Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come September

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Surprise cut/forced pay cut candidate....Sanders...[/QUOTE]

That was my dark horse to be cut at the start of camp and with Chung seemingly improving daily I feel even more that it may happen.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Slater is ineligible for PUP. He can be kept, IR'd, or cut.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Sanders may not be cut but instead kept to dangle as trade bait. I agree he doesn't make the 53.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Not sure about cutting Holt, but happy that the consensus is that Wes is on the squad and presumably starting.

Definitely worried, now that it is staring us in the face, about opening the season without Kaczur and Mankins.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

ctpatsfan77 said:

BB has said that you often need three safeties on the field; so if you need three on the field, you generally need four on the roster. So would that fourth be Ross Ventrone, then?

Click to expand...

No, it would be Sanders with a extension which actually reduces his salary cap hit.

I do not see it likely that Sanders gets paid straight up when he is not a starter at this point based on training camp reps.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

QB12 said:

Sanders may not be cut but instead kept to dangle as trade bait. I agree he doesn't make the 53.

Click to expand...

As much as I'd hate to see Sanders traded, I think this could happen. Whether it be for a player or more likely a draft pick which is then used to get either a solid player for the OL or an OLB with decent pass rush skills, you usually have to give up something to get something.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Smash-MouthD said:

I know the WR corp is deeper this year but Joey Bleepin Galloway made the team last year, so i'm leaning towards Holt making it with the Vet aspect playing heavily into the reasoning.

Click to expand...

Keeping Galloway last season has little to no bearing on whether Holt stays or not. Holt stays or goes under his own merit and value to the team. Add in the fact that our WR depth is much deeper and better than last year, and Holt getting cut is not out of the question. That said, I'd like to see him stay.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

People have to remember 2 dynamics:

1) Special teams units...Have to fill them out with players that fit specific positions/skills and are given practice time on ST.

2) 45 man gameday actives...Having a veteran (like Lewis or GWarren) sitting on the depth chart outside the top 45 makes no sense. I know injuries take care of this most times, but you don't want vets in street clothes as healthy scratches.

When taken together (you need ST players on the active 45), these considerations usually result in surprise veteran cuts and unexpected players making the 53 on a yearly basis.

I think that these consideration indicate the battles to watch during the preseason:

Murrell vs. Woods - They seem redundant, particularly with Ninkovich likely claiming a spot

Lewis vs. GWarren - Barring a TWarren problematic injury, I can't see keeping both

Wilhite vs. Wheatley - Most interesting battle from my perspective. Wheatley has the opportunity to show off tonite (Saints are a great test). This is my pick for the biggest upset on the final 53.

Sanders vs. McGowan - I think they both make it but if one of them is clearly the #4 safety on the depth chart, it puts them in an uncertain place.

Aiken vs. Alexander vs. Youngsters - This is the spot that Slater and the rest of the outliers are targeting. With WR and ILB looking stacked, it may be too much of a luxury to keep Aiken/Alexander around. Maybe better to invest the ST/gameday inactive spot to a developmental FB (Williams), OLB (Fletcher) or DB (Lockett).

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

The McKenzie prediction is going out on a pretty huge limb. Reiss wants to cut a 2009 3rd-round pick who has done everything right in the offseason and training camp so that Thomas Williams can play fullback? Very weird.

Second weirdest is Rodak taking Eric Alexander over Marques Murrell, who has comparable special-teams skills and has been getting a lot more meaningful reps on defense in camp than Alexander ever did.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

we'll have to see who's playing on first-team special teams tonight. That'll offer some clues as to who's valued more. Reiss usually covers it in his blog.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Here is my take on the roster based on what I've watched in the preseason, of course I will be wrong on a few of those players:

QB: (2) Brady, Hoyer

RB: (5) Taylor, Maroney, Morris, Faulk, (TBA)

WR: (6) Moss, Welker, Holt, Tate, Edelman, Price

TE: (3) Crumpler, Hernandez, Gronk

OT: (5) Light, Vollmer, LeVoir, Bussey, Welch

OG/C: (5) Koppen, Neal, Connolly, Wendell, Ohrnberger

DL: (6) Wilfork, T. Warren, G. Warren, Wright, Lewis, Pryor

OLB: (4) TBC, Cunningham, Ninkovitch, Murrell (probably listed as DE),

ILB: (5) Mayo, Guyton, Spikes, McKenzie, Woods

CB: (5) Bodden, Butler, McCourty, Arrington, Wheatley

S: (4) Meriweather, Chung, McGowan, Sanders

ST: (3) usual suspects

IR: Kaczur, Brace, Barrett

PS: Love, Deaderick, Fletcher, Brown, Williams, Weston, Welch, Larsen

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

I love Reiss, but cutting McKenzie is truly absurd. That's crazy.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

patsox23 said:

I love Reiss, but cutting McKenzie is truly absurd. That's crazy.

