Post draft roster / positional breakdown

[Litos]

A quick glimpse at how I think the FA/draft may affect certain position battles and roster spots heading into OTA's. I'll skip the positions where things remain unchanged, namely QB, OT, DE, K/P.


RB1 James Connor
RB2 Benny Snell
RB3/H-back/3rd down back James Samuels
FB1 Roosevelt Nix

Now that's a solid rotation, nice depth to offset potential injury, and the ability to keep runners fresh throughout games.

WR1 JuJu
WR2 Moncrief
WR3 Johnson
WR4 Washington
WR5 Switz

I may be the only one, but I think Moncrief wins the #2 job opposite JuJu. Just a hunch. I think D. Johnson becomes the primary slot guy (rotating w Switz) and James Washington plays in 4-5 reciever sets. Eli Rogers is on the outside looking in.


TE1 McDonald
TE2 Gentry
TE3 Grimble

I think Gentry surprises with his move skills & athleticism, he's not the plodder people may think. A bigger question in fact, is his ability as an in-line blocker, where Grimble may have an edge right now.

OG1 DeCastro
OG2 Foster
OG3 ?

Steelers added a number of prospects to the interior O-line, should be an interesting battle to watch. Derwin Gray, Fred Johnson, Garett Brumfield, RJ Prince will be vying for prob 1 spot, curious to see who rises to the occasion.

DT1 Hargrave
DT2 Buggs
DT3 McCullers

If they keep two interior lineman, McCullers may be the odd man out.

ILB1 Bush
ILB2 Williams
ILB3 Barron
ILB4 Gilbert

Matakevich will be in the roster battle of his life, as there are now multiple linebackers who can play ST's, including Gilbert & Sutton Smith. The fact they released Bostic just proves (to me) they're ready to move ahead with these quicker, faster LB's.

OLB1 Watt
OLB2 Dupree
OLB3 Smith
OLB4 Adeniyi

Again, I'm projecting here... but Chickillo may be the odd man out. This is a huge leap of faith regarding Ola Adeniyi, that the Steelers like his pash rush and he shows up to camp in great shape & health. As far as Sutton Smith....re-watch yesterday's presser with Tomlin & Colbert, it's shocking the amount of time they spent discussing Smith, arguably more than any other draft pick. Just kept coming back to him, over and over. It seems highly likely they have plans for him, above and beyond just being a ST guy. We'll see about that, but it may very well be in the cards.

CB1 Haden
CB2 Nelson
CB3 Hilton
CB4 Layne
CB5 Sutton
CB6 Allen

Unless Artie Burns shows up a changed man, playing with his hair on fire, he may very well be bumped off the roster. Justin Layne could easily move up this list, and get significant playing time early on. Brian Allen seems to be at the crossroads, he's been here long enough if he's gonna take a big step forward it should be happening right around now. Cam Sutton showed flashes last year, perhaps he too takes that sophmore leap the Steelers coaches preach about.

S1 Edmunds
S2 Davis
S3 Allen
S4 Kelly

IMO Kameron Kelly is the one AAF guy who may have a shot to make the roster. If he shows more than Dangerfield, that is. Tomlin mentioned they also look at Hilton & Sutton as safety capable, as is I presume Brian Allen. So they may only keep three S and rotate in some of these corners. The elephant in the room is Marcus Allen, wether the kid is ready to take a big step and start making a name for himself. The table is set for him w Davis' contract up next year, I hope Allen comes ready to work. This safety group overall seems the thinnest position on the roster (besides TE), so would not shock me to see a veteran FA added here at some point.

Comments welcome, cheers!

Hey tibs great write-up, let me add some notes:
- I think we carry 5 WRs: Eli is gone if Switzarmy has a decent preseason
-OLine:
T: Villy, feiler, okorafor, Hawkins (he can play guard too, so does feiler)
G: decastro, foster, (Finney)
C: pouncey, Finney
[Total OL = 8]
- CBs: Haden , Nelson are the outside starters, Layne and Burns the backups. Sutton gets the starting spot at nickel CB away from Hilton.

- S: Davis FS, SS Edmunds, Barron rover S, Marcus Allen backup at ss and rover, Brian Allen makes it as backup FS

- ILB: mack Bush, buck Vince, Barron is backup for both spots plus rover S, 4th spot will be fought between grant, Sutton Smith and matakevic. Smith could make it as 5th ILB/OLB and special team ace.

So 9 linebackers (counting Barron here), 10 DBs. Marcus Allen will have a lot on his plate this season, also like Allen, Adeniyi just got big support given that none immediate threat to Dupree was drafted



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[steelermania]

Can't say it was much different with Cowher and Bettis though.

It wasn't, and let's not even talk about Barry Foster getting 390 carries in one year, which left him ruined.

 

[Tibs]

Smith could make it as 5th ILB/OLB and special team ace.

Yeah that will be intriguing to see where they end up putting Smith. It seems his core competency is rushing off the edge, comes with a vengeance, ears pinned back. His physique is that of an ILB though, so they may shuffle him around some. First and foremost I think he's gonna be dear to our hearts for the hits he'll be dishing out on ST's.

Marcus Allen will have a lot on his plate this season, also like Allen, Adeniyi just got big support given that none immediate threat to Dupree was drafted

Indeed, this draft should mean a big boost in confidence from the coaches and FO for both Allen and Adeniyi. They both have to step up big time to show they deserve it. I'm rooting for both of 'em.