Counting to 53

[Fencer]

QB -- 3. Mallett probably won't be ready.

RB/FB -- 4. No room for more. So Polite's services are Politely declined.

WR -- 6. Five real ones plus Slater. Lloyd, Welker, 2 other natural outside WRs, 1 other natural slot WR.

TE -- 3. Need at least that many if starting 2 is the norm. No room for more.

OT -- 3+. Four if Light returns.

OG/C -- 5. Tough to hold it this low, but no room for more.

Total offense: 24+

CB -- 5. Given our persistent injury history here, and also given the very frequent need to play 3 at a time, very tough to go with less.

S -- 4+. Bedard's argument for 5 is persuasive, but slots are tight.

ILB/generic LB -- 5. Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher, White, Koutides -- 5, count 'em, 5. Some could play outside, especially in a 4-3.

OLB/rush specialist -- 4. It's quite the important role.

DT/NT/3-4 DL -- 6+. Eight would be ideal. Six could play three at a time in base packages, often giving their all against double teams. Two could be sub package inside rushers. But it's hard to find slots for that many.

Total defense: 24++

K/P/LS -- 3. Duh.

 

[Fencer]

With that said:

QB -- 3. All currently on the roster unless Hoyer leaves.

RB/FB -- 4. Three currently on the roster; BJGE or replacement still needed.

WR -- 6. Slater, Lloyd on the roster. Welker all but on the roster. Edelman & Gonzalez contend for the other slot slot. Lots of possibilities for the other outside spots, starting with Chad and perhaps Branch, but also younger/faster guys.

TE -- 3. Need to add one.

OT -- 3+. If Cannon's future is at OT, may not need to add anybody. Otherwise need developmental backup.

OG/C -- 5. Starters are set, assuming Waters doesn't retire. Backups are young, assuming Koppen not unsigned. Unless they're really high on McDonald, could use a quality center prospect.

CB -- 5. McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore seem set as four. I presume a draftee or other kid for the fifth slot, or maybe Edelman is just bumped to here.

S -- 4+. Chung & Gregory seem set as two. Otherwise, a lot of uncertainty.

ILB/generic LB -- 5. As noted above, set.

OLB/rush specialist -- 4. Ninkovich. 1-2 of Scott, Carter (not signed), Anderson (ditto). Cunningham and/or replacement youngster.

DT/NT/3-4 DL -- 6+. Wilkfork, Fanene, Love, Pryor. After that it gets murky. Deaderick & Brace are incumbents.

K/P/LS -- 3. Set.

Yeah, I think drafting in the Front 7 is pretty likely. And an interior OL prospect to eventually replace Waters (either directly or via Connolly sliding over).

 

[serifyn]

Ighedigbo, Edelman will be on the 53.

Ighedigbo backed up chung last year and there's no real reason to replace him after so much game experience and so much time learning the defense.

Edelman will beat out Ochocinco if it comes down to them, Edelman may be the most versatile player on the roster, capable of playing almost any skill position in a pinch, his primary role will be punt returner.

 

[Fencer]

Ighedigbo, Edelman will be on the 53.

Ighedigbo backed up chung last year and there's no real reason to replace him after so much game experience and so much time learning the defense.

Edelman will beat out Ochocinco if it comes down to them, Edelman may be the most versatile player on the roster, capable of playing almost any skill position in a pinch, his primary role will be punt returner.

Mainly, I agree.

However, I think the Pats would prefer to have more than 2 WRs that aren't Welker, Gonzalez, Edelman, or Slater.

 

[Rossmci90]

Are we happy with White as ILB#4? I'm not too happy being one injury away from him being the primary back up.

 

[patsfan13]

If Mallett is ready take a #6 for Hoyer and keep the roster spot.

For the O I would like to see Light and Waters stay and resign BJGE, not a big market for RB's so far.

IMO the D was due to improve just because the young core is maturing, now.......with some good additions this team is looking good, lots of competition in camp. Count on a trade of one of the first rd picks to keep the team stocked with picks going forward.

 

[mgteich]

SPECIAL TEAMS
Allowing for special teams spots has always helped me. IMHO, Slater, Edelman and White are locks as special teamers. And Koutouvides or Sergio Brown makes four.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Our top five receivers and receiving targets will likely be Welker, Lloyd, Gronkowski, Hernandez and Woodhead.

We have Edelman has an emergency receiver and as a backup in the slot. This is a bonus since his roster spot is as a special teams player.

