45 Man Active Roster

[mgteich]

Belichick might be fine with our current 45 man roster. Sure, some of these can be beat out, but the roster fights are primarily for the other EIGHT roster spots. The 45 man roster includes the players who will get almost all the reps, even with injuries to key players. There is plenty of room for the upgrade among the ten roster spots not included, as well as to the players below. That being said, we probably have the best team ever going into the draft.

The last active spot depends on game plan. Even the ones below are not always active. For example, sometimes we have only five defensive linemen active.

MG’s 45-MAN ROSTER AS OF APRIL 20

OFFENSE (19)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (4) Taylor, Faulk, Morris, Maroney
WR (3) Moss, Welker, Galloway
TE (3) Watson, Baker, Thomas
OT (3) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir
OG/C (4) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein

DEFENSE (20)
DL (6) Wilfork, Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright, Smith
OLB (4) Thomas, Crable, Banta-Cain, Woods
ILB (3) Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi
CB (5) Hobbs, Bodden, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite
S (2) Meriweather, Sanders

SPECIALISTS (6)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
LS (1) Hodel
ST (3) Slater, Ventrone, Lewis

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

For all the reasons you illustrated, this draft, like few others could see us taking anyone, anywhere... while ,ost prognosticators have us taking an LB or other defensive player one can't rule out any position and some mock drafts have the Pats taking an RB like Knowshon Moreno or Don Brown.

Anything's possible. Ultimately I can see Belichick using his picks to increase the value for future years when he can trade draft picks to grab proven veteran players like Moss and Welker.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Hmm. You're effectively implying the dime package contains 4 CBs. I'm fine with that.

You don't have a goal-line FB other than Hochstein, but he fits.

You don't have a #3 TE at all, given that Vrabel isn't on the team any more, but hey -- you only counted up to 43. So Dave Thomas or somebody could still be active on game days.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Yes, I'm implying that the five corners listed could cover both nickel and dime duties. For purists who must have three safeties listed, Springs can be considered the #3 safety. Yes, this is core team, a 3rd TE could still be added for game days.

One reason for me not considering the 3rd TE in the core group is that over half the posters here have a TE being drafted by us in the early rounds.

Hmm. You're effectively implying the dime package contains 4 CBs. I'm fine with that.

You don't have a goal-line FB other than Hochstein, but he fits.

You don't have a #3 TE at all, given that Vrabel isn't on the team any more, but hey -- you only counted up to 43. So Dave Thomas or somebody could still be active on game days.

 

[Feep50]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

What about Tank Williams? I think we resigned him..........

 

[RayClay]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Belichick might be fine with our current 43 man roster. Sure, some of these can be beat out, but the roster fights are primarily for the other TEN roster spots. The 43 man roster includes the players who will get almost all the reps, even with injuries to key players. There is plenty of room for the upgrade among the ten roster spots not included, as well as to the players below. That being said, we probably have the best team ever going into the draft.

MG’s 43-MAN ROSTER AS OF APRIL 19

OFFENSE (18)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (4) Taylor, Faulk, Morris, Maroney
WR (3) Moss, Welker, Galloway
TE (2) Watson, Baker
OT (3) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir
OG/C (4) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein

DEFENSE (19)
DL (5) Wilfork, Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright
OLB (4) Thomas, Crable, Banta-Cain, Woods
ILB (3) Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi
CB (5) Hobbs, Bodden, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite
S (2) Meriweather, Sanders

SPECIALISTS (6)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
LS (1) Hodel
ST (3) Slater, Ventrone, Lewis

I bet two of those linebackers never make the team. Don't know which two, but if they hit anything in the draft somebody has to go.

What about Tank Williams? I think we resigned him..........

Yeah, that too.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Please note that this is a 43 man roster. TEN more players will make the 53-man roster. The two linebackers that would go are among those who would be competing for the last two spots. In this scenario, Redd, Ruud, Craig and Alexander would be gone.

