SB Nation Pittsburgh - Panthers Vs. Steelers: Pittsburgh Wraps Up Preseason With 17-16 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-09-03T14:26:58-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30434652012-09-03T14:26:58-04:002012-09-03T14:26:58-04:00Steelers Name Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Keisel Team Captains
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> have named their captains for the upcoming season and it is a Pittsburgh veteran on both sides of the ball. Quarterback <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> will represent the Steelers' as their offensive captain and defensive end <span>Brett Keisel</span> will captain the defense. </p>
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<p>2012 team captains: Ben Roethlisberger for offense, Brett Keisel for defense. None for special teams.</p>
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) <a data-datetime="2012-09-03T17:30:29+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/BobLabriola/status/242675948359647232">September 3, 2012</a>
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<p>Both Roethlisberger and Keisel have spent their entire careers with the Steelers. Keisel is in his 11th season with the team after being drafted out of BYU in 2002. Roethlisberger has been with the Steelers since he was their first-round pick in 2004, coming out of Miami (OH) University.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh opens the regular season on Sunday, September 9 in Denver against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a>. That game kicks off at Sports Authority Field at Mile High at 8:20 p.m. ET.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers, head to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain</a>. For all things NFL, get to SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl">NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/9/3/3289397/steelers-captains-ben-roethlisberger-brett-keiselJohn.Wilkinson2012-09-01T05:00:11-04:002012-09-01T05:00:11-04:00Steelers 53-Man Roster: Adrian Robinson Bears Watching
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<p>The Steelers' 53-man roster features plenty of surprises.</p> <p>Injuries have a way of changing things. Just ask <span>David DeCastro</span>. The long-hoped-for savior of the interior line is out for <a target="_blank" href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3282635/steelers-injury-update-david-decastro-surgery">at least eight weeks</a>. Just ask <span>Sean Spence</span>. The exciting, versatile joystick of a linebacker is out for the season after his knee <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/31/3282950/steelers-injury-report-sean-spence-injured-reserve-2012-season">basically exploded</a> this week against Carolina.</p>
<p>But wherever there is loss, there is opportunity. Just ask <span>Adrian Robinson</span> or <span>Kelvin Beachum</span>, two unheralded rookies out of Temple and SMU respectively who can now say something that a miniscule portion of the population can declare: They survived every cut to make an NFL team. While both of these young players will have the opportunity to contribute to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> in positions of need, Robinson in particular may have a number of moments to step up. The Steelers are perilously thin at every linebacker position, and several supposedly healthy players such as the aging <span>James Harrison</span> and oft-injured <span>Jason Worilds</span> are one churning pile of players away from another severe injury. Watch Robinson closely.</p>
<p>Kevin Colbert and company also provided some surprising subtractions. Despite the injury to DeCastro, the Steelers parted ways with long-time reserve <span>Trai Essex</span>. Essex has been part of two successful Super Bowl runs and has started 28 career games since being drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2005 draft. The Steelers also parted ways with punter <span>Jeremy Kapinos</span>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers, check out <a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com">Behind The Steel Curtain</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/1/3284461/steelers-53-man-roster-kelvin-beachum-trai-essexSam Wilmoth2012-08-31T17:02:18-04:002012-08-31T17:02:18-04:00NFL Cuts: Steelers Place Sean Spence On IR, Release 21 Players
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<p>The <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> have released 21 players and placed LB <span>Sean Spence</span> on injured reserve ahead of the NFL's deadline to reduce the roster to 53, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Reduce-Roster-to-53/127765de-9c94-429f-9bb2-5cc5ec93b2b9">the team announced Friday.</a></p>
<p>Spence was selected by the Steelers in the third round of April's NFL draft. The rookie was expected to provide depth at the linebacker position in 2012 before suffering a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/31/3282950/steelers-injury-report-sean-spence-injured-reserve-2012-season">season-ending knee injury Thursday night</a>.</p>
