What's your final 53?

[jah]

I don't think this should be merged with the Kneejerk reactions thread because it's about your final projections and not players stock going up/down.

That being said, who do you have making the team after this final preseason game? I have this:

QB (3): Brady, Hoyer, Mallett
RB (5): Ridley, Woodhead, Vereen, Bolden, Demps
WR (5): Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
TE (4): Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells, Shiancoe
OL (9): Solder, Mankins, Connolly, Waters, Vollmer, Cannon, Wendell, Thomas, McDonald
DT (4): Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Brace
DE (5): Jones, Cunningham, Ninkovich, Bequette, Francis
LB (6): Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Carpenter, Tarpinian, White
CB (5): McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Dennard
S (4): Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ebner
ST (3): Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken

Individual thoughts:
-I'm really hoping Demps isn't injured badly. I think if it's only a few weeks then he'll stay on the roster. At least one of those five backs would be inactive on gameday anyway.
-I'm picking a fourth TE over a sixth WR. With Gaffney and Shiancoe both injured, I think they made it clear which direction they're going by releasing the WR.
-Koppen is still out. I think he's done.
-Koutouvides stole Trevor Scott's spot, but then he got injured and Justin Francis took over with a strong game against scrubs.
-Tarpinian earned a spot. That last LB is either White or Koutouvides. Probably whoever has the least severe injury. Going with White because he's a better player and I don't know about either of their injuries.
-Sterling Moore has been questionable but I think he sticks. Cole might nab that spot. Dennard was a bit late to the party but he convinced me to keep him on the roster just as my patience was wearing.

How about you?

 

[Mix]

QB (3): Brady, Hoyer, Mallett
RB (5): Ridley, Woodhead, Vereen, Bolden, Demps
WR (5): Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Edelman, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
OL (9): Solder, Mankins, Connolly, Waters, Vollmer, Cannon, Wendell, Thomas, McDonald
DT (4): Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Brace
DE (5): Jones, Cunningham, Ninkovich, Bequette, Francis
LB (6): Mayo, Hightower, Spikes, Carpenter, Tarpinian, Koutouvides
CB (5): McCourty, Arrington, Dowling, Moore, Cole
S (5): Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ebner, Ihedigbo
ST (3): Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken

 

[rookBoston]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden, Jeff Demps
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Ryan Wendell, Dan Koppen
G (3) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Brian Waters
T (4) Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Sebastian Vollmer, Nick McDonald
DE (5) Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Jake Bequette
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace
ILB(3) Brandon Spikes, Donta Hightower, Niko Koutouvides
OLB(3) Jerod Mayo, Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Sterling Moore, Marquice Cole
SS (3) Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

The only cut I really regret is Thomas at OG and Dennard at CB. I hope both of them go to PS. Trevor Scott is a new addition on my 53-man, the primary beneficiary of losing Dane Fletcher for the season.

 

[jah]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden, Jeff Demps
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Julian Edelman, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Ryan Wendell, Dan Koppen
G (3) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Brian Waters
T (4) Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Sebastian Vollmer, Nick McDonald
DE (5) Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Jake Bequette
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace
ILB(3) Brandon Spikes, Donta Hightower, Niko Koutouvides
OLB(3) Jerod Mayo, Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Sterling Moore, Marquice Cole
SS (3) Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

The only cut I really regret is Thomas at OG and Dennard at CB. I hope both of them go to PS. Trevor Scott is a new addition on my 53-man, the primary beneficiary of losing Dane Fletcher for the season.

Thomas is ineligible for PS. McDonald can still go there, however.

 

[mgteich]

My last two choices were
Player 52: Dennard over Moore (I'm also fine with Moore)
Player 53: McDonald over Koutouvides and Francis
(I expect that we will sign a free agent OT for this roster spot)

QB (3) Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer
RB (5) Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden, Jeff Demps, Shane Vereen
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Dan Connolly, Donald Thomas
T (4) Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Nick McDonald
DE (3) Chandler Jones, Jake Bequette, Trevor Scott
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love, Ron Brace
ILB(4) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Bobby Carpenter
OLB(3) Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Jeff Tarpinian
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Marquice Cole, Alfonzo Dennard
SS (3) Steve Gregory, James Ihedigbo, Nate Ebner
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

 

[rookBoston]

Thomas is ineligible for PS. McDonald can still go there, however.

McDonald makes the roster on merit and versatility. We need him active, because he can play across the line.

Thomas only makes the roster if we cut ties with Koppen. Or we can keep both if Waters retires.

