Pittsburgh Steelers 09' Trianing Camp Position Battles

                  Well it's July, and another training camp is in the works for the Steelers. Coming off a Super Bowl and not a real busy off season, there aren't allot of positions up for grabs. The ones that are though should be intense competition in training camp. Let's take a look at what we got, shall we.

                  Three starters left for free agency, or where cut. They are Kendall Simmons(cut), Larry Foote(cut), and Bryant McFadden(free agency, Cards). The first two won't be to hard to replace, but Bryant was a solid corner. So let's start with the Corner-back spot. We got Taylor, Gay, Townsend, Bryant, Lewis, and Burnett. Taylor is the only one with a starting job right now. The two rookies(Lewis and Burnett), you can count them out of the top three pretty much. Lewis will contend for time, and Burnett will contend for a job, both will try to make special teams. So where left with three players(Gay, Townsend, and Bryant), battling for the 2, 3 and 4 spot. I'm gonna say Gay is ready to step it up and play opposite Taylor. I'll say Townsend, having the time in system, stay at three. Out of the last three(Bryant, Lewis, and Burnett), one will be cut, two will stay. If the rooks can step it up, Bryants' the odd man out. K, linebacker is tookin care of with L.T. in there. Although there will be some competition at the bottom positions of the linebacker corps. Fox, Bailey, Davis, those guys will battle for spots. Now for the line, this is gonna be good for these guys. We got our 3rd round pick Urbik, and 7th round pick in the mix. Kendalls gone, so that opens up a little bit. Max Starts, and Colon are probably in there, Hartwig, too. The guard positions are up for grabs. Kemoeatu, Stapleton, who played good last year, and Urbik, three guys, two spots. Competition brings out the best in us. Running-back will be interesting as well. Parker, Mendenhall, Moore, Davis, Summers, I can't wait to see how this unfolds with the RBs.

                 All this is healthy. Even though we have positions to fill, it's healthy competition. Were not to bad anywhere. Just some yearly holes to fill, that's it. I'm fully confident Coach Tomlin and his staff will put together another great team and take another run at it all. I can't wait to get down to Latrobe and watch him and his staff work, there the best in the business!!