Training Camp at St. Vincent College has been business as usual and tomorrow is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first pre-season game of the 2019-2020 season. As training camp and pre-season games begin to unfold, the Steelers staff will get a better feel for the players currently on the roster. There will be cuts, signings and injuries that will change the roster outlook, but right now where we are (8/8/2019), this is what the final roster may look like.
If you’d like to see the first version of the 53-man Roster Prediction (5/14), click here.
* I have ordered these positions in depth chart order, so starters at the top, back-ups below, and so on.
Offense (25)
Quarterback (3)
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Delvin Hodges
A bit of a bold prediction here to keep Hodges. The Steelers will carry three quarterbacks. I fully expect Mason Rudolph to take full control of the top-backup spot to Roethlisberger. New to the Steelers is Delvin Hodges, and word on the street is he’s having a good camp. Dobbs has been very shaky in camp, especially turning the ball over. The Steelers should keep Delvin Hodges.
Remember last year? Landry Jones was number two on the depth chart going into the first preseason game and ended up getting cut. Dobbs now holds that spot. Perhaps a repeat?
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Running Back (3)
James Conner
Jaylen Samuels
Benny Snell
Conner is obviously the starting running back in this offense with Samuels as the top-backup. Fans are a bit too quick to write off Samuels but he came along very nicely in 2018. Snell will definitely have a role in the 2019 offense, but it will be behind Conner and Samuels.
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Fullback (1)
Roosevelt Nix
Nix is undefeated.
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Wide Receiver (6)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Y)
Donte Moncrief (X)
James Washington (Z)
Diontae Johnson
Ryan Switzer
Diontae Spencer
Going with six here becuase I truly believe the Steelers will rotate a lot of these guys. Eli Rogers doesn’t belong on this roster, sorry to break it to his fan club. Watch for Diontae Spencer to push the envelope in this group. Spencer could be a true threat as a returner as well as electric after the catch.
Changes from v1:
– Johnny Holton
+ Diontae Spencer
Tight End (3)
Vance McDonald
Xavier Grimble
Christian Scotland-Williamson
Biggest surprise thus far, Zach Gentry doesn’t make the team, and CSW does. Scotland-Williamson has reportedly caught Tomlin’s eye as a blocker and that is exactly what the third tight end needs to excel at. Hopefully he shows this skill set off in pre-season. This team cannot be comfortable with Xavier Grimble as the top backup, but options are thin right now. Look for a potential add, or even trade within a months time. Gentry needs time and doesn’t offer much at this point. I could see the Steelers carrying him so he stays around for next year, though.
Changes from v1:
– Add/Trade TE
+ Christian Scotland-Williamson
Offensive Tackle (4)
Alejandro Villanueva (LT)
Matt Feiler (RT)
Chuk Okorafor
Zach Banner
It may be Hawkins vs. Banner for this last offensive tackle spot. I’m going with Banner for now since it seems Hawkins has only struggled, but this very well may change.
Changes from v1:
– Jerald Hawkins
+ Zach Banner
Interior Offensive Line (5)
Ramon Foster (LG)
Maurkice Pouncey (C)
David Decastro (RG)
B.J. Finney
Fred Johnson
Fred Johnson is reportedly having a very good camp. It would be wise to keep him around. The rest of this group is pretty much chalk.
Changes from v1:
-J.C. Hassenauer
+ Fred Johnson
Defense (25)
Defensive Line (6)
Cameron Heyward (RE)
Stephon Tuitt (LE)
Javon Hargrave (NT)
Tyson Alualu
Isaiah Buggs
Daniel McCullers
I hope I am wrong here with McCullers, but until he is unhinged from the roster, he stays. The Steelers keep signing more and more defensive linemen to compete, none have usurped Big Dan though. Could this be the year? Perhaps Lavon Hooks makes a final push.
