rookBoston

With Gorin gone and Seau signed, things are becoming more clear.

QB (2) Brady, Cassel
RB (4) Dillon, Moroney, Faulk, Evans
WR (5) Branch, Jackson, Caldwell, Brown, Childress << I've had the same 5 since draft day
TE (4) Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills << and they'll all see the field... and at the same time
OT (3) Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan
OG (3) Mankins, Neal, Sullivan
OC (2) Koppen, Hochstein

That's only 23 on O, but it's a real solid 23 top to bottom with zero fat. I dont think anything more to be wished for, including at #2 QB, #3 OT, #5 WR... simply outstanding unit: quality, depth, character and youth. This is easily the best O we've seen from the Pats since Bledsoe, Martin, Coates, Armstrong and Glenn. Even the prospect of our (potential) WR corp leaves me feeling optimistic (must sign Branch!). Evans vs. Cobbs vs. Pass is the only real controversy.


NT (3) Wilfork, Sullivan, Smith << tough call: Klecko or Smith?
DE (4) Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright << I cut Hill to keep Sullivan
OLB(5) Vrabel, Colvin, Banta-Cain, Mincey, Woods << tough call: Woods or Brown?
ILB (5) Bruschi, Seau, Beisel, Gardner, Izzo, Davis << I hope Beisel looks good on ST, or he's at risk of unemployment
CB (4) Wilson, Hobbs, Samuel, Gay << tough call: Scott or Gay?
S (5) Harrison, Hawkins, Sanders, Jones, Scott

I've been worried about ILB since before the end of last season. Seau is a one-year stop gap, and hopefully has one more year in him. Luckily in this scheme, he doesn't need great to have footspeed. He can run north south, shed some blocks and plug some gaps, a la Ted Johnson. Then on third down, either Gardner, Beisel or Sanders can come in to bring the extra pass coverage skills. That solves the only real weak spot on this roster.

This is the first 53-man where I've actually listed Sullivan on the roster. I think he'll be the key to success in a 4-3. Warren, Wilfork, Sullivan and Seymour across the front with Vrabel, Bruschi and Colvin at LB... its like a dream come true.

K Gostkowski
P Miller
LS Paxton

All I can say is WOW. On paper, this team is really coming together.

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-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

rookBoston

Man, I forgot Willie Andrews our sure-thing KR, and the guy who'll make us forget Bethel Johnson.

Someone has to go. It'll either be LeKevin, Mincey, Woods, Beisel, Scott or Gay.

Talk about tough cuts.

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"We want to build a big, strong, tough, smart, fast, disciplined football team that will consistently compete for a championship."
-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

Box_O_Rocks

How long has Sully been working at OG?

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Mark Morse

I had a few disagreements:

I think Britt and Cobbs also make the team.

Brown, Beisel, Izzo, Mincey, Hill, Klecko,Sullivan, Warfiled and Guss Scott are gone.

LeKevin Smith, Woods (He has been very impressive holding the edge) Andrews are kept.

Izzo can only play special teams and we already have three of those players. Davis, Gardner, and Alexander can fill the Special Teams roles and contribute on Defense. Klecko's two sacks are not enough to save him this year! My Klecko jersey is going into mothballs!

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patchick

Can't argue with much! The offense is looking pretty well set, assuming Branch...well, you know. My one question is the OL, where you have just a single backup tackle. Are you assuming that Mankins is the de facto 4th tackle?

On defense, I don't even feel qualified to judge Sullivan vs. Hill. I have no clue what the coaches think of Hill and we've scarcely seen any samples of his work with our own eyes. Oh, and which Scott are you keeping? I still hold out hope for snake-bitten Guss, but Chad offers some positional flexibility.

pats1

I was wondering the same!

patsfan13

If Branch is back and Gardner/Seau works out this will be an amazing team. I hope we can have a year with an average # of injuries.

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"Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine, for that matter," Belichick said. "How does (Miami-Ohio offensive lineman Brandon) Brooks not get invited to the combine? How did Vollmer not get invited to the combine? I don't know. We can't really worry about that. We just have to try to evaluate them the best we can."

mgteich

We agreed on 49 last week; I accepted Mincey, GOST, and Evans from your list; you accepted Sullivan from mine.
-----------------------------------------
Now, we agree on 52, assuming Stevenson is playing guard instead of Sully. Also, you have 6 ILB's, not 5 (the total is right). I would be OK with Smith as #53, but I think that the choice is close and my choice is Chad Scott.

I'm fine with the 2 QB's. The OL is bit thin with seven plus a rook. And yes, this is the best offense since the one you mentioned.

In the LB corp, I think that it is a matter of health. If Beisel and Chad Brown are both healthy, I would keep the vets. Woods would be fine on the Practice Squad. However, I suspect that Beisel will be healthy and Chad Brown not, and therefore agree with your choices.

PLAYER 53
The choices for me are Smith, Chad Scott, or Britt.

I think that the six man line is fine and one of the best in the league. Sullivan has taken Hill's place. I'm not sure why we shouldn't Smith put on the Practice Squad. If he doesn't make it, we'll pick up another rookie NT or two for the PS. Smith wouldn't ever be active. I think that perhaps we need to see another week of Sullivan. If he is as far ahead of Smith as it seems, there is no need for Smith.

I'm fine with having a couple of OL's on the practice squad, and I suppose Britt is eligible and will make it (same argument as Smith). But OT is a more critical. What does happen with two OT injuries? It's happened before to us, a couple of times. If Britt is cut, that means that Stevenson or Mankins is expected to be able to play OT. And, of course, I'm fine with dante's judgement in this matter.

Finally, we come to Chad Scott, who could start at corner or safety if we needed him to (my man Chad). Chad is the consummate bb player, a veteran with flexibility and reasonable amount of talent. With luck, and health, we might not use him much, but that's fine.

A CAUTION
We may cut to 52, with the idea of picking someone else up off the waiver wire, as we have done before. Or, we might be still looking to pick up a player by trade.

Mark Morse

Offense 24

QB (2) Brady, Cassel
RB (5) Dillon, Moroney, Faulk, Evans, Cobb
FB << Pass to PUP - he is still a valuable special teams player >>
WR (5) Branch, Jackson, Caldwell, Brown, Childress << Branch DNR add Kight until Branch comes back>>
TE (4) Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills << and they'll all see the field... and at the same time
OT (4) Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Britt << Britt stays because they need insurance >>
OG (3) Mankins, Neal, Hochstein, << Stevenson to PS and Mruczkowski is cut but on a shadow roster >>
OC (1) Koppen

Defense 26

NT (2) Wilfork, Smith << Grady Jackson is still available - Klecko is gone >>
DE (4) Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright << Hill and Sullivan are gone >>
OLB(4) Vrabel, Colvin, Banta-Cain, Woods << Mincey is a tough call >>
ILB (6) Bruschi, Seau, Gardner, Izzo, Davis, Alexander << Beisel and Brown are gone >>
CB (4) Wilson, Hobbs, Samuel, Gay << Warfiekd and Hank are gone >>
S (6) Harrison, Hawkins, Sanders, Jones, C Scott, Andrews << Guss Scott is gone >>

Special Teams 3

K Gostkowski
P Miller
LS Paxton

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pats1

OG/C is too thin.

No need for 5 tackles. They'll only go with 3 - 4 at the most.