The open question is how many WR roster spots to allocate for the remaining 2-3 receptions per game. For me, if we have two veterans, then we only need 2 wide receivers in addition to Welker and Lloyd, plus one on the Practice Squad. As of now that is 2 of Gonzo, Ocho and Branch. If we want a youngster in addition that's fine, but recognize that he will almost always be inactive. Underwood is the "incumbant".

My bottom line is that the 7th WR is a possibility when looking at the last 5 roster spots.

Mainly, I agree.

However, I think the Pats would prefer to have more than 2 WRs that aren't Welker, Gonzalez, Edelman, or Slater.

 

[Fencer]

Are we happy with White as ILB#4? I'm not too happy being one injury away from him being the primary back up.

#4 at a position where we don't absolutely need 2 guys? Yeah, he'll do.

We're a lot better placed to survive 2 injuries at ILB than we are to survive 2 injuries at TE, for example.

 

[scout]

At some point, Hoyer or Mallet are going to be showcased, maybe pre-season.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Are we happy with White as ILB#4? I'm not too happy being one injury away from him being the primary back up.

I think Tarpinian is our 4th ILB. White and Koutouvides battle it out for that 9th lb/st ace. I see the 4 olb as being; Ninko, M. Anderson(Hopefully we sign him),T. Scott and J. Cunningham. I hope we take an olb at 27or 31. That guy would boot Scott or Cunningham.
Want a two gap de with the other first.

 

[patfanken]

Hopefully the first of MANY many roster threads I put my comments into your structure

QB -- 3. Not because Mallet won't be ready, but because we won't get anything for worthwhile for Hoyer, so it makes no sense not to keep him for another year

RB/FB -- 4. This is about right

WR -- 6. Five real ones plus Slater. Lloyd, Welker, 2 other natural outside WRs, 1 other natural slot WR. - right on the money

TE -- 3 Desperately needed - Will be be just a simple blocking TE, or a receiving TE like Aaron, to back him up. I'm curious to see how Bill fills this obvious need.

OT -- 4. Four if Light returns. - Light is returning. Book it.

OG/C -- 5. Tough to hold it this low, but no room for more. Correct

Total offense: 25

CB-S 9 - I say the number will be 9 because at least one of the CB will have the ability to move to safety in an injury pinch, so as persuasive as Bedard's argument was, the number is likely to be 9.

ILB/generic LB - 4 - Sorry but you can't allocate 5 roster spots to a position that is dying. the position only deserves 3, but you need a tarp type who can play coverage LB. And if one of your top 3 ILBs can is competent in coverage, I'd drop it to 3 and allocate that slot to the DB or DL's as needed

OLB/rush specialist -- 5. It's quite the important role. and that's why you allocate 5 players to do it. If we plan to run the 3-4 more than 60% of the time its prudent to have 9 LBs, however if we run it less than 60% I'd be willing to go with 8 and give that extra man to the DL


DT/NT/3-4 DL 7. I agree Eight would be ideal, but 6 would be unworkable unless we were going 3-4 exclusively. We need at least 8 and hope one of the OLB/rush guys can also play with his hand in the dirt.

Total defense: 25-

K/P/LS -- 3. Duh.

Thanks, that was fun

 

[rookBoston]

QB - Brady, (Hoyer), Mallett
RB - Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, Polite
WR - Welker, Lloyd, (Branch/Ochocinco), Gonzalez, Edelman, Slater
TE - Gronkowski, Hernandez, (FA)
OT - Light, Solder, Vollmer
OG - Mankins, Waters, Cannon
OC - Connolly, Wendell, McDonald

DL - Wilfork, Deaderick, Love, Fanene, Brace, Pryor
OLB - Ninkovich, Scott, Cunningham, (Anderson)
ILB - Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher, White, Koutouvides
CB - McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Williams
S - Chung, Gregory, Brown, Barrett, (Landry)

P - Mesko
K - Gostkowski
LS - Aiken


- I'm predicting that Cinci will sign BJGE once it's clear that they have no shot at Trent Richardson... which isn't out of the question just yet.
- Would love to see rookies or FAs come in to squeeze Brace, Williams, Brown and Barrett off the depth chart... note those are all defensive side!
- Anderson will prob sign elsewhere, which is good since we're going to draft a stud OLB this year, RIGHT?!?... right.

 

[supafly]

Are we happy with White as ILB#4? I'm not too happy being one injury away from him being the primary back up.

I'm not happy with him being the #4 at all.

That said, apparently Belichick is quite happy with him, considering that he started in the Super Bowl.