Steelers depth chart
Quarterback
8 Tommy Maddox 6-4 220 8 UCLA Lame duck still has much to prove before giving up job
16 Charlie Batch 6-2 220 7 Eastern Michigan Solid veteran trying to hold off young competition
2 Brian St. Pierre 6-2 220 2 Boston College His development may mean trouble for Batch
7 Ben Roethlisberger 6-5 242 R Miami (Ohio) If he isn't starting by 2005, many in the organization will be surprised
Running back
22 Duce Staley 5-11 220 8 South Carolina There are 4 million reasons why he should start
36 Jerome Bettis 5-11 252 12 Notre Dame Reaching the end of a Hall of Fame career
34 Verron Haynes 5-9 224 3 Georgia If he stays healthy, he may have a future
46 Dante Brown 6-1 218 2 Memphis Coaches want to be shown that he can do it in big games, too
39 Willie Parker 5-10 208 R North Carolina A warm body for training camp
Fullback
35 Dan Kreider 5-11 246 5 New Hampshire A good blocker, but no threat with the football
49 J.T. Wall 6-0 265 2 Georgia Similar to Kreider, only bigger and less experienced
38 Darryl Kennedy 6-0 230 R Syracuse Fighting for a roster spot
Wide receiver
86 Hines Ward 6-0 205 7 Georgia Three-time Pro Bowler who must wait a few months for contract extension
80 Plaxico Burress 6-5 228 5 Michigan State No-time Pro Bowler who won't get contract extension
82 Antwaan Randle El 5-10 186 3 Indiana He wants to prove he can replace Burress in 2005
83 Chris Doering 6-4 202 7 Florida A career backup, but reliable
89 Lee Mays 6-2 200 3 UTEP When will he reach the next plateau of his career?
81 Freddie Milons 5-11 190 3 Alabama He also could be an effective returner
18 Brian Robinson 6-3 205 1 Houston He enters his second Steelers training camp
14 Glen Martinez 6-2 182 R Saginaw Valley State He must be outstanding to stick
15 Huey Whittaker 6-4 234 R South Florida See Martinez
19 Zamir Cobb 5-11 180 R Temple He adjusted well to the pro game at minicamp
Tight end
85 Jay Riemersma 6-5 255 9 Michigan Must stay healthy to make an impact
84 Jerame Tuman 6-4 255 6 Michigan Solid, but unspectacular, veteran
48 Matt Cushing 6-4 255 6 Illinois He also can help at fullback
88 Matt Kranchick 6-7 255 R Penn State A nice target who shows promise in the passing game
37 Robert Blizzard 6-4 265 R North Carolina Big man who can be a force as a blocker
Centers
64 Jeff Hartings 6-3 301 9 Penn State If his knees hold up, he has a few more years left in him
56 Chukky Okobi 6-1 310 4 Purdue No one holds their breath any longer when he replaces Hartings
62 Jimond Pugh 6-2 300 1 Memphis He will have a difficult time making the team
69 Drew Caylor 6-5 288 R Stanford He also will compete as a long snapper
Guards
66 Alan Faneca 6-5 312 7 Louisiana State What is it like to be the best at your profession?
73 Kendall Simmons 6-3 313 3 Auburn He has learned to tackle his diabetic condition
68 Keydrick Vincent 6-5 330 4 Mississippi A solid backup who might be ready to emerge
74 Jim Jones 6-3 325 1 Notre Dame The team could use another backup at this position
60 Josh Parrish 6-6 337 R Washington State A mountain of a man with a lot to learn
Tackles
77 Marvel Smith 6-5 310 5 Arizona State His successful recovery from neck injury is a key to the season
79 Oliver Ross 6-5 317 7 Iowa State The right tackle job is his to lose
71 Todd Fordham 6-5 320 8 Florida State He could step in, if Ross struggles
72 Barrett Brooks 6-4 325 9 Kansas State If Ross and Fordham falter, Brooks could get the call
78 Max Starks 6-7 343 R Rookie third-round pick could get into the RT mix
65 Bo Lacy 6-4 303 R Rookie sixth-round pick can't be ignored
61 Morgan Pears 6-6 325 1 Colorado State He's just trying to catch someone's attention
76 Josh Burr 6-9 320 1 South Dakota This is his third camp, so he's a survivor
Defensive end
67 Kimo von Oelhoffen 6-4 300 11 Boise State He led the team last season with eight sacks