Click to expand...

There is no way McKenzie doesn't make the team!

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Patspsycho said:

Here is my take on the roster based on what I've watched in the preseason, of course I will be wrong on a few of those players:

QB: (2) Brady, Hoyer

RB: (5) Taylor, Maroney, Morris, Faulk, (TBA)

WR: (6) Moss, Welker, Holt, Tate, Edelman, Price

TE: (3) Crumpler, Hernandez, Gronk

OT: (5) Light, Vollmer, LeVoir, Bussey, Welch

OG/C: (5) Koppen, Neal, Connolly, Wendell, Ohrnberger

DL: (6) Wilfork, T. Warren, G. Warren, Wright, Lewis, Pryor

OLB: (4) TBC, Cunningham, Ninkovitch, Murrell (probably listed as DE),

ILB: (5) Mayo, Guyton, Spikes, McKenzie, Woods

CB: (5) Bodden, Butler, McCourty, Arrington, Wheatley

S: (4) Meriweather, Chung, McGowan, Sanders

ST: (3) usual suspects

IR: Kaczur, Brace, Barrett

PS: Love, Deaderick, Fletcher, Brown, Williams, Weston, Welch, Larsen

Click to expand...

i feel like wheatley is just an injury waiting to happen (like when we had tank williams). I have to go with the Wilhite camp.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Maybe the Mckenzie rants on making the team can add up to the Patten won't make the team board politics.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Reckedtrek said:

Keeping Galloway last season has little to no bearing on whether Holt stays or not. Holt stays or goes under his own merit and value to the team. Add in the fact that our WR depth is much deeper and better than last year, and Holt getting cut is not out of the question. That said, I'd like to see him stay.

Click to expand...

Actually I believe it shows there desire to have a veteran at each of the wr spots weather they are starter or back up with Galloway Welker and moss they had vets that knew x,y and z positions, as with Moss, Welker and Holt they would have vets that know the X,Y and Z positions.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Reiss did an aweful job. Given that there was a reasonable roster projection in the same post, I'll comment of Rodak's roster. Obviously this can change if Belichick brings in more players; OL seems most likely.

BTW, Reiss choosing to "protect" Welch on the roster instead of McKenzie is nuts!
========================
OFFENSE
----------
AIKEN - I agree. He is one of our top special teamers. Slater is now likely now out.
HOLT - I don't expect Holt to be cut. If nothing else, he is insurance against injury to #1.
SIX INTERIOR LINEMEN - I would keep only five, leaving room on the roster for HOLT.
BOTTOM LINE - A solid job. I would cut an OG instead of Holt (probably Ohrnberger).

DEFENSE
----------
WILLIAMS and ALEXANDER - I'd rather keep MURRELL and WHEATLEY (or even LOCKETT)
But Rodak's choices are reasonable.
=========

OVERALL BOTTOM LINE
agreed - 50
my choices - Holt, Murrell and Wheatley instead of Ohrnberger, Williams and Alexander
==========

RECENT CHANGES IN MY THINKING
Given the situation on the OL, Bussey seems to be our 4th OT. Since Connolly is almost surely going to need to start at various points of the season at OG, Wendell makes the 53 as the backup center. He was paid full roster salary last year while on the Practice Squad in 2009 for just the kind of situation that we now have. Ohrnberger may beat out Wendell for the backup center role, or not. Larsen is the one developmental player being "protected" by having him on the roster. I'm OK with that. He is a legitimate prospect to be a starter at center in 2011 or 2012.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

Since Brace has yet to pass his physical, can he start on the PUP? I know he's been working out with trainers, but he has yet to practice with the team.

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

mgteich said:

RECENT CHANGES IN MY THINKING
Given the situation on the OL, Bussey seems to be our 4th OT. Since Connolly is almost surely going to need to start at various points of the season at OG, Wendell makes the backup center. He was paid full roster salary last year while on the Practice Squad, for just the kind of situation that we now have. Ohrnberger may beat out Wendell for the backup center role, or not. Larsen is the one developmental player being "protected" by ahving him on the roster. I'm OK with that. He is a legitimate prospect to be a starter at center in 2011 or 2012.

Click to expand...

it was good to see both Bussey and Connolly get offseason awards. it's certainly suggestive that they've improved and that the team likes them both.

Patriots offseason award winners - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Re: Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak predict how the Patriots roster will look come Septembe

patriot lifer said:

i feel like wheatley is just an injury waiting to happen (like when we had tank williams). I have to go with the Wilhite camp.

Click to expand...

That is the risk. However, Wheatley has shown a lot of improvement and toughness in this camp. Wilhite has not shown that he can track the ball while on his man. He got beat a few times.