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Regular season awaits

As dress rehearsals go, Saturday’s 16-6 win over the Tennessee Titans served the Pittsburgh Steelers well. The first units, both offense and defense, got some work in against Tennessee’s first groups. There weren’t any major injuries, which have always been the big concern when the first-stringers are out on the field.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp in his first action of the preseason completing 11 of 18 aerials for 114 yards and one touchdown. Roethlisberger played just the first quarter as did center Maurice Pouncey. Both Roethlisberger and second-year running back James Conner appear to be in better shape than they were in 2017. Both are leaner and quicker.

The second-team offensive line saw significant time playing together, which bodes well for the season. Chukwuma Okorafor, R.J. Prince, B.J. Finney, Matt Feiler and Zach Banner are the second unit offensive line at the present time. You don’t need a crystal ball to be able to forecast that at least one member of the of the first-team offensive line will miss significant time due to an injury. Injuries happen, especially when very large, aggressive people are violently going against each other in “the pit”.

Speaking of injuries, tight end Vance McDonald is still missing from action. McDonald, has hardly even practiced this summer. He really needs to be on the field if he is going to be of any help to the Steelers. Jesse James, who hasn’t been a very good blocker in the past, is using the extra snaps to improve his blocking.

On the improvement front, backup nose tackle Daniel McCullers is starting to demonstrate on a regular basis the desire necessary to earn quality playing time. A sixth round selection in 2014, McCullers stands 6-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs 352 pounds.

DOBBS DILEMMA

Second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs is slated to see significant action Thursday night versus the Carolina Panthers. For Dobbs, it’s an opportunity to showcase his talents for the other teams. It is highly unlikely that the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks.

The Steelers will undoubtedly try to pry a 2019 draft pick from another team in exchange for Dobbs. If they are able to trade him, they will probably get no more than a 2019 fifth round pick, more likely a sixth or seventh rounder. Unless a team finds itself in an emergency situation where they do not have a qualified, and healthy, third quarterback, teams aren’t going to give much for a player who is likely to be put on waivers.

From the Steelers’ perspective, it wouldn’t be all that bad for Dobbs to get injured Thursday night. Not a severe, or career-threatening injury, but just enough of an injury that he could safely be put on injured reserve.

CUT DOWN

All NFL teams must cut down to their 53-man active roster by four p.m., Saturday, New York time. Waivers will expire at noon the next day, New York time, enabling teams to then establish 10-man practice squads.

Former Youngstown State wide receiver Damoun Patterson is a long shot to make the Steelers 53-man roster, but he has a real good chance of making the practice squad. He could also be picked up by another team. Patterson has shown an eagerness to play special teams, which coupled with his sure hands, should enable him to latch on somewhere.

The Steelers 2018 curtain goes up Sept. 9 in Cleveland. The season is almost here. Where will it end?

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