In my estimation, Tank Williams is also not one of the top 43 players on the team. There is room on my roster for two more defensive backs. Tank Williams might be one of the two, or not.

I bet two of those linebackers never make the team. Don't know which two, but if they hit anything in the draft somebody has to go.



Yeah, that too.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

The open 10 roster spots are
QB
RB
TE
OT
OG/C
DL
ILB
OLB
SS
FS

Clearly, there is no magic formula for roster position. We could keep more or less at a given position. This is just one scenario. For example, we could keep one less safety or move a safety over from corner, freeing a spot for a corner. We could keep one less special teamer and fill the spot elsewhere.

Also, as I indicated, the players on my 43 man roster could be beaten out by draftees or players not listed. That addition would be in addition to the ten listed above.

Finally, ALL the above positions currently have players on the roster. To say it another way, we would have ALL those positions filled with current roster players if the season started tomorrow. We don't HAVE TO find players at any position.

Belichick might be fine with our current 43 man roster. Sure, some of these can be beat out, but the roster fights are primarily for the other TEN roster spots. The 43 man roster includes the players who will get almost all the reps, even with injuries to key players. There is plenty of room for the upgrade among the ten roster spots not included, as well as to the players below. That being said, we probably have the best team ever going into the draft.

MG’s 43-MAN ROSTER AS OF APRIL 19

OFFENSE (18)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (4) Taylor, Faulk, Morris, Maroney
WR (3) Moss, Welker, Galloway
TE (2) Watson, Baker
OT (3) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir
OG/C (4) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein

DEFENSE (19)
DL (5) Wilfork, Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright
OLB (4) Thomas, Crable, Banta-Cain, Woods
ILB (3) Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi
CB (5) Hobbs, Bodden, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite
S (2) Meriweather, Sanders

SPECIALISTS (6)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
LS (1) Hodel
ST (3) Slater, Ventrone, Lewis

 

[Fencer]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

45 game-day actives (since you didn't have a #3 QB on your list, it's not 45+1).

You're short 1 WR, 1 TE, and 1 DL for a game-day active list, unless one of Slater/Ventrone steps up for Aiken-like WR reps, or is replaced by somebody who does.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

In this scenario, Redd, Ruud, Craig and Alexander would be gone.

Nothing shocking there.

With no offensive needs except maybe line, two young safeties, three young cornerbacks, a couple decent vets acquired at cb/safety, why would anyone think the patriots would hold onto marginal linevbackers when they can draft or acquire some rel talent for the future.

I like Crable, but he might be just a designated rusher, we don't know. I think Thomas and Mayo are it and everyone else is competition for whoever we draft or acquire.

If that's not the case, I really have to wonder what their plan is. Maybe they get a DE in case Seymour leaves, but that still leaves a bunch of prime picks to finally turn over the linebacking corps.

The fact that they gave Vrabel away tells me they think it's time. Of course they are picky about linebackers, but i have to think they have some in mind.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Are you saying that we need more than four active wide receivers? I have Greg Lewis. That gives us plenty of receivers I think. I would expect to have Smith and Thomas active. The last active is subject to game plan.

BTW, I never indicated that this was an active roster. The intent was to assess open positions, to show how many were open, and frankly to show how little we would miss the rest.

45 game-day actives (since you didn't have a #3 QB on your list, it's not 45+1).

You're short 1 WR, 1 TE, and 1 DL for a game-day active list, unless one of Slater/Ventrone steps up for Aiken-like WR reps, or is replaced by somebody who does.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Are you saying that we need more than four active wide receivers? I have Greg Lewis. That gives us plenty of receivers I think. I would expect to have Smith and Thomas active. The last active is subject to game plan.

Ack. I wasn't thinking of Lewis. My bad.

I would expect to have Smith and Thomas active. The last active is subject to game plan.

BTW, I never indicated that this was an active roster. The intent was to assess open positions, to show how many were open, and frankly to show how little we would miss the rest.

The guys who get all the reps even in case of injury, which is how you did frame it, pretty much equates to the when-healthy active roster, no?

