drew4008

Forgive me for not following our roster very closely since the Super Bowl, but I see that these rather unknown names made the final 53.

So what can you tell me about them (as far as hype/potential, camp/preseason performance, etc.) and why I should or shouldn't be excited that they're still Patriots?

RB Brandon Bolden
OL Nick McDonald
OL Donald Thomas
DL Marcus Forston
DL Justin Francis
LB Mike Rivera

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ctpatsfan77

I won't go through all of them, but he was a guy that the Packers apparently wanted but waived, and the Patriots convinced him to come up to New England.

After injuries to Koppen, Connolly, and Wendell, the Pats had to bring in McDonald as their fourth-string center. . . . and he more than held his own.

Plus he can backup at guard and, to a certain extent, even tackle.

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Ifleninwasawizard

Boldon is a rookie UDFA from Old Miss who is a powerful runner. Sound familiar?

Thomas is a serviceable backup guard who hopefully will stay that way if Waters returns.

Forston is a rookie UDFA who I didn't follow much this off season. He had some good showings in the preseason games. Other than Rivera he is probably the biggest surprise.

Francis is another rookie UDFA who surprised everyone by having a strong camp. A decent amount of people thought he had a chance of making the team.

Rivera is basically just an ST guy who has bounced around practice squads for a few years after not being drafted. I only saw the first 3 preseason games and I wasn't impressed by what I saw at LB, apparently he had a better 4th game. Not a lot of people saw him making the team.

rookBoston

Bolden looks physical, strong, willful runner. Competed well with Ridley and Vereen for snaps, and earned a spot on the roster. You wonder how he went undrafted.

McDonald stands out because he can play all five OL positions. In preseason games, he was at OC one series and RT the next. Pretty incredible. Not overwhelming at any position, but improving, and has the mental side of it down. Bottom line, he creates incredible roster versatility which BB loves.

Thomas can play OC and OG. At center, he looked better than Koppen, and looked good at OG pulling in the run game. Has the skills to be our starting RG, if Waters does not report. But more likely playing behind Waters, Connolly and Wendell... which is a nice, deep depth chart.

Fortson showed some interior pass rush. He's one that occasionally looked explosive in camp, but I think he's a project. Guess he looked too good to risk on waivers?

Francis sparked in camp, too, enough to push Gerard Warren off the roster. I think he's another one where BB saw value for the salary. And I think he likes bringing hard working, coachable UDFAs onto his roster whenever they flash something in camp. I think Francis is depth behind Brace, and his 2013 replacement.

Rivera is the primary beneficiary of the Dane Fletcher injury, but that said, he earned the job against quality competition. He matched Tarpinian and Koutoutvides on ST, and outperformed them at ILB in the regular defense. He was the guy calling plays for the 2nd team D. Looked reliable, made plays against the run.

These are all guys that played hard in camp. Tough roster to earn a spot. Each of them had an uphill slog to prove they're worthy.

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UK_Pat37

RB Brandon Bolden - UDFA, had a very good gamp, didn't see much in him until the last preseason game where he made his case.

OL Nick McDonald - ex-packer. Stepped in at center last season, looked pretty good and showed versatility over preseason.

OL Donald Thomas - I don't rate this guy as much as some. Had a very up and down preseason but flashes potential.

DL Marcus Forston - called this guy. Great burst in camp and in games. Been impressed with him all preseason. He'll provide some interior rush.

DL Justin Francis - similar to the above but at DE. Could shift inside...we will see.

LB Mike Rivera -BOSSED it against the Giants. He was fighting for his spot that night and was flying around the field.

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betterthanthealternative

At least 2, and as many as 5, will not see a single game day active roster this year, barring injury.

patfanken

Forget about those guys. Someone please explain to me how Tracy White made this team from the tub.

slam

If Brandon Bolden is back fielding punts, COVER YOUR EYES!

patsinthesnow

Bolden is the most interesting out of the group. BB must really like him to make him the 4th RB on the 53, considering his ST gaffs, and the fact it's tough for a UDFA RB to make the opening day roster. (Arian Foster to the practice squad, same with BJGE, Blount was cut from the Titans)

He had a lot of hype coming out of camp, but he didn't really show much in the preseason except that he is a solid downhill runner. The O-line sucked for our backs though, especially Vereen and Bolden.

hovis

All but two of them (Bolden and Francis) are placeholders until they sign another WR or two.