5 interesting decisions on Steelers initial 53-man depth chart

Steelers LB: Ulysees Gilbert as Devin Bush’s backup, Marcus Allen 3rd behind Joe Schobert

Like many predictions I have seen, Ulysees Gilbert was one of the players I was wrong about in my final 53-man roster prediction. After a sub-par training camp and a poor preseason, I really thought he was going to miss the cut this year.

However, not only did Gilbert make the team, but he’s listed as the primary backup at Mack linebacker behind Devin Bush. This is interesting considering how he struggled against the pass and missed numerous tackles in the preseason.

Meanwhile, Marcus Allen – who I thought looked better this summer – is currently listed as the third-string Buck linebacker behind both Joe Schobert and Robert Spillane. While I wouldn’t put too much stock into this (as Marcus Allen could wind up on IR with a hamstring injury), it’s interesting to note.

Pittsburgh doesn’t need to keep six inside linebackers in 2021. Which one of these players could be out the door if the Steelers need to make room for a free agent signing? That’s the big question.

While it’s important to take the initial 53-man depth chart with a grain of salt, the way that the Steelers have written up their players in the pecking order is interesting. We will see if there are any changes prior to their season-opener against the Buffalo Bills.