I beat mgteich at posting first 53 man Roster!

mgteich said:

Many players play only one position. Does Gostkowski play another position? Does Wilfork? What about Dobson?

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But those guys are never labelled as versatile. However every time Slater gets mentioned, people say he's a great special teamer (which I agree with) and versatile enough to serve as a backup at WR. Yah right. Mineaswell tag him as a RB or create a new label called ST, that way maybe our WR corp wouldn't get such a bad rap.

supafly said:

While predicting 53 man roster spots are a fun exercise for the training camp months/summer, it's also completely pointless to try and attempt in the month of April.

...

As a matter of fact, it's such a waste of time--it's almost as pointless as making mock drafts.

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Well, perhaps not that silly, but although the thread title is clearly ment in jest, I have to confess that when I saw the thread, all I could think is "Why would anyone brag about premature ***********, even as a joke?"

We do have a category called special teams. Many of us use this for the 3 specialist (K, P and LS) as well as for special team specialists like Slater, Cole and Ebner.

Trycked said:

But those guys are never labelled as versatile. However every time Slater gets mentioned, people say he's a great special teamer (which I agree with) and versatile enough to serve as a backup at WR. Yah right. Mineaswell tag him as a RB or create a new label called ST, that way maybe our WR corp wouldn't get such a bad rap.

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One of the writers at NEPatriotsDraft.com, Matthew Jones, takes an early prediction at the 53-man roster:

Post-Draft 53-Man Roster Projection (Matthew Jones) | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

Trycked said:

Mineaswell tag him as a RB or create a new label called ST, that way maybe our WR corp wouldn't get such a bad rap.

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Our WR corp gets a "bad rap" as you say because of Slater? Do you think if we released him most teams would pick him up?

Also, why do you care what people think about our WR corp? It bothers you that MS in in that category because he isnt a great WR? And the whole unit suffers because of it.

Stop already! We have had enough crybaby crap.

Bruins29 said:

Our WR corp gets a "bad rap" as you say because of Slater? Do you think if we released him most teams would pick him up?

Also, why do you care what people think about our WR corp? It bothers you that MS in in that category because he isnt a great WR? And the whole unit suffers because of it.

Stop already! We have had enough crybaby crap.

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1) He sure ain't helping the WR corp

2) Why do you care whether or not I care what other people think of our WR corp, if you do, that probably means you care as well.

3) Sounds like crybaby crap you're throwing out at well. Here's a tissue.

Trycked said:

I still don't understand why Slater makes it every year. Yes, he's great on special teams, but outside of that, is he even average in anything else? In order to be considered versatile, don't you have to be good in more than 1 position?

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ST needs love too. They even kept him on the 53-man roster one year when he was inactive due to injury for the first few games of the season. He's that good of a special teams player, so much so that he doesn't need to be good at anything else. He even makes the Probowl for his performances. Amazing gunner.

Can't neglect ST. As much as we'd like to free up Slater for our 53 in order to add in another 3rd stringer, you pretty much have to pencil him in as a ST after the punter, placekicker, and LS.

Not to :bricks:

To me, this prediction made by Matthew Jones does not seem very realistic for few reasons:

1) He excludes few of BB's DL project players (Cunningham, Deaderick, Francis), and BB has a history of being stubborn with these types of projects. I could imagine that both Deaderick and Cunningham HAVE to impress at TC, but Francis propably has a longer leash.

2) The LB corps excludes Koutouvides, Rivera and Tarpinian. All 3 are solid ST LB's that showed some promise and good preseason performances last year in traditional LB roles. Even though LB is one of our strongest positions, to assume that all three are gone is a reach IMO.

3) To assume that behind Ridley and Vereen we would hold on to two pure power backs (Bolden and Blout), is pretty farfetched. Especially since our lead RB also falls more to that category than any other. Having 3 more or less power runners in active roster would not increase the teams versatility which is what BB is all about.

OP prediction is much more to my liking. Ofc, TC and preseason will likely reshuffle this completely, just like every year.

jmt57 said:

One of the writers at NEPatriotsDraft.com, Matthew Jones, takes an early prediction at the 53-man roster:

Post-Draft 53-Man Roster Projection (Matthew Jones) | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

OFFENSE:

QB: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett
RB: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden, Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount
WR: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Donald Jones, Josh Boyce, Matthew Slater
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui
OT: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon
OG: Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Markus Zusevics
OC: Ryan Wendell, Matt Stankiewitch


DEFENSE:

DT: Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead
NT: Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love
DE: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanan
OB: Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins
IB: Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Steve Beauharnais
CB: Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling, Marquice Cole
FS: Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon
SS: Adrian Wilson, Nate Ebner


SPECIAL TEAMS:

K: Stephen Gostkowski
P: Zoltan Mesko
LS: Danny Aiken​

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Trycked said:

1) He sure ain't helping the WR corp

2) Why do you care whether or not I care what other people think of our WR corp, if you do, that probably means you care as well.

