Day Of The Turk

The Stillers got down to business today by getting down to their final 53-man roster. There weren't too many surprises, if any if you've been paying attention. Tomorrow after 12 noon they will be able to sign 8 players back for their practice squad. Let's take a look at who got whacked like a weed.

First off WR Dallas Baker, TE Cody Boyd, TE Jon Dekker, WR Gerran Walker and WR Walter Young. No surprises there. Matt Spaeth did nothing (and I repeat nothing to earn a roster spot), but he did. The new regime doesn't want to admit an error in the 3rd round I guess. This leaves a decent enough group of receivers in Ward, Nate Washington, Santonio Holmes, Willie Reid, Cedric Wilson and Miller, Tuman and Spaeth at TE. I guess coach Tomlin isn't sold at all on Willie Reid returning punts and/or kickoffs because we traded a conditional pick next year for return specialist Allen Rossum of Atlanta. I remember watching him quite a bit when he was with Philly. Hope the burst is still there after 10 seasons.

The first "surprise" cut was Chukky Okobi. Sean Mahan won out as predicted and it was determined that Okobi makes too much to be a career backup. They also cut the only other center on the roster - Marvin Philip. I guess Kendall Simmons did well enough in camp that he will be the replacement center if there is an injury. Other OLs cut were Jason Capizzi, Cameron Stephenson and Brandon Torrey. The OL will be Mahan, Starks, Colon, Smith, Faneca, Kemoeatu, Simmons & Essex. I'm surprised Trai Essex made the team. He must have played much better down the stretch. Good for him.

Verron Haynes couldn't overtake the youngsters and Dick Hoak wasn't here to vote for John Kuhn - one of my favorites from last year. On the plus side - Danny Kreider makes the team. Cool. Backs are Parker, Davenport, Kreider, Gary Russel and Cary Davis. That's a lot of undrafted running backs!

There were no major surprises in the defensive backfield or linebackers either. That being said, I love Chidi Owuoma and I hope he catches on with another team. Maybe his base salary is getting too high for his number of years to make the team as only a special teamer. Chidi rarely gets into a game playing corner and I suppose there is a reason for that. Also, Rian Wallace is local to Pottstown PA and I was hoping he would make the roster as well. Didn't work out that way. The final cuts are CB Chidi Iwuoma, CB Jovon Johnson, S Mike Lorello, CB Anthony Madison, CB Grant Mason, DE Ryan McBean, DE Shaun Nua, DT Scott Paxson, QB Bryan Randall, LB Ron Stanley, LB Rian Wallace.

No guesses on the practice squad but I'd like to see Kuhn and Wallace on it for sure. Still A Dog likes Capizzi but doesn't think he'll clear waivers. We'll know by tomorrow.

Larry Zierlein's Take

If the above name isn't familiar to you, he's the Steelers new Offensive Line Coach - you know, the one that e-mailed porn to all of the NFL suits. Well, after reading an interview with him this week, something else he said troubles me far worse. He was asked about the competition for center now that Jeff Hartings is gone. Sean Mahan was signed away from the Bucs and I thought he would be the front runner over career backup Chuki Okobi. Zierlein has reported that out of all the mini-camps, the job is still up for grabs stating that neither "has stepped out" or "taken the job". Great. What does that say about both of them? I'd say it says we now have two number twos. The team is built around the center and nose tackle. We've only had 4 centers since the mid 60's in Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dermonti Dawson and Hartings. In my mind, Mahan was brought here to start. Heck, hartings probably gimped out one more year because everyone knew Okobi wasn;t this team's starting center. He's overpaid as a backup as well. Here's my take: Mahan hasn't stood out yet because he's still learning the books. He's been here a few months and already pulled even with Okobi who has been here since 1986 (or so it seems). Mahan will start and I'm predicting Okobi and his 2 million dollar contract for this year will be shown the door. You heard it here first.