Plenty Of Room At The Bottom Of The Roster

[mgteich]

We all have our binkies. That's fine. Almost all will have a chance well into camp. The team has a full roster of 43 players ready to play. There are no holes in the 43 man roster. Obviously, there is room for upgrades, for example at LG. Even there, we have Kline as a backup and 9th OL. And yes, we could trade for a CB, or pick up a corner that someone cuts.

The bottom 10 positions could be used for players at any position.

OFFENSE (19)
2 QB
2 RB
1 FB
3 WR
8 OL
2 TE
1 ST
DEFENSE (21)
5 DE
4 DT
4 LB
4 CB
4 S
SPECIALISTS (3)

 

[Zuma]

Just curious why you picked 43. Here is my 53...

OFFENSE (25)
2 QB Brady, Garappolo
4 RB Blount, Gray, Bolden, White
1 FB Develin
5 WR Edelman, Lafell, Amendola, Gibson, Dobson
8 OL Solder, Cannon, Stork, Wendell, Vollmer, Fleming, Jackson, Mason
4 TE Gronkowski, Chandler, Davis, Hooman
1 ST Slater

DEFENSE (25)
5 DE Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Grisssom, Flowers
5 DT Brown, Branch, Siliga, Easley, Jones
6 LB Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher, Freeny, Wells
5 CB Ryan, Fletcher, Butler, Cox, Roberts
4 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SPECIALISTS (3)
Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona

EDIT: i've replaced McClain with Cox

 

[mgteich]

Just curious why you picked 43...

I picked 43 because I think that, barring injury, there are 43 very likely to make the roster.

OFFENSE (19)
2 QB Brady, Garappolo
2 RB Blount, Bolden
1 FB Develin
3 WR Edelman, Lafell, Amendola
8 OL Solder, Cannon, Stork, Wendell, Vollmer, Fleming, Jackson, Mason
2 TE Gronkowski, Chandler
1 ST Slater

DEFENSE (21)
5 DE Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Grisssom, Flowers
4 DT Brown, Branch, Siliga, Easley
4 LB Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher
4 CB Ryan, Fletcher, Butler, McClain
4 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SPECIALISTS (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona

OPEN POSITIONS
Note that these 10 don't need to be as in the positions listed below.
RB 2
WR 2
TE 1
OL 1
DL 1
LB 1
CB 1
S 1

 

[RayClay]

Wouldn't be surprised to see devlin cut. His competition isn't really at RB [they could easily pick up a big back and a scatback] It's at tight end, where Chandler and hooman might make him expendable. I don't know how valuable he is on special teams...

 

[BTTA]

I picked 43 because I think that, barring injury, there are 43 very likely to make the roster.

8 OL Solder, Cannon, Stork, Wendell, Solder, Fleming, Jackson, Mason

(One of your Solders should be a Vollmer.)

It's a good start, thanks. And I'm reminded that every year one of those core players gets cut and surprises us.

Where would depth help the most? For me, it's LB, given the injury history there.
Where would the addition of a very high quality player create a leap forward? CB, of course. But just once, wouldn't it be amazing to have a top RB behind Brady? What would happen then?

 

[Ross12]

I picked 43 because I think that, barring injury, there are 43 very likely to make the roster.

OFFENSE (19)
2 QB Brady, Garappolo
2 RB Blount, Bolden
1 FB Develin
3 WR Edelman, Lafell, Amendola
8 OL Solder, Cannon, Stork, Wendell, Solder, Fleming, Jackson, Mason
2 TE Gronkowski, Chandler
1 ST Slater

DEFENSE (21)
5 DE Nonlovich, Jones, Heard, Grisssom, Flowers
4 DT Brown, Branch, Siliga, Easley
4 LB Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher
4 CB Ryan, Fletcher, Butler, McClain
4 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SPECIALISTS (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona

OPEN POSITIONS
Note that these 10 don't need to be as in the positions listed below.
RB 2
WR 2
TE 1
OL 1
DL 1
LB 1
CB 1
S 1

Rob Nonlovich is probably our best DE, but Heard is probably gonna be good, too.

 

[Oswlek]

And I'm reminded that every year one of those core players gets cut and surprises us.

Yup. While I have the damnedest time figuring out how to get down to 53, Bill always finds a way to cut to 51 and pick up a couple waiver selections.

 

[supafly]

I picked 43 because I think that, barring injury, there are 43 very likely to make the roster.

