MasterStrategist

I agree Motor looks in great shape! Need to keep him healthy if he'll have a shot. I think he has a decent chance at 1k all-purpose. Only reason the rushing might be challenging, is just touches. I can't see him carrying 15x a game with our pass heavy scheme. 10 carries a week, with a few catches is reasonable tho. Moss will get 5-10 a game, depending down and distance. Always been a fan of Motor, and think it will be his best year yet. He has great vision and ability to get tough yards after contact

Agree. This guy was benched several times in SF, before just signing a 1-yr deal with Seattle. Very inconsistent player, up to this point. Depth at best for week 1

Was posted on this board earlier this week:

Great post! Definitely a great way to "simulate" pressure, as they say, or bring the heat with man/ more exotic zone schemes behind it. Definitely important to have LBs that can not only blitz but drop into coverage as Milano and Edmunds have proven capable of. Especially going up against a young/new oline of Pitt Week 1 should be a great opportunity to be aggressive with these looks and see how they can adjust.

https://triblive.com/sports/knee-injury-latest-setback-for-steelers-defensive-end-stephon-tuitt/ Confirmed knee injury for Tuitt. Looks like he will be missing week 1 and possibly IR to start season. Big loss for Steelers. They are only carrying 4 corners as of now, would expect they are searching to sign someone before week 1 (hopefully not one of our Ps guys). Also, Watt still waiting for his massive deal, today was Steelers final practice until Monday. There is likely a 99.999% chance his deal is done by the weekend, I think almost everyone in Pitt/nfl fans would be shocked otherwise. He hasn't taken any team reps all camp either, but sure he's an all-pro sure he will be fine.

You keep your best 53, within reason. Yes it's alot for front 7, but it's our best group and we will be rotating/injuries do happen. Technically when you have a 16 man PS and ability to call up players 2x during a season, I think this gives creativity to front offices that didn't exist until last season. Ie: who cares if we keep 17 guys or 15 guys in our front 7, if we need a corner some week instead of DL, we will call up Cam or someone else

Agree, with this and Gunner good post. Additional detail, in case anyone needs a refresher on how many players can dress for gameday in 2021: 1. Teams can dress 48, if at least 8 are OL. If not, then reverts to 47. 2. In addition, teams can promote up to 2 players from the Practice Squad per week. This promotion can only occur 2x for a single player during season, before player must be elevated to the 53-man roster for next eligibility. Also, can protect up to 4 players on the PS weekly (no limit on how times a single player is protected), so player cannot be signed to another team throughout the week. 3. Essentially equates to a 55-man roster weekly, and selecting 47/48 to dress I think that Doyle will be inactive most weeks, along with a combination of Stevenson, Kumerow, Breida, Boogie or Dodson. That last player to sit will be interesting, as we didn't dress 10 DL much if at all last year

Nicely done! I think Sweeney to IR. And then either Harry or McKenzie. As mentioned elsewhere, Hollister isn't a forgone conclusion to return, although he would make the most sense and I'd genuinely be shocked if he doesn't get signed back tomorrow. My guess is then Sweeney/Harry to IR, for Reid/Hollister.

I'm back and forth on this. I'd probably prefer Jones if I knew our WRs will stay healthy all season. But chances of that are low. I see Kumerow as a likely insurance policy, that is worth the drop off at gunner to have another reliable WR, big bodied guy, to round out the WR group. Agree there is a decent chance Kumerow would be inactive on gamedays if he and Jones both made the team (as it stands now, assuming McKenzie and Speedy are healthy), but i think only 1 will.

I think Jaquon is first up, if Poyer or Hyde go down. I think Neal is theprimary nickle backup, and he/Marlowe did get some short run while Taron struggled last year. Agree Neal gives us versatility and ST play is fantastic

Yes. Looks like a rookie 4th rounder, Dan Moore Jr., starting LT for them too. Interesting they played Dan at RT and Chuks at LT all preseason, switching now seems like a bad development for them (Banner had a set back, their starting RT and likely out)

Exactly, Mike Hilton was not only a great cover nickle but also his blitzing skills. Big loss, coupled with Nelson who was better than who they are left with. Tuitt could still play week 1, to be clear. He has missed all TC (team defense, did some individual work/conditioning). Speculation is its not injury, rather he's still coping with mental aspect of death in his family. Some think he will return, some are saying it's too late to get acclimated for a game in less than 2 weeks. Tomlin supposed to have an update later this week.

