Bubble 16-Starter 5

[SteelKnight]

OK. Now it's time for the fun. The games are about to begin.

Pick your Bubble 16 - 8 guys in and 8 guys out then your
Starter 5 - Five positional battles and who wins over whom.

Bubble 16

Bubble 8 in (no particular order)
1. Sean McHugh - How he plays makes a difference. The steelers were able to put off making the decision until this year because he got hurt. I hear Johnson is struggling.

2. Antonio Brown -He will try to return punts but in reality, he won't get to do it in the games. He will be inactive all year. He will only make the team in order to keep teams from stealing him. The Steelers can keep 6 WR but not 6 active.

3. Dwayne Wright- The OL coach likes him and if he is listed as FB and can block, he's in. He is very confident and says he can do everything.

4. Arnez Battle - He has looked good in camp receiving. If he can do what he was brought to do on ST, he's in.

5. Doug Legursky - I think Tomlin likes him and he spoke about is quickness blocking. If he doesn't make it, it is time for him to move on.

6. Jonathan Scott -OL coaches boy. I think he'll be inactive all season though (baring injury).

7. Keyaron Fox -If he can still play ST, he's in. he is a solid contributor and decent at ILB.

8. Stevenson Sylvester - He has flashed some talent. If he makes it, it would likely be just to protect him. Still he better do well on ST just in case.


Bubble 8 out (in no particular order)

1. Stephan Logan- I like the guy and I hope he makes it but right now outside looking in. He better return one for a TD in preseason.

2. Jonathan Dwyer - Injuries and struggling with blocking won't help. Wright and Redman also hurt him. I smell practice Squad.

3. David Johnson -I hear he is strugling. He still has a shot to beat McHugh though.

4. Craig Urbik - There is too much talent at guard now. Essex and Foster are fine backups. They will offer him practice squad though.

5. Crezdon Butler - very close

6. Frank Summers -no room for him. Even Dwyer would make it over him

7. Anthony Madison -no more ST only guys

8. Patrick Baily -no more ST only guys

Starter 5
1. Pouncey over Essex -I think the organization would like to keep the fans excited.*
2. Randel El over Sanders - only out of respect. (3rd WR is starter in some sets)
3. McFadden over Gay and Lewis
4. Keisel over Hood - only out of respect
5. Farrior over Foote - At least to start the season.

*If Essex beats Pouncy, Pouncey will immediately start studying the calls for center and will take over for Hartwig by the end of the season.

[whatdoiknow]

The steelers have kept 6 WR's several times. And Brown is a great return guy. Maybe the best in college football the past 10 years. He is truly a multiple threat in catching, running, returning, and even PASSING the ball at times. I think Antonio Brown is really gonna surprise alot of fans here. Watch out for him.

[GrizzlyDean]

Nice write up SteelKnight I enjoyed reading this.

[SteelKnight]

Originally Posted by whatdoiknow

The steelers have kept 6 WR's several times. And Brown is a great return guy. Maybe the best in college football the past 10 years. He is truly a multiple threat in catching, running, returning, and even PASSING the ball at times. I think Antonio Brown is really gonna surprise alot of fans here. Watch out for him.

Recently the keeping 6WR has been occasionally. They have gone with 5 and even at times survived with 4 (temporarily). I agree with you though that they will likely keep 6 WR this time because Brown is looking good.

They cannot afford however to keep 6WR on the active game day roster. He will likely be inactive the whole season. If they decide to put Sanders at KR and release Logan, someone like Burnett or ARE must do punts (I'm guessing they secretly don't want ARE but don't want to hurt his feelings). Burnett has fumbled a few times before. We'll see.

It is just not practical to activate Brown (even if he is good at PR) unless he can beat out ARE or Sanders for the 4th receiver.

I already think they will have an issue with either Sanders, ARE, or Battle. The Steelers like to go with 4 active WR. This means the 4th WR must be good at ST. I think it would be disrespectful to not have ARE make the top 4 so this leaves Sanders and Battle battling for the 4th spot (even if not 4th on depth). They may decide that both are capable and both help them with ST and decide to activate 5...fine. That may happen but no way are they activating 6 so Brown will be inactive.

If Battle sucks at ST, it will make things easier on everyone.

[SteelKnight]

Originally Posted by GrizzlyDean

Nice write up SteelKnight I enjoyed reading this.

Thanks. I'm no expert though...just for fun.

I can't wait for the game. I'm not in the Pitt area so I will have to wait until Sunday at 10 AM to watch the game on NFL Network.

[DanRooney]

Originally Posted by SteelKnight

OK. Now it's time for the fun. The games are about to begin.

Pick your Bubble 16 - 8 guys in and 8 guys out then your
Starter 5 - Five positional battles and who wins over whom.

Bubble 16

Bubble 8 in (no particular order)
1. Sean McHugh - How he plays makes a difference. The steelers were able to put off making the decision until this year because he got hurt. I hear Johnson is struggling.

2. Antonio Brown -He will try to return punts but in reality, he won't get to do it in the games. He will be inactive all year. He will only make the team in order to keep teams from stealing him. The Steelers can keep 6 WR but not 6 active.

