8/5/23-Five Steelers Players You Know, Who Are On The Roster Bubble

By: Mike Pelaia

As the Steelers progress through camp, it should come as no surprise that players are starting to stand out, such as rookies Brodkerick Jones, Joey Porter Jr. and Darnell Washington, to name a few.  It’s also that time of camp to being thinking about guys who have been around for a while who may not get an invitation to join the team when rosters are cut to 53 players in a few weeks.

Who are the top 5 names that could be facing this roster casualty?

1. Mason Rudolph – How could that be, you may be asking. You may be saying, “the Steelers just signed this guy and brought him back, why would they cut hm?”.  Well,let’s not forget, the team didn’t really want him and he didn’t really them.  He was inactive for all but one game last season as the third string quarterback after the
   

   Rudolph drops back for a pass at camp

   signing of Mitch Trubisky and the drafting of Kenny Picket.  The Steelers signed rookie free agent Morgan Tanner out of Minnesota this offseason and if he shows enough to be a scout team quarterback, there is no reason to keep Mason Rudolph around.  Rudolph, while probably better than Morgan, is more expensive and won’t see the field so why not keep the rookie instead?

At the end of the day, I think the Steelers like Tanner but Rudolph will stay. The Steelers like veterans and the depth he can provide is just            too hard to overlook.

 

2.  Pressley Harvin III – The now third year punter has had his ups and downs in his first two season in the NFL. Harvin has a big, booming leg that when he’s on, he’s effective with. But he tends to come up short on needed kicks and long on others when he needs to pin the opposition near their own goal line. He did improve from year one to year two, so that’s a positive but he needs to show he’s capable of doing so again throughout this camp. To push Harvin, the Steelers brough in four year veteran Braden Mann. Mann has a shot at making this team if he outkicks Harvin in the pre season, consistently, but Harvin is the odds on favorite to remain the teams punter going into the season.

 

3. 

   McFarland scores a TD on an underneath route

   Anthony McFarland Jr. – McFarland has been around for three years and has yet to do anything. The speedy back has 146 career rushing yards and nine career receptions. He had the potential to be a change of pace back or a return specialist but it has never materialized thus far.  With the emergence of Jaylen Warren last year as the change of pace back and Calvin Austin III most likely being the return guy this year, there is no place on this roster for McFarland. He won’t be back.

 

4. Kendrick Green – Green is the absolute definition of bust. He was a starting center as a rookie. A terrible one that is that saw zero
   

   Kendrick Green

   action as a second year pro. Coming into year three, the Steelers have tinkered with Green at fullback but let’s be real here, it’s a camp gimmick. The team has Connor Heyward and when they had Derek Watt, they never used him. There is no reason for the team to keep around a useless offensive lineman who could MAYBE grab you a couple of meaningless stats at a position the team rarely, if ever uses. Green is by far the most likely player on this list to be released and quite frankly, it can’t come soon enough.

 

5. 

   Gunner with a nice punt return in practice

   Gunner Olszewski – The fiver year veteran was brought in last season to be a kick returner and fifth option for Pickett and others. He was just that, but he didn’t electrify. I didn’t see anything from Olszewski in his first season wearing black and gold that would tell me he should be back. I fully expect Calvin Austin III to be the return guy and 4^th/5^th receiver, which should push Olszewski out the door.

 

There’s still plenty of time left in camp and pre season and anything can happen to any of these five guys, among others, time will tell. But the way I see things today, this is my expectation on how they will play out ‘tomorrow’.

9/11/20-Pittsburgh Steelers at NY Giants

By: Mike Pelaia

The much anticipated 2020 NFL season is about to kickoff and the Pittsburgh Steelers journey back to the playoffs begins on Monday Night Football in New York against the Giants.  New York comes in with very low expectations as many experts predict them to be last in the NFC East.

Contrarily, many people see big things coming for the black and gold but a lot of that hinges upon the health of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he makes his much anticipated return to the field after his season ended prematurely in week three last season.

I think the Steelers will try to ease Big Ben into the game as they hope to ramp up their running game but against a stellar defensive line, I don’t look for much success out of starting running back James Conner.  I’d like to see rookie Anthony McFarland become a change of pace guy to help Roethlisberger and the offense pick up the short screens and quick burst runs.

I am anticipating a big game from new tight end Eric Ebron and ultimately I think the offense will take a half to click and gel but will get it going in the second half once Roethlisberger gets some of the game rust knocked off.

It will be interesting to watch new starting right tackle Zach Banner try to prove his worth. I know he’s a fan favorite but I’m not in that group. I don’t think the guy is good enough to be a starter and think he may be a problem for the Steelers as the season progresses.  David DeCastro won’t play this week and neither will Diontae Johnson, which helps the Giants out tremendously.

Defensively, the team will stuff the box so as not to allow Saquon Barkley and inch and force Daniel Jones to beat them. I look for a heavy rush from TJ Watt, who will gain three sacks this game and Bud Dupree who will gain two. Ultimately, the new Steel Curtain will dominate this game and not allow a touchdown.

I think the Steelers come out and win this game, with a close first half and pulling away in the second half with a 24 – 9 victory.