Final Roster Prediction

[DocE]

QB(2) Brady, Hoyer

Patriots will sign or trade for a backup QB eventually, but it might not be today.

RB (4) Maroney, Faulk, Taylor, Green-Ellis

Patriots will not keep 5 RB's and Morris will get an injury settlement or go on I.R. I personally would rather have Morris than Green-Ellis, but I am trying to get this right.

TE (3) Baker, Thomas, Watson

Hopefully the Patriots can get something for Smith

WR(6) Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis, Aiken, Edelman

OL(9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, Vollmer, Ohrnberger, O'Callaghan, Connolly

OL is the position I feel least certain about on the roster. I put Connolly over Wendell because you can't keep a pure backup C on the gameday roster. I wouldn't be shocked if we go with 8 on the line and Wendell and Bussey on the practice squad.

DL (7) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright, Brace, Pryor

DE/LB(2) Banta-Cain, Burgess

LB(7) Thomas, Mayo, Guyton, Woods, Lenon, Alexander, Crable

Look for changes here when the Patriots see what veterans are cut or what young guys they are awarded on waivers.

CB(5) Bodden, Wilhite, Springs, Butler, Wheatley

S(4) Meriweather, Sanders, Chung, McGowan

ST(4) Gostkowski, Hanson, Ingram, *Slater

*Slater makes the team if his injury will be 100% in weeks as opposed to months. If Slater goes on IR, the Patriots scour the waiver wire for the best gunner available.

 

[Ring 6]

QB(2) Brady, Hoyer

Patriots will sign or trade for a backup QB eventually, but it might not be today.

RB (4) Maroney, Faulk, Taylor, Green-Ellis

Patriots will not keep 5 RB's and Morris will get an injury settlement or go on I.R. I personally would rather have Morris than Green-Ellis, but I am trying to get this right.

TE (3) Baker, Thomas, Watson

Hopefully the Patriots can get something for Smith

WR(6) Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis, Aiken, Edelman

OL(9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, Vollmer, Ohrnberger, O'Callaghan, Connolly

OL is the position I feel least certain about on the roster. I put Connolly over Wendell because you can't keep a pure backup C on the gameday roster. I wouldn't be shocked if we go with 8 on the line and Wendell and Bussey on the practice squad.

DL (7) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright, Brace, Pryor

DE/LB(2) Banta-Cain, Burgess

LB(7) Thomas, Mayo, Guyton, Woods, Lenon, Alexander, Crable

Look for changes here when the Patriots see what veterans are cut or what young guys they are awarded on waivers.

CB(5) Bodden, Wilhite, Springs, Butler, Wheatley

S(4) Meriweather, Sanders, Chung, McGowan

ST(4) Gostkowski, Hanson, Ingram, *Slater

*Slater makes the team if his injury will be 100% in weeks as opposed to months. If Slater goes on IR, the Patriots scour the waiver wire for the best gunner available.

Very consistent with my expectations. A few comments.

-I think 4th RB is Morris, unless his injuries are worse that we think. Could go either way.
-I agree with 9 OL.
-Everyone has Pryor making the team. I dont. I think 7 DL plus TBC and Burgess is too many. I suppose there could be a last minute Jarvis Green trade, but I doubt it. I would add a yet to be acquired QB, or another s/ter like Ventrone in his place.
Also it is not impossible we keep 4 TEs, with one of them filling the spot normally filled by the FB that we dont have.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with both previous posts.

QB
A 3rd QB will be on the team, but that could wait until after Game 1, or not.

RB
MORRIS if he will be healthy soon.

OL
9 OL's is right. We could still pick up a veteran C/G which could change up the mix.

DL
I agree than Pryor is not a lock. I'd prefer Carter, but he hasn't signed.

LB
Curiously, we still have extreme flexibility/weakness/opportunity at the bottom of the roster with Lenon, Alexander and Crable making it as of now, and Ninkovich not making it. Many are looking to the waiver wire. This could happen. More likely Belichick will not find a castoff who will be able to be plugged in.

ST
I think Slater is gone. Since you have kept Alexander and Lenon, there is no particular need for an additional special teamer. I have this position as the position for the 3rd QB when he is signed. Ninkovich could take this spot for a week making it easier to for him to make our Practice Squad.

 

[farn]

I like Morris a lot. Being injured (and injured often in recent years) does not help his cause. I think he gives NE more on gameday than BJGE (as much as people love him).

Ventrone is an interesting guy when considering the Slater situation. I didn't project him making the 53 before, but now... is he not the guy who beat out the mercurial C. Jackson for a spot ? That says something ! (about C.Jack anyways)

 

[Lampshade]

Good stuff, DocE.

That's exactly how I have the first 51, with some combination of Morris, BJGE, Slater taking the final two depending on health.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Ventrone is an interesting guy when considering the Slater situation. I didn't project him making the 53 before, but now... is he not the guy who beat out the mercurial C. Jackson for a spot ? That says something ! (about C.Jack anyways)

Well, everyone on the 2008 roster beat out Jackson. . . .

In any case, though, BB puts a lot more weight on STs than most people do when making out their rosters, so I would put Ventrone's odds at 50-50 or so, if not higher.

People say that they have Banta-Cain/Ninkovich/Alexander/etc., but none of those guys can directly fill Slater's shoes. Ventrone can't exactly do it either, but he's certainly a better fit for that role than the LBs.

 

[patsox23]

I reiterate my position that the Patriots will keep 5 RBs ND, therefore, BJGE. I'd remove Slater from the 53. He's hurt, and if not as bad as it seemed, surely enough to stash him on IR and give us one more year to see him develop.

 

[Jimke]

I agree with both previous posts.

QB
A 3rd QB will be on the team, but that could wait until after Game 1, or not.

RB
MORRIS if he will be healthy soon.

OL
9 OL's is right. We could still pick up a veteran C/G which could change up the mix.

DL
I agree than Pryor is not a lock. I'd prefer Carter, but he hasn't signed.

LB
Curiously, we still have extreme flexibility/weakness/opportunity at the bottom of the roster with Lenon, Alexander and Crable making it as of now, and Ninkovich not making it. Many are looking to the waiver wire. This could happen. More likely Belichick will not find a castoff who will be able to be plugged in.

ST
I think Slater is gone. Since you have kept Alexander and Lenon, there is no particular need for an additional special teamer. I have this position as the position for the 3rd QB when he is signed. Ninkovich could take this spot for a week making it easier to for him to make our Practice Squad.

Crable is a very shaky pick for the roster. One or two plays and he

ends up on the injury report. At least Ninkovich set the edge against

Brandon Jacobs.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The Pats will keep 5 RB's. Book it! Also, someone along the O-line or D-line won't make the team to make room for the 5th RB. I'll go with D-line because Burgess can fill the role at DE. I predict Pryor goes to practice squad.