Lack of Depth Due to Steelers Off Field Decisions May Haunt 2013 Season
By Jim Conroy
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (5) brings much needed youth to the back up quarterback position. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 Roster Had Things According to My Plan (Starters in Bold)
Running Backs
Bradshaw, Stephens Howling, Redman, Dwyer, Will Johnson
Quarterbacks
Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Quinn
Offensive Line
Starks, Foster, Pouncey, Decastro, Adams, Beachum, Colon, Gilbert
Tight Ends
Miller, Eifert, Paulson, (D. Johnson or whomever until Miller returns)
Wide Receivers
Brown, Sanders, Wheaton, Cotchery, Justin Brown (Burress out with injury)
Defensive Line
Keisel, McClendon, Heyward, Woods, Ta’amu, 6th spot open for competition Arnfelt or Fangupo
Outside Linebackers
Harrison, Woodley, Worilds, Robinson, Simon
Inside Linebackers
Timmons, Arthur Brown, Vince Williams, Bryan Rolle, M. McFadden
Cornerbacks
Taylor, Lewis, Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, the remaining spot open to competition
Safety
Polamalu, Clark, Thomas, remaining spot open for competition
Special Teams
Greg Warren long snapper, Brain Moorman punter, Shaun Suisham kicker
Ziggy Hood, like Rashard Mendenhall, has been a disappointing #1 pick. Like Mendenhall the Steelers should not re-sign Hood for 2014. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Competition for a Few Roster Spots
That is 50 players with 3 open spots left which most likely would be between cb Josh Victorian and Terry Hawthorne, wr’s D.J. Woods or Derek Moye and linebackers Alan Baxter and Kion Wilson. I will also add that Baron Batch, Chris Carter and Ziggy Hood most likely would be casualties as I feel none has shown much if anything as a Steeler. Hood flashed in his first year but has been the worst ranked 3-4 defensive end by Pro Football Focus over the last 3 years. Pro Football Focus also shows that Cameron Heyward has statistically out performed Hood with much less playing time. It is time to give Heyward his shot and to move on from Hood.