What positions won't be filled by the current roster?

[Deus Irae]

With people starting to toss out their roster projections already, I think this thread makes some sense now. It seems like a lock that the QB position will be filled from within barring injury, for example, so I won't put that in the poll, but what positions do people think the Patriots will be looking hard at the cut lists for? What positions will the Patriots be filling with players that aren't already there?

 

[Kontradiction]

I took WR, TE, DT, and DB (specifically safety). Hard to see Tavon Wilson making it out of TC this year and I think they'll be looking for someone else there. I think the interior OL is done with and Cannon has the positional flexibility to cover for Vollmer should injury occur at RT while also being able to play at RG.

 

[Sicilian]

I chose TE and DB (safety, like Kontra said). There's always the possibility that other positions are going to be filled by a currently off-roster, especially if there are injuries, but I honestly see the potential solutions already on the team.

If I was going to pick the next most likely, I would say DE or LB. If Smith or Anderson don't cut it (which seems to happen at least once a year with a low to mid level free agent), I could see a last minute band-aid option (Andre Carter, etc) being brought in towards the end of preseason.

 

[Kontradiction]

Wait, we're talking starters and back-ups right? If so, my post stands. If it's either/or, I have to do some editing.

 

[Sicilian]

Wait, we're talking starters and back-ups right? If so, my post stands. If it's either/or, I have to do some editing.

I was kind of assuming starters and significant back-ups. I don't think it's possible to really predict the bottom 6 or 7 on the roster as it will likely change a few dozen times over the course of the season.

 

[Kontradiction]

I was kind of assuming starters and significant back-ups. I don't think it's possible to really predict the bottom 6 or 7 on the roster as it will likely change a few dozen times over the course of the season.

Okay. That was the assumption I was going on. The post stands.

 

[Deus Irae]

Wait, we're talking starters and back-ups right? If so, my post stands. If it's either/or, I have to do some editing.

Yes. All players, at all positions. There's likely to be some at the very bottom, I think we all agree. What I'm looking to see, beyond the raw numbers, is what areas people think they'll come in, and where, if anywhere, people think those moves will be at an impact level (starter/significant rotation guy).

I expect that this thread will either be step one of two, or it will serve to answer both parts, depending on how people flesh out their votes.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Well, the first point is that this is assuming no run of injuries at a single position before cut-down day (I know, it's like assuming a summer without thunder storms).

I think that BB is always on the lookout for LBs and DBs. I also think that this year, exceptionally, we may see a TE or two come in.

Otherwise, my prediction (wild guess) is that everyone who makes the 53 is currently on the roster.

 

[ashley]

I'm going to say defensive tackle. Just because of the uncertainty of Armstead; Wilfork and Kelly both are coming off injuries and are up there in age and Easley having two knee surgeries.
I wouldn't rule out tight end either, we are very thin at that position, or safety, again, I don't want to think about going in to the season with Chung as our starter if Harmon doesn't perform or get's injured.

 

[mgteich]

I listed TE and RB (which should include FB).

Belichick will be looking. Maybe he'll be successful. Our incumbents (Williams, Bolden and Develin) are certainly opportunities for upgrade.

I would have listed DB but we have 7 solid players. It is not clear the 8th or 9th DB is a significant addition. However, I certainly think that Belichick will be looking for a defensive back, even if he is only here to compete for a 4 week position.

 

[50-yard-line]

DT - if we're counting Kevin Williams, as I think they might well sign him.

TE has got to be up in the air at this point. Right? Please, right?!

 

[Deus Irae]

I listed TE and RB (which should include FB)....

Yeah, it had to. Unfortunately, the limit (apparently it's 10) was reached. That's also why I didn't put in QB. Even though I consider it a lock to be filled from within, I'd normally have put it in for completeness.

