The Art of Constructing the Pat's Final Roster 53: How well did BB do?

[PatsFanStnfrd]

First, let's admit the Pats squad of 90 or 80 was loaded with talent -- so much so that other teams scouts were in attendance at Pats preseason games in record numbers.

Second, one never begrudges players cut who are snapped up by other teams.

So we wake up today to a situation where Yeatman is with Miami, Smith with the Bills, Cohen is in Seattle, Austin in Houston, Maneri is waived and will certainly be claimed as was LeVoir by the Ravens and so on and on. Notice, I do NOT include those BB wanted gone from the Pats like Merriweather, Sanders and Tate, who all found new homes. I am focusing on the younger developmental talent with high ceilings (and relatively inexpensive) who are lost to the Pats and will be making their contributions elsewhere.

Surely, we all know BB wanted Smith or Yeatman to make it to the practice squad -- but they did NOT. Crumpler may be available for this year (who knows if his shoulder has healed) -- but he is not the longer term answer. Losing Maneri or LeVoir will hurt if Light or Solder or another OL-men get nicked. When that happens, BB will be scouring the wires for a veteran in shape to come in and play.

All this leads me to the following question about BB roster construction. Why not cut Anderson (pass rush specialist) who will be a FA -- and could likely be signed again, perhaps after week one. Why keep Ihedigbo or Molden who were available before and might be available later. Why not try to retain those who are likely to be lost to other teams.

I am not sure there is a right answer. And certainly we do not have access to the evaluation of players that BB and his coaches have. But as a matter of strategic choice, it would be instructive to learn how the tradeoffs are made -- and if BB has any regrets the morning after.

 

[Sciz]

Hard to say how well he did when this isn't even the final roster.

 

[Aßßynormal]

I list a rookie long snapping for us. This rookie doesn't yet know where the bathrooms are. I suppose Ninkovich could long snap.


I think we fix this problem ........... and we add Crumpler but when?


All in all, pretty darn good.

 

[Simkin]

Whatever BB does, its fine IMO. We can't understand some things, but I'm pretty sure that Bill knows what he is doing

 

[Patspsycho]

Let's wait until the season is over before passing judgement.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

to soon to tell, they haven't played a game yet, no one is hurt, yet. we, as fans get all upset by the 50-53rd players on the team, when, in reality, they are just that, the 50-53rd players on the team. Many would be pushed into the 40s with other teams, but those teams are goin anywhere, the Pats are.

 

[Trocadile]

Why would you want the Patriots to keep players just to prevent other teams from getting them? The only cut that bothered me a little was Morris, who I thought could still have a role on the team. Otherwise - I like that BB cut Smith and Yeatman and didn't get hung up on having 3 TEs right out of the gate. Neither of those guys looked ready to be a contributor. I like that he went a little light on the OL, because, frankly, most of the backups looked terrible this preseason. I like that he kept Anderson, even if he is a one-trick pony, because that one trick, pass rushing, is important.

In short, I like that he kept guys that have a chance to contribute over guys that didn't look ready to play.

 

[BlueHen]

Why would you want the Patriots to keep players just to prevent other teams from getting them? The only cut that bothered me a little was Morris, who I thought could still have a role on the team. Otherwise - I like that BB cut Smith and Yeatman and didn't get hung up on having 3 TEs right out of the gate. Neither of those guys looked ready to be a contributor. I like that he went a little light on the OL, because, frankly, most of the backups looked terrible this preseason. I like that he kept Anderson, even if he is a one-trick pony, because that one trick, pass rushing, is important.

In short, I like that he kept guys that have a chance to contribute over guys that didn't look ready to play.

QB=A
WR=A
RB=B+
TE=F (Only 2 and losing 2 prospects the reason)
OL=C
DL=A
LB=B+
S=F
DB=B-
K/P=B+

 

[Sciz]

QB=A
WR=A
RB=B+
TE=F (Only 2 and losing 2 prospects the reason)
OL=C
DL=A
LB=B+
S=F
DB=B-
K/P=B+

I'd love to see you name 5 teams that will get more production out of their TEs than the Pats.

 

[scout]

QB=A
WR=A
RB=B+
TE=F (Only 2 and losing 2 prospects the reason)
OL=C
DL=A
LB=B+
S=F
DB=B-
K/P=B+

I am confused as to what BB was supposed to do. Cut one of his current TE's, or carry 2 extra TE's and lose two other players who will contribute this year.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I think many of us fans get far too enamored with fringe players believing that losing them is such a monumental loss. Really, how great a loss is it that guys like Yeatman, Smith, Cohen, Maneri, Austin, etc signed with other teams? Not much of a loss.