 

[loosebearing]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

Why is this thread on the main board and not moved to the Draft one like all the other Draft threads?

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

I didn't post this on the draft board because the focus is that we are ready for the season with the current roster. Upgrades, if they come, could come in the draft, from UDFA's, from trades or from free agency.

Why is this thread on the main board and not moved to the Draft one like all the other Draft threads?

 

[mgteich]

Re: Drafting For Depth and for the Future

While that was not my intent, but you are correct. I just need to add Smith and Thomas.

Ack. I wasn't thinking of Lewis. My bad.



The guys who get all the reps even in case of injury, which is how you did frame it, pretty much equates to the when-healthy active roster, no?

 

[Fencer]

MG’s 45-MAN ROSTER AS OF APRIL 20

OFFENSE (19)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (4) Taylor, Faulk, Morris, Maroney
WR (3) Moss, Welker, Galloway
TE (3) Watson, Baker, Thomas
OT (3) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir
OG/C (4) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein

DEFENSE (20)
DL (6) Wilfork, Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright, Smith
OLB (4) Thomas, Crable, Banta-Cain, Woods
ILB (3) Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi
CB (5) Hobbs, Bodden, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite
S (2) Meriweather, Sanders

SPECIALISTS (6)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
LS (1) Hodel
ST (3) Slater, Ventrone, Lewis

Let's see what the first day of the draft does to this.

You have 7 DBs not counting Slater and Ventrone. The new DBs compete for some of those slots, as does Spann. Guys with bad training camp injuries will not necessarily be replaced with further depth. 2 or 3 DBs or quasi-DBs wind up on the inactives.

Vollmer sticks, so O'Callaghan and Levoir are competing either for one slot or to thin out another roster area. (Edit: Not to mention Britt.) Vollmer is clearly in the inactives.

Brace competes with Smith for an active spot, the other likely to stick inactive.

That's 4-5 of 8 inactive slots accounted for, with WR, QB, and OG/C each seemingly one roster spot light. Whether or not that's a problem depends in large part on what you think of LB depth. If Vollmer goes to guard that changes things a bit, but I haven't thought about whether he could possibly fit inside for the Pats.

But it also speaks to the difficulties of making room for up to 4 3rd-rounders plus 2 other comp picks.

 

[mgteich]

SECONDARY
CHUNG takes the backup strong safety spot, presumably that of Tank Williams.
BUTLER takes the backup FS/CB spot presumably from Spann.
We now have a very solid 9 defensive backs: 4 corners, 3 safeties and 2 swing DB's.
Both swing backs could compete for starting positions in 2010.
The last inactive will depend on ST play. Chung will be a definite active.

DEFENSIVE LINE
I expect BRACE to take Smith's roster spot and to compete with Wright for the active 5th DL spot on Game Day. Given the contract situations, we probably should keep 7 defensive linemen as you suggest, but it is not clear.

OFFENSIVE LINE
I expect VOLLMER to be inactive and for LeVoir to be the swing tackle as he was last year with O'Callaghan and Britt being cut.

Let's see what the first day of the draft does to this.

You have 7 DBs not counting Slater and Ventrone. The new DBs compete for some of those slots, as does Spann. Guys with bad training camp injuries will not necessarily be replaced with further depth. 2 or 3 DBs or quasi-DBs wind up on the inactives.

Vollmer sticks, so O'Callaghan and Levoir are competing either for one slot or to thin out another roster area. (Edit: Not to mention Britt.) Vollmer is clearly in the inactives.

Brace competes with Smith for an active spot, the other likely to stick inactive.

That's 4-5 of 8 inactive slots accounted for, with WR, QB, and OG/C each seemingly one roster spot light. Whether or not that's a problem depends in large part on what you think of LB depth. If Vollmer goes to guard that changes things a bit, but I haven't thought about whether he could possibly fit inside for the Pats.

But it also speaks to the difficulties of making room for up to 4 3rd-rounders plus 2 other comp picks.