dryheat44

Now, this is assuming that Rodney, Light, and Koppen are back active for week one (reasonable assumption) and that nobody goes on IR (ridiculous assumption). People, especially young 'uns, are going to go on IR, which will allow us to keep a few more. After this roster, we have over 20 million left under the cap (Thanks Miguel) to sign the rookies and maybe a veteran who shakes loose from another team (Donnie Edwards, I'm looking in your direction). I'm also assuming none of the other long snappers is consistent enough to take Paxton's job, but I hope I'm wrong.

QB (3): Brady, Cassell, Flutie/Mortenson/Huard/TBA
RB (3): Dillon, Faulk, Maroney
WR (5): Branch, Caldwell, Brown, Jackson, Childress
TE (4): Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills
C/G (5): Koppen, Hochstein, Neal, Mankins, Mruczkowski/Yates/Tucker/Steitz
T (4): Light, Gorin, Kaczur, O'Callaghan/Britt
K (1): Gostkowski/other
P (1): Miller
LS (1): Paxton

DL (6): Seymour, Green, Warren, Wilfork, Hill, Wright/Thomas
LB (8): Vrabel, Colvin, Bruschi, Beisel, Mincey, Davis, 2 of Alexander/Banta-Cain/Izzo/Claridge/Gardner
CB (6): Gay, Samuel, Hobbs, Warfield, Andrews, Poteat/Spann
S (6): Harrison, Hawkins, Wilson, Mitchell, Sanders, Ventrone/K. Jackson/G. Scott

Last cuts include Pass, plus the guys who lose out on the competitions noted above. That's 12 guys, half of which will probably make the team due to IR or PUP situations.

Our return game is in capable hands with Hobbs, Childress, Andrews, and Maroney.

Cover teams feature Davis, Mitchell, Sanders, and the winners of the Linebacker and safety competitions. Special Teams play will be huge in deciding who gets those spots.

__________________
When it's third and 10, you can have the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time. -- R.I.P. Max McGee

Mike the Brit

I think that the desire to get better on Special Teams is one of the clearest messages coming through the personnel moves this off-season. I'm interested, then, why you think that Davis and Mitchell are locks, but not Izzo or Tebucky (who doesn't even figure in the competition at safety). More explanation of your thoughts about Special Teams, please.

__________________
My prized possessions: Our family pictures; my dad and me getting doused by Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXIX [Shalize Manza Young Up Close with ... Bill Belichick]


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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

patsox23

I agree with Mike the Brit. I'm no big Tebucky fan, but he's a killer on S/T's and, as shaky as he can be, was a semi-regular in this scheme for two years. I think he's worth keeping for S/T's alone, but his depth helps.

I don't know why we'd be all that excited about Don Davis sticking.

Also, there is no way Lonnie Paxton gets beaten out, not that you're asserting he will, and as much as I'm with you on wanting to have an efficient roster, I don't mind having the BEST NFL long-snapper on our 53. Neither of the draft picks people are excited about has done much long-snapping AT ALL - I believe Thomas has NEVER long-snapped in a game before. No thanks.

Also, Lonnie was the original snow-angel - your callousness in this regard breaks. my. heart.

dryheat44

IMO, and just MO, we can only carry a few guys who exist, for all practical purposes, on coverage teams only, especially when you consider only 46 guys dress on Sunday. I think that Davis adds more versatility than Izzo right now and their ST skills seem comparable. Just looking over Mitchell's stats the last couple of years, he looks to be a keeper on STs, plus BB signed him to a pretty good contract, which I think signifies that he's good enough to keep even if he never plays safety.

I think Tebucky's skills have declined to the point where he doesn't improve our safety situation, and he doesn't offer anything on STs that other, younger and cheaper, guys on the roster don't. He had exactly ONE ST tackle last year.

I think Izzo will make the team, if in TC those guys he's in competition with for roster spots prove themselves undependable in the kicking game.

__________________
When it's third and 10, you can have the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time. -- R.I.P. Max McGee

Bostonian1962

Top notch effort. One small nit, and that is that while I agree Mills makes the team, I bet he'll be listed in with the RBs (He'll be our FB/RB/All purpose/3rd down/fill in TE/kinda dude.

Bostonian1962

Patsox, you're one of the regs whom I most agree with. I will say though that you can put me down as a Don Davis fan. Great teamer. Great fill in LB. Great, part time strength and cond. assistant. Actually, I believe he's one of BBs favorites.

mgteich

OFFENSE
1) Bethel Johnson is still competing with Childress, as would any fa WR that might be added. Childress is hardly a lock.
2) We drafted a G. I think he has a much better shot to make the team than Yates or Steitz, who have almost no shot. Tucker should be the favorite, since he can back up at several positions, and he has game experience.
3) I have no clue why you think it is a reasonable assumption that Harrison, Light and Koppen will all be active for Game One.

dryheat44

1) True. I didn't mean to imply Childress was a lock. It's entirely possible we only go with 4 WRs on the roster. All 95 guys are in competition right now.
2) Yates has been with the team for over a year. Steitz has been performing extremely well in NFL Europe. Why would a rookie late-round draft pick be favored to win a roster spot over guys who have spent time in the system? Stevenson looks to be a PS guy to me.
3) Because it seems more reasonable than to assume that they won't be. I don't want to guess a return on players when injury information from Foxboro is non-existant.

__________________
When it's third and 10, you can have the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time. -- R.I.P. Max McGee

ctpatsfan77

8 of 10 draftees on the 53-man roster. I'll take it.

__________________
"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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mgteich

I think your comment below is somewhat backward. I think that backup position play will be help determine who wins the special teams positions.

Cover teams feature Davis, Mitchell, Sanders, and the winners of the Linebacker and safety competitions. Special Teams play will be huge in deciding who gets those spots.[/QUOTE]