Cut Down to 75

[ATL96Steeler]

A lot of these guys will be resigned to the PS but anybody surprises here? What I'm hearing is McCullers is most likely to make the 53 so I'm sure he'll make this 1st cut down without any problems.

Players I thought had a shot but could be on shaky ground for the 1st cuts

OFC...CJ Goodwin, Eric Waters, Tauren Poole

DEF...Shaq Richarson, Zumwalt

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

First wave prediction:

OFC:
RB's: Hall, Maysonet, Harris/Poole (1 or the other)
WR's: Shaw, Goodwin, Sampson, K. Moore
TE's: Paulsen, Waters

I'm having a hard time with the QB's. The coaches seem to only want Kay as a camp body right now, so he could be a victim to cuts. But I think he should get a shot this week. I just don't see the FO having the balls to cut Jones this offseason, even though they should.

DEF:
Dline: Hemer
LBs: Molls
CBs: Nunley, D. Smith, Toler
Ss: Ventrone

No surprises yet for me ATL...

 

[ATL96Steeler]

There is a fairly quick cut down to 53, that's when we'll see the tough cuts...yeah Landry is probably going to make the 53, but a bit strange they don't give Kay a look in this game vs CAR.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Steelers trim roster to 81 players


Hall
Maysonet
Goodwin
K. Moore
Dangerfield
Waters
D. Smith
Toler


Still have 6 more to release before the 4pm deadline



My thoughts... Biggest surprises here are So'oto & Dangerfield. The release of So'oto makes me feel that the team is going to keep Zumwalt. Even though Z-man is still very unproven to the Steelers other than college film. Howard Johnson is still too raw, but very talented. He could possibly fit into the 53, but I think he needs to hit the PS for a year. Both Hojo & Z-man are risky putting on the PS, but the team obviously has to make a decision between the 2, unless they want to keep 10 LBers.

Dangerfield... I loved this kid in camp and preseason. But the reality is that he needed to become a ST demon to be able to beat out Golden. If PIT can somehow sneak this kid onto the PS then he could pay great dividends in coming years.
So'oto

 

[ATL96Steeler]

So'oto is the surpise here and I agree that Zumwalt's case got a little stronger...With Waters gone...we'll have to see if Branchflower makes it this afternoon....if he goes...likely only 3 TEs make the 53 leaving a spot for 10 LBs or 9 OL...we'll know more this afternoon.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

So'oto is the surpise here and I agree that Zumwalt's case got a little stronger...With Waters gone...we'll have to see if Branchflower makes it this afternoon....if he goes...likely only 3 TEs make the 53 leaving a spot for 10 LBs or 9 OL...we'll know more this afternoon.

I think the roster breaks down like this:

3 QBs (Ben, Bruce, Landry)
4 RBs (Bell, Blount, Archer, Wi. Johnson)
3 TEs (Miller, Spaeth, Palmer)
5 WRs (AB, Wheaton, Moore, JB, Bryant)
8 OL (Pouncey, DeCastro, Foster, Gilbert, Beachum, Wallace, Adams, We. Johnson/Whimper)
8 DL (McLendon, Heyward, Keisel, Tuitt, C. Thomas, N. Williams, McCullers, Mauro/Arnfelt)
9 LBs (Timmons, Shazier, JJ, Worilds, Spence, Moats, Carter, V. Williams, Zumwalt)
6 CBs (Taylor, Allen, Gay, Blake, McCain, Richardson)
4 Ss (Polamalu, Mitchell, S. Thomas, Golden)
3 Spec (Suisham, Wing, Warren/Ingram)

The specialists could get tricky. They might have to carry 4, which would likely put Richardson or Zumwalt (maybe Carter lol) on the chop block. But they are optimistic that Warren could be ready by week 1. They also could put Will Johnson as the TE3 and add a true RB4 in either Poole or Harris. Will Johnson allows the team to play with the roster. They could have him at both TE3 & RB4, which could open up a spot for another OL or LB, even a 4th specialist.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

They sure are taking their sweet time with the cuts today... Why they didn't just submit all 15 cuts this morning baffles me.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Agreed...on your 53.

I might keep H-Bey and go with 1 less CB.

Reason...a lot of unproven youth behind AB, and Moore....secondly...I'm struggling to find snaps for S. Thomas @ either S spot, but he's shown he can cover well enough to play dime...would hate to see him relegated to STs.

 

[evolver115]

They sure are taking their sweet time with the cuts today... Why they didn't just submit all 15 cuts this morning baffles me.

