mgteich

We only need 21 players to play defense at most. The rest are special teamers. Even among the 21, many who play lots of special teams.

DEFENSE (25)
DL 6
OLB 4
ILB 3
CB 5 (my minimum in this passing league; cb's do get injured a lot)
S 3
ST 4

My roster has four defensive STers: Woods, McKenzie, Arrington, and Chung. I also have offensive STer's Tate and Aiken.

supafly

So I take it you didn't give much thought to Breer's latest 53?

FWIW, he has 7 DL (he agrees w/ me, not the other way around )
5 OLB
4 ILB
5 CB
4 S

Total of 25 defensive players. Doesn't give much to the way of special teamers at all.

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I'd take away an OLB from his guess (due to Guyton's slight versatility in the sense of emergency only, although none of us want him at OLB), to free up Slater or Aiken, who are both unlikely to make the 53 IMO. There's also the outside possibility that our LS could come from within too, freeing up 1 more 'only ST' spot. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. FWIW--I am guessing it'll be somewhere between yours (4 ST) and Breer's, in regards to ONLY special teams positions. I will 'guess' at 2.

supafly

I actually thought that Breer would've elaborated a bit on his special teams predictions, but I didn't see anything in his past 2 'way too early' attempts.

I am guessing that we will see a bit more of the rookies, + guys that didn't play last year like Mckenzie and Tate. It'll be great to see Belichick's take on the final 53, as competition is certainly at a premium.

Regardless, I really enjoy the roster prediction talk. There are so many different options, and everyone will always have a different 53 it seems, but I just love all of the possibilities.

Offense

2 QB
4 RB
6 WR
3 TE
9 OL

24 total

Defense

7 DL
4 ILB
4 OLB
5 CB
4 S

24 total

P, K, LS + 2 primary special team positions = my personal 53

TheComeback

OFFENSE (25)

QB - Brady, Hoyer

HB - Morris, Maroney, Taylor, Faulk, Green-Ellis

WR - Moss, Welker, Edelman, Tate, Price, Aiken

TE - Crumpler, Gronkowski, Hernandez

T - Light, Vollmer, LeVoir, Kaczur

G/C - Neal, Koppen, Connolly, Bussey, Larsen

DEFENSE (25)

NT/DT - Wilfork, Brace, Pryor

DE - T. Warren, G. Warren, Wright, Lewis, Deaderick

OLB - Banta-Cain, Ninkovich, Murrell, Cunningham

ILB - Mayo, Guyton, Spikes, McKenzie

CB - Bodden, Butler, McCourty, Wilhite, Arrington

S - Meriweather, Sanders, Chung, McGowan

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

K - Gostkowski

P - Mesko

LS - Ingram

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I have Murrell over Woods, but I'd like to see another linebacker make the roster over Wheatley. That would most likely be Thomas Williams.

Wheatley only makes it here because of the potential he showed as a rookie and the fact that he's now a veteran in the Pats' system. But I think the linebackers could use an extra body after giving so many games away in the 4th quarter.

EDIT: Forgot about Pryor. I put him in over Wheatley, giving the Pats 8 DL and 5 CBs. I still wouldn't mind an extra DB on the roster.

supafly

This is why I like the roster threads so much, because there are just so many different options and opinions, none of which are wrong or right.

Some interesting notes:

--you have the 5th RB in BJGE (debatable again this yr) it could even be that BJGE makes it and they still keep 4, thus dropping either Morris or Taylor

--you have 8 DL wheras most have 6, I actually have 7 (at least 1 will go)

--you don't have either Holt or Patten at WR, choosing Aiken instead (although this will help the ST case, it's also debatable of course)

--you have neither Burgess, Woods, nor Crable at OLB (at the very least Burgess sticks, if not one of Woods/Crable) there also could be 5 OLB

--you chose Arrington for ST presence at CB, instead of Wheatley (I actually agree if there's only 5, there could be 6)

--you don't have any 'just ST alone' guys, where I had 2

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Again, there's no right or wrong, just pointing out the debates.

I would argue that there certainly will not be 8 DL, that Burgess definately makes it at OLB, and that either Holt or Patten makes it at WR. I will also argue that there will be at least 1 or 2 'ST only' guys.

patriotscpfc

I'll give you mine:
QB: Brady, Hoyer
RB: Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Green-Ellis
WR: Moss, Welker, Edelman, Tate, Holt, Price, Slater
TE: Gronk, Hernandez, Crumpler
OT: Vollmer, Light, Kaczur, LeVoir
OG/C: Neal, Koppen, Connelly, Larsen, Bussey
25

DE: Warren, Warren, Wright, Lewis,
DT: Wilfork, Brace, Pryor
ILB: Mayo, Guyton, McKenzie, Spikes, Williams
OLB: Burgess, Banta-Cain, Cunningham, Ninkovich,
CB: Bodden, Butler, McCourty, Wilhite, Arrington,
S: Meriweather, Sanders, Chung, McGowan

ST: Gostkowski, Mesko, Ingram

For me, I go Slater ahead of Aiken. I go Williams ahead of Woods as he'd have the potential to play FB and that would mean Connelly wouldn't be at risk from injury playing as FB. Lewis ahead of Deaderick. If Welker is PUP'ed, then I take Woods.

__________________
Paul, London - Patriot and Proud

supafly

Good to see some others on board to the 7 DL thought.

T.Warren
Wilfork
Wright
Pryor
Brace
-----these 5 are locks-----

then I have 2 of the next 4:

G.Warren (playing w/ the ones in OTA's)
Lewis (steady player who never misses games)
Deadrick
Experienced vet/cut pickup/JAG

equaling 7 also

patriotscpfc

I think it's important to have 7.

Ty hasn't been the healthiest guy the last few years. Lewis and Pryor offer something different to Wright.

Gerard Warren is running with the starters, but lets see him in gametime.

And then there is Brace. Lets see what he shows this season.

__________________
Paul, London - Patriot and Proud

mgteich

I have have commented on Breer's 53 in the other thread.
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SPECIAL TEAMS
Do you like his approach of considering special teamers not worthy of discussion?

The reality is that several players will be our starting special teamers and several players will make the team to play special teams.

There is no reason to carry 4 ILB's, 5 OLB's or 4 safeties unless they are top special teamers.

Curiously, Breer has the same defensive special teamers as I listed: Arrington, Woods, McKenzie and McGowan.

DEFENSIVE LINE
I see no reason to carry more the six "pure" defensive linemen, given that Burgess is almost always a lineman and Banta-Cain often is. You seem to want a 7th DL AND a 4th ILB. We certainly don't need both.

CORNERS
You seem to think that Arrington is ready for full-time duty as a corner. I don't.

FredFromDartmouth

Too thin at CB. Wheatley sticks or maybe Wheatley instead of Wilhite or Arrington. If Wheatley comes around and plays to his potential this could be a great group.