Predict 45 man roster for this week

[biffman]

Quarterback (2)
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel

Running back (3)
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk

Fullback (1)
Heath Evans

Wide receiver (4)
Randy Moss
Donte' Stallworth
Wes Welker
Kelley Washington
(I assume Gaffney's still hurt).

Tight end (3)
Benjamin Watson
Kyle Brady
Marcellus Rivers
(Rivers has done a good job and Thomas probably needs more work.)

Offensive line (7)
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O'Callaghan
Russ Hochstein

Defensive line (5)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown

Inside linebacker (5)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Eric Alexander
Larry Izzo


Outside linebacker (2)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
(Thomas backs up here as well)

Cornerback (4)
Asante Samuel
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Tory James


Safety (5)
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Brandon Meriweather
Willie Andrews

Specialists (3)
Kicker -- Stephen Gostkowski
Punter -- Chris Hanson
Long snapper -- Lonie Paxton

 

[Nordy]

Defensive line (6)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown

Inside linebacker (4)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Larry Izzo


Outside linebacker (2)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
(Thomas backs up here as well)

This just seems plain wrong to me. Only 5 real linebackers? Take off Kareem Brown (or Wright if he can't go) and add Woods or Alexander.

 

[biffman]

This just seems plain wrong to me. Only 5 real linebackers? Take off Kareem Brown (or Wright if he can't go) and add Woods or Alexander.

****e, I forgot Wright was Hurt. I will make the necessary adjustment.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Matt Gutierrez, Gaffney, David Thomas, Britt, Yates, Wright, Kareem Brown, Rashad Baker.

Quarterback (3)
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Matt Gutierrez

Running back (3)
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk

Fullback (1)
Heath Evans

Wide receiver (5)
Randy Moss
Donte' Stallworth
Wes Welker
Jabar Gaffney
Kelley Washington

Tight end (4)
Benjamin Watson
Kyle Brady
David Thomas
Marcellus Rivers

Offensive line (9)
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O'Callaghan
Wesley Britt
Billy Yates
Russ Hochstein

Defensive line (6)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown

Inside linebacker (6)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Eric Alexander
Larry Izzo
David Herron

Outside linebacker (3)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
Pierre Woods

Cornerback (4)

Asante Samuel
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Tory James


Safety (7)
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Brandon Meriweather
Willie Andrews
Mel Mitchell
Rashad Baker

Rodney Harrison (4 game suspension)

Specialists (3)
Kicker -- Stephen Gostkowski
Punter -- Chris Hanson
Long snapper -- Lonie Paxton

 

[biffman]

Matt Gutierrez, Gaffney, David Thomas, Britt, Yates, Wright, Kareem Brown, Rashad Baker.

Quarterback (3)
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Matt Gutierrez

Running back (3)
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk

Fullback (1)
Heath Evans

Wide receiver (5)
Randy Moss
Donte' Stallworth
Wes Welker
Jabar Gaffney
Kelley Washington

Tight end (4)
Benjamin Watson
Kyle Brady
David Thomas
Marcellus Rivers

Offensive line (9)
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O'Callaghan
Wesley Britt
Billy Yates
Russ Hochstein

Defensive line (6)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown

Inside linebacker (6)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Eric Alexander
Larry Izzo
David Herron

Outside linebacker (3)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
Pierre Woods

Cornerback (4)

Asante Samuel
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Tory James


Safety (7)
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Brandon Meriweather
Willie Andrews
Mel Mitchell
Rashad Baker

Rodney Harrison (4 game suspension)

Specialists (3)
Kicker -- Stephen Gostkowski
Punter -- Chris Hanson
Long snapper -- Lonie Paxton

That leaves with 4 DL. I'd rather go with 6LB and 5DL.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

That leaves with 4 DL. I'd rather go with 6LB and 5DL.

True, but Wright seems injured, Brown is a rook. We only need 3 DL for the 3-4, and on nickel and dime situations, our OLBs line up at DE. Thus we only need two of our DL for those situations.

 

[biffman]

True, but Wright seems injured, Brown is a rook. We only need 3 DL for the 3-4, and on nickel and dime situations, our OLBs line up at DE. Thus we only need two of our DL for those situations.

Sometimes we line up 4-3, which would mean if one DL gets dinged up, there is no 4-3. Also, there would be no rotation for the 3-4. And while sometimes we go with fewer DL, there are many times we go with 3LB and 5DB.

 

[SWelker]

I'd be surprised if Gaffney is inactive for the first game.

 

[wdkantro2]

I'd be surprised if Gaffney is inactive for the first game.

The only reason he would be inactive is his health, which the OP noted. But you are right in the fact that if he were healthy, there's no way he'd be IA.

 

[mgteich]

I'd replace Alexander with Woods.

Quarterback (2)
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel

Running back (3)
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk

Fullback (1)
Heath Evans

Wide receiver (4)
Randy Moss
Donte' Stallworth
Wes Welker
Kelley Washington
(I assume Gaffney's still hurt).

Tight end (3)
Benjamin Watson
Kyle Brady
Marcellus Rivers
(Rivers has done a good job and Thomas probably needs more work.)

Offensive line (7)
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O'Callaghan
Russ Hochstein

Defensive line (5)
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Jarvis Green
Le Kevin Smith
Kareem Brown

Inside linebacker (5)
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Junior Seau
Eric Alexander
Larry Izzo


Outside linebacker (2)
Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
(Thomas backs up here as well)

Cornerback (4)
Asante Samuel
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay
Tory James


Safety (5)
Eugene Wilson
James Sanders
Brandon Meriweather
Willie Andrews

Specialists (3)
Kicker -- Stephen Gostkowski
Punter -- Chris Hanson
Long snapper -- Lonie Paxton

 

[biffman]

I'd replace Alexander with Woods.

That wouldn't surprise me at all, especially since Alexander missed some time.