Roster competition

[cstjohn17]

Roster review - 05/30/2010
Roster-2010-05-29

After thinking about the Pats roster in way more detail than is really prudent or necessary I have come up with the following general observations:

1. Competition is everywhere - As with most years the first 45 positions are pretty much set but there is good to very good competition at almost every position.
2. OLB - Not exactly LT in his football prime but there will be some good battles, in the end the Pats will end up with a bunch of good (bot not excellent players).
3. Defense - Will be a bit of a work in progress but should once again finish in the top 10 in PPG, some where around 18 PPG (basically same as last year but with an improved core).
4. Offense - Will make or break the team, Brady will have to play better for the record to improve. Better to have it on Brady's shoulders than anyone else.
5. Maknkins - Love the guy, but I wonder if the Pats would consider trading him either for a draft pick or a player at a position of need.

Ok, thats it, I am checking out, will catch back up in late August. Have a nice summer.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that the first 45 are pretty well locks if healthy. These included you Depth 1 players except Pryor (25 players and 17 Depth 2 players (all except Patten, Bussey, Warren, Connolly, Aiken, Ninkovich and King). Without addition, I also think Price (not listed), Crumpler and Wheatley wiill make the team. That gives us 45 filled postions, pretty much the norm.

The next 3 roster spots (good shape and good competition)
1 from Connolly, Larsen and Wendell
2 of Arrington, Lockett, Slater, Alexander, Murrell and Aiken


THE LAST DECISIONS - KEEP FIVE (or 4 plus an additional special teamer or Patten)
Pryor
Warren
Lewis
Deaderick
Crable
Ninkovich
Burgess
I suspect which five will be settled by injury.

Roster review - 05/30/2010
Roster-2010-05-29

After thinking about the Pats roster in way more detail than is really prudent or necessary I have come up with the following general observations:

1. Competition is everywhere - As with most years the first 45 positions are pretty much set but there is good to very good competition at almost every position.
2. OLB - Not exactly LT in his football prime but there will be some good battles, in the end the Pats will end up with a bunch of good (bot not excellent players).
3. Defense - Will be a bit of a work in progress but should once again finish in the top 10 in PPG, some where around 18 PPG (basically same as last year but with an improved core).
4. Offense - Will make or break the team, Brady will have to play better for the record to improve. Better to have it on Brady's shoulders than anyone else.
5. Maknkins - Love the guy, but I wonder if the Pats would consider trading him either for a draft pick or a player at a position of need.

Ok, thats it, I am checking out, will catch back up in late August. Have a nice summer.

 

[Frezo]

[*]Maknkins - Love the guy, but I wonder if the Pats would consider trading him either for a draft pick or a player at a position of need.
[/LIST]

Ok, thats it, I am checking out, will catch back up in late August. Have a nice summer.

It seems to me that if Mankins is traded then LG becomes a position of need. (unless you think there is a "step right in" player on the roster). I don't.

 

[Professor Frink]

It seems to me that if Mankins is traded then LG becomes a position of need. (unless you think there is a "step right in" player on the roster). I don't.

I don't think it's gonna happen, and I wouldn't be in favor of it, but it's not the craziest thing to think that if BB saw someone he felt comfortable with (maybe if Volmer has an impressive camp Light will take snaps at LG) and someone was offering something worth while, he would pull the trigger.

I think it's more likely that Mankins signs long term though, they will certainly use the franchise tag on him before they let him hit free agency.

 

[patriotscpfc]

I would bet my house on Pryor making this team.

There is no way that he doesn't.

 

[DocE]

I see solid depth at a lot of positions, but unfortunately I see a dearth of impact players defensively. I would be fine with the Patriots giving up around 18 ppg, but not in the same manner as it happened last year. Instead of putting up shut outs against really weak competition and/or playing in terrible weather which kept the score of some games down, the Patriots actually hold the better offenses they play to a manageable number. Giving up 38 to New Orleans and 35 to Indianapolis showed that this team couldn't stop a passing game in 2009.

