Postgame cuts - Exhibition Game 2 edition

First, a brief 'rant'...


d%#*!@t, BB, get a freakin' TE. If you can't find one among those trying to find a job, Call Ben Coates, Russ Francis, and anyone else who's ever played the position before. Kidnap Tony Gonzalez' wife and threaten to force her to eat red meat if her husband doesn't sign with the Patriots. Whatever it takes, but do something.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program:

With game 2 of the exhibition season in the books, it seemed to me that a couple of players may have played themselves off the roster, while a couple of others may have made decisions a littler tougher than they had been. I don't expect big changes after this game, unless it's at TE, but we could still see some cuts. So....


Who ya got?

Tyler Ott
Marcus Forston
Chris White
Steve Maneri

dales804 said:

Tyler Ott
Marcus Forston
Chris White
Steve Maneri

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I know it's going to seem obvious to a lot of people posting their choices (AND PWP certainly is with you on Forston and Ott), but could you give football- based reasons for them? I'd like to see if we can get some semi-real football talk in this thread. I may even shoot for the moon and hope for pics and gifs.

Maneri screwed up a passing route but it's understandable, he joined the team less than a week ago. He played the whole game and blocked really well. If Hooman can't go to start the season, the Patriots are going to need a block-first TE. I'd still prefer someone who can catch the ball as well, but if Gronk's healthy then any port in the storm.

Don't see Boyce making this team, Bequette playing OLB is throwing **** against the wall to see if it sticks. White won't get cut but I fail to see what's so impressive about him, anyone thinking of him as a full time runner ought to forget it.

On the flipside, everybody's favorite punching bags Bolden and Vellano should make it.

Deus Irae said:

I know it's going to seem obvious to a lot of people posting their choices (AND PWP certainly is with you on Forston and Ott), but could you give football- based reasons for them? I'd like to see if we can get some semi-real football talk in this thread. I may even shoot for the moon and hope for pics and gifs.

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Ott - Missed guy on blocked punt.
Forston - Unable to get off a block or create any pass rush of note.
White - Slow in coverage; poor tackling at times.
Maneri - Missed connection on Brady INT. Did notice solid blocking on Finch TD run, though. Figuring we see some more musical chairs at the TE position.

primetime said:

Maneri screwed up a passing route but it's understandable, he joined the team less than a week ago. He played the whole game and blocked really well...

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No he didn't.

Besides Maneri, Ott, Forston & White, I'm also cutting Chris Barker, Boyce & Beauharnais.
Barker was constantly on his ass, Boyce was constantly dropping passes or causing penalties,
and Beauharnais, like Chris White, just can't play defense.

Edit: add LT Tuipulotu to the cut list; did Manumaleuna even play tonight?

Armchair Quarterback said:

Don't see Boyce making this team, Bequette playing OLB is throwing **** against the wall to see if it sticks. White won't get cut but I fail to see what's so impressive about him, anyone thinking of him as a full time runner ought to forget it.

On the flipside, everybody's favorite punching bags Bolden and Vellano should make it.

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I agree re: Boyce, Bequette & Chris White, but disagree re: Vellano.

captain stone said:

I agree re: Boyce, Bequette & Chris White, but disagree re: Vellano.

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Not sure he makes the 53 But I also disagree with Vellano being cut at this point. At least for this round of cuts anyway. For me I'm not just gonna give Jerrel Worthy a roster spot just cuz he was a 2nd rd pick. At least Vellano has playing experience as well as playoff experience which is more than I can say for some of the hopefuls on this team.

13 kickoffs...ONE returned out the EZ...why do the Pats need Boyce? He's redundant with other WR's that have better hands. Tyms made a play foir a TD that Boyce could only dream of being able to make. Plus he dropped another gimme 5 yard in...Dobson coming back....I have to say Boyce looks like he better call his agent.,

Ott is obvious, because BB is probably content to finalize his K/P/LS group after 2 preseason games. It would have been nice to upgrade Aiken, but it doesn't seem to be happening this year.

Maneri is not obvious, because who takes his place?

Vellano has a good chance of making the 53, given the rest of the DT health.

Maneri had the gaff on Brady's Peyton big game impersonation. Also looked pretty meh on the Lafell td.

That said, he blocks like the converted tackle that he is. Very impressive in that regard.