 

[AzPatsFan]

With people starting to toss out their roster projections already, I think this thread makes some sense now. It seems like a lock that the QB position will be filled from within barring injury, for example, so I won't put that in the poll, but what positions do people think the Patriots will be looking hard at the cut lists for? What positions will the Patriots be filling with players that aren't already there?

Deus,

You didn't give me the choice I wanted. Zero or could stand pat, is my preferred selection but it is unavailable.

Although I had to select TE, were to be needed most, I believe we could go into` the season with what we have. There were many seasons that the TE position was not as well stocked as it is now. We only have an All-World TE, albeit coming off an injury, and a good blocking reserve too.

In other years, not having even a single great TE never mind a pair of good TEs, we just chose not to emphasize plays to the TEs. So we could stand pat even there. Those teams posted double digit victories.

All the other positions have adequate starters and seemingly good reserves.

This team is more complete than any BB has fielded during the post 2009 rebuild.

 

[Deus Irae]

Deus,

You didn't give me the choice I wanted. Zero or could stand pat, is my preferred selection but it is unavailable. .

Although I had to select TE, were to be needed most, I believe we could go into` the season with what we have. There were many seasons that the TE position was not as well stocked as it is now. We only have an Al-World TE albeit coming off an injury, and a good blocking reserve too.

In other years, not having a pair of good TEs, we just chose not to emphasize plays to the TEs. So we could stand pat even there. Those teams posted double digit victories.

All the other positions have adequate starters and seemingly good reserves.

This team is more complete than any BB has fielded during the post 2009 rebuild.

This leads to a different question, the answer to which I'm not going to look up at the moment, as someone answering that might impact the poll, and I'm trying to avoid doing that myself:

Have the BB Patriots ever stayed pat with their pre-July roster and, if so, how often and when?

Edit: forgot to add: With regards to the stand pat option, I simply didn't have the spaces. This software seems set up for only 10 options. A 15 minimum seems as if it would have been a better choice, but I didn't set the parameters. Perhaps it's something Ian can look at, if he chooses.

 

[supafly]

Interesting that former Broncos safety Mike Adams claimed today that he and his agent have been approached by both the Patriots and the Jets. Apparently, Belichick is still looking for adequate depth at the position of safety, as he should be.

TE is obviously the main position that we still need to add a better talent at.

I'd then go front seven--since that's always up for grabs in terms of adding better depth and talent, should the right player come around.

ST only players would probably be pretty high on the list as well.

 

[AzPatsFan]

This leads to a different question, the answer to which I'm not going to look up at the moment, as someone answering that might impact the poll, and I'm trying to avoid doing that myself:

Have the BB Patriots ever stayed pat with their pre-July roster and, if so, how often and when?

I'd wager never has BB failed to add possible improvements post June. Don't forget the answer was predicated on, 'could stand pat' and NOT, "would stand pat'.

 

[mgteich]

I'd wager never has BB failed to add possible improvements post June. Don't forget the answer was predicated on, 'could stand pat' and NOT, "would stand pat'.

I thought that we were discussing starters and significant backups. If so, I suspect that there were probably years that we didn't any, especially in years without major injuries.

 

[captain stone]

I voted for TE, which is still a stinky pile of poo; and if I could've done so, I would've also voted for SS.

 

[Deus Irae]

I voted for TE, which is still a stinky pile of poo; and if I could've done so, I would've also voted for SS.

Did you try multiple choices when voting? You should have been able to do so. That's what I'd clicked on.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I'd wager never has BB failed to add possible improvements post June. Don't forget the answer was predicated on, 'could stand pat' and NOT, "would stand pat'.

One of the great things about BB is that he's predictably unpredictable. We know that he sees training camp as a triage -- some people will fail, get cut, retire in camp, and so on. So it's pretty much a certainty that the roster that starts camp won't be the one that finishes it. The interesting question is whether any of the new guys will make the 53. (And then, of course, we know too that BB will tell us on cut-down day that the 53 isn't the last word on the roster, that there'll be transactions afterwards -- and, of course, there will.)