 

[mgteich]

IMHO, McDonald would never be active. We have 2 backups active, one interior and one tackle. Cannon is our backup OT.

SITUATION ONE: WATERS IS HERE
Koppen and Connolly are both active. Alternatively, Wendell and Connolly are both active. I a guard is injured, Connolly moved to that position and the backup moves to center.

SITUATION TWO: WATERS IS NOT HERE
Connolly is our starting RG. Koppen is our center. Wendell is our backup interior lineman as he has been many times in his career.

McDonald makes the roster on merit and versatility. We need him active, because he can play across the line.

Keeping Thomas only makes the roster if we cut ties with Koppen. Or we can keep both if Waters retires.

 

[ATippett56]

The New England Patriots offense seems solidified:

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

The New England Patriots defense has too much variability to finalize 25 players.

 

[rookBoston]

IMHO, McDonald would never be active. We have 2 backups active, one interior and one tackle. Cannon is our backup OT.

SITUATION ONE: WATERS IS HERE
Koppen and Connolly are both active. Alternatively, Wendell and Connolly are both active. I a guard is injured, Connolly moved to that position and the backup moves to center.

SITUATION TWO: WATERS IS NOT HERE
Connolly is our starting RG. Koppen is our center. Wendell is our backup interior lineman as he has been many times in his career.

Interesting. I had not thought through the active roster, but you're right that Connolly and Cannon feel like the primary backups to a line of Solder - Mankins - Koppen - Waters - Vollmer. Leaving McDonald and Wendell inactive.

But even just in typing it now, that starting line feels like an impossibility to me, because Connolly has clearly outperformed Koppen.

If Waters returns, the starting line should be Solder - Mankins - Connolly - Waters - Vollmer, with Cannon and Wendell as backups, and McDonald and Thomas as inactive. Koppen may be cut. Without Waters, Koppen at center and Connolly at gaurd.

Either way, your point is good. McDonald will only be activated if someone gets hurt first.

Final thought: toying with the idea whether playing with five starters and only McDonald active for OL depth is viable. In case of catastrophic injury, emergency linemen would have to be Aiken on the interior and Gronkowski at tackle... or cross train a defensive guy like Bequette to play both sides of the ball. Giving up a lot of size. But in exchange, you could dress an extra LB or DB for a punch on ST, or other maybe optimize some 3rd down sub-packages. That could be a strategic weapon against the right team.

 

[JackBauer]

Why keep Ihedigbo? Seems like a waste of a roster spot.

 

[ATippett56]

Why keep Ihedigbo? Seems like a waste of a roster spot.

I agree 100%.

To be a Super Bowl worthy team, the Stooge factor must be completely eliminated from the 53 man roster.

 

[doesntmatter1]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (4) Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Jeff Demps
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald
G (3) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Donald Thomas
T (3) Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon
DE (5) Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Jake Bequette
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick
ILB(6) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Donta Hightower, Bobby Carpenter, Tracy White, Mike Rivera
OLB(0)
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Marquice Cole, Alfonzo Dennard, Malcolm Williams
SS (3) Steve Gregory, Nate Ebner, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 52
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

I left a spot for waters or some random waiver wire signing. And if I need any more spots, the first cuts I would make would be mcdonald and trevor scott.

 

[supafly]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (4) Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Jeff Demps
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald
G (3) Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Donald Thomas
T (3) Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon
DE (5) Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Trevor Scott, Jake Bequette
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick
ILB(6) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Donta Hightower, Bobby Carpenter, Tracy White, Mike Rivera
OLB(0)
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Marquice Cole, Alfonzo Dennard, Malcolm Williams
SS (3) Steve Gregory, Nate Ebner, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 52
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

I left a spot for waters or some random waiver wire signing. And if I need any more spots, the first cuts I would make would be mcdonald and trevor scott.

11 in the secondary in an interesting choice, especially with the Malcolm Williams pick.

Mike Rivera is certainly another one that I would not personally agree with.

I think I'd pretty much agree with just about everything expect for those moves.

Tracy White and Ihedigbo are also a couple more than may be on the fence, but could go either way. I may also have Koppen in there too, but that's just my personal feeling, depending upon what Belichick knows in regards to Waters.

 

[ATippett56]

C (2) Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald

I'm not sure Nick McDonald will be available the first week of the regular season due to an injury incurred during preseason. In addition, eight offensive lineman seems awfully thin considering that both Mankins and Koppen are returning from injury last season. Furthermore, Mankins and Vollmer have played sparingly in preseason.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Here's my revised and edited selections....

