Here & Gone: Pittsburgh’s final roster cuts

By Kyle Chrise  |   Monday, September 01, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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With the Steelers' roster now set, the team is ready for its Week 1 test against Houston this Sunday. Here's a look at who's still on the squad and who's looking for work elsewhere.

Here: Quarterback Charlie Batch

The decision to put Batch on injured reserve was probably Pittsburgh's most significant move. It allows him to contribute in meetings and continue mentoring Ben Roethlisberger, backup Byron Leftwich and rookie Dennis Dixon. The move seems to indicate the Steelers didn't want to jeopardize cutting Batch and losing him to another team, even though he's in the final season of his contract. Now there's a chance Batch will re-sign next offseason and compete once again to be Roethlisberger's backup.

Gone: Receiver/returner Willie Reid

Reid, a third-round pick in 2006, wasn't impressive as a returner, so his only chance to make the roster was beating out Dallas Baker for the fifth receiver spot. Reid led the Steelers in receptions this preseason with nine, but he averaged just 9.0 yards a catch and was nowhere to be found in the final exhibition contest. Reid was probably a boom-or-bust pick to begin with, and he never materialized into the return specialist the Steelers hoped he would be.

Here: Receiver Dallas Baker

If you compare the preseason statistics of Reid and Baker, they're pretty much even. In the end, Baker may have had the upper hand because of his rigorous commitment in the offseason to better learn the offense. Last year's seventh-round pick, who was on the practice squad, has also been building a relationship with Roethlisberger. It appears rookie Limas Sweed isn't ready to fill the Steelers' No. 4 WR role, so Baker is going to have opportunities to make a big impact for Pittsburgh.

Gone: Returner Eddie Drummond

Pittsburgh's prodigal son was fighting against several others players also vying for the return role. Drummond showed good stuff in the Steelers' first preseason game, but the former Pro Bowler did little else. It appears the coaches weren't impressed by any of the players they brought in for return purposes, and it currently seems Mewelde Moore and Santonio Holmes will be handling those duties.

Here: Offensive tackle Tony Hills

Pittsburgh kept 10 offensive linemen, including five tackles. Hills, a fourth-rounder in April, made the team despite having a lackluster preseason. Veteran tackles Marvel Smith and Max Starks are in the last year of their contracts, so that may have been a factor regarding why the Steelers chose to let Hills continue to develop. Plus, because of injury, the Steelers cut both sixth-round picks (Mike Humpal and Ryan Mundy) and may not have been willing to lose so much from their draft class.

Here: Defensive end Orpheus Roye

The Steelers brought the 35-year-old aboard in August after not seeing much out of their younger defensive linemen (for instance, Ryan McBean). Roye wasn't spectacular this preseason, but he was solid enough to earn a roster spot. The fact that Pittsburgh usually keeps six D-linemen but this year retained seven is a testament to the value of Roye's experience.

Gone: Tight ends Dezmond Sherrod and Lee Vickers

The departure of Sherrod and Vickers means Pittsburgh is only keeping two tight ends. Coaches said all preseason that they wanted to use three-TE packages this year, so maybe the aforementioned Starks -- a backup O-tackle -- will earn his $7 million salary by lining up as the third man in those sets.

Here: Linebacker Donovan Woods

Woods, an undrafted rookie who played some quarterback and safety at Oklahoma State before moving to linebacker, is a roster surprise. He had a sack in each of the last two preseason games.

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About Kyle Chrise

Like a modern-day Moses, Kyle was found drifting down the Monongahela River, wrapped in a Terrible Towel, next to what was then Three Rivers Stadium. Found and raised by the stadium's grounds crew, Chrise lived and breathed Steelers football. As a youngster, he earned the trust of new head coach...
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