What should Steelers fans make of our 53-man roster and practice squad?
By Eric Hassel
The Steelers have finalized the ’53’ and the practice squad. So what do fans make of the 2021 roster?
So, let me address the ‘elephant in the room’. I do not believe that either the ’53’ or the practice squad will remain static for the entire 2021 season. It very well could and it may, but I just do not see that happening. The Steelers, in my opinion, are in a ‘win now’ mindset, but my concern is this: Do we have the roster, active or practice squad, to win a seventh Lombardi Trophy?
Frankly, all that matters to me is that we win enough games to get into the playoffs, we make a run, and that run culminates in the Steelers bringing a seventh Super Bowl victory to the city of Pittsburgh and to the fans who, like me, reside elsewhere. So, how are looking as we sit here today?
On paper, I think the roster, again, the ’53’ and the practice squad, is good, but maybe not great; however, we need the roster to be great. My hope is that the play on the field will allay any concerns I, and, I dare say, other Steelers fans have, but that is not a guarantee. So what would it take for hope to become reality?
Since we have posed a few questions, I think it’s time to commence with answering said questions. Before we commence with the aforementioned, let me say that I look at the 2021 Steelers roster from the perspective of a fan who has been watching football since 1978. With that in mind, let’s proceed.
The Steelers will field a team for the 2021 season with dreams of hoisting another Lombardi Trophy
Let’s make one thing clear; the Steelers organization and Steelers fans have an expectation that every season, we will be playing meaningful football in January. What that means is that we will have made the playoffs. So what do fans make of the initial 2021 roster?
On the offensive side of the ball, we will be lead by Ben Roethlisberger, our franchise and future Hall of Fame QB, so no surprise there. The ability or inability to protect ‘Big Ben’ will dictate the outcome of the season, make no doubt. I have concerns about the ‘O-line’ that will be charged with not only protecting ‘Big Ben’ but with opening holes for Najee Harris, our first-round pick this year.
If you look objectively at all of the ‘O-lineman’ on the ’53’, Kevin Dotson, our second-year guard out of Louisiana, maybe our best lineman. No disrespect intended toward any others, but we have a lot of question marks along the line, Honestly, I was glad to hear that we re-signed one of the veterans we had initially released. B.J. Finney, the veteran guard/center to whom I refer, is a solid player who has starting experience. Why the Steelers released him in the first place is beyond my comprehension.
On the defensive side of the ball, I think there are concerns much like we have on the offensive side of the ball. I would say we are ‘razor thin’ at both Safety positions. I do not think it is a coincidence that the Steelers signed Karl Joseph, a former first-round pick of the then Oakland Raiders, to the practice squad. I hope no one poaches him before we have a chance to see what he can offer. The rest of the practice squad consists of the ‘usual suspects’, I would say. I really hope that these players can develop into quality backups or starters if the need arises.
With the announcement that Stephon Tuitt, our starting DE in 2020, has been placed on the IR, we are also ‘razor thin’ along the ‘D-line’. Yes, right now, we are carrying seven defensive linemen, but if any of our starters go down, the Steelers have inexperience waiting to fill the void.
So let’s answer these two questions simultaneously: ‘Do we have the roster, active or practice squad, to win a seventh Lombardi Trophy?’; ‘So what would it take for hope to become reality?’ The answer to both of these questions is simply this: I have no idea. As I stated, I have concerns and I believe those concerns are valid. If they come to fruition, it will be a long season; if they do not come to fruition, the Steelers may just win our seventh Lombardi Trophy.