3. Dwayne Wright- The OL coach likes him and if he is listed as FB and can block, he's in. He is very confident and says he can do everything.

4. Arnez Battle - He has looked good in camp receiving. If he can do what he was brought to do on ST, he's in.

5. Doug Legursky - I think Tomlin likes him and he spoke about is quickness blocking. If he doesn't make it, it is time for him to move on.

6. Jonathan Scott -OL coaches boy. I think he'll be inactive all season though (baring injury).

7. Keyaron Fox -If he can still play ST, he's in. he is a solid contributor and decent at ILB.

8. Stevenson Sylvester - He has flashed some talent. If he makes it, it would likely be just to protect him. Still he better do well on ST just in case.


Bubble 8 out (in no particular order)

1. Stephan Logan- I like the guy and I hope he makes it but right now outside looking in. He better return one for a TD in preseason.

2. Jonathan Dwyer - Injuries and struggling with blocking won't help. Wright and Redman also hurt him. I smell practice Squad.

3. David Johnson -I hear he is strugling. He still has a shot to beat McHugh though.

4. Craig Urbik - There is too much talent at guard now. Essex and Foster are fine backups. They will offer him practice squad though.

5. Crezdon Butler - very close

6. Frank Summers -no room for him. Even Dwyer would make it over him

7. Anthony Madison -no more ST only guys

8. Patrick Baily -no more ST only guys

Starter 5
1. Pouncey over Essex -I think the organization would like to keep the fans excited.*
2. Randel El over Sanders - only out of respect. (3rd WR is starter in some sets)
3. McFadden over Gay and Lewis
4. Keisel over Hood - only out of respect
5. Farrior over Foote - At least to start the season.

*If Essex beats Pouncy, Pouncey will immediately start studying the calls for center and will take over for Hartwig by the end of the season.

Keyaran Fox is on no bubble. He's a better player than James Farrior at this point of his career and the Steelers coaching staff knows it. James is on his last leg and Timmons will be slid into his position while Fox and Foote will battle for the mack position next year.

And Logan will make the team. It will be very dumb to get rid of a guy who broke our kick return records just to have another Dookie back there. He can't be released until Burnett or Brown prove they are not only reliable returners, but good ones. This isn't rocket science.

Arnaz Battle and Randle El are cancers on our team. They really have no purpose aside from veteran leadership, which we have enough of. Unfortunately Tomlin is a wuss and will be afraid to cut either of these guys and admit he made a mistake signing this waste of space.

[whatdoiknow]

Why can't Brown return Punts, as well as Kick-offs ? He was maybe one of the best Punt returners in college ball ?

[SteelKnight]

The other thing I might add about Brown is that Battle was brought over as a special teams gunner(by the new ST coach). If he can't beat out Madison to join Lewis with the first team then it may allow Brown to play. They will not keep Battle activated if he is not with the first team.

If Madison does beat Battle for gunner, Battle may lose his spot on the team. They may go with 5WR if they have to use up another CB spot for Madison.

[SteelKnight]

Originally Posted by DanRooney

Keyaran Fox is on no bubble. He's a better player than James Farrior at this point of his career and the Steelers coaching staff knows it. James is on his last leg and Timmons will be slid into his position while Fox and Foote will battle for the mack position next year.

And Logan will make the team. It will be very dumb to get rid of a guy who broke our kick return records just to have another Dookie back there. He can't be released until Burnett or Brown prove they are not only reliable returners, but good ones. This isn't rocket science.

Arnaz Battle and Randle El are cancers on our team. They really have no purpose aside from veteran leadership, which we have enough of. Unfortunately Tomlin is a wuss and will be afraid to cut either of these guys and admit he made a mistake signing this waste of space.

Good points.

I only put Fox and Sylvester on the bubble because last year we had 3 ILB and this year we will have 5. I do believe both will make the team but if they performed poorly, it would not shock me if Fox was released and Sylvester went to PS (if he cleared wavers). It would however shock me if Farrior didn't make the team.

I would like Logan to make the team but things don't look good for him because RB and WR positions are packed. He might need to run one back to solidify his spot.

I'm not thrilled about ARE or Battle either altough I hear both have been catching decently at camp. Ben has at least 3 TD passes to Battle. I hope Sanders beats out ARE.

What might be helpful is if you go to the Early 53 man roster thread and do your roster. Then you will see how tough it is and how quickly the 53 men fill up. I'd be interested to see who you cut.

Good thoughts

[SteelKnight]

Originally Posted by whatdoiknow

Why can't Brown return Punts, as well as Kick-offs ? He was maybe one of the best Punt returners in college ball ?

They are going to try him returning punts. Maybe if he returns one for a TD it will open some eyes but the problem is more of available active game day spots.

If the team would be willing to put him above ARE and Battle, then we might be OK.

I don't think he will beat Sanders and I am guessing Battle is to replace Madison as first team gunner opposite Lewis.

If the team keeps Madison then they can afford to release Battle, this would help Brown's chances because then the Steelers could go with 5 active (including Brown) and use him as PR. 5 active would be tough but with no Logan, they can do it.