TMC
08-10-2008, 12:25 PM
So, I was sitting here thinking of who would be my 53 man roster today and I guess the best way for me to come to that is by formulating the guys I think are locks.......here are mine.
QB-Roethlisberger. (1)
Only one lock for me because I have a feeling Batch could go to IR and I am not counting IR guys towards my top 53. The signing of a backup could shed some light on this. They may be waiting to give details on Batch so they do not lose negotiating leverage.
RB/FB-Parker, Mendenhall, Russell, Moore, and Davis. (5)
Vincent and Latsko are okay, but I think the 5 mentioned are head and shoulders better.
TE-Miller and Spaeth (2)
Really unsure about the guys behind them.
WR-Ward, Holmes, Washington, Sweed. (4)
Wow, do we have some hit or miss guys behind those 4.
OT-Smith, Colon, Starks. (3)-(Hills is close for me)
While some got on Hills, I watched the replay this morning and there were plays were Hills drove his man on runs. Only one play where he was beaten on a pass rush and that was because his hand punch was weak. He got his hand on the DE, but did not jar him. I think that comes in time.
OG-Kemo, Simmons, Essex (3)
Essex is our swingman, but I put him here because Hills does not have the power to be a backup OG. Either way, 5 OTs and 2 OGS or 4 OTs and 3 OGS....total is the same.
C-Mahan, Hartwig. (2)
I am not upset with Stapleton, but this is a numbers crunch. Stapleton cannot play OT, Essex can. Do you dump a project at OT or one at OG? I keep Hills over Stapleton.
DE-Smith, Keisel, Eason. (3)
Kirskche did not play. I liked what McBean did. In fact, if they insisted on keeping Kirsksche, I would carry 5 and keep McBean. I think he is a guy on the rise.
NT-Hamp and Hoke. (2)
Nobody is even close to challenging these two.
OLB-Woodley, Harrison, Davis (3).
Davis made some plays, swatting a ball out of Feeley's hand and bringing some pressure. He also played pretty well on special teams. I do not know if I keep A Harrison or not. I am on the fence.
ILB-Farrior, Timmons, Foote, Fox. (4)
I like the way Fox plays. I liked Humpal as well and was close to putting 5 on there.
CB-Taylor, Townsend, Gay, McFadden, and Madison. (5)
A no brainer.
S-Polamalu, Clark. (2)
Honestly, Mundy, Smith, and Carter have something to prove. Two of those make it, two do not. I have Mundy as my #3 simply because he is more athletic than Carter and uses his head more than Smith.
Specialists-Reed, Warren, Drummond. (3)
I am still not sold on our new punter and have a feeling we add one after waivers.
So, the issues I would be working out as training camp progresses are:
-Who are my backup QBs.
-Do I keep a 3rd TE?
-Do I keep a 5th WR or use Drummond? Maybe both.
-Does Hills lock up that last lineman spot or do I keep Stapleton? Maybe 10?
-Do I keep 4 or 5 DEs? McBean over Kirschke? Kirschke is 34 and would open $700,000 if released.
-Who is my 4th OLB or do I just go with 5 ILBs since Timmons can play either in a pinch.
-Who are my backup safeties?
-Do I find a better punter or just try to score on every offensive possession?
QB-Roethlisberger. (1)
Only one lock for me because I have a feeling Batch could go to IR and I am not counting IR guys towards my top 53. The signing of a backup could shed some light on this. They may be waiting to give details on Batch so they do not lose negotiating leverage.
RB/FB-Parker, Mendenhall, Russell, Moore, and Davis. (5)
Vincent and Latsko are okay, but I think the 5 mentioned are head and shoulders better.
TE-Miller and Spaeth (2)
Really unsure about the guys behind them.
WR-Ward, Holmes, Washington, Sweed. (4)
Wow, do we have some hit or miss guys behind those 4.
OT-Smith, Colon, Starks. (3)-(Hills is close for me)
While some got on Hills, I watched the replay this morning and there were plays were Hills drove his man on runs. Only one play where he was beaten on a pass rush and that was because his hand punch was weak. He got his hand on the DE, but did not jar him. I think that comes in time.
OG-Kemo, Simmons, Essex (3)
Essex is our swingman, but I put him here because Hills does not have the power to be a backup OG. Either way, 5 OTs and 2 OGS or 4 OTs and 3 OGS....total is the same.
C-Mahan, Hartwig. (2)
I am not upset with Stapleton, but this is a numbers crunch. Stapleton cannot play OT, Essex can. Do you dump a project at OT or one at OG? I keep Hills over Stapleton.
DE-Smith, Keisel, Eason. (3)
Kirskche did not play. I liked what McBean did. In fact, if they insisted on keeping Kirsksche, I would carry 5 and keep McBean. I think he is a guy on the rise.
NT-Hamp and Hoke. (2)
Nobody is even close to challenging these two.
OLB-Woodley, Harrison, Davis (3).
Davis made some plays, swatting a ball out of Feeley's hand and bringing some pressure. He also played pretty well on special teams. I do not know if I keep A Harrison or not. I am on the fence.
ILB-Farrior, Timmons, Foote, Fox. (4)
I like the way Fox plays. I liked Humpal as well and was close to putting 5 on there.
CB-Taylor, Townsend, Gay, McFadden, and Madison. (5)
A no brainer.
S-Polamalu, Clark. (2)
Honestly, Mundy, Smith, and Carter have something to prove. Two of those make it, two do not. I have Mundy as my #3 simply because he is more athletic than Carter and uses his head more than Smith.
Specialists-Reed, Warren, Drummond. (3)
I am still not sold on our new punter and have a feeling we add one after waivers.
So, the issues I would be working out as training camp progresses are:
-Who are my backup QBs.
-Do I keep a 3rd TE?
-Do I keep a 5th WR or use Drummond? Maybe both.
-Does Hills lock up that last lineman spot or do I keep Stapleton? Maybe 10?
-Do I keep 4 or 5 DEs? McBean over Kirschke? Kirschke is 34 and would open $700,000 if released.
-Who is my 4th OLB or do I just go with 5 ILBs since Timmons can play either in a pinch.
-Who are my backup safeties?
-Do I find a better punter or just try to score on every offensive possession?