91 Aaron Smith 6-5 300 6 Northern Colorado He is on the verge of stardom
99 Brett Keisel 6-5 290 3 Brigham Young Shoulder injury ended his '03 season early
69 Eric Taylor 6-2 302 R Memphis He will spend his rookie season learning what it takes to be a pro
74 Brandon Calton 6-2 291 R East Tennessee State Undrafted rookie provides training-camp depth
Nose tackle
98 Casey Hampton 6-1 320 4 Texas He earned his first Pro Bowl trip last year
96 Kendrick Clancy 6-1 292 5 Mississippi A career backup who attracted no outside attention in free agency
76 Chris Hoke 6-3 296 4 Brigham Young He keeps earning a roster spot, but no playing time
90 Travis Kirschke 6-3 286 UCLA Signed in free agency from the San Francisco 49ers
94 David Upchurch 6-3 285 1 West Virginia He spent last season on the practice squad
Inside linebacker
97 Kendrell Bell 6-1 254 4 Georgia If he has a big season, he could be difficult to re-sign
51 James Farrior 6-2 242 8 Virginia Like Bell, also unrestricted next year, the Steelers would like to re-sign him now
57 Clint Kriewaldt 6-1 242 6 Wisc.-Stevens Point Mainly a special teams contributor
50 Larry Foote 6-0 234 3 Michigan A backup who may need to become a starter next season
40 Allen Augustin 6-0 225 R Florida State Earning an NFL paycheck this season won't be easy
Outside linebacker
55 Joey Porter 6-2 250 6 Colorado State Gunshot wound last year held him back early in the season
53 Clark Haggans 6-3 251 5 Colorado State He replaces Jason Gildon, the team's all-time sack leader
95 Alonzo Jackson 6-4 262 2 Florida State Cowher said he still believes in him
93 Nathaniel Adibi 6-3 255 R Virginia Tech Shifting from defensive end to outside linebacker takes time
44 Dedrick Roper 6-2 256 R Northwood (Mich.) It's a long road for those who are undrafted
42 Nick McNeil 6-2 244 R Western Carolina He opened some eyes at minicamp
Cornerback
30 Chad Scott 6-1 205 8 Maryland He needs to make more big plays
26 Deshea Townsend 5-9 191 7 Alabama He is a better cover corner than Dewayne Washington
24 Ike Taylor 6-0 195 2 Louisiana-Lafayette He is ready to take a big step in his second season
23 Terry Fair 5-9 193 6 Tennessee A former first-round pick who was set back by injuries
21 Ricardo Colclough 5-11 195 R Tusculum (Tenn.) Second-round choice could help the new and improved secondary
27 Willie Williams 5-9 182 12 Western Carolina He enters his second stint as a Steeler
29 Chidi Iwuoma 5-8 184 4 California He might be the team's best special teams player
41 Nashville Dyer 5-10 180 1 Kent State Lots of depth at the position could work against him
38 Shane Walton 5-10 184 1 Notre Dame He was the Rams' fifth-round pick in 2003
Safety
43 Troy Polamalu 5-10 213 2 USC He ascends to starting strong safety
28 Chris Hope 6-0 214 3 Florida State Coaches are confident he can make an impact as the starting free safety
31 Mike Logan 6-0 212 8 West Virginia He re-signed with the team, but will have to fight to crack starting lineup
33 Russell Stuvaints 6-0 200 2 Youngstown State There is a room for a young, athletic safety on this team
25 Yaacov Yisrael 5-11 198 R Penn State He has a lot to learn, but shows promise
20 Janssen Patton 5-11 191 R Bowling Green Undrafted, he hopes not to go unnoticed
37 Ainsley Battles 5-10 204 4 Vanderbilt He's been here before so he won't get lost on the way to breakfast
Kicker
3 Jeff Reed 5-11 226 3 North Carolina With a surgically repaired hip, he is poised for a comeback season
6 Rob Bironas 6-0 200 1 Georgia Southern Bad news: Cowher likes veteran kickers
Punter
17 Chris Gardocki 6-1 200 14 Clemson He never has had a punt blocked
5 Mike Barr 6-2 230 1 Rutgers Every camp needs a backup punter
Long snapper
54 Mike Schneck 6-0 246 6 Wisconsin There aren't many better long snappers in the NFL
69 Chance Pearce 6-2 246 1 Texas A&M Only fanatic fans know the backup long snapper
