Patscap's 53-man roster projection for the Patriots

Patscap's 53-man roster projection for the Patriots

Miguel Benzan

Patscap's 53-man roster projection

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Always fun.
I will bite.

I would be shocked if there are only three linebackers. Keeping six safeties (including special teams) and three linebackers (including special teams) seems unbalanced when the a common base defense is three LB and two S.
(note that the headline says five regular safeties and the body shows four).
One could argue that Ninkovich practiced at off-the-line LB in minicamp, but he has started the past four or five seasons at DE, and until September comes I would list him at DE, as Miguel has done.

Would be pleased with that OL roster, but I think the few people inside Patriots Place regard Cannon more highly than the tens of thousands outside. (I believe it's Josh Kline, by the way)

In terms of likeliest trades, I would guess an interior lineman for a big running back. One of our former starters - Kline, Andrews, for example - for someone's 800-yard type back.

Great stuff as usual. A couple of observations:

Both Edelman & Dion Lewis are almost certain to, or at least they should for their sakes, start the season on the Reserve PUP. It would seem therefore that at least one of Nate Washington & Aaron Dropson, as well as Donald Brown, have excellent chances to make the Opening Day 53.

How in the world is LaAdrian Waddle's cap hit nearly $1.1M? He shouldn't be making one penny above minimum wage.

If Marcus Cannonfodder's dead money hit is nearly $1.17M, how much is his cap savings when he is eventually - I hope - released?

Here's also hoping that both Frank Kearse & EJ Biggers are released before the start of training camp.

I still can't believe that Shea McClellin contract. What a complete waste of money. Stupid, stupid Bill.

And of course injuries - and there will be plenty of them as usual - will play a huge role in the composition
of the Opening Day 53

Urgent said:

Always fun.
I will bite.

I would be shocked if there are only three linebackers. Keeping six safeties (including special teams) and three linebackers (including special teams) seems unbalanced when the a common base defense is three LB and two S.
(note that the headline says five regular safeties and the body shows four).
One could argue that Ninkovich practiced at off-the-line LB in minicamp, but he has started the past four or five seasons at DE, and until September comes I would list him at DE, as Miguel has done.

Would be pleased with that OL roster, but I think the few people inside Patriots Place regard Cannon more highly than the tens of thousands outside. (I believe it's Josh Kline, by the way)

In terms of likeliest trades, I would guess an interior lineman for a big running back. One of our former starters - Kline, Andrews, for example - for someone's 800-yard type back.

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He has McClellan at DE so it's actually 4 lbs.

When it comes to the last 10 roster spots your guess is as good as mine but i will say.

Jonathan Jones & DJ Foster both make it.

captain stone said:

If Marcus Cannonfodder's dead money hit is nearly $1.17M, how much is his cap savings when he is eventually - I hope - released?

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$3,587,500
$3.4 Million salary
and $187,500 in 46-man active roster bonuses.

Thanks again Miguel.

C'mon Bill, what are you waiting for?

captain stone said:

Thanks again Miguel.

C'mon Bill, what are you waiting for?

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That window may have already closed, Captain. The lack of depth behind Solder/Vollmer may have slammed it shut. I'm guessing that they either feel that Cannon's mistakes can be corrected, or that his familiarity with our system makes him a better candidate that anyone else out there who's available right now.

Of course, he may just be kept around as camp fodder too. Lots of possibilities. Should be interesting to watch.

Then there will be no team - not one - who will have worse backup OTs than we will.

#PrayForTom

When was the last time, we had only 13 front seven defensive players?

captain stone said:

Then there will be no team - not one - who will have worse backup OTs than we will.

#PrayForTom

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Unfortunately, you're definitely right that the backup OT position is awful. I don't know how it compares to anyone else's though. I'm just not too familiar with other teams' #3 and #4 OTs, to be perfectly honest.

They seem to be banking on one of Waddle/Cannon to step up, and if that happens it drastically improves the situation by a country mile. Of course, their past hasn't done much to make you feel as though that will happen.

There's still the possibility of grabbing a TC castoff during roster trimmings. Hopefully, Belichick would recognize (and refuse to stand for) terrible play during camp if/when he sees it. I don't personally agree with the way it was addressed in the offseason, but I'm not at your level of panic quite yet.

When I read Miguel's take on this with all of the salary cap configurations, my brain hurts..

Good, great job as usual..

mgteich said:

When was the last time, we had only 13 front seven defensive players?

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2005 probably.

mgteich said:

When was the last time, we had only 13 front seven defensive players?

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2009.

Miguel said:

2009.

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Miguel, I'd have to imagine that you're okay with only having 13 front seven players due to the prospect of versatility. Would that be a correct assumption?

Guys like Grissom, Ninkovich, and McClellin all come to mind in this situation.

If this is your hunch as well, it would be great to open up an additional roster spot (or two).

captain stone said:

Then there will be no team - not one - who will have worse backup OTs than we will.

#PrayForTom

Click to expand...

You wanted us to drafted TCU, oops, Texas Tech's La'Raven Clark who has elite measureables but lacks technique in that fast-pass offense his team ran in college. If he develops as a legit OT, this will hurt, regardless of how well the Bama CB plays for us. We are so terrible vulnerable at OT.

Who trusts in the health of Vollmer and Solder to both make it through a season?

My hope--and it truly is just that--that Dante places pixie dust on Marcus Cannon to make him the player I thought he'd be just a few years ago.

IN DANTE WE TRUST.

State said:

You wanted us to drafted TCU, oops, Texas Tech's La'Raven Clark who has elite measureables but lacks technique in that fast-pass offense his team ran in college. If he develops as a legit OT, this will hurt, regardless of how well the Bama CB plays for us. We are so terrible vulnerable at OT.

Who trusts in the health of Vollmer and Solder to both make it through a season?

My hope--and it truly is just that--that Dante places pixie dust on Marcus Cannon to make him the player I thought he'd be just a few years ago.

IN DANTE WE TRUST.

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One has to wonder if the addition of TE Bennett helping out as a blocker may help to mask the assumed defincencies that we may have on the outside tackle spots?

It certainly can't hurt.

supafly said:

One has to wonder if the addition of TE Bennett helping out as a blocker may help to mask the assumed defincencies that we may have on the outside tackle spots?

It certainly can't hurt.

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Agreed.

We no longer need to bring in a blocking TE to help the run game, or to chip against top pass rushers

Yeah, I agree that TE3 should be more of an Move/H-Back type.

captain stone said:

Yeah, I agree that TE3 should be more of an Move/H-Back type.

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I would rather have a 3rd blocking TE, who would be useful if Gronk or Bennett were out.

It seems that your suggestion is more likely. Of course, such a player would likely be inactive in favor of our 4th or 5th WR (or even an additional receiving RB).