Steelers notes: Vickers, Sherrod fighting for spot

Steelers notes: Vickers, Sherrod fighting for spot
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August 28
Beaver County Times


"Last year when the Steelers drafted Matt Spaeth, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians declared himself a "three tight end guy." But that may change this year.

Even though Arians is fond of three tight end sets, the Steelers may only start the season with two - Heath Miller, the No. 1 draft pick in 2005, and Spaeth, a third-round pick in '07.

Right now, there are two other tight ends on the roster - rookie free agent Dezmond Sherrod and Lee Vickers, who played in nine games last year with the Baltimore Ravens.

But neither Sherrod nor Vickers is a lock to survive the NFL's final cut-down day Saturday when rosters must be trimmed to 53 players.

"Ideally, you'd like to have a third tight end," coach Mike Tomlin said. "But that's a position that's still in development. We've got some candidates and we'll be watching those guys closely."

Last year, the Steelers started the season with three tight ends in Miller, Spaeth and Jerame Tuman, who's now playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

If the Steelers don't start the season with three tight ends, backup tackle Max Starks can line up as an extra TE in what is called a "jumbo" package.

Starks got his share of snaps there last year after Tuman was placed on the injured reserve list with a back injury.

FAMILIAR FACES

l Even though they won't line up against each other, tonight's game features a pair of brothers playing on opposing teams. The Steelers' left guard is Chris Kemoeatu. The Panthers' left defensive tackle is Maake Kemoeatu.

l The Panthers also have two former Steelers on their roster: starting right guard Keydrick Vincent and backup cornerback Ricardo Colclough.

l Panthers head coach John Fox, who was once the defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, has three assistants with ties to Pitt."