Counting up eventual roster slots

[Fencer]

QB 2
RB 5 With the injuries these guys have I can't feel comfortable w/ less
FB 0
TE 3 The 2 rookies stay. So does one vet, presumably Crumpler
WR 6 Moss, Holt, Edelman, Tate, Price plus at least one more (Aiken, Slater, Stanbach)
OT 4 Less is scary
G/C 5 Ditto, and there are various developmental guys

Offense: 25

K/P/LS: 3

CB 5 At least, especially since Sanders/Chung is a questionable coverage backup if Meriweather goes down. Say Bodden/Butler/McCourty/W1/W2
S 4 Meriweather/Sanders/Chung and either McGowan or a STer.
OLB/rusher 4 from TBC/Woods/Cunningham/Crable/Burgess/Ninkovich/whoever. Could be low.
ILB/swing LB 4 Mayo/Spikes/Guyton/McKenzie (or maybe Alexander or whoever)
DL 7 Wilfork/T. Warren/Wright/Pryor/Brace + 2 more

Defense: 24

Open: 1

That's with very few positions left available for ST-only guys.

Every year we say that the ST-only guys will be cut back. And in fact I don't see Aiken or Slater going anyway, and I bet BB would love to add Arrington (or whoever) plus one big STer (Alexander or whoever) to that list.

But let's put it this way -- I wish he'd kept Dave Thomas last year instead, and probably so does he.

 

[DarrylS]

I agree about David Thomas..

Another thought is are they thinking about moving Guyton outside, with the new ILB's... that may be a consideration, he is quick, but not great in coverage, not sure if you can teach that or if it is instinctual.

 

[patriotscpfc]

Out of that, I cut Taylor or Morris.

Slater, Woods, Arrington and Aiken all make it as Special Teamers. Especially Slater and Arrington

 

[ALP]

so whos the ppl from last year ur cutting?

springs is the only notable i see, considering W1 and W2 refers to wilhite and wheatley...

that seems to me to be a lot of open spots for these rookies who got drafted to actually come in and be on the 53 man roster

 

[JSn]

I'd cut Wheatley and Springs, if we can. Guyton could definitely become a pass-rusher. He's got the tools to be interesting out there, as long as he's working on it now.

What about Lockett? I liked both him AND Arrington on ST's.

 

[MVPatsfan13]

QB 2
RB 5 With the injuries these guys have I can't feel comfortable w/ less
FB 0
TE 3 The 2 rookies stay. So does one vet, presumably Crumpler
WR 6 Moss, Holt, Edelman, Tate, Price,Aiken
OT 4 Less is scaryLight/Kaczur/Vollmer/Levoir
G/C 5 Ditto, and there are various developmental guysMankins/Koppen/Neal/Ornberger/+1(Bussey?)(Larsen seems pretty raw and needs the PS)
Offense: 25

K/P/LS: 3

CB 5 At least, especially since Sanders/Chung is a questionable coverage bakup if Meriweather goes down. Say Bodden/Butler/McCourty/Whilite/Arrington
S 4 Meriweather/Sanders/Chung/Lockett.
OLB/rusher 4 from TBC/Woods/Cunningham/Crable/Ninkovich
ILB/swing LB 4 Mayo/Spikes/Guyton/McKenzie
DL 7 Wilfork/T. Warren/Wright/Pryor/Brace/"New Warren"/+1 new guy

Defense: 24

Open: 1 Slater

I see it pretty much the same way. I really liked both Arrington and Lockett's production in ST last year and REALLY want them to make the team. If we can keep those two, we might have one of the better overall STs in the league, with Gost/Mesko/Ingram + a group of great gunners
Ninkovich is probably going to make it as a good STer and backup OLB, though if Crable can STAY healthy...
Aiken will be here as he was previously a captain. Slater will be here for his proven toughness and STs(obviously not his WR/KR skills)

 

[RobertWeathers]

Guyton could definitely become a pass-rusher. He's got the tools to be interesting out there, as long as he's working on it now.

I dunna know. In 106 rushes and has 1 sack and 7 pressures. That doesn't show a lot of potential.

