Steelers Trio: Grading ingredients in preseason loss vs. Panthers

The Steelers fell short in the Carolinas Thursday night. With the loss came cuts Saturday evening. Today, we see how our ingredients performed on the bubble-game.

After a 25-19 loss in Charlotte, some players stood out made their case for the roster. Others saw their tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers end. Cut downs are always tough calls to make.

Many players made splash plays and made their case for not only the Steelers roster but other rosters as well. Players like Diontae Spencer quickly found other homes while others received practice squad invites.

The ingredients we revisit all had something on the line. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding these positions and their status. Some did enough to solidify their spot while others were not quite as fortunate.

With that being said, let’s dig in!

Slaw: Safety

This area went about as I expected. Some players you supposed to play well did so. Others that were on the bubble missed one too many opportunities that ultimately saw them cut.

For starters, Kameron Kelly put the cherry on top of his preseason. Though he only recorded one tackle on an assist, his speed and instincts were still on display. He has brought a determination that rubs off as he continues his Cinderella story after that folding of the AAF.

While Kelly landing on the roster was almost inevitably going into the game, the battle of Marcus Allen and Jordan Dangerfield was not. The Danger Zone ultimately won the battle.

Dangerfield, in his limited time on defense, displayed his veteran savviness. Though like Kelly, he only recorded a tackle on an assist, he showed his instincts and ability to react as the play developed quickly. He was rarely out of position.

Compared to his counterpart, Marcus Allen ultimately might have just made one mistake that was too many. Though he made two solo tackles, his poor positioning led to 54-yard catch and run by Panther receiver DeAndrew White. This play might have ultimately sealed his fate (though it is worth mentioning, he did find a spot on the practice squad.)

Overall, the safety fared well—final cut Marcelis Branch even snagged an interception. However, the Steelers, for now, have decided to roll with four safeties. The chances were there throughout the preseason, and ultimately it didn’t pan out for players like Marcus Allen.

Verdict: Decent Quality