Post OTAs roster projections

JackBauer said:

Still hopeful we can find a TE somewhere (if Gronk goes down, Hooman just won't cut it as a TE1) and upgrade Bolden at RB3/4.

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203Pat said:

The receiver position is the one I am most interested to see play out this training camp/preseason. I hear Thompkins has been very inconsistent and I have heard mixed reviews about Boyce. One report says Boyce is looking good and the next says he is dropping a lot of balls so who knows. I am wondering if we are going to use Lafell in that Hernandez/Jimmy Graham type role due to him being such a good blocker and also because we havent signed/drafted anyone to play the second TE/Starter without Gronk (although I am hearing Devlin has looked pretty good at TE). I think Amendola will do what Amendola does and get 50-60 catches and 600-700 yards and miss a few games with injuries. I think Dobson is going to be crucial in our offense taking that next step to open things up underneath (along with Gronk) for the smaller inside guys. Edleman's numbers might take a slight dip if one of the other guys steps up so that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I know pretty much nothing about Gallon and I assume that Slater will be in his usual special team role. My guess would be that Gallon Thompkins and Boyce are battling it out for a roster spot and I would give the edge to Boyce.

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strngplyr said:

-bolden +houston
-bequette +smith (Bequette has shown so little in his time here i just dont like him at this point lol)
-wilson +chung

I agree with most of the list other than the few changes I made above. Also agree with only carrying 2 TE (and subsequently 7 WR), the position in our offense, in my opinion, is being deemphasized just as quickly as we modernized the 2 TE set. Lets also not forget that we still have the best tight end in the NFL leading the way, and despite his injuries, he's still off to the best start of a career for any tight end in NFL history.

It's a great formation to run when you have a pair of TE's as great as we had, but there were no Hernandez replacement options this offseason available to us so we're moving to a 3WR package like we utilized from 2007-2010. It's more of McDaniel's thing anyways.

I would love to see a player like Easley jump up to the front of the depth chart though by playing good enough to supplant Kelly, who was dominant in his short time with us last season.

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Brady6 said:

QB-Brady-Garopollo
RB-Ridley-Vereen (3rd)-Bolden-White
FB-Develin
X-WR-Dobson-LaFell-Thompkins-Slater (ST)
Z-WR-Edelman (PR)-Amendola-Boyce (KR)
Y-TE-Gronkowski-Hoomanawanui
LT-Solder
LG-Mankins-Kline
OC-Connolly-Stork
RG-Cannon-Halapio
RT-Vollmer-Fleming
LE-Ninkovich-Bequette
DT-Kelly-Easley-Jones
NT-Wilfork-Siliga
RE-Jones-Buchanan-Moore
SLB-Hightower
MLB-Mayo-Beauharnais
WLB-Collins-Anderson
LCB-Revis-Ryan
RCB-Browner*-Dennard-Arrington
SAF-McCourty-Thomas
SAF-Harmon-Wilson-Ebner (ST)
K-Gostkowski
P-Allen
LS-Aiken
PS-Gallon (WR)-Houston (RB)-Finch (RB)-Swanson (DB)-Gordon (LB)-Fleming (LB)-Cave (OL)-Jones (TE)
PUP-Armstead (DL)-Smith (DE)

*Suspended for weeks 1-4

I still have hope for Wilson and Bequette.

Pats picker link - http://patspicker.patsfans.com/

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203Pat said:

I will be surprised if Bolden makes the roster. I would go with Ridley, Vereen, and then White.

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Bruins29 said:

and then........?

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203Pat said:

Devlin is a fullback/TE so you could throw him in there I'd give Finch an outside shot with a good camp or injury to another guy.

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Bruins29 said:

I would take Bolden over Finch. They will carry 4RB AND Devlin most likely since they are thin at TE.

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Elijah said:

Here's what I've got with some thoughts afterward:

QB (3): Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo
RB (5): Vereen, Ridley, White, Develin, Finch
WR (7): Edelman, Amendola, Thompkins, Dobson, LaFell, Boyce, Slater
TE (2): Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui
T (4): Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
G/C (5): Mankins, Wendell, Kline, Halapio, Stork
DT (5): Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Siliga, Jones
DE (4): Jones, Ninkovich, Smith, Buchanan
LB (6): Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Anderson, Beauharnais, White
CB (5): Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington, Swanson
S (4): McCourty, Harmon, Chung, Ebner
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken
PUP/NFI/Susp (1): Browner

-I have Finch making the roster over Bolden or Houston because he seems to have done the most so far in OTAs, but if Houston can stand out, he has a much better chance because the Patriots need a big power back much more than another pass catching guy like Finch.
-No idea what the WR depth chart will look like, but hard to see any of those 7 get cut right now.
-Only 2 TE, including an injured Gronk, which I don't like at all. DJ Williams is just not one of the best 53 players on the roster, however. He's done literally nothing to deserve a spot.
-9 OL seems excessive, but I don't feel comfortable cutting any of Kline, Halapio, Stork.
-I've finally run out of patience with Armstead. I think he's off the roster until he shows up and proves why he came here to begin with.
-Not sure about 6 LB. White/Hull are interchangeable but I think if one of Anderson or Beauharnais can contribute on ST, neither White nor Hull will make the team.
-Daxton Swanson has Sudfelded his way onto my 53 in place of Jemea Thomas, but I think Thomas will ultimately win himself a spot.

Easily could have been cut: Finch, Wendell, Kline, Halapio, White, Swanson, Chung
Easily could have made it: Bolden, DJ Williams, Hull, Thomas, T. Wilson

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JackBauer said:

Where's Dan Connolly?

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50-yard-line said:

Only other quibble: I wouldn't count our receivers in that manner. Amendola and Edelman are going to play the slot AND outside, I expect, and everyone else will move all over the place. I agree that right now, it might be two TE and 7 WR (counting Slater), especially if Develin can indeed play some TE.

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