Completing the Roster
 

We seem to have 6 vulnerable players as Belichick looks around after Week One for upgrades for the 53 man roster. Faulk and Flynn seem to be no-brainers to come back. That could be it, or we could have more additions. A starting RG would be great, but we might go with Hochstein and Yates for a few weeks. That's why they're on the roster.

THE SIX AT THE BOTTOM
OL - LEVIOR warming the bench for Flynn I would think
OL - CONNOLLY vulnerable if bb wants Welbourn or another vet; but Connolly could stay
(he seems to have prospects as to be our backup center after this year)
ST - JONES warming the bench for Faulk we all say (but another could go instead)
ST/WR - VENTRONE
ST/S - SLATER
ST - AIKEN

How many here would be disappointed if we kept Jones instead of Slater? I think Aiken is a injured highly respect STer who is expected to help us in the last half of the season. Or, Aiken could be negotiating an injury settlement.

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Belichick is certainly capable of surprises, but the rest of the roster seems safe to me, including Lewis Sanders and Guyton. The choices have been made, and they all have shown the coaches that they are worth having on the roster.

OFFENSE (23)
QB - 3 Tom Brady, Cassel, O'Connell
RB - 3 Maroney, Morris, Jordan
FB - 1 Evans
C - 1 Koppen
G - 3 Hochstein, Mankins, Yates
OT - 3 Light, Kaczur, Britt
WR - 4 Moss, Welker, Washington, Gaffney
TE - 3 Watson, Dave Thomas, Spach

DEFENSE (23)
DE - 3 Warren, Green, Seymour
DT - 3 Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith, Wright
LB - 9 Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Bruschi, Woods, Alexander, Izzo, Mayo, Crable, Guyton
CB - 5 Hobbs, Wheatley, Lewis Sanders, Wilhite, O'Neal
S - 3 James Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather

SPECIALISTS (3)
P - 1 Hanson
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS - 1 Paxton

Re: Completing the Roster
 

I still dont know how Slater got on the team. His primary spot as a returner didnt yield any more production than anyone else on the team or in the league....unless he showed more in practice. I think this is the most specialized team we have had, but being "unique/specialized" usually means you have fewer "pure" backups. I agree with Flynn, and I like Hochstien on the bench filling in for game-day injuries. I dont want him out there for the full game, backed up by Yates. That is just TOO thin, there has to be a guy we can get(trade for a backup?) that would fill RG for half a season or longer. Remember there is alot of doubt about Neal's long term future with both knee and shoulder problems.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

Jeff...maybe you didn't notice, but Slater returned kickoffs reasonably well, tackled well on special teams, looked pretty good on the field as a defensive back and plays wide receiver as well. He's about as specialized as a Swiss Army knife.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

Slater is both a returner and a gunner. Not sure why people keep missing this point. That is what previously kept Willie Andrews on the team and active. Not only don't I see Slater being cut, I don't see him being inactive (unless he is a dog in practice or otherwise screwing up this opportunity).

Re: Completing the Roster
 

I agree, Slater stays.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

Let me make the case more clearly.

1) When Faulk comes back, do you want to keep Jones or Slater and why?

2) If Lynch or another safety is picked up, who would you cut instead of Slater, presuming that Jones is already cut to pick up Faulk? Ventrone? Aiken?

Given the health of the OL, we should keep 9 OL's, as we usually do. Belichick will upgrade the existing nine as much as he can over the coming three weeks. So, we bring in FAULK and then LYNCH (or another safety). I would think the current backup safety is very vulnerable, unless the team is working on an injury settlement with Aiken.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

I liked what I saw with Slater in at DB during camp. His return game doesn't seem great. He could be a good gunner.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

I'm confused why you think the OL that were cut are likely to be brought back and the ones kept cut to resign them?
Why would players who made the team be vulnerable to guys they made the team instead of? What am I missing?

Re: Completing the Roster
 

I'm also not sure about that rationale either. And I think Spann remains vulnerable provided Watson can get healthy. We could look to go with just 2 TE or try to uncover a more talented developmental prospect. I think Spann may have caught a break when Watson started limping again because he'd been here through camp and knows the system.

Re: Completing the Roster
 

LeVoire made the team? Or is that bb didn't want to guarantee a year of Flynn's salary? Are you making a case for keeping LeViore over signing a veteran?

As I stated, I am fine with Connolly as our #8 OL. I think that he is worth keeping, but allow for the possibility that bb will trade for a guard or sign a veteran.

In any case, the #8 and #9 are likely just warming the bench until Neal and Ross return.

In the end, I am fine with whoever Dante wants as backup non-playing inactive OL's.