As the season moves: Potential Roster Amendments

[realtime]

Seau plays at least 5 years younger than Bruschi. He is a freak of nature. That being said, it is not clear why it makes sense to have him on the squad, especially if he doesn't play until Mayo is healthy.

Wow . . . perhaps the first and only time I have ever seen the word "Seau" and any variant of the word "natural" in the same sentence.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

2) Maroney averaged more than 4.4 yards per carry in his first two seasons. For his career, he has averaged over 4.6 yards per carry when he carries more than 20 times per game. Just GIVE HIM THE BALL.

Appropos of hundreds of recurring (nightmare) threads that I'd rather not post in, since I agree with your recommendation (although BB seems to have joined the Maroney-isn't-the-answer-crowd at least for a week):

Let's not confuse correlation with causation. When a RB is averaging closer to 5 ypc than 4, an offense will tend to give him the ball more often, because the running game is working. When he gets dumped for a loss every fourth carry, he tends not to get the ball so much.

People will make wild suggestions for things that won't happen, and will be surprised by what actually does?

Sounds like it's time for me to precognosticast...

I expect Lockett to be displaced by Seau. MerriWx, McWowan, and Springs are enough to get us through until Sanders is back (at least BB must think so, or he'd have activated Lockett this week).

Galloway gets one more day on the active roster to prove that Tate doesn't deserve a spot more than him, fails miserably, and gets sent packing in favor of our new KO returner.

LeVoir comes back, gets on the gameday roster until Light returns, OBurger gets cut for 24 hours in hopes of landing on the PSquad. (Not sure where this talk of Simmons playing center comes from. Has he actually done this before? If so, Connolly is expendable with Wendell on the PSquad.)

 

[DaBruinz]

Appropos of hundreds of recurring (nightmare) threads that I'd rather not post in, since I agree with your recommendation (although BB seems to have joined the Maroney-isn't-the-answer-crowd at least for a week):

Let's not confuse correlation with causation. When a RB is averaging closer to 5 ypc than 4, an offense will tend to give him the ball more often, because the running game is working. When he gets dumped for a loss every fourth carry, he tends not to get the ball so much.

Do you have the stats to prove that Maroney gets dumped for a loss every 4th carry? And what is the league average for RBs.

Sounds like it's time for me to precognosticast...

I expect Lockett to be displaced by Seau. MerriWx, McWowan, and Springs are enough to get us through until Sanders is back (at least BB must think so, or he'd have activated Lockett this week).

I expect Lockett to go as well since Slater played on special teams last weak and was the up return man/ lead blocker for Edelman on the kick-offs.

Galloway gets one more day on the active roster to prove that Tate doesn't deserve a spot more than him, fails miserably, and gets sent packing in favor of our new KO returner.

I don't expect Galloway to go anywhere until after Tate starts practicing (he gets up to 3 weeks of practice before having to be activated). If/when Tate does, then Tate fills two roles. KR and WR/

LeVoir comes back, gets on the gameday roster until Light returns, OBurger gets cut for 24 hours in hopes of landing on the PSquad. (Not sure where this talk of Simmons playing center comes from. Has he actually done this before? If so, Connolly is expendable with Wendell on the PSquad.)

In an interview right after he was signed, Simmons stated that he regularly took reps in Pittsburgh as the back-up center for them. I actually expect him to be active next week with Light on Crutches.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Do you have the stats to prove that Maroney gets dumped for a loss every 4th carry? And what is the league average for RBs.

No. I took the 26% of carries for no gain or a loss thread at face value. My point is simply that we can't assume that more carries makes a back more successful. Oftentimes, success is the reason for the high number of carries. Similarly, BB has shown a tendency to shy away from the run, when a significant fraction of the carries go for a loss or no gain, because while that happens with the passing game, as well, the reward potential is higher. Therefore, it makes little sense to use the correlation between a higher per carry average and a higher number of carries as evidence to say that we should hand the ball off to Maroney more.

I would like to see him get the ball more than he did last week - running, receiving, and returning - but that's because I think he does more than Morris and Edelman in those departments and because he can bust a big play with one blown defensive assignment, whereas Morris needs multiple breakdowns to break a big one, and Edelman doesn't have the speed to outrun the coverage team like Maroney does.

I don't expect Galloway to go anywhere until after Tate starts practicing (he gets up to 3 weeks of practice before having to be activated). If/when Tate does, then Tate fills two roles. KR and WR/

Understood. I just don't expect Galloway to find his way onto the game-day roster more than once in the next two to four weeks, unless he shows success on the field. I expect Tate to take his place the week after the bye.

In an interview right after he was signed, Simmons stated that he regularly took reps in Pittsburgh as the back-up center for them. I actually expect him to be active next week with Light on Crutches.

That's good to know. Does he play tackle as well? Regardless of who they use as a backup, I'd hate to see Kaczur or Vollmer miss more than a single play. Simmons can run block well - but I don't know how well he (or Connolly) would do shuffling backwards like a tackle in pass protection.

 

[Simkin]

And has his bags packed for Denver



According to the injury reports after the elbow incident, he was listed as a WR.

I really like that kid, he is smart and very good on ST .

 

[JSn]

Ok, one down. Seau in, Sands out. Bummer, I thought the guy might have a future here.

 

[Pats726]

I expect Lockett to be displaced by Seau. MerriWx, McWowan, and Springs are enough to get us through until Sanders is back (at least BB must think so, or he'd have activated Lockett this week).

I also expect Lockett to go...BUT Lockett played on Sunday..he was active and made a few plays.