QB (3) Brady, Hoyer, Mallett
RB (5) Ridley, Woodhead, Vereen, Kettani (FB), Demps
TE (3) Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR (6) Lloyd, Welker, Branch, Edelman, Ebert, Slater
OL (8) Vollmer, Solder, Mankins, Waters, Wendell, Connolly, Cannon, McDonald

CB (5) Dowling, McCourty, Arrington, Cole, Dennard.
S (4) Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ebner
LB (6) Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Carpenter, Koutouvides, Rivera
DT (5) Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Brace, Forston
DE (5) Joens, Ninkovich, Scott, Bequette, Cunningham

Specialists (3) Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken.

Even split on O and D with 25 apiece, leaving three specialists.

Bolden I can't see making it. I think we have signalled intent to carry a FB for a while now what with moving Kettani there and his extensive reps last might which he did a good job with. There just isn't room for six guys at the position.

With Stallworth and Gaffney gone and huge question marks at WR for next season, Ebert sneaks in for the team to have another go at developing a WR...3rd time lucky?

Moore is going to miss out on last night's performance and get caught up in the numbers game. Someone I would like to keep but Dennard has more upside and Cole is a lock. Eligible for the PS but he won't go unclaimed...the Colts would nab him in an instant.

Ihedigbo will also miss out. Love the guy but there just isn't room and there are enough players with STs value to mean he will miss out.

Rivera won his spot last night after starting the game. He was flying all over the field. White has been injured and Carpenter/Koutouvides as well as Rivera aren't PS eligible....so Tarp will likely find himself on there.

Love what I've seen from both Francis and Forston but I see Forston as the better replacement for Fanene with his size, weight and versatility. Can't see Francis in the same role.

 

[Finnishfan]

Everyone leaving Koppen out for some specific reason? Or is it that the "roster creator" doesnt have Koppen there at all?

Anyways, coming off that Giants game and seeing how well our backup defense handled Giants 1st team offense, I gotta say that Rivera, Koutovides and Tarpinian all looked so good that I find it hard to cut any of them.

Rivera seemed to be all over the field stopping the ball carrier with some really effective tackling. He recorded 12 tackles in the game, only 1 of them being an assisted one. Koutovides played a good game in coverage, which is something our LB corps can definitely use. He also showed great instincts and awareness on many rushing downs, when he broke away from pass coverage to help taking down the RB. Tarpinian made most of his big plays in the 2nd half, when Giants had their 2nd team offense in.

I dont see any of those 3 getting through the waivers.

My guess is that Koutovides locked his roster spot with a solid game in coverage while also contributing in ST. Rivera also jumped ahead of Carpenter and will make the final 53. That leaves Carpenter and Tarpinian on the bubble IMO. Neither will make it, becouse the running back situation, all the DB uncertainties and OL health doesnt really allow us to bring in 7 LBs.

Imagine the situation if Dane Fletcher was healthy, that would really make the selection a whole lot tougher.

My prediction for the LBs:
Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Ninkovich, Rivera and Koutovides
(also Cunningham listed as LB but really a DE pick)

If we bring 7, then the last one IMO would be Tarpinian.

 

[Finnishfan]

Also one thing I have to say, is that it seems to be a general consensus here that we will roll with 5 WRs and they will be Lloyd, Welker, Edelman, Slater and Branch.

Newsflash: Slater is not really a WR, not with his hands. I cant even remember him being targeted once during the preseason games. If he goes to the final 53, he goes there as a special teamer, and only officially counts as a WR.

Also, becouse the Tate and Price projects failed and Welker is halfway out of the door, we look thin at WR for future years. Edelman is the only bright spot there. So getting rid of Stallworth and Gaffney might indicate that the coaching staff decided that they leave the final WR spot for a younger guy who may contribute more in the near future.

Sure Holley is 28, but Taylor and Ebert are both 23. Kerry Taylor would a surprise to make the roster being with the team only a week, and while neither Holley or Ebert have really impressed me, I still suspect that one of those two will be in the final 53.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Everyone leaving Koppen out for some specific reason? Or is it that the "roster creator" doesnt have Koppen there at all?

Anyways, coming off that Giants game and seeing how well our backup defense handled Giants 1st team offense, I gotta say that Rivera, Koutovides and Tarpinian all looked so good that I find it hard to cut any of them.

