Visit NFL from the sidelines on the new Observer-Reporter site: http://www.observer-reporter.com/section/BLOGS08

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

New depth chart, new questions

The Steelers released their depth chart for the game against Washington with some major/minor changes to it.

Le'Veon Bell is now listed as a co-starter at running back along with Isaac Redman, despite missing the opener with a sore knee.

Brian Moorman has also moved up to co-No.1 at punter with Drew Butler, which is obviously a big deal since only one of those guys will be sticking around.

On the second units, Joe Long has moved up to co-No. 2 at left tackle with D'Anthony Batiste. Considering that Long didn't play in the preseason opener, it's pretty much an indictment of how Batiste performed against the Giants.

At reserve strong safety, Shamarko Thomas was moved up to a co-No. 2 spot with Damon Cromartie-Smith. This is one I'm not going to read too much into.

Thomas is obviously a reasonably high draft pick and Cromartie-Smith made a big mistake on special teams, allowing his man in to block a punt. Thomas hasn't flashed all that much at training camp and Smith made a big mistake. The coaching staff is likely trying to light a fire under both in Mike Tomlin's old two dogs, one bone theory.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

i thought shamarko was having a great camp? Even being called a "headache"

will he not be the first safety off the bench?

Anonymous said...

Right now I would say the first safety off the bench. Will be Golden

Henry said...

Dale, who is taking 2nnd reps at center? Malecki, Beachum?

The Cheadle injury just adds insult to Embernate going down.

Who is this team's first interior Olineman off the bunch. Pouncey usually misses. A couple games and DD is coming off a severe injury from just a year ago.

Dale Lolley said...

First safety off bench is, indeed, Golden.

Beachum took No. 2 reps at center Wednesday, but that was just a one-day thing. Malecki has done it most of the time.
Beachum will be first guy off bench at every position with the possible exception of center.

Henry said...

That makes sense. One other question:

What's your take on Paulson's overall athleticism? I know he's not the strongest guy, but hook routes seem to be his forte as he squares himself to the line of scrimmage and gets up field well. That's one thing my untrained eye noticed.

datruth4life said...

Dale, here is my final 53-man roster after one preseason game. Your thoughts?

QUARTERBACK (3) – Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones

RUNNING BACK (5) – Le’Veon Bell, Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Larod Stephens-Howling, Will Johnson (FB)

WIDE RECEIVER (5) – Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, Markus Wheaton, Reggie Dunn (KR/PR/WR)

TIGHT END (3) – Heath Miller, David Paulson, Michael Palmer

OFFENSIVE LINE (8) – Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, David DeCastro, Mike Adams, Marcus Gilbert, Kelvin Beachum, John Malecki, Joe Long

DEFENSIVE LINE (7) – Ziggy Hood, Steve McLendon, Brett Keisel, Cameron Heyward, Al Woods, Alameda Ta’amu, Brian Arnfelt

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4) – LaMarr Woodley, Jarvis Jones, Jason Worilds, Adrian Robinson

INSIDE LINEBACKER (5) – Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, Marshall McFadden, Kion Wilson, Vince Williams

CORNERBACK (6) – Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, William Gay, Curtis Brown, Isaiah Green, T. Hawthorne

SAFETY (4): Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Shamarko Thomas, Robert Golden

SPECIALIST (3) – Shaun Suisham, Drew Butler, Greg Warren

PUP List to Begin the season: TE/FB D. Johnson, ILB S. Spence

IR/Designated to Return List: TE Matt Spaeth

IR List (Done for the Season): CB D. VanDyke, WR Plaxico Burress, G Embernate.

Practice Squad: G J. Cheadle, OT Mike Farrell, RB A. Alexander, DE N. Williams, CB J. Victorian, LB A. Baxter, WR Justin Brown, WR Derrick Moye.