Speculation on the empty roster spot - further tooling of the ground game?

[mgteich]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

If Slater is the safety we need, that's fine with me and for Capers to judge. In the pats, I've questioned why Slater is on the team if he isn't returning kicks. The answer is that he is ST specialist, and plays on all the special team units. He is also a gunner on special teams. I don't know whether Aiken has replaced him as top gun, but even if not, Slater seems to be a valuable Ster, backup returner, and an emergency safety.

How about Slater? How did he do in his three snaps? Not much to judge by, but... he's fast and tough right? He's gonna have a hard time snagging the KR spot after the day Hobbs had. Might he become trade fodder or a cut?

 

[mgteich]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

Spach is a much better blocking TE than Seau, as are Watson and Thomas. If we need a TE, we should sign one up. There is no reason to convert an elderly linebacker to a new position. If you are talking about the jumbo offense, both Vrabel and Hochstein can line up at TE.

Any chance they could use LB like seau as a blocking TE ?? worth a shot given the current situation

 

[BPF]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

It should be time to sign Seau. We could use a 3rd TE. We need a 4th safety who can be useful in run support. In any case I expect two signees before our next game.

BTW, I don't think a new CB would challenge O'Neal. He would challenge Wheatley for reps, and perhaps Lewis Sanders.

I agree. We need a 3rd TE who can block, both pass and run. A 4th Safety is a consideration but I'd rather have another ILB w/experience who can cover. As of right now I don't think CB is a consideration, the tryouts were building the emergency list in case of injury.

 

[dtbrks]

Stephen Neal is coming back in a few weeks (i hope), although I doubt that is really an issue with this open spot as they can just cut someone later when neal comes back on the roster..

 

[mgteich]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

These kind of tryouts are interesting given that we have Richardson and Spann on the Practice Squad. Why are they there?

I agree. We need a 3rd TE who can block, both pass and run. A 4th Safety is a consideration but I'd rather have another ILB w/experience who can cover. As of right now I don't think CB is a consideration, the tryouts were building the emergency list in case of injury.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

Spach is a much better blocking TE than Seau, as are Watson and Thomas. If we need a TE, we should sign one up. There is no reason to convert an elderly linebacker to a new position. If you are talking about the jumbo offense, both Vrabel and Hochstein can line up at TE.

Spach is not a better blocker then the other two. As for parthasas's tongue in cheek reference to converting Seau to TE...I'd think Junior would love the chance.

 

[NEPatriot]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

they will get 1 more D player in.

 

[BradyManny]

Stephen Neal is coming back in a few weeks (i hope), although I doubt that is really an issue with this open spot as they can just cut someone later when neal comes back on the roster..

I wouldn't hold your breath on Neal...at this point, I think its a fair assumption it was of the ACL (and surrounding ligaments) brand of knee injury (pains myself to talk about said injury). Considering his injury came in the Super Bowl, 5 months into the season, that doesn't bode well for his chances of coming right off the PUP in week 6. I'd expect more of a Seymour timeline.

 

[signbabybrady]

I wouldn't hold your breath on Neal...at this point, I think its a fair assumption it was of the ACL (and surrounding ligaments) brand of knee injury (pains myself to talk about said injury). Considering his injury came in the Super Bowl, 5 months into the season, that doesn't bode well for his chances of coming right off the PUP in week 6. I'd expect more of a Seymour timeline.

I think you are speculating here jsut as much as the guy is speculating he could be ready week 6.

We don't know what the injury was.

All we know is that he is on the pup and elidgible to be back after 6 games, and I expect he will be ready sometime after 6 games (sooner rather than later) otherwise he would have been put on IR.

 

[BradyManny]

I think you are speculating here jsut as much as the guy is speculating he could be ready week 6.

We don't know what the injury was.

All we know is that he is on the pup and elidgible to be back after 6 games, and I expect he will be ready sometime after 6 games (sooner rather than later) otherwise he would have been put on IR.

No doubt, admittedly its pure speculation - but I think its an educated guess based on the timeline thus far.

I agree with your statement that he'll be ready at some point b/c otherwise he would've been IR'd.

 

[BPF]

Maybe a DL will be a consideration and we'll see more of 4-3 D coming out of the bye, currently there are only 6 DL's on the roster. Playing 4-3 would also keep Bruschi off the field more and keep him fresh. Mayo could be even more of a tackling machine in a 4-3.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: Speculation on the empty roster spot.

It should be time to sign Seau. We could use a 3rd TE. We need a 4th safety who can be useful in run support. In any case I expect two signees before our next game.

BTW, I don't think a new CB would challenge O'Neal. He would challenge Wheatley for reps, and perhaps Lewis Sanders.

I was hopeful Seau would come in for the last week of camp to get back in playing form. I just can't see how Mayo and Bruschi will hold up inside, they are both undersized for this style of defense. Seau may have been painful in coverage but he could still plug the hole and brought a little swagger to the defense.

I am quietly confident that Kraft bribed Goodell and Brady is coming back, wait for it....

 

[modman]

I think that a lot of this analysis is spot on. BB needs to really look at the woefull performance of the offensive line. If there is something that really blowed so far this year it's been this part of the team. Part of the reason we don't have an MVP quarterback for the rest of the season is that the line and the supporting rb/te just haven't done well. While there's been a lot of justified moaning about Cassel's performance the truth of the matter is that he got absolutely no help from his running game or his pass protection. To allow an over-the-hill loudmouth like Porter sack him three times is absolutely embararssing. If Porter gets three more sacks during the rest of the season I will be shocked. Cassell obviously needs to get quicker in his reads and find recievers sooner but as one can see in Lord Farvequad's performance yesterday even an ubur-experienced quarterback can look like a rookie if his protection breaks down.