Position Breakdown: Evaluating the Steelers offense through two weeks of camp

By Dale Grdnic

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have 80 players on their training-camp roster and must trim that to 53 before the regular-season opener with the Atlanta Falcons Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and his staff, who face the Detroit Lions in their preseason-opener Saturday night at 7:30 at Heinz Field, have about three weeks to determine their final roster. But Inside Pittsburgh Sports is going to take an early look at who should stay and who should go.

NFL rosters must be at 75 by Aug. 31 and the final 53 Sept. 4. And eight-man practice squad can be named the next day. Today, we'll talk about the offense.

The Steelers kept three quarterbacks last season and most assuredly will keep three again this year. Since there are four on the roster, one will have to go. The club gets an exemption for Ben Roethlisberger while he's suspended. So, he will stay on the roster, and one of the other three will go when he returns.

Byron Leftwich is season-opening starter and eventual backup. Dennis Dixon has shown improvement in his third NFL season, but it's been minimal.

Charlie Batch, a 13-year pro, was effective when he played. But is injury-prone. Batch also hasn't had many practice reps, but he lives in the Pittsburgh area and is just a phone call away if needed. So, Batch is out when Roethlisberger returns.

There were five running backs on the final roster, including Stefan Logan, the punt- and kickoff-returner. Logan is a wideout this year, but we'll discuss that later. Starter Rashard Mendenhall and third-down back Mewelde Moore are locks, but only because Tomlin loves Moore. Mendenhall can be an every-down back if necessary, but it's doubtful that Moore would be cut.

It's hard to believe that Isaac Redman wouldn't make the team this year. He's the best blocker and a hard runner. Rookie Jonathan Dwyer has too much promise and should prove that against the Lions.

"Guys like (Dwyer) will get an extended look whether they want to or not,'' Tomlin said. "That's the nature of the preseason games, whether it's in Game 1 and up to Game 4, because of the limited exposure that the starters get.

"(And Redman) is going to get some opportunities as well, because we need more clarity at that position. We can get that during the live action that we'll get against Detroit Saturday night.''

Justin Vincent, Frank Summers and Dwayne Wright appear to be battling for the final spot. Vincent has done well, but is similar to those on the roster.

Summers and Wright can be fullbacks or halfbacks, so it could be between them. Wright is the hardest runner and gives the club needed power at the position, so Summers would get a shot at the practice squad.

Space is limited at receiver as well with Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Antwaan Randle El locked in.

I believe the final two should go to rookies Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Brown can return punts, and Sanders can return kicks. That means Stefan Logan is out, but it didn't sound like Tomlin felt that way.