Players to watch...

[Steelafan77]

Players I wanted to have a closer look at are...

McCain vs Blake.
No secret here we have little established quality depth at CB. Some have both making the 53 I have one. Should be very interesting which one arrives tonight and earns his spot on the team.

Richardson has been quiet for most of the camp and pre season stuff. Although I am optimistic he has me a bit concerned. I'll be looking for him to make a statement tonight. If he even plays. A bit of a pre season rookie coming out party.

Hemer vs Mauro vs Williams vs Philon vs McCullers I will be watching closely too. These 5 guys are likely playing for 2 possibly 3 roster spots. I know who my favorites are. Hemer has come on a bit in the last couple pre season games. Was quiet in camp. Williams has a better shot to make this 53 than any of those listed IMO. Although Williams is still eligible for the practice squad I think he'd rather be on the active 53. Mauro and McCullers are my favorites to make the 53.

Hubbard vs Simmons vs Johnson vs Pocic vs Whimper vs Adams is another battle I look forward to watching to night. Basically these 6 guys are playing for 3-4 back up roster spots IMO. Also have my favorites in this competition. Don't know a darned thing about Pocic so I really have no comment other than the more competition the better. Pocic is listed as OT but has primarily played OG in his career. I like Hubbard over Simmons and Johnson over Pocic and Adams over Whimper at this point.

HoJo vs Moats vs Carter vs Molls vs Williams vs Spence vs Zumwalt vs Garvin . This is the biggie for me. The log jam at ILB makes this years LB competition exciting. So here we have 8 guys playing for 4-5 roster spots and likely a PS position or two. This competition will be interesting to say the least. My favorites are Moats, Williams, Spence, Garvin and HoJo. Carter may steal a spot from an experience standpoint. Zumwalt may clrear waviers and make the PS. Too injured not enough tape throughout the pre season and got a late start in OTA's/Camp.

TE I have Miller, Speath and Palmer. Paulson is in a do or die scenario I think. Too bad Waters didn't make it. Perhaps he makes a PS spot. Blanchflower is in the same boat as Zumwalt. Banged up with little tape and experience. PS candidate. Not sure what to make from Bryce. Perhaps he's in the soon to be second cuts as Warren is expected back for week one.

WR is all but decided it would seem. Brown, Wheaton, Moore, Heyward-Bey, JBrown and Bryant. Unless Moye pushes either of JBrown or Heyward-Bey off the roster he's PS bound. Should he clear waviers and accept the PS spot.

RB is the same as WR. Bell, Blount, Archer and Johnson. Perhaps Houston and Harris compete for a good showing. That's likely for a PS spot.

LJones better get it right tonight. I've seen that Tomlin plans to feature Jones for the start of this last pre season game. Playing for his career here tonight. Can't help but root for him.

Anyone else have specific guys they are watching in tonight's game? Any favorites? Dark horses to surprise and make the 53 over what may have been perceived as a sure fire candidate to make the 53?

[Steelknife]

Moye has shown something.

JB has shown nothing, ever.

No way JB should make the roster ahead of Moye.

Which means he will.

[Legacy User]

I think you hit on all the players I would have mentioned, 77. I'll have to watch the game on DVR delay tonight, but I'm hoping they look better than they did against Philly.

[Kodiak]

No way JB should make the roster ahead of Moye.

I don't think either one makes the roster. JB is PS-eligible. Looks like DHB may have the inside track here, and I just don't see Moye/JB justifying carrying 6 receivers. They certainly could do that, since they aren't exactly a deep team you're talking about trade-offs among players who probably aren't long for this league.

Under no circumstances would I expose McCullers to waivers to put Moye or JB on the 53. Again, that's not necessarily the choice facing them.

[Steelafan77]

I haven't seen enough of JBrown to justify him having a spot over Moye who earned [limited] playing time last season. If I'm allowed to pick I go with Moye over JBrown. Stick JBrown on the PS another year. Heyward-Bey is making the roster due to position flexibility. ST's demon and speedy WR w/suspect hands but Bey has proven a several times he can catch and keep hold of the ball. So... like I said it will be interesting tonight. The "witching Hour" for roster spots.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

[Legacy User]

Moye has shown something.

JB has shown nothing, ever.

No way JB should make the roster ahead of Moye.

Which means he will.

Yep JBrown has been more invisible this preseason than last year when he dropped pass and melted on live TV like a cartoon character from Sponge Bob. I suspect that DHBs garbage time TD catch locked him as the #5 seed. Moye will be catching passes from Hoyer in game 1. JBrown will get an undeserved PS slot due to lack of adequate competition.

[Steelafan77]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Please explain sir.

[Legacy User]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

I think DHBs "vaunted" special teams skills get him he #5 WR spot.

[bradshaw2ben]

They carried only 4 WR just two years ago. They might have been the last NFL team in history to do that. The year with 6 was kind of an aberration for this franchise.

[Steelafan77]

I hated that too. Setting yourself up for disaster if there's an injury. I understand with lack of quality depth this year roster spots are at a premium. Perhaps they keep extra DLine and OLine in addition to LB?

