Steelers Roster Set

The Steelers 53 man roster was set this weekend and here is my position by position breakdown that I stole from the Tribune Review. QB: 1. Ben Roethlisberger 2. Byron Leftwich 3. Dennis Dixon Breakdown: If Ben gets hurt newcomer and fellow MAC alum Byron Leftwich will be the man. Great, so if our mobile starting quarterback gets hurt (no doubt the o-lines fault) then MR. 35 Second wind up is going to come in. If Ben goes down I say Leftwich gets to play two whole quarters before he is sidelined with a concussion. It is pretty obvious Dennis Dixon is the future No. 2. Dixon is a good talent and may be able to spend the next ten years making easy money as Ben's understudy. Running Back: 1. (Fast) Willie Parker 2. (Beetlejuice) Rashard Mendenhall 3. (No funny nickname, yet) Mewelde Moore 4. (Dumb as a post) Gary Russell Breakdown: Fast Willie should get some much needed support from rookie Rashard Mendenhall. That is if Mendenhall can hold on to the pigskin. Rashard dropped the biscuit three times in the preseason. Mewelde Moore is a solid third down back and can help in the kick game. Gary Russell has a lot of talent, just not in the class room. Full Back 1. Carey Davis Breakdown: Who the hell cares? Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians hates, yes hates, fullbacks. Davis will get the "bulk" of playing time here. Really, you aren't reading this for my thoughts on Carey Davis. This is the most forgetable position on the team. I thought Tim "Mo" Lester was still on the roster, honest. Wide Receiver: 1. Santonio Holmes 2. Hines Ward 3. Nate Washington 4. Limas Sweed 5. Dallas Baker!!! Breakdown: Ward is the old war horse and Holmes is the new "leader of the wideouts". I'll take those two any day of the week. Nate Washington is okay at three but I really wanted Sweed to earn this spot. So far he hasn't but WR in the NFL can be a tough transition for a rookie (or so I am told). Dallas Baker beat out Willie Reid for the fifth and final spot. This should make some Floridians happy, Dallas was impressive this pre-season and his tall frame no doubt helped in the decision. Willie Reid, thanks for nothing...a waste of a third round pick. Tight End: 1. Heath Miller 2. Matt Spaeth Breakdown: When Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth are your two top TE's then you don't need a third. These two are some bad mamajamas. I love them, in a healthy way... Offensive Line: 1. Marvel Smith 2. Chris Kemoeatu 3. Justin Hartwig 4. Kendall Simmons 5. Willie Colon (From Left to Right those are your starters) 6. Max (a 7 million) Starks 7. Sean (worst Steeler center ever) Mahan 8. Trai Essex 9. Darnell Stapleton 10. Tony Hills Breakdown: Management f-ed up bad when they made Starks there "transition player", that move cost them 7 million and the dude isn't even starting. Mahan is on the bench (praise the lord!) and free agent Justin Hartwig takes over at center. I hope he can mesh with the others quickly so Ben doesn't end up on his backside. These guys can run block no doubt, but their pass block sucks, bad. Defensive End: 1. Aaron Smith 2. Brett Keisel 3. Travis Kirschke 4. Nick Eason 5. Orpheus Roye Breakdown: Smith and Keisel are good. The rest...not so much. Orpheus Roye makes a return to the black and gold. Holy crap, do you realize we now employ two former Cleveland Brown DE's? (Eason/Roye) I'm not sure that means anything but I if it does then rest assured it means something bad. Nose Tackle: 1. Casey Hampton 2. Chris Hoke Breakdown: These guys are getting old, and one of the two has a weight problem. Seriously though, Hamp is still All-Pro material and Hoke is great in small doses. These two are the key to the defense. Outside Linebacker: 1. James Harrison 2. LaMarr Woodley 3. Bruce Davis 4. Andre Frazier 5. Donovan Woods Breakdown: Woodley is going to be a pro-bowler someday and James Harrison already is one. Plus Harrison likes to crush drunk Browns fans. That will never get old. Davis and Woods are newcomers and Frazier is a never will be. Inside Linebacker: 1. James Farrior 2. Larry Foote 3. Lawrence Timmons 4. Keyaron Fox Breakdown: Farrior is a Steelers Legend at this point isn't he? Screw you, I say he is. James has a new contract that will let him finish his career in the 'Burgh. Foote's days are numbered as Timmons has shown he can blow up plays like few can (in the pre-season). Timmons time is still to come. Fox is a good special teamer and a solid back up. Cornerback: 1. Ike Taylor 2. Deshea Townsend 3. Bryant McFadden 4. William Gay 5. Anthony Madison Breakdown: Ike is the cream of the crop for the Steelers and if the dude could catch a ball he would be an all-pro. What does Bryant McFadden have to do to get a starting job? I love Deshea for all that he has done but McFadden is a better player in my mind. William Gay is a good young corner and Madison helps the special teams game. Decent group, nothing to get excited about though. Safety: 1. Troy Polamalu 2. Ryan Clark 3. Anthony Smith 4. Tyrone Carter Breakdown: Short and sweet: Troy is great, Clark lost a spleen but is still better then dumbass Smith and Tyrone Carter can't tackle. Plus, his brother skipped out on jail so he could see Super Bowl XL in Detroit. Kicker: 1. Jeff Reed Breakdown: Dude is a kicker so you expect him to make kicks and act like a weirdo outside of football. Mission Accomplished! Punter: 1. Mitch Berger Breakdown: Mitch takes over for the injured Daniel Sepulveda. I will miss Sepulveda and his LB mentality. Watch this clip. We aren't done yet, who could forget this guy? Long Snapper: 1. Greg Warren Breakdown: Yeah, I am not going to sit here and act like I pay any attention to this guy and his job. Of course, the minute he screws up I will be all over it.