Rivera seemed to be all over the field stopping the ball carrier with some really effective tackling. He recorded 12 tackles in the game, only 1 of them being an assisted one. Koutovides played a good game in coverage, which is something our LB corps can definitely use. He also showed great instincts and awareness on many rushing downs, when he broke away from pass coverage to help taking down the RB. Tarpinian made most of his big plays in the 2nd half, when Giants had their 2nd team offense in.

I dont see any of those 3 getting through the waivers.

My guess is that Koutovides locked his roster spot with a solid game in coverage while also contributing in ST. Rivera also jumped ahead of Carpenter and will make the final 53. That leaves Carpenter and Tarpinian on the bubble IMO. Neither will make it, becouse the running back situation, all the DB uncertainties and OL health doesnt really allow us to bring in 7 LBs.

Imagine the situation if Dane Fletcher was healthy, that would really make the selection a whole lot tougher.

My prediction for the LBs:
Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Ninkovich, Rivera and Koutovides
(also Cunningham listed as LB but really a DE pick)

If we bring 7, then the last one IMO would be Tarpinian.

Tarpinian would clear waivers. If you start counting Ninkovich as a true DE, which people are doing now, you need more than just five linebackers.

 

[Kicking_Game]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (5) Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Jeff Demps, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
C (2) Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Donald Thomas, Nick McDonald
T (3) Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon
DE (5) Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jake Bequette, Trevor Scott, Jermaine Cunningham
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Ron Brace, Brandon Deaderick
ILB(3) Brandon Spikes, Jeff Tarpinian, Niko Koutouvides
OLB(3) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Bobby Carpenter
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Sterling Moore, Marquice Cole
SS (3) Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

Tough cuts: Francis, Dennard, Koppen, White.

- I'd like Forston on the PS. Don't think he earned the 53, but has some upside.
- Ebert doesn't look football fast-enough to me. To the PS hopefully.
- Kettani would easily pass waivers to PS, IMO.
- Hope that Weems makes the PS. Yeah, he blew it big time at the end, but seems to have the tools to work with.
- I think Trevor Scott is underrated here, and chose him over Francis, who I do like.
- Sterling Moore is a lock IMO, despite the groans of some here.
- I think Ron Brace has become overrated here (for a change). Lacks balance, athleticism, and instincts. Only reason he makes it is because of Fanene's cut. I think this is his final year as a Patriot.
- Silvestro really impressed as a quick TE study. Ideal PS member.
- I chose Ihedigbo for ST, experience, and additional Chung injury insurance.
- I would be happy for Dennard to make the roster, but don't think the coaches will agree. I focused on him all game, and didn't come away impressed enough. It might have been different if he didn't miss so much time. Probably will be plucked off waivers by Indy or Miami.

 

[QB12]

Here's my revised and edited selections....

QB (3) Brady, Hoyer, Mallett
RB (5) Ridley, Woodhead, Vereen, Kettani (FB), Demps
TE (3) Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells
WR (6) Lloyd, Welker, Branch, Edelman, Ebert, Slater
OL (8) Vollmer, Solder, Mankins, Waters, Wendell, Connolly, Thomas, McDonald

CB (5) Dowling, McCourty, Arrington, Cole, Dennard.
S (4) Chung, Gregory, Wilson, Ebner
LB (6) Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Carpenter, Koutouvides, Rivera
DT (5) Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Brace, Forston
DE (5) Joens, Ninkovich, Scott, Bequette, Cunningham

Specialists (3) Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken.

Even split on O and D with 25 apiece, leaving three specialists.

Bolden I can't see making it. I think we have signalled intent to carry a FB for a while now what with moving Kettani there and his extensive reps last might which he did a good job with. There just isn't room for six guys at the position.

With Stallworth and Gaffney gone and huge question marks at WR for next season, Ebert sneaks in for the team to have another go at developing a WR...3rd time lucky?

Moore is going to miss out on last night's performance and get caught up in the numbers game. Someone I would like to keep but Dennard has more upside and Cole is a lock. Eligible for the PS but he won't go unclaimed...the Colts would nab him in an instant.

Ihedigbo will also miss out. Love the guy but there just isn't room and there are enough players with STs value to mean he will miss out.

Rivera won his spot last night after starting the game. He was flying all over the field. White has been injured and Carpenter/Koutouvides as well as Rivera aren't PS eligible....so Tarp will likely find himself on there.

Love what I've seen from both Francis and Forston but I see Forston as the better replacement for Fanene with his size, weight and versatility. Can't see Francis in the same role.

If I were to project a 53, it would be exactly like your's.