3) Sounds like crybaby crap you're throwing out at well. Here's a tissue.

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It is not his job. His job is to be a probowl ST player and to run a route every now and then. So we should get rid of a PB ST player and replace him with a WR who cant play ST but can catch balls better? We have 5 other WR slots for that and 3-4 TEs to do that too. Why sacrifice ST play for a guy who wont see the field. Its not like MS takes away a space for Dobson.

I think you are just a baby. You dont understand how a football team is run and all the components needed to be a winner. I am not crying at all. I am laughing at you. Like others here. Nobody agrees with you. Take the hint.

Another post-draft roster prediction from our friends at NEPatriots Draft.com, this one from editor James Christenson. Names in italics are final cuts from his roster. I'm going to disagree on the number of tight ends.

2013 Patriots Roster Projection: Draft Picks Find Their Fits | NEPatriotsDraft.com | James Christensen





And an interesting opinion on the safety position:

jmt57 said:

One of the writers at NEPatriotsDraft.com, Matthew Jones, takes an early prediction at the 53-man roster:

Post-Draft 53-Man Roster Projection (Matthew Jones) | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

OFFENSE:

QB: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett
RB: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden, Leon Washington, LeGarrette Blount
WR: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Donald Jones, Josh Boyce, Matthew Slater
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui
OT: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon
OG: Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Markus Zusevics
OC: Ryan Wendell, Matt Stankiewitch


DEFENSE:

DT: Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead
NT: Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love
DE: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanan
OB: Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins
IB: Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Steve Beauharnais
CB: Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling, Marquice Cole
FS: Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Duron Harmon
SS: Adrian Wilson, Nate Ebner


SPECIAL TEAMS:

K: Stephen Gostkowski
P: Zoltan Mesko
LS: Danny Aiken​

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Yea - I saw this yesterday (I think). I think that he is off by a few roster spots with obvious examples including the number of running backs (too many), the number of linebackers (too many), the number of defensive lineman (too few), and the back-up center position (he must know Matt or something).

belicheck010405 said:

Yea - I saw this yesterday (I think). I think that he is off by a few roster spots with obvious examples including the number of running backs (too many), the number of linebackers (too many), the number of defensive lineman (too few), and the back-up center position (he must know Matt or something).

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There are plenty of times when Belichick has gone with 5 RB's, so I can't agree on that one. I'd have to say that it's 50/50 as to whether it will be four or five at the position. I don't think it's as "obvious" as you do though.

If anything, there may be too many DB's with 11. I think there's more of a likelihood that one of those DB's (either Dowling/Cole) would be substituted for another DL, possibly/hopefully one of Abraham or Freeny. We have plenty of the faster, smaller ST players so really either one of Dowling or Cole could take over that spot on ST--but not both of them.

I also agree with the thought that the backup C could very well be a guy who's been here for awhile and has experience and versatility in different spots (McDonald).

I think the # of LB's is also 50/50 as to whether or not we'd need one less position, much like RB. We have had 6 LB's before if you include guys like White/Tarpinian as "ST-only" wedge guys. The only real problem I'd see is that we'd likely go with 10 DB's, and not 11. That other position could go towards DL....and also the likelihood of McDonald making the team in my opinion, not Stankiewich.

Bruins29 said:

I think you are just a baby. You dont understand how a football team is run and all the components needed to be a winner. I am not crying at all. I am laughing at you. Like others here. Nobody agrees with you. Take the hint.

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It's good that nobody else agrees with me, nor do I agree with everyone here all the time, if everyone aggrees with everyone else all the time then why bother posting anything. What I do appreciate is reading what other people's opinion are and discussing about it. You on the other hand seem to have the need for everyone to like you, and not raise any questions about BB's decisions. I, like many here, am not just a patriots fan but a big a BB'shipper, but that doesn't mean I should not question/wonder about some of his moves. So hopefully you can continue with your life even if one person in this world doesn't agree with you...move on.