Living in Pitt, here is my take on this: 1. Trib writers: Mark Madden is attached to Ben's you know what and is always looking for attention. Tim Benz is decent, went to Syracuse but both are in denial about Buffalo chances this yr 2. Steeler fans: most are delusional and too arrogant to be realistic that they are on the decline. Also, most see Josh Allen as a "running qb" and don't view him as a true threat. 3. attendance: steeler fans obviously travel well and loyal, but hopefully the high secondary market cost for week 1 will deter some from making the drive. 4. Steeler offense: expect it to be "small ball" again, with occasional deep passes. Harris is going to be very good, but that oline is not good. Young oline, we need to be stunting on 3rd downs and blitzing early to not let Harris get rolling. 5. Steeler defense: still legit, will likely be a Top 10 unit by end of year. But without Tuitt, this is a much different front. Watt will likely get his contract redone this week and be ready. Their secondary is good, but they have issues at 2nd corner and nickle. Mike Hilton moved on and Haden is losing a step. Pierre is likely their 2nd corner, is overly aggressive in short zones and young. I expect us to attack him all day. Week 1 is always unpredictable but think Steeler fans will be in for a rude awakening

Great thread. Sometimes people think whoever the KR is must also be the PR, or vice versa. Good mention to say we might have someone different in each spot. My observation is that Speedy is the more talented KR right now, and not far behind on PR but McKenzie still owns that right. Stevenson was a top returner in college and think we specifically targeted him to replace Andre, and develop him as a WR. As you said, numbers make it tough to dress 7 WRs on GameDay. So for now,y prediction is Speedy makes the team but won't dress immediately. Either an injury, or continued development in practice during the season, will prompt them to potentially change their mind. If we only use him as a KR, and most kickers can boot through the endzone, then that handicaps us 1 roster spot on GameDay. Isaiah will be solid for us until Speedy is ready to take the reigns

Great job again, and appreciate you putting time pulling these together this preseason. I think we may roll with 5 LB, if we keep Bam. Given Bam will be an upgrade over Dodson on ST and think Smith/Makatevich are ahead of Tyrell right now. So I could see them cutting Tyrell, hoping to sneak him and/or Adams back onto the PS. Then I see us keeping Wildgoose. With Levi and Dane banged up, albeit minor and should be ready week 1, I think he's done enough to warrant this reserve spot. I agree with everything else, even the Obada trade makes alot of sense, if we decide to move one. Thinking ahead to PS, hope we can sign back: 1. Dodson 2. Adams 3. Josh Thomas 4. McLeod 5. Gentry 6. Hodgins 7. Bryant 8. Webb 9. Fromm 10. Anderson 11. Antonio Williams 12-16. then search for 1 CB, 1 S, 1 Tackle, 1 DL, 1 WR (maybe Lenoir) 17. Free spot: Wade

Exactly! People often think "grass is greener", if we'd get a new Mike linebacker, but truth is Edmunds is young/talented, and someone the staff has faith in. He reminds me of a Ryan Shazier type, and think we will see more aggression from him this season. His injury last yr was extremely limiting and he was the team player who fought through it, not his best season but better than alternatives on the team. His contract extension is another topic and the team gave themselves extra time to evaluate that.

Agree! And looking back, it was 2 big pass plays (one against our 4th/5th outside corner, likely cut and another on a broken coverage). Stout when we had to be, people need to remember Jordan Love was a 1st rounder for a reason (he looked good) and Matt Lafleur is an excellent offensive mind as well. Week 1 is what matters, looked relatively healthy coming out of game. Overall great preseason

1st series: Jerry jumped offside on 3rd and 5, free first down. Open running lanes, looked like Rams running on us at times (not surprised Lafleur and Mcvay similar principles). Cam Lewis gave up a big pass play, post corner route. Then a big goal line stand, Tre PBU on 4th and 1. 2nd series: much of the same in running game. Gave up a big play action completion on 4th and 1. Hyde picked off a floater in our endzone, Oliver blew up their center and Aj good outside contain/pressure. Basically everyone expecting a "more stout"/aggressive front likely disappointed. Going against backups, we didn't look dominate up front as expected. But my take, our starters just looked a step too slow to diagnose. Star looked like old self (not dominate but holding his own), and Jordan Love looked poised between the 20s. We didn't seem to disengage on blocks, nearly as much as in 1st two games, but not worried. Preseason about knocking off the rust and think we ran some vanilla looks again.

Yes, played at Central Catholic (local football powerhouse). He can develop into a starter someday, he's a leader on the field and has a nose for the ball

Both developing players, I like Hamlin (being a Pitt guy), but hopefully can sneak Josh onto the PS

Well they asked him specifically about keeping dlineman, and special teams use of dlineman

Good return. Jones had a nice block, not easy 1-1 outside on punt return.

Haven't seen him yet

Ok Reid, you can have a roster spot 😄

Breida looks like he's making the team...designed plays just for him