Mike Tomlin has the impossible job of a head coach every year when it comes to whittling down Roster spots. He has to have hard conversations with young men, and sometimes veterans, about how they will not be on the team’s 53-man roster. This year was no different and yesterday the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that Tomlin had cut the roster down to 53 players.
“It’s always difficult. It’s difficult whether you have games, it’s difficult if you don’t have games because you’ve just got a level of respect for what these guys put into this process,” Tomlin said, via the Steelers. “It’s a culmination of a lot of work, not only dating back to the spring, but really all of their football lives, and so we’re highly sensitive to that, we’re respectful of that. Business has to get done but it gets done with that sensitivity and that understanding.”
To see the full 53-man roster, click here. In addition to the roster cuts, the Steelers added 15 players to the practice squad. Those players can be found by clicking here.
Here are my thoughts and takeaways from the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and practice squad.
An overhaul on Special Teams
Listen, it might not be the most exciting moment of football, but it’s the part where the game is actually played with feet. Can you tell I’m a soccer writer? Anyway, Jordan Berry has been no stranger to the roster slicing of the Steelers. He was cut once before and then re-signed after some punting struggles a couple years ago. Now, Berry gets the axe again, along with long-snapper Kameron Canaday.
Taking their places are some new, fresh faces to join veteran Chris Boswell. Pressley Harvin III is now the Steelers starting punter, and Christian Kuntz is the team’s long snapper. Kuntz is an interesting case for the Steelers, as he was on the roster last year as a linebacker. However, that area of the field is a bit crowded. The Steelers are now using Kuntz’ services somewhere else.
Harvin III will be holding it down for Boswell’s field goal attempts.
We have placed OL Zach Banner, RB Anthony McFarland Jr. and DE Stephon Tuitt on the Reserve/Injured List.
We have also signed OL Rashaad Coward, OL B.J. Finney and CB Arthur Maulet to the 53-man roster.https://t.co/U5eKRCj0pT
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 1, 2021
Edmunds, Samuels demoted to Steelers Practice Squad
Trey Edmunds and Jaylen Samuels were both on the 53-man roster for Pittsburgh last year. This year, they have been demoted down to the Practice Squad.
Najee Harris was drafted earlier this year and has impressed during preseason showings. Benny Snell Jr. made a name for himself last year in competition with former Steelers running back, and current Arizona Cardinals man, James Connor. Meanwhile, Derek Watt is back as a fullback. Anthony McFarland Jr. also retained his spot on the 53-man roster.
Kalen Ballage is the new face. The 25-year-old from Colorado was drafted by Miami in 2018, spending two seasons with the Dolphins. Last year, Ballage featured for the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers.
Who will start at Tight End?
Eric Ebron, Zach Gentry and NFL rookie Pat Freiermuth are listed as the team’s tight ends. The Steelers drafted Freiermuth from Penn State in the second round of the NFL Draft. There’s a good chance that he could unseat veteran Ebron and third-year player Gentry of the starting role.
Right now on the depth chart, Ebron is listed as the No. 1 tight end. However, that doesn’t mean that Freiermuth, who is No. 2, will be ignored. The Steelers drafted him high, so they’ll be looking to get him good minutes — especially in the end zone.
How will Cameron Sutton hold up as CB?
Centerback? No silly! Cornerback!
Cameron Sutton is in his fifth season in the NFL, spending all of them with the Steelers. Sutton has never been a regular starter in all 16, or even a majority, of the calendar of NFL games. However, now that he is listed as the starting right cornerback, Sutton could see more minutes than ever before.
Last year, he started six out of 16 games for Pittsburgh. Now, of course, the league has added a game and there will be a total of 17 games. Don’t be surprised to see Sutton start all of them at right corner. Behind him on the depth chart is James Pierre, the 24-year-old Florida Atlantic alum.
'It’s not difficult at all. I have a great understanding of our defense. That is where it starts.' – Cam Sutton on being able to move around in the secondary, which is aided by his impressive football IQ
More: https://t.co/fBEN4m4rHZ pic.twitter.com/3r4rCaOjjJ
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) August 31, 2021
And, of course, the QB Depth Chart
Ben Roethlisberger is old news in this category. Of course, he’s going to be the starter this season. Will it be his last NFL season? Who knows! However, behind him is plenty of youth.
There are three quarterbacks on the depth chart. Joshua Dobbs was hurt in the preseason and has been placed on the Injured Reserve list. That leaves Roethlisberger as No. 1 and then you have some debate. Mason Rudolph is listed at No. 2 and Dwayne Haskins as No. 3. There has been a lot of debate on social media to who should be behind Roethlisberger — who is no stranger to injuries, mind you.
Rudolph has had a wild NFL career. His entire game log is a slew of up and down performances. There is no consistency. The same can also be said of Haskins, the former Ohio State quarterback who is a former first-round pick by Washington. In the hopes of Steelers fans, though, they wouldn’t be needed.
What’s next for the Steelers?
Pittsburgh opens up the NFL regular season against the Buffalo Bills, at Heinz Field, on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. The Steelers will then go on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.
Our initial 5⃣3⃣-man roster pic.twitter.com/k1bsRfQlWV
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 31, 2021
The post Kriger: Takeaways from the Pittsburgh Steelers finalized 53-man roster appeared first on Pittsburgh Sports Castle.