I like the kid, but I don't see where he has a place in this defense. He can't rush the passer better than the other candidates. He can't stop the run better than the kids at ILB as he is not stout vs the run to begin with. Hes not a coverage LB. Hes still developing but hes a depth guy at this point IMO.

 

[goheels22002]

I see it pretty much the same way. I really liked both Arrington and Lockett's production in ST last year and REALLY want them to make the team. If we can keep those two, we might have one of the better overall STs in the league, with Gost/Mesko/Ingram + a group of great gunners
Ninkovich is probably going to make it as a good STer and backup OLB, though if Crable can STAY healthy...
Aiken will be here as he was previously a captain. Slater will be here for his proven toughness and STs(obviously not his WR/KR skills)

At WR and TE, Holt and Crumpler are washed up and will not make this team.

At WR, I love Price and the undrafted kid the Pats signed yesterday, Bryan Anderson from Central Michigan. I also think that there's a decent chance Deion Branch will be back to give Brady the route runner he needs opposite Moss as Welker recovers.

At TE, these two rookies are the best TEs of the last 2 years. Crumpler is too slow and became a terrible blocker the last two years and is unnecessary.

I see two TEs tops and another Offensive Lineman from the draft crop - Ted Larsen from NCSU (205 overall) is a beast and was coached up by former BC coach Tom O'Brien who has a good relationship with Pats OL Coach Dante Scarnecchia and several current/former NE Patriots.

 

[RobertWeathers]

At WR and TE, Holt and Crumpler are washed up and will not make this team.

At TE, these two rookies are the best TEs of the last 2 years. Crumpler is too slow and became a terrible blocker the last two years and is unnecessary.

Holt who knows. Hes been in offenses where the emphasis has been on route running, site adjustments, and quick cuts so in theory, his chances of success in this offense are greater. Galloway was NEVER in such an offense.

You are completely off-base on Crumpler. He has been and remains one of the best run-blocking TEs in the game. The numbers show it. This team had a problem pushing other teams around at the LoS. Crumpler will help.

 

[mgteich]

A) As you say, 4 OLB's is one light since that includes DE/OLB passrushers. That akes 25 on defense.

B) While we need top special teamers, guys like Banta-Cain and Woods do count. I'm not sure that we have room for more than two special teams only guys. We used to have Izzo and Davis. I think that we will keep one of Slater and Aiken.

We may or may not have another spot.

C) I'm not sure that we need five running backs. We had two RB's injured at the same time last year, Green-Ellis still didn't play. The answer may be to bring in a healthieer #4, cutting both Morris and Green-Ellis. That would free up a position. BTW, we just drafted an h-back in Hernandez.

QB 2
RB 5 With the injuries these guys have I can't feel comfortable w/ less
FB 0
TE 3 The 2 rookies stay. So does one vet, presumably Crumpler
WR 6 Moss, Holt, Edelman, Tate, Price plus at least one more (Aiken, Slater, Stanbach)
OT 4 Less is scary
G/C 5 Ditto, and there are various developmental guys

Offense: 25

K/P/LS: 3

CB 5 At least, especially since Sanders/Chung is a questionable coverage backup if Meriweather goes down. Say Bodden/Butler/McCourty/W1/W2
S 4 Meriweather/Sanders/Chung and either McGowan or a STer.
OLB/rusher 4 from TBC/Woods/Cunningham/Crable/Burgess/Ninkovich/whoever. Could be low.
ILB/swing LB 4 Mayo/Spikes/Guyton/McKenzie (or maybe Alexander or whoever)
DL 7 Wilfork/T. Warren/Wright/Pryor/Brace + 2 more

Defense: 24

Open: 1

That's with very few positions left available for ST-only guys.

Every year we say that the ST-only guys will be cut back. And in fact I don't see Aiken or Slater going anyway, and I bet BB would love to add Arrington (or whoever) plus one big STer (Alexander or whoever) to that list.

But let's put it this way -- I wish he'd kept Dave Thomas last year instead, and probably so does he.