Pre Training Camp Mock Roster

RayClay said:

Nothing means anything at this point. They drafted him and if he has any chance at all it's through special teams, if he's being groomed to be a hybrid safety.. Ebner is an only special teams player. Wilson can play some in the regular defense IMO.

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You say that "nothing means anything"

I suppose that you mean that we don't know what Belichick will decide.

As with all positions, we know a lot about the incumbents. We have three players who would be called "starters" or key players if their position was other than special teams. IMHO, our top three special teamers are much more valuable than a 5th LB.

In any case, Slater, Ebner and Wilson have been very important to our special teams. If any of these players is to be outplayed and beaten out by a rookie, GREAT. That means that we will have upgraded at a key special teams position. Lots can happen. But we know quite a lot. We know that we had a very good special teams unit in 2014, and three of the top players were Slater, Ebner and Wilson.

AS AN ASIDE
We talk a bit about a LB/S type making the team, and that perhaps Wells is that player. IMHO, the reality is that we draft Richards quite high in the draft. Richards may be a LB/S hybrid.

I don't see the need for a 5th pure linebacker. As was the case last year (Arrington), a defensive back could play linebacker in certain sets if there were a couple of injuries.

mgteich said:

You say that "nothing means anything"

I suppose that you mean that we don't know what Belichick will decide.

As with all positions, we know a lot about the incumbents. We have three players who would be called "starters" or key players if their position was other than special teams. IMHO, our top three special teamers are much more valuable than a 5th LB.

In any case, Slater, Ebner and Wilson have been very important to our special teams. If any of these players is to be outplayed and beaten out by a rookie, GREAT. That means that we will have upgraded at a key special teams position. Lots can happen. But we know quite a lot. We know that we had a very good special teams unit in 2014, and three of the top players were Slater, Ebner and Wilson.

AS AN ASIDE
We talk a bit about a LB/S type making the team, and that perhaps Wells is that player. IMHO, the reality is that we draft Richards quite high in the draft. Richards may be a LB/S hybrid.

I don't see the need for a 5th pure linebacker. As was the case last year (Arrington), a defensive back could play linebacker in certain sets if there were a couple of injuries.

Click to expand...

We don't know anything about the new players, unless you're a scout. Ebner was a rugby player. If we went by your logic, we wouldn't even know if he could play football, so whoever was already there was a lock.

I doubt the team knows at this point. People not on the team definitely don't know.

Pure linebacker? Wells weighs 222 lbs.

mgteich said:

Sure, Wells was a special teams ace in college. That doesn't mean that the patriots will cut Slater or Ebner to keep him. I also think that Wilson, Freeney or White would be kept instead of Wells.

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I would be very surprised and disappointed if the likes of Freeney or White are kept instead of the speed and potential of Wells.

captain stone said:

I would be very surprised and disappointed if the likes of Freeney or White are kept instead of the speed and potential of Wells.

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You've been disappointed before.

Wells is Practice Squad material, if he looks good enough. It seems very unlikely to me that Wells is a better special teamer than White or Freeney.

If Belichick wishes to keep a linebacker with potential, then I would expect that Morris would make the roster rather than Wells.

If Morris makes the Opening Day 53 ahead of Wells, then I can understand that move because unlike Freeny and especially White, Morris at least still has unseen potential.

Mine goes at the moment:

Offense (25)
QB-Brady-Garoppolo (2)
RB-Blount-Bolden-Gray-White (4)
FB-Develin (1)
WR-Edelman-LaFell-Dobson-Amendola-Slater (5)
TE-Gronkowski-Chandler-Hooman (3)
OT-Vollmer-Solder-Cannon-Fleming (4)
OG/C-Stork-Wendell-Jackson-Mason-Kline (5)

Defense (25)
DL-Siliga-Easley-Brown-Branch-Moore (5)
EDGE-Jones-Ninkovich-Sheard-Grissom-Flowers (5)
LB-Collins-Hightower-Mayo-Morris-Wells (5)
CB-Ryan-Butler-Roberts-Fletcher-Swanson (5)
SAF-McCourty-Richards-Chung-Harmon-Ebner-Wilson (6)

Special Teams (3)
K-Gostkowski (1)
P-Allen (1)
LS-Cardona (1)

Toughest Cut... Tyms or Wilson/Ebner
Most Competition... RB4 and Starting G

Well, it didn't take long for the "Slater on the bubble" comments to start. Record time, maybe.

BradyFTW! said:

Well, it didn't take long for the "Slater on the bubble" comments to start. Record time, maybe.

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Yeah, really. I was surprised with that, as well.

I really like jsull87's for the most part. The interesting decisions come from special teams. If Tyms shows well enough on offense or special teams things could really be shaken up. Is Mayo worth keeping and is Amendola safe? Tyler Gaffney is one of the biggest wild cards. He can easily go from being an early cut to starter. The same can be said of Cadet if he can take over Vereens role in addition to st duties.

mgteich said:

You say that "nothing means anything"

I suppose that you mean that we don't know what Belichick will decide.

As with all positions, we know a lot about the incumbents. We have three players who would be called "starters" or key players if their position was other than special teams. IMHO, our top three special teamers are much more valuable than a 5th LB.

In any case, Slater, Ebner and Wilson have been very important to our special teams. If any of these players is to be outplayed and beaten out by a rookie, GREAT. That means that we will have upgraded at a key special teams position. Lots can happen. But we know quite a lot. We know that we had a very good special teams unit in 2014, and three of the top players were Slater, Ebner and Wilson.

AS AN ASIDE
We talk a bit about a LB/S type making the team, and that perhaps Wells is that player. IMHO, the reality is that we draft Richards quite high in the draft. Richards may be a LB/S hybrid.

I don't see the need for a 5th pure linebacker. As was the case last year (Arrington), a defensive back could play linebacker in certain sets if there were a couple of injuries.

Click to expand...

Richards is 5'11"/207, so if he's a S/LB hybrid, he's going to get the **** beaten out of him. Lest we forget 2012-2013 Chung...

Really seems like it will be a battle between Moore and Chris Jones for a spot on the roster. That would be a difficult choice with such vastly different floors and ceilings