Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

Here is where we left off.

There are still 19 active and 8 inactive spots left after the fixed 26. Now have 7 active (Gaffney, O'Callaghan, Kaczur, Crable, Slater, Woods and Paxton) and 5 inactive (O'Connell, Yates, Guyton, Britt and LSmith) spots that still look solid. As for the remaining 15 spots:

You Say Goodbye and I Say Hello
Tanks for the memories! Tank moves to IR and I'm using that roster spot to get Jordan onto the gameday active 45.

Webster is missing way too much valuable practice time. LSanders is experiencing the perfect storm for claiming his spot. Not only is he getting valuable practice reps, he got to show his stuff in the Ravens game and with Tank going down, being a bigger corner now works to his advantage. Give him the dime DB role unless/until Webster can find his way back.

That likely leaves a single spot for Wilhite or Richardson. Check to Wilhite but this spot is fluid with both of them missing time.

PUP Tent
Looks like Neal isn't going to make it back for the beginning of the season. I'm going to give Welbourn his spot but not necessarily his starting role until he gets some preseason reps. Our good friend Gene has already retired so we should be safe there.

Hanging On
Morris, CJackson, Evans and Wright should have regular duties but they need preseason game reps to solidify their roles.

Hobson gets more time to show he belongs, but he should be a little nervous with some solid performances at LB behind him. Would like to see him getting more 1st half snaps in the next 2 preseason games.

Washington, Izzo and Alexander seem to be fighting for 2 special team spots. With Aiken hurt, I like Izzo's chances to stick. Also go with Washington for WR depth. Alexander will have to earn his share of LB reps against Hobson and hope to get in the regular ILB rotation.

My Advice is to Rent, Not Buy
Cassel is still getting the backup reps so he stays for now. He needs to show more to keep this spot, even with the injury to Gutierrez.

Hochstein has stuck around for a while thanks to his flexibility. He really can't afford missing time due to injury since his talent level may not be enough to reclaim his role.

Staking their Claim
Spann and Ventrone have solidified their roles at the backend of the roster. They need to keep up the excellent play since there may be pressure to fill other positions with these spots. Speaking of which...

Coming Up Fast
TE (2) and DL (6) are lighter than what you might expect. Pollard has done well but I really like what Stupar has done with his opportunities. In addition to Santonio, both Fafita and Kenny Smith have flashed some skills. Kenny was particularly active against the Ravens so he will be looking to build on that and claim a roster spot.

The LB play has generally been stellar and Redd hasn't disappointed. The interesting consideration with Redd is that although Guyton may be more NFL ready, Redd's measurables and the number of teams running the 3-4 may make it harder to slip him onto the practice squad. A nice problem to have.

QB (3): Brady, Cassel, O'Connell*
RB (5): Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Jordan, Evans
WR (5): Moss, Welker, Gaffney, CJackson, Washington
TE (2): Watson, DThomas
OL (9): Light, Mankins, Koppen, Welbourn, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein, Britt*, Yates*
DL (6): Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright, LSmith*
LB (8): Bruschi, Mayo, Vrabel, AThomas, Hobson, Crable, Woods, Guyton*
CB (5): Hobbs, Bryant, Wheatley, LSanders, Wilhite*
S (4): Harrison, JSanders, Meriweather, Spann*
ST (6): Gostkowski, Hanson, Paxton, Slater, Izzo, Ventrone*
PUP: Neal, Ross
* = Inactive

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

nicely done....easy to follow

Question:Why would they have all 5 rb's active?
Given Maroney and Evans for blocking and st's,
aren't Faulk,Morris and Jordan basically the same skill set?

I think you have to sit one of them and add another cb or ol.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

One quick comment: As long as he's not so badly injured that he'll miss multiple games, I don't think Hochstein is fighting for a roster spot. He has too much experience and versatility. Except in the superbowl, when they all looked pretty awful, he generally doesn't stand out in that way that makes you cringe.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

Like it. But unless my counting skills have seriously deterioated I only counted 7 guys inactive, when we need 8.

Also, I am not sure about Wilhite. Unless he heals up, I am dropping him on IR and putting Redd back on the squad. That 9th LB vs 9th DB vs. 6th WR is the toughest decision coming out of camp. But it is gonna be an odd roster make-up this year which ever way it goes.

Also, I would add Ross to the PUP in week 1.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

Can you take Dom Capers into consideration on this one? I suspect we drop one WR in favour of an extra LB or monster safety (if one turns up).

Our WR's are durable and everyone after Gaffney (with Aiken out) seems to be kind of... the same.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

I hear you, but I don't think the Pats sign vets and then make them healthy gameday inactives. Others disagree with me but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Couple of considerations:
1) Pats have a lot of seemingly poor run defenses on the schedule. This may mean more work for the RBs and the Pats want to share the load and keep the unit fresh for the playoffs.

2) Faulk is getting older and still took a lot of snaps last year. May be time to reduce his workload a bit with Jordan.

3) This unit tends to get dinged so you may not have all 5 healthy at the same time very often.

7 active OL is pretty standard. 7 DBs should be enough with LSanders and Meriweather with position flexibility and Slater mucking in for emergencies. TE is light with only 2 (O'Callaghan and Vrabel filling situational roles), so that is where the extra RB is coming from.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

You are probably right unless Welbourn steps up and Yates can fill the C/G backup role. Then it becomes a numbers game and missing practice/game snaps is never a good thing for a good but not exceptional talent.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

@ Metaphors: Are you not thinking Pollard has a shot?

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

Never fear...help has arrived.
http://easyquestion.net/thinkagain/w...1135840120.jpg

Yeah, this exercise is more for conversation than accuracy. Injuries and roster manipulation like you mention will determine those last few spots.

Done. Missed him since there isn't much to talk about at this point.

Re: Camp Battles: Update Preseason Game 2
 

I really haven't but you are likely on the money with the suggestion that Capers will play a significant role in mapping out roles on the defense. Something like Guyton (if he continues his solid camp) playing the Don Davis combo LB/S role maybe? Did you have any ideas? This is the part of team-building I find really interesting.