place of McFadden because of injury and made his case clear to be the #2 corner; the fact that he started over Curtis Brown spoke volumes
40 - Curtis Brown
Came in a little later in the game and played as well as any of the Eagles' vaunted corners -- better, really -- but he was playing against backups mostly
Safety (3)
*25 - Ryan Clark
May be the hardest-hitting safety in the league; has a tendency to make big plays when the situation calls for it but also makes some hits that result in penalties
29 - Ryan Mundy
fourth-year player has become a nicely rounded safety who can tackle very well
*43 - Troy Polamalu
Back and playing his trademark style of controlled recklessness; if healthy all year, could be eve better than '10 when he won Defensive Player of the Year after making key plays in huge moments despite an Achilles' tendon injury
Kicker (1)
6 - Shaun Suisham
Replaced Jeff Reed at mid-season in '10 and played outstandingly well; had a shaky post-season but will be retained as camp competition Swayze Waters missed two of three against Eagles
Punter (1)
9 - Daniel Sepulveda
Jeremy Kapinos subbed superbly last year after Sepulveda tore an ACL for the third time, but Sepulveda is much better at placing his kicks, which can be critical in tight games
Long Snapper (1)
60 - Greg Warren
Hard to lose a job if you have no competition, but the Steelers didn't even invite another long snapper to the party because of how solid Warren has been
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