The end of the 2014 NFL preseason is coming soon. There are many players that will see their final action with their current team. Week four of the preseason is do or die for certain players. It’s their last chance to make it hard for the franchise to cut ties with them as they have to trim the roster down to 53 players. This week Around the AFC North will take a look at a do or die player from each team in their final preseason game.
Baltimore Ravens
Jeremy Butler is a player that needs to have a big game for the Ravens. Butler is caught up in a tight competition with some other young receivers. One thing that he does have to his advantage is the fact that he has gotten most of his reps from the slot position. Butler has said that he likes the toughness that Anquan Boldin brings to the receiver position. He will need to play with the same zeal and hunger that Boldin has in order to earn a roster spot. He can use his 6-2 frame to game separation in the mid range passing game and is sure handed enough to make catches in traffic.
To Butler’s credit, he is one of two non starters at the receiver position to score a touchdown this preseason. The Ravens coaching staff likes his work ethic but he will need to separate himself from Deonte Thompson, Jace Davis and Michael Campanaro. Unlike Thompson and Campanaro, Butler is not a weapon in the return game. He does however have the ability to contribute on kickoff and punt team. The Ravens are likely to carry a maximum of six receivers. The first five spots will be held down by Steve Smith Sr., Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken.
Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Montgomery is a name that many LSU fans remember fondly. He was a standout defensive lineman at LSU. Montgomery came over to the Bengals after playing with the Houston Texans in 2013. He was listed as a linebacker in Houston but is back on the defensive line, his natural position.
Montgomery only has three tackles so far this preseason. He will be sure to get extended reps against the Indianapolis Colts. Right now Montgomery is listed with the third unit at left defensive end behind Carlos Dunlap and Margus Hunt. They’re sure to make the roster and it’s very unlikely that either of them play this week.
Will Clarke is a rookie pass rusher from West Virginia and he is listed as the right defensive end on the third unit. Montgomery will have a chance to make the roster if the Bengals keep nine defensive lineman on the roster (six defensive ends, three defensive tackles). It will be imperative for him to push the pocket back and get to the quarterback. He will also need to show that he can set the edge against the run. The Bengals didn’t use a draft pick on Montgomery like they did on Clarke so it could come down to simply losing out on a numbers game if Montgomery doesn’t show up in a major way in the last preseason game.
Cleveland Browns
Taylor Gabriel has an outside chance to make the Browns roster. If he is to do so, it will be primarily due to his special teams ability. Gabriel has received the majority of the reps in the return game. Travis Benjamin is currently the primary return guy but Gabriel has shined when given the chance. Gabriel had an explosive 68 yard kickoff return against the St. Louis Rams. He has 127 yards on four returns in total for the preseason. Gabriel could add value by being the backup option at both kickoff and punt returner.
The solid preseason that Gabriel has had goes beyond the return game. He is the Browns leading receiver with eight receptions for 90 yards in the preseason. Gabriel will need to put on a show against the Chicago Bears if he wants to put himself in position to earn a roster spot. He will need to break off one of the electrifying plays that have become a trademark this preseason.
Another factor for Gabriel is the looming Josh Gordon suspension. That could allow Gabriel to sneak onto the roster. The main competition for Gabriel will be Marlon Moore and Charles Johnson. Anthony Armstrong had his contract terminated and that may have opened the door for a player like Gabriel that could occupy two positions with a single roster spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Josh Mauro has earned praise from the Steelers coaching staff because of his high motor. His high motor allows him to make plays on the other side of the field and coaches always fight to keep guys who give maximum effort. The Steelers recently resigned Brett Keisel to play the right defensive end position. Ironically, Mauro had received many comparisons to Keisel when he came out of Stanford this off season. Both of these players will see significant time in the final preseason game.
Mauro does have some experience playing in the 3-4 defense from his college days at Stanford. Another strength for Mauro is his ability to bump inside in sub packages. He has two sacks during the preseason which is the most out of all Steeler defensive lineman. Mauro will need to add to his sack total as well as get some quarterback hurries if he wants to leap frog Cam Thomas and get into the defensive line rotation.