<p>Notable cuts include <span>Trai Essex</span>, who has started 28 career games in a Steelers' uniform, and <span>Jeremy Kapinos</span>, the team's punter since 2010.</p>
<p>The other 19 players let go were: <span>Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith</span>, <span>Terrence Frederick</span>, <span>Josh Victorian</span>, <span>Brandon Hicks</span>, <span>Marshall McFadden</span>, <span>Corbin Bryant</span>, <span>Igbinosun Ikponmwosa</span>, <span>Jake Stoller</span>, <span>Jerrod Johnson</span>, <span>DuJuan Harris</span>,<span>Tyler Beiler</span>, <span>Toney Clemons</span>, <span>David Gilreath</span>, <span>Marquis Maze</span>, <span>Derrick Williams</span>, <span>Ryan Lee</span>, <span>John Malecki</span> and <span>Chris Scott</span>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers, head to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain</a>. For all things NFL, get to SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl">NFL hub</a>. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3283532/steelers-cuts-sean-spence-injuryCraig Powers2012-08-31T13:06:24-04:002012-08-31T13:06:24-04:00Steelers Roster: Drew Butler Could Win Spot
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<p>With the NFL deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to the 53-man limit on Friday night quickly approaching, Pittsburgh Steelers punter <span>Drew Butler</span> could be one of the players who is <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/31/3281991/steelers-final-roster-cuts-drew-butler-jason-kapinos">still with the team</a> when they challenge the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> in Week 1 of the regular season.</p>
<p>After recording an impressive 45.9 yards per punt average during the preseason, Butler appears to be as capable, if not more so, than incumbent <span>Jeremy Kapinos</span> who missed all of the preseason with a back injury. Considering Kapinos health is in question, it's <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/31/3281991/steelers-final-roster-cuts-drew-butler-jason-kapinos">possible</a> that Butler could win the job.</p>
<p>Be sure to stay with this <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/30/3279424/panthers-vs-steelers-2012-game-preview-kickoff-time-tv-schedule-and">StoryStream</a> all day in order to stay up-to-the minute on all of the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster moves.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>, head over to <a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind the Steel Curtain</a></i><i> and continue to check out <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Pittsburgh</a></i><i>. </i><i>For roster moves from around the league, visit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank">SB Nation's NFL hub</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3282862/steelers-53-man-roster-cuts-drew-butlerMatt Brigidi2012-08-31T11:49:15-04:002012-08-31T11:49:15-04:00Steelers Injury Update: David DeCastro Undergoes Surgery, Will Return This Season
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<p>David DeCastro's surgery was successful, and he'll be able to play this season thanks to new NFL injured reserve rules.</p> <p>David DeCastro's Wednesday knee surgery was successful, and the Steelers' first-round pick will be out for eight weeks.</p>
<p>The rookie from Stanford tore his MCL and dislocated his knee in the Steelers' third preseason game, putting his season in jeopardy. But<a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/31/3282484/steelers-injury-david-decastro-update-ir-rules-nfl"> after his surgery</a>, it appears the guard will be ready to play sometime this year for Pittsburgh. Ramon Foster will play at right guard in DeCastro's absence.</p>
<p>The Steelers <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/8/30/3280178/new-nfl-rules-ir-injured-reserve-trade-deadline-david-decastro-desmond-bishop-steelers-packers">are aided by the introduction of a new rule</a> that allows teams to put players on injured reserve with a designation to return - essentially a disabled list. This will allow the Steelers to stash DeCastro while he recuperates without using up a roster spot, whereas before the rule placing a player on the injured reserve meant they were no longer eligible to play for the rest of the season.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers, head over to </i><a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com">Behind The Steel Curtain,</a><i> and continue to check out </i><a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com">SB Nation Pittsburgh</a><i>. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3282635/steelers-injury-update-david-decastro-surgeryRodger Sherman2012-08-31T11:33:26-04:002012-08-31T11:33:26-04:00Steelers Injuries: Steelers Lose Sean Spence, David DeCastro, And David Johnson, But How Bad Is It?