 

[DarrylS]

While there have been those complaining about the D, there have been obvious and perhaps subtle positive changes.. no longer does the D backfield rely on walk ons and that is the biggest change.. between Mayo, McKenzie, Guyton and Spikes expect this team to be better up the middle.. the OL situation raises some concerns..

There may not be any "impact" players on D, but with this stacked D backfield things may change...

The O has made some nice upgrades at TE and WR, so overall this team will be better on paper than the one last year.. but we will wait and see.

 

[PatsFaninME]

It seems to me that if Mankins is traded then LG becomes a position of need. (unless you think there is a "step right in" player on the roster). I don't.

That's funny! YOU don't think there's a step right in player. Why is that because they didn't spend a first round pick on someone.

Mankins will reluctantly play this year under his current contract which will give Pats another year to develop and evaluate their roster. Based on their evaluations they will do what they always do...make the right decision. They certainly aren't saying "OMG, we can't live without Player X", especially a guard. Don't get me wrong, I love Mankins but not at a HUGE price.

 

[mgteich]

Basically you're saying that there is no way that both Lewis and Warren will beat out Pryor. I agree that Pryor will LIKELY make the team, but I see no reason to consider him a lock. Yes, Pryor did OK last year, and yes Belichick brought in bot Lewis and Warren.
============================
Wilfork and Brace are making the team as nose tackles.
Warren is our starting LDE.
Wright will share reps at RDE as he did last year, and is a backup DT.
That's FOUR.
==========================
We carried sit two additional defensive linemen last year: Green and Pryor.
==========================
NEEDS
1) a player or two for the RDE rotation
2) a solid run defending DT
===========================
We have Warren, Lewis, Pryor and Deaderick competing.
===========================
We could carry a seventh DL, especially for a developmental player like Deaderick.
===========================

I would bet my house on Pryor making this team.

There is no way that he doesn't.

 

[Frezo]

That's funny! YOU don't think there's a step right in player. Why is that because they didn't spend a first round pick on someone.

Mankins will reluctantly play this year under his current contract which will give Pats another year to develop and evaluate their roster. Based on their evaluations they will do what they always do...make the right decision. They certainly aren't saying "OMG, we can't live without Player X", especially a guard. Don't get me wrong, I love Mankins but not at a HUGE price.

Why is that funny?

 

[patriotscpfc]

Basically you're saying that there is no way that both Lewis and Warren will beat out Pryor. I agree that Pryor will LIKELY make the team, but I see no reason to consider him a lock. Yes, Pryor did OK last year, and yes Belichick brought in bot Lewis and Warren.
============================
Wilfork and Brace are making the team as nose tackles.
Warren is our starting LDE.
Wright will share reps at RDE as he did last year, and is a backup DT.
That's FOUR.
==========================
We carried sit two additional defensive linemen last year: Green and Pryor.
==========================
NEEDS
1) a player or two for the RDE rotation
2) a solid run defending DT
===========================
We have Warren, Lewis, Pryor and Deaderick competing.
===========================
We could carry a seventh DL, especially for a developmental player like Deaderick.
===========================

Fair points. But, Brace is by no means a lock. You have the 3 W's and Pryor as the lock. Then Brace and the 2 new Vets.

 

[mgteich]

I will be shocked if Brace is cut. He is our only backup NT. He played OK late in the season at NT. He is a very early draft choice. It is much, much to early to give up on him, with no replacement.

Fair points. But, Brace is by no means a lock. You have the 3 W's and Pryor as the lock. Then Brace and the 2 new Vets.

 

[supafly]

I will be shocked if Brace is cut. He is our only backup NT. He played OK late in the season at NT. He is a very early draft choice. It is much, much to early to give up on him, with no replacement.

I think it's way too early to give up on Brace too.

FWIW--I'd have the following:

Ty Warren
Wilfork
Mike Wright
Pryor
Brace
Warren OR Lewis
------- that's 6, to me those are pretty much set---------

Deadrick OR 1 more unknown vet/cut/addition could challenge, or even possibly be a 7th DL.

