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Every year, they surprise us. Whether a player who has been released, a person who has surprisingly managed the cup, or a group of positions with more or fewer players than expected, the Steelers end up having to do something that surprises the fans base in order to let it go. to 53 players.
For the 2019 lineup, the biggest surprises were based more on the story than the news. From the conclusion of the final pre-season game on Thursday night to the 4 pm Saturday deadline, the Steelers' 53 roster alignment was relatively straightforward. But if anyone had just woken up after a three-month nap this afternoon, the list might have been quite shocking in a few places.
That said, here are the top three surprises when it comes to aligning the 53 Steelers.
Cup of the most surprising player
Eli Rogers
As the day approached Saturday, Eli Rogers was probably considered a 50-50 guy. While the receiver group looked good for the camp, Rogers soon found himself passing from one team guy to the bubble, and then looked from the outside. With just 3 receptions for 41 yards in pre-season, Rogers has not done much to stand out among the other young receivers.
The most surprising thing about Rogers' situation is how the Steelers handled his contract during the off season. While its minimum contract was to go through 2019 due to the time spent on the PUP list in 2018, the Steelers instead signed a new $ 3 million contract with Rogers. By placing a higher investment on Rogers, it appeared that he was going to participate in their long-term projects. Rogers' signature bonus of $ 500,000 will now be paid, unless the Steelers bring him back in the near future.
The most surprising player kept
Tuzar Skipper
Although surprising, it's still not surprising. In recent weeks, Tuzar Skipper has traveled to a place where the Steelers nation could have been unleashed on the streets of the world if it had been injured. But if we look at the path that Skipper followed to form the line-up of 53 men, it's a pleasant surprise to be in the line-up of 53 men. Skipper was not originally signed by the Steelers after the repechage. After first trying for the Kansas City Chiefs, Skipper saw himself offer a tryout with the Steelers at the mini rookie camp and was one of five players who left the end of the season. week as a new member of the Steelers' post-season training.
Skipper had a long road ahead of him when he entered the Steelers' training camp. The team retained only three outside linebackers for most of the 2018 season and all three were back in 2019. In addition, the Steelers already had a Skipper teammate in the middle school, Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, who had formed the initial alignment of 53 players the previous year before being placed on the injured reserve. list for half of the season. Adding to the Steelers the first of their three selections from the preliminary round of the sixth round of 2019, Sutton Smith, Skipper still had a long way to go to climb the depth charts.
Rather than focusing on the other players that he had to surpass, Skipper went to the field every day to play his best football. In the first preseason game, he had a bag against Tampa Bay. The next week, he added another one against the Chiefs. At the end of preseason, Skipper led both the team and the NFL with five pre-season bags.
What may have been the most impressive thing about Skipper is that he played well in every game and did not flash during part of the pre-season. In addition to his great attitude of doing everything he had to do to help the team, Skipper deserved his was on the Steelers list.
"I will do anything to help this team win," said Skipper at the end of the final pre-season game. "You want me to be a concierge, I'll be a janitor."
You are not the concierge, Mr. Skipper. But Steelers fans will enjoy seeing your raking quarters if they have the chance in the 2019 season.
Most surprising position group
Wide receivers
The cut had to come from somewhere. It was obvious that during the past two weeks, the Steelers had to hang on to their younger linebackers. In doing so, the Steelers had to find another place to reduce their numbers unexpectedly. Keeping only eight linebackers for most of 2018, it seemed too difficult to move to 10 players by 2019. Where would the extra places come from?
In making my prediction of the lineup after the last preseason game, I knew that the Steelers needed to keep Ulysees Gilbert III and Tuzar Skipper on active alignment. The problem was knowing where to make the other to get them all on the 53. After looking to reduce both offensive and defensive lines, safety or tight ends, the Steelers made the decision not to follow than five large active receivers. listing.
The reason is twofold. First, the Steelers usually have five active receivers on match day. With only five members on the list, they should all get a helmet if the group is in good health. If another group of positions had been shortened instead, the same would be true for tight games, halves, and offensive and defensive lines. Secondly, the difference for the wide receiver (and also for the close player) lies in the moments when all active players on the day of the match at that position are on the field at the same time. So, if a wide receiver is out of order for the week, the Steelers must either move or dispense with five sets of wide receivers. If another group of positions such as the defensive line had one less player on the list, a missing time for the player would change the rotation, but would not stand in the way of the Steelers with the number of players on the field in certain situations. That's why it will be interesting to go with five wide receivers if the Steelers do not move until next Sunday.
So what do you think? How surprising are these Steelers movements? Was there a better movement to do, or did they do the best with what they had? Is there anything more surprising that is missing? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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