[Legacy User]

I think they carry 5-1/2 WRs and 4-1/2 RBs.

[955876]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Which would be incredibly fucking stupid. Need at least 5.

One or two guys get dinged in game and now you have Heath Miller and some other TE stiff lining up at WR.

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Moye or Brown

[Legacy User]

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/south-carolina-gamecocks-vs-texas-am-aggies-game-preview-and-prediction

[955876]

I think they carry 5-1/2 WRs and 4-1/2 RBs.

Agreed.

As long as it's 5 1/2 and not 4 1/2.

Let's not forget, Wheaton hasn't proven shit and Moore to me was a meh signing. Hoping I'm wrong.

DHB has speed and some size to him. At the least, he presents a mismatch over a #3 to #5 corner.

I realize his hands haven't been great but he won't drop them all and you have to account for him.

He isn't a great starter but he is a decent depth guy.

[Steelknife]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Which would be incredibly fucking stupid. Need at least 5.

One or two guys get dinged in game and now you have Heath Miller and some other TE stiff lining up at WR.

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Moye or Brown

You forgot Bryant.

I'd go with

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Bryant
Moye

6, but screw it. Bring in Moye and Bryant when in the redzone. If we only go with 5, I get rid of Bey.

Reason I go Moore over Bey is that Moore has produced, and until last year, was good for 6-8 TDs per year.

[Mick]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Which would be incredibly fucking stupid. Need at least 5.

One or two guys get dinged in game and now you have Heath Miller and some other TE stiff lining up at WR.

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Moye or Brown

bryant.

I don't think you give 5 guys helmets unless the 5th is a good ST guy. That being the case, you have the issue you mention even if you keep 6 wrs; two injuries, and you don't have enough guys to run 3 wr sets.

But two injuries at any position during a game and you are usually screwed. Who is our 3rd center on game day? Who is our 2nd long snapper?

You give roster spots to jags either because they will play or because they have upside. Not because injury attrition may eventually move them up the depth chart.

[Legacy User]

My 5 (plus Archer) would be:

Antonio Brown
Markus Wheaton
Lance Moore
Martavis Bryant
Darrius Heyward-Bey

Justin Brown and Derek Moye are practice squad types.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Which would be incredibly fucking stupid. Need at least 5.

One or two guys get dinged in game and now you have Heath Miller and some other TE stiff lining up at WR.

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Moye or Brown

you have Moye or Justin Brown making it over Bryant? Are you the guy from the SteelersDepot podcast? WTF?

[Legacy User]

I'll be recording...my big hope is Tomlin runs the first team Oline/WR some...there are degrees of bad that squash adverse to injury...imo Pouncey and AB are the only two that's played well enough to sit.

Carter has been fucking terrible vs the run...but has shown some explosion in the pass rush...I'm hoping HJ puts a fork in him as I would rather bet on a new guy at this point.

Much speculation on Bryant, Richardson and DMC and I think they make the cut. Zumwalt needs to light shit up...but I haven't checked his status. I really haven't seen shit out of DHB or Moats...I'm cheering for Molls but it's uphill.....

[Jobu]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

And at least 4 TEs.

[955876]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

Which would be incredibly fucking stupid. Need at least 5.

One or two guys get dinged in game and now you have Heath Miller and some other TE stiff lining up at WR.

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Moye or Brown

You forgot Bryant.

I'd go with

Brown
Wheaton
Moore
DHB
Bryant
Moye

6, but screw it. Bring in Moye and Bryant when in the redzone. If we only go with 5, I get rid of Bey.

Reason I go Moore over Bey is that Moore has produced, and until last year, was good for 6-8 TDs per year.

Damn, I totally forgot bout him.

Brown, Wheaton, Bryant, Moore, DHB.

I don't think I'd keep Moye or Brown over any of those guys. With the exception of Moore. Small & slow isn't something I'm too excited bout.

Although, he does have a smoking hot GF so I suppose that counts for something.

[955876]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

And at least 4 TEs.

I'll fucking puke. We barely have two worthy of a roster spot let alone 4.

[Mick]

We should see what heyward bey can do at TE. Dude's 220 and I think he could add a few more and still be hard for lbs to keep up with.

[Jobu]

I think they're more likely to keep only 4 WR than to keep 6.

And at least 4 TEs.

I'll fucking puke. We barely have two worthy of a roster spot let alone 4.

In the two Seasons with Haley as OC, have they ever had less than 4?
I guess we can hope they consider Johnson as one of the 4.
Wasn't there times last season when they actually carried 6, not including WJ.

[955876]

I hear ya. And it's part reason our offense has been so bad for stretches under Haley. Too much emphasis on positions rather than putting guys in the field who can actually make plays.

DCs prolly love to see us get into multiple TE sets know ok g they can erase or ignore anyone not named Miller.

[Gonzo]

I dint think They will carry 6 WRs
And I think the competition is already over
Brown, Wheaton, Moore, Bryant and DHB - Moye to the PS

They will keep 3 QBs so i think Laundry is still in

The front 7 on D and OL are where the battles are still,ongoing and I think were we may see some surprises