The 46 player active roster matters on cuts

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I posted about this in the Gaffney thread but it could apply to other cuts going forward. It's not all about setting the 53 player roster. You have to look at who's going to play on gameday.

Core special teamers will be active every game, barring injury. So if you have a guy that isn't playing special teams, he better be high enough on the depth chart that he's worth keeping.

In the case of Gaffney, it's not that he isn't a better WR than Edelman or Slater, it's simply that because of their special teams responsibilities, they're going to be active every week. With Lloyd, Welker and Branch, that's 5 WRs. With the multiple TE sets we like to use, you could argue that Branch might be inactive some weeks.

Quality depth is great and it's nice to have insurance in case of injuries. But it's tough to keep a WR (or any position player) in his 30s that might never play except for injuries over a developmental player that could pay off down the road.

 

[mgteich]

I think that you have this right. Now Ebert and Holly will compete for the developmental receiver that will always be inactive, if we even have such a position.

 

[ATippett56]

Quality depth is great and it's nice to have insurance in case of injuries. But it's tough to keep a WR (or any position player) in his 30s that might never play except for injuries over a developmental player that could pay off down the road.

I thought the practice squad was the venue for developmental players:

Ebert
Forston
Francis
Kettani
Taylor
Williams

Plus a couple of offensive lineman for Dante Scarnecchia.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I thought the practice squad was the venue for developmental players:

Ebert
Forston
Francis
Kettani
Taylor
Williams

Plus a couple of offensive lineman for Dante Scarnecchia.

If those players clear waivers. Players such as Ted Larson, Lee Smith and Will Yeatman prove that it isn't a guarantee.

 

[ATippett56]

If those players clear waivers. Players such as Ted Larson, Lee Smith and Will Yeatman prove that it isn't a guarantee.

I have accounted for 25 players on the New England Patriots offense:

QB - 3 Brady, Mallett, Hoyer
RB - 5 Woodhead, Vereen, Ridley, Bolden, Demps
TE - 3 Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR - 5 Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
OL - 9 Koppen, Connelly, Wendell, McDonald, Mankins, Thomas, Solder, Vollmer, Cannon

Based upon the aforementioned offensive squad, there is no room for the following players:

Ebert
Kettani
Taylor

 

[rookBoston]

I have accounted for 25 players on the New England Patriots offense:

QB - 3 Brady, Mallett, Hoyer
RB - 5 Woodhead, Vereen, Ridley, Bolden, Demps
TE - 3 Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR - 5 Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
OL - 9 Koppen, Connelly, Wendell, McDonald, Mankins, Thomas, Solder, Vollmer, Cannon

Based upon the aforementioned offensive squad, there is no room for the following players:

Ebert
Kettani
Taylor

I think this is right. But Demps still needs to beat Ebert out. Dropping Larsen, Gaffney and Stallworth makes Bolden look like a keeper.

 

[ATippett56]

I think this is right. But Demps still needs to beat Ebert out. Dropping Larsen, Gaffney and Stallworth makes Bolden look like a keeper.

No way in hell Jeff Demps clears waivers. Ebert has been disappointing in pre-season so far.

 

[patsfan13]

I have accounted for 25 players on the New England Patriots offense:

QB - 3 Brady, Mallett, Hoyer
RB - 5 Woodhead, Vereen, Ridley, Bolden, Demps
TE - 3 Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR - 5 Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
OL - 9 Koppen, Connelly, Wendell, McDonald, Mankins, Thomas, Solder, Vollmer, Cannon

Based upon the aforementioned offensive squad, there is no room for the following players:

Ebert
Kettani
Taylor

I have wondered if BB decides to keep 2 QB's if he thinks Mallett has progressed enough, we would keep Shinacoe (assuming his injury isn't too bad), we cut loose the vets who were injured/didn't project to the 5 to give them a shot to catch on. We didn't do that with Shinacoe.

I was thinking 25 on D also with the 2 Specialist to round out the roster.

 

[ATippett56]

I have wondered if BB decides to keep 2 QB's if he thinks Mallett has progressed enough, we would keep Shinacoe (assuming his injury isn't too bad), we cut loose the vets who were injured/didn't project to the 5 to give them a shot to catch on. We didn't do that with Shinacoe.

I was thinking 25 on D also with the 2 Specialist to round out the roster.

No offense, I just don't understand the fascination with Shiancoe on the PatsFans message board. The tight end has done nothing whatsoever in training camp let alone play one pre-season game.

I personally would have cut Shiancoe and kept Gaffney.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

No offense, I just don't understand the fascination with Shiancoe on the PatsFans message board. The tight end has done nothing whatsoever in training camp let alone play one pre-season game.

I personally would have cut Shiancoe and kept Gaffney.

To be fair, Gaffney hasn't practiced recently and had 2 catches for 18 yards in the only game he played in. It's not as if he set the world on fire either.

 

[Funktopus]

I'm guessing the following will make the 53 but wont dress on game day

Becket
Denard
Tomas
Weems
Francis

that leaves me 2 short.

Reiss posted this week that Niko, Tarp and digbo appeared on 3 ST units. If one or none of them make the team, then who is playing ST from the 46 that dress?

 

[ATippett56]

To be fair, Gaffney hasn't practiced recently and had 2 catches for 18 yards in the only game he played in. It's not as if he set the world on fire either.

Gaffney has done more than Shiancoe which is NOTHING!

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Gaffney has done more than Shiancoe which is NOTHING!