I think there's a strong chance that Boyce, Tyler Ott and Chris White will be cut, but who knows Bill may have a plan for those guys. As far as finding another TE. I have a person in mind, but he has never played TE, so that might not be viable. On the other hand, I think Tony Gonzalez would be an excellent choice for the team at TE. Unfortunately it is not likely to happen since he probably won't come out of retirement. Nevertheless, I agree with Deus and would love to have Tony on the team.

QB (3) Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, White, Develin
WR (6) Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, Thompkins, LaFell, Slater
TE (2) Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui
C (1) Stork
G (4) Mankins, Connolly, Halapio, Kline
T (4) Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
DE (4) Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Moore
DT (5) Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Jones, Siliga
ILB(3) Mayo, Hightower, Beauharnais
OLB(3) Collins, Anderson, Fleming/White
CB (5) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington, Browner/Butler
SS (3) Harmon, Wilson, Ebner
FS (2) McCourty, Chung
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken
Total players: 52
Created with Pats Picker: http://patspicker.patsfans.com

With Browner suspended the first four games of the season, Butler replaces Browner.

I can't tolerate another game from Steve Beauharnais. He shows up in the stat column because he is targeted nonstop. So many dump offs and crossing routes that his slow ass couldn't keep up with. His pass defense is just horrible and his run stopping ability isn't good enough to offset it. He is almost singlehandedly ruining our defense at almost a Gary Guyton level.

His partner in crime, Chris White, isn't much better. And the third member of this triangle of suck would be Forston. I single out Forston because he has been here a few years and has barely improved.

And I just realized I forgot Bequette and the fact that I forgot about him is my point.

I personally feel almost everyone else besides the ones I singled out above should get another game or so to fight for a spot.

Joker said:

13 kickoffs...ONE returned out the EZ...why do the Pats need Boyce? He's redundant with other WR's that have better hands. Tyms made a play foir a TD that Boyce could only dream of being able to make. Plus he dropped another gimme 5 yard in...Dobson coming back....I have to say Boyce looks like he better call his agent.,

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Boyce was targeted 3 times and caught 2 of them for 31 yards, he also ran for 13 yards on an end around. The pass he did not catch was the deep pass from Mallett, I thought he should have caught that personally, but it was not a 5 yard gimmie pass that he dropped.

Tyms is suspended the first 4 games, he is not even a factor right now. In addition Tyms was targeted 7 times, he caught just 3 of them for 29 yards. His touchdown catch was impressive.

If anything I thought Boyce improved his chances of making the team last night.

There were 5 kickoffs returned tonight, 2 by the Eagles and 3 by the Patriots.

Will Smith does not appear to have anything left.

Brady6 said:

Boyce was targeted 3 times and caught 2 of them for 31 yards, he also ran for 13 yards on an end around. The pass he did not catch was the deep pass from Mallett, I thought he should have caught that personally, but it was not a 5 yard gimmie pass that he dropped.

Tyms is suspended the first 4 games, he is not even a factor right now. In addition Tyms was targeted 7 times, he caught just 3 of them for 29 yards. His touchdown catch was impressive.

If anything I thought Boyce improved his chances of making the team last night.

There were 5 kickoffs returned tonight, 2 by the Eagles and 3 by the Patriots.

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Boyce also dropped a ball on a play where there was a defensive penalty, so you don't see it on the stay sheet. That was the gimme. I've had him on the edge of the roster, likely missing out in a numbers game, but after last night, I'd say that he simply hasn't earned a roster spot and better show something in the next two weeks if he wants to keep his job.

if there was any one play that doomed Bequette it was the 4th and goal. He should have been the one to tackle the RB. Instead he stuck with his outside contain too long and was slow to come in for the tackle. That will show up on film more than anything else.

ATippett56 said:

QB (3) Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, White, Develin
WR (6) Edelman, Amendola, Dobson, Thompkins, LaFell, Slater
TE (2) Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui
C (1) Stork
G (4) Mankins, Connolly, Halapio, Kline
T (4) Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
DE (4) Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Moore
DT (5) Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Jones, Siliga
ILB(3) Mayo, Hightower, Beauharnais
OLB(3) Collins, Anderson, Fleming/White
CB (5) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington, Browner/Butler
SS (3) Harmon, Wilson, Ebner
FS (2) McCourty, Chung
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken
Total players: 52
Created with Pats Picker: http://patspicker.patsfans.com

With Browner suspended the first four games of the season, Butler replaces Browner.

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Good list Tipp, can I add Bolden as the 53rd? He looked pretty quick last night.