mgteich

Have at it. Presuming health, I don't think that the choices on offense are difficult at all.

There have been lots of changes in the last couple of days. Fells and Vollmer are coming off the the PUP list. Waters will be back soon. Demps has been signed, apparently with some bonus or guarantees.

I have included the players above. There is now no 4th OT, and certainly no fullback. McDonald will be needed as the 4th OT in addition to being a backup center. I have kept Wendell over Koppen since I don't think that we want Koppen as a one-position backup.

Obviously, there may be many changes to come. For example, we could sign a veteran backup running back and try to put Bolden on the Practice Squad after the last cut or even a week thereafter.

MG AUGUST 18 OFFENSE

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden, Jeff Demps
WR (6) Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater, Donte Stallworth
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (3) Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald
G (2) Logan Mankins, Brian Waters
T (3) Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon

Total players: 25
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

The Scrizz

Do you get money every time you use Pats Picker? I'm just wondering.

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I was like, ‘Dang! Um, Mr. Brady, can we line up?’ He didn’t care. He was like, ‘You’re not going to line up.’ When we turned around one time I checked back around and my hand was going to the grass and they were like, ‘Hut!’ And I said, ‘Noooooooooooo!’

Marqui

I think they'll keep Larsen over Bolden (who they'll put on the PS). And I think there's a chance Shiancoe makes it over Stallworth.

rookBoston

Yeah, I agree that Larsen should make the team, mostly for lack of other options at FB. McDaniels obviously wants to feature a power running game to complement the 5-wide looks, and I couldn't be happier about it.

I'm still not sure about Shiancoe. If he were healthy and productive and in tune with the QBs, I think he'd be a useful option to have, allowing the staff to play Hernandez in an H-back or slot receiver spot. With Larsen, Schiancoe, Gronk, Hernandez and Vereen/Ridley on the field, it looks like (and can play as) a power run, but is also a fantastic formation to run a screen or throw down the seam. Very hard to defend. But if Shiancoe can't get on the field, BB might just give the chance to Silvestro or Urban instead. He has this thing for employing hard working UDFAs.

I think it's okay taking the risk on sending Bolden to the PS.

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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

AndyJohnson

I don't know how people keep leaving Deion Branch off of roster projections.

The Scrizz

I happen to believe that Branch will make the team based on his chemistry with Brady.

The reason people are leaving him off of their projected rosters is based on his dwindling stats, the fact that they brought in 2 better WR in Lloyd and Gaffney, and he's getting a little old.

The thing that surprises me is that most are giving that spot to a guy with 41 catches in the last 3 years just because he is a 'deep threat' in Stallworth.

I for one would like to start developing some wideouts. Give Ebert a shot and if you need help later due to injuries or whatever give Branch the call. He could fall out of bed and fit into the offense three months from now if he needed to.

I don't see the point of having a 33 year old who will be the 4th WR, when he can't play special teams and won't see the field much anyway. I feel the same about Stallworth. The team has enough vets and Brady has enough go to guys that Branch really doesn't need to fill that roll.

JMHO

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I was like, ‘Dang! Um, Mr. Brady, can we line up?’ He didn’t care. He was like, ‘You’re not going to line up.’ When we turned around one time I checked back around and my hand was going to the grass and they were like, ‘Hut!’ And I said, ‘Noooooooooooo!’

RayClay

I don't believe there's any indication of that. Someone posted a Shalise tweet where she made some assumptions based on no information.

I could be wrong, I can't find a tweet from her, but I remember the mention and it was a theory, not knowledge, I believe.

I certainly hope so.

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pencilneckgeek

Only 8 OLmen? I don't remember seeing that before, although McDonald's versatility makes it a possibility. That would mean we have to have 2 promising PS players on the OL. Could happen, but I wouldn't bet on it.

As for no Branch, I don't see it happening. He's to attentive to the little things that make everybody else's job easier, even when he has trouble getting open himself. In the 2-minute offense, he's like a coach on the field - making sure the ball gets back to the right official after Hernandez makes a big play and gets a little too excited and knowing all the sight adjustments that need to be made, when there is no time to huddle-up.

Haley

I am starting to think we are cutting both Branch and Stallworth. It seems like either that or one of the RBs. We need more Oline than that.

UK_Pat37

I have pondered along this line of thinking in my roster projections. I've stuck Stallworth in there for now but I personally would rather see a young gun like Ebert put in there...especially if our top three are going to be Welker, Lloyd and Gaffney.

Now we feel like we have a viable 3rd WR in Gaffney (which we didn't really feel we had after Branch at #2 before this year) and if whisper gs of Branch losing a step are true, his roster spot is definitely under threat.

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