OFFENSE (19)
2 QB Brady, Garappolo
2 RB Blount, Bolden
1 FB Develin
3 WR Edelman, Lafell, Amendola
8 OL Solder, Cannon, Stork, Wendell, Solder, Fleming, Jackson, Mason
2 TE Gronkowski, Chandler
1 ST Slater

DEFENSE (21)
5 DE Nonlovich, Jones, Heard, Grisssom, Flowers
4 DT Brown, Branch, Siliga, Easley
4 LB Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher
4 CB Ryan, Fletcher, Butler, McClain
4 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SPECIALISTS (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona

OPEN POSITIONS
Note that these 10 don't need to be as in the positions listed below.
RB 2
WR 2
TE 1
OL 1
DL 1
LB 1
CB 1
S 1

It's nice to be having this conversation again, which will be ramped up over the next 10 weeks or so.

At the moment, I personally wouldn't consider McClain anything of a lock, especially with the addition of Cox last week. Devlin would probably be the other player who I wouldn't consider a lock. Other than that, I'm in full agreement. Nice job.

 

[DarrylS]

When you look at these projections it is amazing how much change and infusion of youth there is on this team.. the genius of this dynasty is the ability to "reload" this team on the fly without missing a beat.

Most teams are not able to do this..

 

[BTTA]

When you look at these projections it is amazing how much change and infusion of youth there is on this team.. the genius of this dynasty is the ability to "reload" this team on the fly without missing a beat.

Most teams are not able to do this..

Nobody else has ever done this, given the constraints of the cap era.

 

[patriot1136]

And funny enough a few years back when the Redskins and Cowboys cheated the cap they still couldn't win

 

[RobertWeathers]

When you look at these projections it is amazing how much change and infusion of youth there is on this team.. the genius of this dynasty is the ability to "reload" this team on the fly without missing a beat.

Most teams are not able to do this..

Barring any surprising cuts or trades, by my count only 8 players will be over 30 to start the season.

My rough math says that their ave age is 25. It was 25.2 for the SB.

That graybeard, Geritol-drinking Brady guy is skewing the curve.

 

[varjao]

I have a feeling we go with 3 QB's this year even if Brady gets absolved.

 

[LJRomanoff]

Taylor Mays was cut today by the Vikings. Anyone have thoughts about the Patriots signing him? He's a safety/LB hybrid that might be an acceptable backup/special teamer.

 

[Ivan]

Wouldn't be surprised to see devlin cut. His competition isn't really at RB [they could easily pick up a big back and a scatback] It's at tight end, where Chandler and hooman might make him expendable. I don't know how valuable he is on special teams...

Disagree. The Patriots offense is facing the best interior defensive lines they have ever faced in this era and having Develin inside as a last piece of protection is going to be vital to them. Additionally the way their offense is currently structured they are going to be a power running team and will need a true FB to play that offense. Develin is far from expendable.

 

[Ivan]

Taylor Mays was cut today by the Vikings. Anyone have thoughts about the Patriots signing him? He's a safety/LB hybrid that might be an acceptable backup/special teamer.

He can't cover to save his life, I would c rather they stick with Chung and Wells.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Wouldn't be surprised to see devlin cut. His competition isn't really at RB [they could easily pick up a big back and a scatback] It's at tight end, where Chandler and hooman might make him expendable. I don't know how valuable he is on special teams...

Hooman isn't a lock for the team IMO, I could see Devlin beating him out for that roster spot since they both are mainly just blockers and we have plenty of TE depth

 

[mgteich]

Hooman isn't a lock for the team IMO

I don't think anyone has listed Hooman as a lock.

That being said, Hooman can be counted on as a blocker, and the backup to Gronk. He also is serviceable as an H-back. Hooman is competing with Davis for the 3rd TE spot, and has lots of advantages over Davis.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I don't think anyone has listed Hooman as a lock.

That being said, Hooman can be counted on as a blocker, and the backup to Gronk. He also is serviceable as an H-back. Hooman is competing with Davis for the 3rd TE spot, and has lots of advantages over Davis.

Yea true, I think Hooman is going to be one of those bubble players that is being factored in on those final decisions

Admittedly I'm also incredibly bias towards Hooman, my fiance thinks he's the hottest man alive and as a running joke I actively root against him and point out his mediocrity to her constantly

 

[mgteich]

It's nice to be having this conversation again, which will be ramped up over the next 10 weeks or so.

At the moment, I personally wouldn't consider McClain anything of a lock, especially with the addition of Cox last week. Devlin would probably be the other player who I wouldn't consider a lock. Other than that, I'm in full agreement. Nice job.

McClain has been a pretty good nickel back. It seems that he should be able to make the roster as the 4th or 5th CB. We have our three outside corners in Fletcher, Ryan, and Butler. I don't see any of these three as our primary nickel back, although I suppose that this could happen against certain teams.

Do you think that any of the others is ready to be depended on as our starting nickel back, or even backup nickel back? I expect one to emerge as our 5th corner.