The biggest issue BB had to address this offseason was to improve the play of the DL and to get a pass rush. By all accounts he appears to have been wildly successful.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I think many of us fans get far too enamored with fringe players believing that losing them is such a monumental loss. Really, how great a loss is it that guys like Yeatman, Smith, Cohen, Maneri, Austin, etc signed with other teams? Not much of a loss.

The biggest issue BB had to address this offseason was to improve the play of the DL and to get a pass rush. By all accounts he appears to have been wildly successful.

Exactly, it would be nice if we could keep an extra 10 guys just in case but he had to go with the 53 he thought gave this team the best chance to win. You always lose/cut guys at this time of the year you that you wish we could somehow keep, but you cant.
We're gonna roll with the 53 we got, of course with a couple tweaks in the next few days.

 

[Simkin]

TE=F ???Are you friking serious?

One of the best rookies TE ever and our probably best receiver (and one of the youngest players of the NFL) and you give a F?

Lee Smith and Yeatman aint that good men

 

[Urgent]

It's odd seeing people with thousands of posts on a Patriots opinion website stating it's too early to judge. Hey, that's why I read your comments.

My reaction:
I'm concerned that a team that plays a lot of three TE sets, starting the last game in one, has released young Lee Smith and Will Yeatman as well as former TE Steve Maneri, while keeping Tarpinian (7th LB?) and Bolden (6th CB or 11th DB).

It's possible that Tarpinian shows more ST promise than Yeatman. However, Yeatman might have seen the field on 10 plays in Miami; Bolden and Tarpinian might be inactive. Odd.

I don't bemoan the losses of Sanders and Meriweather. As the PFF stats, re-quoted by Reiss, show, neither was particularly effective last year. However, if the Pats were set on jettisoning both, I wish they had made some minor effort to retain Page, or get another free agent safety, and made an earlier effort to trade either. Maybe Dawan Landry or Eric Weddle, or another of the available players would have helped. And reports that few teams were contacted, if correct, show that the Patriots simply lost confidence and released players that were instantly snapped up. Meriweather, flawed as he is, was voted a Pro Bowl player and is on his rookie minimum salary - it would seem some team would offer a prized 6th round pick.

Interesting that the Pats figure to start the season around $10mm under the cap. That's rare.

Once again an undrafted player has made the squad (above-mentioned Tarpinian). That has to be a strong message when recruiting udfa's. Another made another team's squad in Yeatman.

 

[Simkin]

I am confused as to what BB was supposed to do. Cut one of his current TE's, or carry 2 extra TE's and lose two other players who will contribute this year.

Thats why I wished that Lee Smith could be LS

 

[Bostonian1962]

For all those that bash BB's drafting of a few years ago (and I've done my share), he did better than anybody two years ago, and results from the past draft are promising as well.

What I'm getting at is that I appreciate everybody's frustration of the Pat's cuts being scooped up so quickly. I'm frustrated too.

However, the rest of the league sees the success of the most recent drafts, and they sent a record amount of scouts to all the Pat's preseason games. No matter who we cut, this was bound to happen. There is not alot they could have done. With 32 teams in the league, and the huge amount of scouts drooling over our players, BB and Co. were in an impossible position.

Just be happy that two months ago many of us wondered why our D-Line stunk so bad, and now it may be as good as any in the league. We wondered recently, 'what about our right guard spot', and now we have a Pro Bowler there. I could go on and on, but let's all wait to see how this shakes out. We're going to love our team in the end.

 

[Deus Irae]

The team doesn't seem to be finished yet...

 

[Haley]

Hard to say how well he did when this isn't even the final roster.

Pretty much this.

Personally I am hoping that we see an upgrade or 2 on the secondary before this is all said and done. Maybe a little more love for the OL too. IMO Koppen needs replacing but clearly this is not the best time for that. As long as the TEs can stay healthy I'm fine with just the 3 (including Faulk) awesome TEs we have.

 

[JJDChE]

QB=A
WR=A
RB=B+
TE=F (Only 2 and losing 2 prospects the reason)
OL=C
DL=A
LB=B+
S=F
DB=B-
K/P=B+

Your grades: F

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

sounds like he has been stuck in the henhouse...tooo long....

The offense is not the problem and since we are changing to an attacking type of defense ...I do understand the pats loading up on the defense so we can send waves of players to keep them fresh. I also understand the need for more coverage type of DB since we are going to be blitzing more ..thus requiring ..more man to man ......


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