Maybe they're having a hard time paring down the last six. That leads me to a question I have. If the Steelers cut any of their picks from the 2014 draft, are they exposed to be picked up on waivers from other teams, or do the rookies get an automatic outright to the practice squad?

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Maybe they're having a hard time paring down the last six. That leads me to a question I have. If the Steelers cut any of their picks from the 2014 draft, are they exposed to be picked up on waivers from other teams, or do the rookies get an automatic outright to the practice squad?

Yes, they are exposed the same as any other PS player...must be signed to the 53 man roster though.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Steelers reduce roster to 75 players


The Steelers have released offensive linemen Chris Elkins and Emmanuel McCray, defensive linemen Hebron Fangupo and Brian Arnfelt, long snapper Luke Ingram and running back Tauren Poole.

Fang I felt all along was not going to make it...Warren must be on a fast track for them to release Ingram this early...Arnfelt was not a surprise, but one you hate to see go...not sure of his PS status.

 

[SteelersPride]

I hope DHB doesnt make the team, hes fast, whoopie hes proven to stink, time and time again, rock hands

stinks some of the lbs are gonna go, jsut no room, and hope richardson gets at least practice squad

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I've done a 180 on DHB...he still doesn't do much for me, but I think he's going to make it if they go with 6. The top 5 have only AB, and Moore with any real experience.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Bummed to see Arnfelt go. He'll land somewhere on his feet.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Cuts to 53...

QBs... Kay
RBs... Harris, Houston
WRs... Moye, Sampson
TEs... Blanchflower, Paulson, Davis (LS/TE)
Oline... Whimper, Simmons, Pocic
DBs... Richardson, Green, Nunley, Ventrone
Dline... Hemer, Mauro, Philon, Williams
LBs... HoJo, Molls, Carter


Pretty weird that the team only kept 6 D-lineman, while keeping 11 DBs & 6 WRs (not to mention 9 O-lineman). Munchak wanted 9, so they kept Hubbard around. But I still don't see any reason why the team should be keeping 11 DBs. Allen or Golden & Brice McCain should have been axed, which would have created room for 1 more D-lineman & 1 more OLB. Only keeping 3 OLBs is a risky maneuver to say the least. I was almost 100% sure they were going to bring back Harrison when I saw they only kept 3. But then I saw he officially retired. Hmmmm maybe they are on the hunt.

Practice Squad predictions:
Kay
Harris (confirmed)
Moye
Richardson
Blanchflower
HoJo
Mauro (confirmed)
Williams
Dangerfield
Simmons?

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I'm starting to wonder if McCain's injury is going to land him on IR-recall or IR. Which would make sense as to why they kept 11 DBs.

Also seems like a waste to keep Landry Jones on the 53 when he is going to be a gameday inactive each week. He clearly has a lot of learning to do before he is even close to becoming a #2.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Little off on my PS prediction... but here is the official list:

Moye
Goodwin
Villanueva
Richardson
Ventrone
Mauro
Williams
Harris
Blanchflower
HoJo

Bummer not seeing Kay or Dangerfield make it. Just means we may have to suffer through another preseason of Landry Jones next year....

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Little off on my PS prediction... but here is the official list:

Moye
Goodwin
Villanueva
Richardson
Ventrone
Mauro
Williams
Harris
Blanchflower
HoJo

Bummer not seeing Kay or Dangerfield make it. Just means we may have to suffer through another preseason of Landry Jones next year....

Didn't think Moye was PS eligible but obviously I was wrong, Goodwin has impressed somebody I see...agree on Kay...never got enough game reps to show what he can do imo...good to see Mauro/Williams signed and Hojo I thought was too close....couldn't give up on him.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

53 notes.

OL...9 total is a little surprising...Adams is the only true OT on the bench so I guess he will sub either side...Wes. Johnson I guess in a pinch...think 7 dress.

DL...6, this surprised me a bit too...I thought Willams or Mauro would make the 53. Idk how they feel about C. Thomas backing up McLendon, but I'm thinking all 6 dress if McCullers is ready for real game snaps.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Quick trigger finger.

LB...the surprise here is only 3 OLBs, on depth chart no 2nd team on the left, but I guess this is what LeBeau wanted. Kinda risky with Worild injury history...Shazier played some OLB in college so maybe they move him up there in case of injury.

RB/TE/WR went pretty much like I thought...DHB being the only reserve with any real game experience and his play in the final game locked it up...I'm guessing Bryant will not be active the 1st game.

DB...11 is more than what I was expecting but I'm sure Golden was retained for ST, and you can't have too many CBs...interested to see how many snaps Thomas gets on DEF.