mgteich

Obviously, one of the players below could make a strong case for a roster spot, or there could be an injury to one of the top 7. However, for now, I am pretty satisfied with

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard
S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ihedigbo

DB'S ON THE OUTSIDE LOOK IN
--------------------------------------
Allen
Barrett
Brown
Cole
Ebner
Williams
Ventrone

AndyJohnson

I think 3 of each are locks:
McCourty, Dowling, Arrington
Chung, Gregory, Wilson

I think Moore, Dennard, Allen, Cole are in a battle for one or 2 spots and there is no distinct favorite(s) among that group. I think separating Moore and Dennard is more speculation than reality that they have any leg up.
At safety, Id say the same for Ihedigbo, Barrett, and even Ebner, especially if the corner # is 5.

TyronePoole

Call me crazy but I'd much rather roll the dice as the season goes along on a Barrett or even Ebner (if he's actually training to be a safety?) and see how it goes than go with a thoroughly mediocre Ihedigbo who has a very low ceiling. In an emergency situation I feel like the Ihedigbos of the world would be available anyway.

mgteich

I agree with your locks. I am just not as reticent as you to picks the favorites at this point in time. Others will have different opinions. Others have no interest in guessing at this point.

I agree that the number of corners could be 4 or 5. Therefore, it might useful to consider that the players you list at corner are competing for one roster spot, the backup corner position.

I agree that Ihedigbo and Barrett are competing for the #4S/ST stud position. I don't see Ebner getting THAT roster spot.

Once the 2 positions above are filled, we have all we need for position players, except in the case of emergency players in case of 2 injuries. We would have 4 corners and 4 safeties.

CHOICES AFTER WE HAVE OUR 8 DEFENSIVE BACKS
Obviously the choice of #4 CB could influence the choices below. Either of the potential #4 safeties could be a potential #9 DB as a STer.

We are likely to have 1-2 addition DB/ST roster spots available. Also, one of these 1-2 positions could be used on a developmental player.

If we are nervous enough about our 8, we might keep a vet who can be both an emergency corner and an emergency safety.
If Belichick is confident with our ST's, I could see him making this choice.

SUMMARY
6 locks as noted
2 position roster spots with contenders noted
1-2 roster spots available for those who best fill needs not fully addressed

Kay Mad

I don't know who'de I exclude but
I'm rooting for Ventrone to make this team.


After last year..
Who's mentally tougher ?

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It is what it is

Elijah

How is Barrett a roll of the dice? He had his shot and he proved to be both terrible AND injury prone.

Sciz

If Belichick thinks 1/10 as highly of Ebner as his college coaches, then he's a lock.

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TyronePoole

you don't think it's risky to have a terrible and injury prone player on the roster?

I meant to say side with more of the young guys that are more unknown than a "proven" mediocre player.

Barrett was probably a poor example...

AndyJohnson

I should clarify re:Ebner.
If he makes the team as a special teamer who can also play safety and a corner makes the team who can play safety, then we may only keep 3 safeties, making Ebner effectively the 4th safety but 99% a special teamers.

patfanken

It will be a series of interesting battles, not doubt, but I look at it this way.

Of course this is based on the assumption that the team will keep 9 DBs (4 CB's 4 S's 1 CB/S hybrid) However given the passing nature of the league and the value of DBs to ST's, no one should be shocked if they keep 10

The "locks": (subject to injury)

CB: McCourty, Arrington, Dowling

S: Chung, Gregory, Wilson

The "battles"

Allen vs Moore for the hybrid CB/S role

Cole vs Allen vs Moore for the 4th CB role

Barrett vs Ihedigbu for the 4th S role (SS)

The "Realities"

Ebner to the PS. He needs at least that to learn the DB craft. 3 snaps in college isn't gonna do it.

Brown to the unemployment line.

Ventrone and Williams are camp bodies and IF they are lucky will make it to the PS.