The Pittsburgh Steelers made 14 cuts today in order to get their roster down to 75 players before the 4 PM deadline.
Jordan Hall, RB– Hall, the local product from Jeannette High School, never really made an impression as a free agent invite to Steelers camp. After a solid but unspectacular career at Ohio State, Hall was a long shot to make the 53 man roster under the best of circumstances. Hall saw very little action in the preseason, and seems to have little to no chance of being placed on the practice squad.
Miguel Maysonet, RB– Much like Hall, Maysonet never really made enough of an impression to warrant serious consideration for a roster spot. Saw some action in the preseason opener against the New York Giants, but then saw virtually no action in the previous two games.
Lew Toler, CB– After watching Toler get abused in passing drills against the Buffalo Bills at St. Vincent’s I think it was pretty clear Toler was going to be among the first wave of cuts. In a relatively weak group of corners, Toler did little to stick.
Jordan Dangerfield, S– Well, this was a dark horse player in my eyes going into camp, so much for that. Dangerfield was a player I thought had a chance to make the team based on his hitting ability and potential as a special teams standout. Unfortunately for Dangerfield, both Robert Golden and Will Allen have more experience, and have proven to be better in coverage. Safety depth is a strength on this team, and Dangerfield was a victim of this. Of anyone on this list, Dangerfield might have the best chance to end up on the practice squad, if nobody else picks him up.
Kashif Moore, WR– Speaking of the practice squad, Moore spent 2013 on it for the Steelers. Unfortunately for Moore, too much competition, and the fact that Moore did not show enough in the past year to warrant a roster spot led to his demise. Moore is a solid player in his own right, and I could see him getting another shot with a team lacking WR depth in places like Cleveland or Carolina.
C.J. Goodwin, WR– Goodwin never really had much of a chance to make this roster in no small part because of a shoulder injury that cost him valuable time during training camp. Makes it awfully tough when you are a free agent looking to make a splash with a lot of players ahead of you on the depth chart.
Eric Waters, TE– Free agent from Missouri spent too much time on the sidelines nursing a concussion. With as many as five or six other tight ends ahead of him on the depth chart, the writing was on the wall.
Devin Smith, CB– Another 2013 practice squad player, the drafting of Shaquille Richardson and addition of Brice McCain put the onus on Smith to have a big camp, and unfortunately, he did not. A hammy injury cost him important time, and he missed critical playing time last week against the Eagles.
Vic So’oto, LB– I personally liked So’oto, but he was indeed a victim of the numbers game. Much like Dangerfield, So’oto was in trouble due to the depth at OLB. The 27 year old So’oto has now been cut by five different teams, and might be running out of NFL opportunities.
Chris Elkins, C– The Youngstown State product never had a shot, and was best known for catching the tosses of Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey during the “goal post game” before practices.
Emmanuel McCray, OL– McCray never really made an impact in camp at tackle and joins Elkins as another lineman that never had much of a shot making the team, or the practice squad.
Loni Fangupo, DT– Was outplayed by rookie Daniel McCullers and has now been cut by three different teams.
Brian Arnfelt, DE– Any chances of Arnfelt making the roster seemingly went out the window with the signing of Brett Keisel. Arnfelt was on the Steelers practice squad last season, and could be a candidate to join it again in 2014.
Luke Ingram, LS– Essentially brought in as a camp body with incumbent Greg Warren out with an injury, this was a predictable ending for Ingram.
Tauren Poole, RB– The decision that Poole gets cut is a minor surprise, but it tells you the Steelers feel pretty comfortable with the trio of Bell, Blount, and Archer moving ahead. Might be interesting to see if the Steelers look at the waiver wire for RB depth over the next week and half.
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