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<p><a href="http://sulia.com/channel/pittsburgh-steelers/f/a0d48a24-6850-40f0-901d-af0de5d05379/?source=twitter">Mark Kaboly argues</a> that, despite serious knee injuries to David DeCastro, David Johnson and now Sean Spence, the Steelers' injury situation this preseason "could've been a lot worse."</p>↵<blockquote>↵<p>You never want to see anybody be lost for the season in the meaningless preseason, but it could've been a lot worse. Although depth has now been compromised by injuries, losing Johnson (a FB/TE hybrid) and Spence (rookie who was only going to see action on special) teams isn't a season-altering event. Sure, the Steelers could've used DeCastro in the interior of their OL, but he likely will be back by the November ...</p>↵</blockquote>↵<p>That's not wrong, but another way of looking at it, as a friend put it to me last night, is that the Steelers are roughly back to where they started before last year's draft, after having lost two of their first three draft choices for significant periods of time. When one watches so many players suffer serious injuries in preseason games, one wonders if some forward-thinking team is trying to dream up some way of ditching the preseason entirely and prepare their players in some other way. I doubt it, of course -- preseason games help a. But I bet there's some coach out there who wishes he could do it.</p>↵<p><i>For more on the Steelers, check out <a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com">Behind The Steel Curtain</a></i>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/8/31/3282300/steelers-injuries-steelers-lose-sean-spence-david-decastro-and-davidCharlie Wilmoth2012-08-31T11:30:26-04:002012-08-31T11:30:26-04:00Panthers Vs. Steelers: Mike Tomlin Reacts
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<p>Mike Tomlin was pleased with his team's 17-16 victory over Carolina in their preseason finale, but Tomlin knows as well as anybody that the real stories surrounding his team were off the field, from injuries to impending roster cuts.</p>
<p>In his press conference following the game, Tomlin <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/08/31/tomlin-talks-about-preseason-finale/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">touched on the imminent moves</a> almost immediately:</p>
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<p>It's much appreciated, not only what they did tonight in terms of winning the game, but efforts throughout. I respect that group of men that's in that locker room. Obviously, we've got some decisions to make and we will make them, that's part this game of professional football.</p>
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<p>Many of Tomlins' comments surrounded two running backs: <span>Jonathan Dwyer</span>, who had a team-high 13 carries, and <span>Chris Rainey</span>, who didn't get the ball in the backfield much but turned heads by taking two punt returns into the end zone, although both were called back.</p>
<p>On Dwyer:</p>
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<p>He toted the load tonight... it's what we wanted to see. It's really a snapshot of his growth and development throughout this training camp and preseason.</p>
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<p>On Rainey:</p>
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<p>He did some nice things in terms of making some unblocked guys miss. Any reputable punt returner is capable of making that first one, two potential guys miss, and he showed that tonight.</p>
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<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>, head over to </i><a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com">Behind the Steel Curtain</a><i> and continue to check out </i><a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com">SB Nation Pittsburgh</a><i>. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3282563/panthers-vs-steelers-mike-tomlin-reactionsRodger Sherman2012-08-31T11:08:28-04:002012-08-31T11:08:28-04:00Sean Spence Injury: Steelers 3rd-Rounder Suffers 'Significant' Knee Injury, Likely Torn ACL
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<p>It appears <span>Sean Spence</span> will have to wait a year to play his first season in the NFL, as the injury he suffered in Thursday's preseason finale appears to be a torn ACL.</p>
<p>The inside linebacker who Pittsburgh took 86th overall out of Miami hurt his knee in the third quarter of the Steelers' preseason matchup with Carolina and was clearly in immediate pain. The injury went from being "<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/steelers-notebook-another-draft-pick-spence-injures-knee-651316/">significant</a>" to being <a href="https://twitter.com/dlolleyor/status/241373742381543425">a torn ACL</a>, and is now believed to be a torn ACL, LCL, and dislocated kneecap, <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/30/sean-spence-is-believed-to-have-torn-acl-lcl-dislocated-kneecap/">as Pro Football Talk reports</a>.</p>
<p>Spence was likely to play in a unit already injury-ridden with <span>James Harrison</span> and his backup <span>Jason Worilds</span> just coming off the physically unable to perform list. With an injury as severe as the one Spence suffered, the best case scenario is that his rehab goes well and the linebacker can play in 2013.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>, head over to </i><a href="http://behindthesteelcurtain.com">Behind the Steel Curtain</a><i> and continue to check out </i><a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com">SB Nation Pittsburgh</a><i>. </i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/8/31/3282451/sean-spence-injury-steelersRodger Sherman