I wouldn't really be shocked at all if we ended up keeping 7, depending of course on Belichick's feelings. Although I realize I stand in the minority about keeping 7.

The reasoning is that if Deadrick, or another unknown vet/addition can show anything, I doubt that we'll give up on Brace. There's always the remote possibility of BOTH Lewis and Warren staying on, which isn't very likely.

The more I think about it, I'm gonna go out on a limb and casually predict 7 DL.

 

[cstjohn17]

Added Price at WR, sorry about that. I am sure there are other mistakes / omissions.

 

[lillestroom]

Seriously... Mike Wright has zero to offer the franchise. He fills up a scheme for perahps 30 percent of the snaps, but if you have to start with him, we may as well just write off 200yds on the ground to whoever we play.

If he gets the nod over someone like Pryor then its mindboggling.

 

[captain stone]

OLB - Not exactly LT in his football prime but there will be some good battles, in the end the Pats will end up with a bunch of good (but not real good players).
Fixed it for ya. Let's face it, we have the worst set of 3-4 OLBs in football.

Defense - Will be a bit of a work in progress but should once again finish in the top 10 in PPG, some where around 18 PPG (basically same as last year but with an improved core).
Yet for every beat-down of the Titans, Bucs & Bills, there were stink-bombs vs. the Saints, Dolts & Texans. As Peter Chiapet would say, there were too many peaks & valleys.

Offense - Will make or break the team, Brady will have to play better for the record to improve. Better to have it on Brady's shoulders than anyone else.
Agreed. The losses to the Jesters, Donkeys & Doofins were the direct result of offensive (literally) ineptitude. A renewed committment to the run game, incl. more 2-back sets and fewer shotgun snaps, would also help - a lot.

Mankins - Love the guy, but I wonder if the Pats would consider trading him either for a draft pick or a player at a position of need.

Mankins is our best OLman. Trading him would kill the 2110 season (and perhaps Brady too), similar to how trading Seymour didn't help the 2009 season.

 

[captain stone]

The more I think about it, I'm gonna go out on a limb and casually predict 7 DL.

I'm also thinking that 7 DLmen will be kept.

Wright - Wilfork - Ty Warren
Lewis - Brace - Deaderick
Pryor - Weston - Richard
G Warren

Gordon, Grady, Love = fodder

My guess as of now, and barring injuries, is that Wright - Wilfork - Ty Warren - Lewis - Brace - Deaderick (has experience at 3-4 DE) & Pryor are the (not so magnificent) 7; Weston hopefully pass through waivers to the PS; and lil' Richard & fat ol' G Warren are cut.

 

[JackBauer]

I see solid depth at a lot of positions, but unfortunately I see a dearth of impact players defensively. I would be fine with the Patriots giving up around 18 ppg, but not in the same manner as it happened last year. Instead of putting up shut outs against really weak competition and/or playing in terrible weather which kept the score of some games down, the Patriots actually hold the better offenses they play to a manageable number. Giving up 38 to New Orleans and 35 to Indianapolis showed that this team couldn't stop a passing game in 2009.

The only position on defense your argument applies is at OLB.

 

[Deus Irae]

The only position on defense your argument applies is at OLB.

Other than Wilfork at the nose, who are all these 'impact' players?

 

[captain stone]

Seriously... Mike Wright has zero to offer the franchise. He fills up a scheme for perahps 30 percent of the snaps, but if you have to start with him, we may as well just write off 200yds on the ground to whoever we play.

If he gets the nod over someone like Pryor then its mindboggling.

Not really; Pryor is a Tampa-2 4-3 DT whose only value lies as an inside rusher on passing situations. I'm still surprised that Bill drafted him, given his narrow scheme fit.
Wright OTOH is taller, more athletic, and a VG fit as a 3-4 DE who can easily slide inside in 4-3 looks. In fact, Wright is the most athletic DLman we have, which says more about the others than it says about him.