Again, look at the 46 man active roster. If we kept Gaffney, (and the fact that he's gone and Branch isn't shows that Branch won the #3 spot) that's 6 WRs active each week, assuming you don't want to deactivate Gaffney.

2 QBs
4 RBs minimum (If Demps makes it, no way we don't put him out on special teams each week. Woodhead IMO wouldn't be asked to carry the load if Ridley got hurt so another would be needed)
6 WRs (having kept Gaffney)
3 TEs (I'm not even including Shiancoe)
7 OL (which is on the light side, would like to see 8)

That's 22 on offense, 23 if you activate the 8th lineman. After K, P and LS, that leaves 20 spots for defense. That seems light considering how many special teamers are on that side of the ball.

 

[ATippett56]

Again, look at the 46 man active roster. If we kept Gaffney, (and the fact that he's gone and Branch isn't shows that Branch won the #3 spot) that's 6 WRs active each week, assuming you don't want to deactivate Gaffney.

2 QBs
4 RBs minimum (If Demps makes it, no way we don't put him out on special teams each week. Woodhead IMO wouldn't be asked to carry the load if Ridley got hurt so another would be needed)
6 WRs (having kept Gaffney)
3 TEs (I'm not even including Shiancoe)
7 OL (which is on the light side, would like to see 8)

That's 22 on offense, 23 if you activate the 8th lineman. After K, P and LS, that leaves 20 spots for defense. That seems light considering how many special teamers are on that side of the ball.

Given Deion Branch's injury history, you actually expect Deion Branch to be completely healthy for 19 games this season? Who is to say that you could not alternate Gaffney one week and Branch the other week, barring injuries of course?

 

[PATSNUTme]

In Gaff's case, it could be one of those wink and nod cuts.

It may not be, but there could be a player that BB does not want to release until the final cut. Being able to release Gaff, knowing he can bring him back, gives him a little more time to make decisions on others.

 

[ATippett56]

In Gaff's case, it could be one of those wink and nod cuts.

I certainly hope so, since the wide receiver position looks a little thin right now.

 

[Fencer]

I have accounted for 25 players on the New England Patriots offense:

QB - 3 Brady, Mallett, Hoyer
RB - 5 Woodhead, Vereen, Ridley, Bolden, Demps
TE - 3 Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR - 5 Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
OL - 9 Koppen, Connelly, Wendell, McDonald, Mankins, Thomas, Solder, Vollmer, Cannon

Based upon the aforementioned offensive squad, there is no room for the following players:

Ebert
Kettani
Taylor

Correct, although Shiancoe could replace Demps or the ninth OL. Game day inactives could start with a QB, an RB, and an OL. Maybe knock active OL down to 7, because of STs.

 

[ATippett56]

Correct, although Shiancoe could replace Demps or the ninth OL. Game day inactives could start with a QB, an RB, and an OL. Maybe knock active OL down to 7, because of STs.

Shiancoe provides little to the New England Patriots offense; especially considering that he has been unable to get on the practice field since the first week of training camp, has yet to play a pre-season game, and has no previous experience playing in the New England Patriots offense.

As for Jeff Demps, there is no way he will pass thru waivers. Besides, the New England Patriots may need to carry five running backs since Vereen was injured in the Tampa Bay pre-season game.

As for the offensive line, it is not standard practice for Bill Belichick to only dress seven offensive lineman?

 

[Fencer]

Shiancoe provides little to the New England Patriots offense; especially considering that he has been unable to get on the practice field since the first week of training camp, has yet to play a pre-season game, and has no previous experience playing in the New England Patriots offense.

As for Jeff Demps, there is no way he will pass thru waivers. Besides, the New England Patriots may need to carry five running backs since Vereen was injured in the Tampa Bay pre-season game.

As for the offensive line, it is not standard practice for Bill Belichick to only dress seven offensive lineman?

You're right about the health thing with Shiancoe; certainly it would be a disincentive to guaranteeing his salary. Having 4 TEs makes sense, however, although preferably with more ST contribution.

Some recent article said the Pats dressed 8 OL more often than 7 last season. I was surprised.

 

[supafly]

I'm guessing the following will make the 53 but wont dress on game day

Becket
Denard
Tomas
Weems
Francis

that leaves me 2 short.

Reiss posted this week that Niko, Tarp and digbo appeared on 3 ST units. If one or none of them make the team, then who is playing ST from the 46 that dress?

I'm not sure who you mean with the first name, but I'm assuming maybe Barrett? He was cut in the first round on Sunday night, so he's out. You may have "Beckett" on the brain a bit lately due to some of the Red Sox news.

Dennard to me is another question mark, but he may very well make it now as a developmental CB. I agree that he will be inactive for the majority of the games, barring injury. They could try and sneak him onto the PS, but I think that we may keep 10 DB's now, which would keep him here.

Thomas' situation may have dramatically improved when McDonald was injured. This would also be true if/when Waters does NOT decide to show up, which is a possibility too. Either way, Thomas' chances have increased in my opinion. I agree with him on the inactive list for the majority.

Weems I do not see making it, although he will likely be signed to the PS if he can make it through. I just don't see too much room, but then again--you need an additional tackle too, and his chances may have increased with the McDonald injury depending upon how bad it is, as he was supposed to take the 4th tackle + versatility at all 5 position.

Francis is one who I actually totally agree with. There is a rumor that they are rather high on him. We'll have to see if that's true, but it would make sense.

We'd still need one more, which would give 6 + the inactive QB (Mallett).