I don't expect Galloway to go anywhere until after Tate starts practicing (he gets up to 3 weeks of practice before having to be activated). If/when Tate does, then Tate fills two roles. KR and WR/

In an interview right after he was signed, Simmons stated that he regularly took reps in Pittsburgh as the back-up center for them. I actually expect him to be active next week with Light on Crutches.

I think Simmons MIGHT be active...BUT the only way he's active and Light is not...in other words Simmons taking Light's place is if he plays some tackle and effectively IS the 3rd tackle. Simmons is more an inside guy..but unless they sign a tackle..they will need someone to back up Vollmer and Kaczur...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Ok, one down. Seau in, Sands out. Bummer, I thought the guy might have a future here.

:agree:, so I'm

 

[Jimke]

I also expect Lockett to go...BUT Lockett played on Sunday..he was active and made a few plays.

I think Simmons MIGHT be active...BUT the only way he's active and Light is not...in other words Simmons taking Light's place is if he plays some tackle and effectively IS the 3rd tackle. Simmons is more an inside guy..but unless they sign a tackle..they will need someone to back up Vollmer and Kaczur...

Connolly was an offensive tackle in college.

 

[mgteich]

Then he should be fine as the #3 for a week, and the #4 thereafter, The open question is whether to mover Kaczur over to LT to replace Light as he did in his rookie year.

Connolly was an offensive tackle in college.

 

[JSn]

Then he should be fine as the #3 for a week, and the #4 thereafter, The open question is whether to mover Kaczur over to LT to replace Light as he did in his rookie year.

My thinking is that Brady can do Vollmer some favours if he's on his right side. Kazcur has been playing really well, and is probably more athletic this year than the last couple. I'd feel better seeing him slide over, personally.

I'd like to add that if Light comes back rested and not too dinged up, we'll have a really solid tackle position on this team for the year. That's fantastic news.

 

[mgteich]

So, we have gotten past roster change #1
SEAU in SANDS out
================================
We have at least two more to come
LEVOIR in ???? out
TATE in ???? out

Galloway seems to be one of the cuts. I suspect the other will be a player placed on IR.

 

[Pats726]

Connolly was an offensive tackle in college.

There's a big difference between tackle in college and the NFL...I would hope from him, Simmons and Ohrenberger that ONE of the 3 could fill in as backup tackle for a week...It's a gamble, but I do think that could save a move. They'll be in good shape once LeVoir is back...but this week it could be very tricky.

 

[mgteich]

I guess Britt must not be in football shape or on a patriot speed dial. I cannot understand why he wouldn't be brought in for a week. The roster cut to give him a roster spot would just be made a week earlier than it would have been.

It seems that Britt must be a better option for a week than Connolly, Simmons or Ohrnberger at OT.

 

[JSn]

I thought it was interesting that Terdell Sands locker is still intact. I forget where I saw this mentioned, either twitter or weei (listened all day today, those guys are something else...).

What does this mean? He's a slow packer? Or is there a shake-up coming that the FO just hasn't announced yet?

 

[mgteich]

I saw this on Reiss

I thought it was interesting that Terdell Sands locker is still intact. I forget where I saw this mentioned, either twitter or weei (listened all day today, those guys are something else...).

What does this mean? He's a slow packer? Or is there a shake-up coming that the FO just hasn't announced yet?

 

[JSn]

I saw this on Reiss

That must be where I saw it. I'm guessing it means nothing, but they might have sent him along with a playbook and a work-out regimen. They'll amost surely need to sign a DL along the way and they liked him enough to get him in the game pretty quick.

 

[JSn]

Just a couple of nugget on trades:

NFL: Adam Schefter suggests five trades that should be made before the deadline - ESPN

San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman to New England for a second-round pick: Merriman's performance has leveled off recently and New England, awash in draft picks the next two years, could afford to surrender one for a defensive playmaker. Some might think Merriman is worth a first-round pick, but he is in the last year of his contract and San Diego would be happy to unload him.

Again, just to be perfectly clear and not to rumor monger, the chances of these trades happening are about the same as me succeeding Bill Parcells in Miami. But it doesn't mean they don't make sense. Now, some other ideas that also hopefully make sense in this week's 10 Spot.

Also on WEEI Reiss thinks the Pats should at least place a call to Seattle about the twig. He thinks the only difficulty would be the Seahawks having to swallow their pride and admit that Branch was a mistake for them.

I dunno. Neither of these things really excites my imagination (granted I wasn't into football much when Deion was in NE). Maybe grabbing a real good RB or dumping a couple of big picks for Dwayne Bowe.

 

[Pats726]

Just a couple of nugget on trades:

NFL: Adam Schefter suggests five trades that should be made before the deadline - ESPN


Also on WEEI Reiss thinks the Pats should at least place a call to Seattle about the twig. He thinks the only difficulty would be the Seahawks having to swallow their pride and admit that Branch was a mistake for them.

I dunno. Neither of these things really excites my imagination (granted I wasn't into football much when Deion was in NE). Maybe grabbing a real good RB or dumping a couple of big picks for Dwayne Bowe.

I think that might be a mistake...for one, he has a bloated salary and two, I really doubt that he can be near to what he was. Would they want Galloway back?? Just what has happened here with him I think would not be good bringing him back. He's not the same player...and for a large amount of cash?? Nah....
I do think Sands will be back..for some reason they don't think they need him for the Titans..maybe for the Bucs and London?? There's some strategic move.

 

[mgteich]

Merriman or Burgess
Which do you think would have the greatest impact this year?