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Inside Linebackers (4)
Devin Bush (Mack)
Vince Williams (Buck)
Mark Barron
Ulysees Gilbert III
I loved the Gilbert selection this year. His athleticism and speed will be a huge asset on special teams. He’s going to really shock some people. Regardless of being a special teams stud, Matakevich offers little on the defensive side of the ball. I think Robert Spillane could make a push, too.
Changes from v1:
– Tyler Matakevich
Outside Linebacker (EDGE) (5)
T.J. Watt (ROLB)
Bud Dupree (LOLB)
Ola Adeniyi
Anthony Chickillo
JT Jones
It’s time for Ola to show out. If he stays healthy I think the Steelers are going to rotate him in with Dupree a good bit, especially on obvious passing downs. I’m very iffy on Smith making this team, not hearing great things. On the other hand, I have heard great things regarding JT Jones. For now, Jones over Smith.
Changes from v1:
– Sutton Smith
+ JT Jones
Cornerback (6)
Joe Haden (RCB)
Steven Nelson (LCB)
Mike Hilton (SCB)
Cam Sutton
Justin Layne
Artie Burns
Cameron Sutton is reportedly having a stellar camp which should land him on this roster. Sadly, Artie Burns is still on this roster. He always has good camps, then continues to disappoint in the regular season when it matters.
Changes from v1:
+ Artie Burns
Safety (4)
Sean Davis (FS)
Terrell Edmunds (SS)
Marcus Allen
Kameron Kelly
Marcus Allen makes the team as the starting dime-backer. That is roughly 300 snaps in 2019. He better have a great camp. Kameron Kelly has been having a good camp and can spell Davis if he can’t remain healthy or gets hurt.
Changes from v1:
– P.J. Locke III
+ Kameron Kelly
Special Teams (3)
Kicker (1)
Chris Boswell
Hope the best for Boswell that he gets his sh*t together. I’m banking on it. It would benefit him and the Steelers both greatly.
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Punter (1)
Jordan Berry
I really wish the Steelers would have had a better plan for this position. Too many times have the Steelers needed a long punt and were then supplied with a short, tasteless pooch. With Berry’s contract and Ian Berryman‘s lack of a contract, Berry keeps his job. Berryman needs to have a stellar camp, while Berry a lackluster one for the incumbent to be usurped.
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Long Snapper (1)
Kameron Canaday
Solid.
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Practice Squad (10)
RB Ralph Webb
WR Tevin Jones
TE Zach Gentry
IOL J.C. Hassenauer
IOL Derwin Gray
LB Robert Spillane
OLB Sutton Smith
DB Brian Allen
S PJ Locke
K Matthew Wright
This was a tough list to comprise as some players are more than definitely suitable for the practice squad. Gentry ends up here as a former draft pick, as does Sutton Smith and Derwin Gray. Safety depth is needed so Locke makes the cut. I chose to keep Wright on the roster due to any potential Boswell meltdown or injury that may occur.
Changes from v1:
+ Ralph Webb
– Travon McMillan
+ J.C. Hassenauer
– Fred Johnson
+ P.J. Locke
– Dravon Askew-Henry
+ Brian Allen
– Tegray Scales
+ Sutton Smith
– Alexander Myres
+ Tevin Jones
– Tuzar Skipper
– Christian Scotland-Williamson
Credits: Spencer: Steelers.com, Kam Kelly: steelersnow.
1 comment
[…] For the first time since early January the Pittsburgh Steelers will take the field tonight in a game. No, the game doesn’t mean anything in terms of wins and losses but it means a ton for many of us. It’s a re-birth of sorts. All of the off-season crap is behind us. The summer was drama-free and the first weeks of Training Camp have been all about football and little else. Tonight when the Steelers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it will likely elicit and terrific sigh of relief as our guys are back. Maybe that sounds too dramatic but I think that’s what this gameday feels like. I’m glad it’s here and I’m thrilled to watch so many new guys bust their rear ends to show what they can do. Check out Cnic’s 53-man roster projection right here! […]