mgteich

Arguably these 46 are all we need to play and win. One spot is for Branch or for whoever Pioli brings in if Branch is still out for Game Two. This core includes solid backups at all positions.

7 roster spots, plus the Practice Squad, plus the Shadow Roster are left.
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Q1) Are there any other positions that are critical?

Q2) Are there any other players that are "must keeps"?

Q3) Are there any other positions that MUST be filled, or should we feel free to keep developmental players that will be inactive? What is the priority for the last 7 positions?

Q4) Please give your last seven and make a case for them being on the roster instead of being cut (hoping that they make the Shadow Roster) or cut (and hoping they make the Practice Squad).
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Offense - 20

2 QB Brady, Cassel
3 RB Dillon, Moroney, Faulk
4 TE Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills
4 WR Jackson, Brown, Caldwell, Branch/fa
7 OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein

Defense - 20

2 DT Wilfork, Sullivan
4 DE Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright
3 OLB Vrabel, Colvin, Banta-Cain
3 ILB Bruschi, Seau, Gardner
4 CB Samuel, Hobbs, Gay, C. Scott
4 S Harrison, Wilson, Hawkins, Sanders

Specialists and Special Teams - 6
1 K Gostkowski
1 P Miller
1 LS Paxton
3 ST-D Izzo, Davis, Andrews

QB12

I would add these 7:

Childress (is a Troy Brown in waiting);
Woods (He's got more of 'it' than Mincey right now);
Alexander (Can spell Seau, and is a Turnover making machine I think)
Klecko (only if he's healthy, is almost unblockable as a pass rusher, backup for Green)
Cobbs (because I never want another Amos Zeroue (sp?) disaster)
Tebucky (only if he's healthy, I think he's a gamer and has good chemistry with the team)
Poteat (he's been there for us in the past, and he's much more a Patriot than Warfield)

tatepatsfan

Last 6:

Either Cobbs or Evans - purely and simply for the depth, look what happened last year

Childress (possibly Stone if he does better) - he can return kicks, and is solid as a 5th receiver, again extra depth, i feel like keeping only 4 isn't enough when sometimes we go with 4 WR sets

Stevenson or Britt - again just more depth, i am not comfortable having only 2 backup lineman for the year, if we lose light and koppen like last year, then there is no one, granted either could make it to the PS, but they certainly would merit a spot

Mincey or Woods - whoever wins the battle between the two, more LB depth, youth infusion, they have looked solid

Alexander - IMO he has looked very solid, he's been in the system for a few years, i think he will be good

Andrews - DB/WR/ST, extremely fast, extremely versatile

tatepatsfan

Sorry I just realized I have two more spots, one I left out and the other because I didn't see Andrews listed at ST


I'll take Tebucky if healthy - experienced and great depth

I think it has to be Klecko or Hill, one more D-lineman

patchick

I really like this bottom-up approach.

My picks:

Childress -- 2 of your 4 WRs have essentially no TC reps, and all of the 4 have to be considered at least moderate injury risks.

Alexander -- the most impressive ST player of this camp, and this is his 3rd year in the system as an LB.

Woods -- Has shown good effort and burst, was an ST standout in college and is probably a little ahead of Mincey in the learning curve thanks to more experience at the position.

Cobbs -- 3 RBs dress for each game. It only takes one injury to put a reserve on the active list, and Cobbs has earned it.

Britt -- need another lineman. Britt & Stevenson are both worthy but given a tossup I'll take the tackle. If Koppen isn't truly ready to go, I reconsider.

Jones/G. Scott (whoever's healthiest) -- both gunners who have some value at safety. With Wilson's flexibility to CB, this adds functional depth to both positions.

Smith/Mincey -- this is a tough one. I'm leaning Smith because I suspect he's a little more ready. IF you really like both kids and IF you feel that Alexander is ready to be an ST leader, just maybe you keep both and lose one of your veteran ST guys.

mgteich

AUGUST 28 GUESSES FOR THE END OF THE BENCH

I really like the 46 man roster. Pioli must sign Branch or a replacement wideout to complete the 46.
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The last seven could come at any position and could certainly come from free agency. My analysis and guesses are below.

#47 EVANS I think he is competing with Pass, not Cobbs, He is a Ster, and blocker, and as a bonus he can carry the ball.

#48 BRITT I too take the OT. I like having Kaczur, Hochstein and Britt as my backups, with Stevenson and Hand on the Practice Squad.

#49 CHILDRESS I don't particularly like him, and I think we may replace him from free agency, but he has the spot for now. Stone and Musinski both have shown something but not enough. This spot could be Stone's, since he was ahead on depth chart before being injured, and is now healthy.

#50 ALEXANDER I've got him back on the roster again as a STer who is beating out Beisel (the alternative for this ST spot). This spot is another one a free agent could easily fill. I'm fine with Jones or Guss Scott as a better choice, but I fear both are hurt, and will not be back for awhile.

#51 CHAD BROWN He might be on IR tomorrow, we'll see; but we need another OLB, and I favor the experience. Woods could take this spot, but the Practice Squad seems more likely; ditto for Mincey.

#52 POTEAT over Warfield I think people forget the injury risk. Better to be safe with a known quantity. After all, he was our nickel for most of the end of the year, on a pretty good defense. If Gay is your nickel, how far ahead of Poteat do you think Gay is?

#53 And coming around the rail, back in practice today, the longshot, the injured, MARQUIS HILL. Seriously, the question is whether to give Klecko or Hill one more year or pick up a jag off the slagheap of free agency.
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Well, I said it could be anyone for the bottom three. Does anyone else have Brown, Poteat and Hill? Now, that's creativity! or something else.

Lloyd_Christmas

I don't see Gardener, Izzo, and Chad Scott as core players. Other than that, your core list looks good to me.

mgteich

I just depends on how important you consider special teams. All three are critical Ster's. Also, with Bruschi back, and presumably Vrabel back outside, Gardner is in the ILB rotation. If Vrabel is still inside, then we are missing a backup OLB core player (Gardner is not core). The only one I would call that is a healthy Chad Brown. Anyway, that's my reasoning.