After some action - A Strange Roster

[mgteich]

I believe this is the best 53 we have, although Childress and Beisel could be replaced by veteran additions, and Gay could still be beat out by Warfeild.

OFFENSE (24)
QB (2) Brady, Cassell (pioli will keep looking)
RB (3) Dillon,Maroney,Faulk,Cobb (bye, bye pass and evans)
WR (4) Branch,Caldwell,Brown,Jackson (we don't need more)
KR/PR (2) Andrews,Childress (pioli will keep looking)
TE (4) Watson,Graham,Thomas,Mills (is graham holding out?)
OL (8) Light,Mankins,Koppen,Neal,Gorin (dante likes Gorin more than we do)
Hochstein,O'Callaghan,Stevenson (no Britt)

DEFENSE (26)
DL (7) Seymour,Wilfork,Warren,Green
Sullivan,Wright,Smith
OLB(4) Colvin,Vrabel,Brown,Banta-Cain (no Mincey;is he better than TBC?)
ILB( 6) Bruschi,Beisel,Gardner,Alexander,Davis,Izzo
C (4) Hobbs,Samuel,C.Scott,Gay (Warfield gone)
S (5) Harrison,Wilson,Hawkins,Sanders,G. Scott (Jones gone)

SPECIALISTS
K Gramatica
P Miller
DS Paxton

INJURED RESERVE OR PUP
Kaycur
Hill
Pass

 

[old 55]

What about the kicker?

So you are keeping Gramatica over the rookie and not having him come down with a PUP or IR injury that would allow us to hold him?

I'd be surprised if we didn't protect him in some way as a future investment if he doesn't beat out Gramatica.

 

[holyredeemer]

Not a bad list. However, ILB look horrible. Beisel really needs to go. The guy supposedly put on what...12lbs of muscle during the offseason? He looked worse than he did last yr. I hope Mincey and woods will continue to produce and somehow push themselves onto the roster or PS. We definately need an infusion of talented youth with our LB's. Nice list though.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: What about the kicker?

So you are keeping Gramatica over the rookie and not having him come down with a PUP or IR injury that would allow us to hold him?

I'd be surprised if we didn't protect him in some way as a future investment if he doesn't beat out Gramatica.

Still think Gost will be the kicker this year.

I think Mincey is better than TBC.

 

[HAMMERMILL]

Good list but stiil early.
Also 4 cb?'s(I know wilson could switch as well as brown)
I also think only 7 ol man.

 

[HAMMERMILL]

Re: What about the kicker?

Still think Gost will be the kicker this year.

I think Mincey is better than TBC.

I think the pats are rooting for GOST.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: What about the kicker?

I think the pats are rooting for GOST.

I know I am.

 

[mgteich]

Re: What about the kicker?

Break his arm if you want, if you want to pay him for a year and keep him just in case). The point is that Gramatica is back and is a fine kicker.

BTW, I'm fine with every one of our draft picks. If GOST doesn't make it, he still will have served as insurance in case Gramatica was washed up.

So you are keeping Gramatica over the rookie and not having him come down with a PUP or IR injury that would allow us to hold him?

I'd be surprised if we didn't protect him in some way as a future investment if he doesn't beat out Gramatica.

 

[patsfan13]

Re: What about the kicker?

It is real early but based on early result this is going to be seen as an epic draft, with a possible UDFA diamond in the rough (Cobbs). Can't wait to see Jackson on the field.

The 53 looks pretty good. I could see 1 more OL,

The D always looks rough in preseason. I would like to see Beisel be healthier and show something early. Get well soon Tedy B!

 

[patpatriot]

Gus Scott over Tebucky? Not likely...

 

[DarMan]

Re: What about the kicker?

BB will keep the best linebackers regardless of iinside or outside positions. If Mincey and Woods show better than either Davis or Beisel then they'll make the squad. I don't think Mincey gets cut.

I also think Gostkowski beats out Gramatica.

Other than that, I like the players you have listed

 

[rookBoston]

mg,
We've been doing 53-man projections for the last few years, and we always tend to see eye to eye on these things. Last year, we were pretty well aligned at this point in the offseason, and were pretty much on target. I think the only real surprise on the starting roster was Wright.

This year is going to be different. And one item of proof is that there are still a lot of unknowns.

My adjustments to your roster:

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) Brady, Cassell
RB (5) Dillon,Maroney,Faulk,Cobbs,Evans (Evans was running with the kicking teams vs ATL)
WR (4) Branch,Caldwell,Brown,Jackson (I'm fine with this too since you've listed Childress as PR. In effect, he is our 5th WR. Kight or Berlin would be the darkhorse options... it would cost Cobbs his roster spot.)
KR/PR (2) Andrews,Childress
TE (4) Watson,Graham,Thomas,Mills
OL (8) Light,Mankins,Koppen,Neal,Gorin, Hochstein,O'Callaghan,Stevenson (Trading Tucker to Cleveland basically solves the question)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) Seymour,Wilfork,Warren,Green,Wright,Smith (I see no reason to keep Sullivan. I'd keep Hill ahead of Sullivan)
OLB(5) Colvin,Vrabel,Brown,Banta-Cain,Mincey (rather keep Mincey, which may give us enough depth to play Vrabel inside in a pinch)
ILB(5) Bruschi,Beisel,Gardner,Davis,Izzo (Alexander as a contributor is just that much wishful thinking... remember Tuitele?)
CB (4) Wilson,Hobbs,Samuel,C.Scott (I believe the Wilson move is for real, either Gay or Scott will go to the Shadow Roster along with Poteat)
S (5) Harrison,Hawkins,Sanders,G.Scott,Jones (net-net, I've shifted Wilson, dropped Gay, kept Jones... purely to help ST. Obviously, I'm hoping Tebucky isn't badly injured. Losing Mel Mitchell already hurts us on ST.)

SPECIALISTS
K Gostkowski (believe in the Kid)
P Miller
DS Paxton

 

[dhamz]

TE (4) Watson,Graham,Thomas,Mills (is graham holding out?)

Not unless he's developed some new form of holdout where he practices while holding out since he practiced every day this week.

He's coming back from an injury and they are taking it slowly - first sitting him out, then giving him reps with the red non contact injury, and then letting him practice fully at the end of the week.

 

[mgteich]

I view this a bit differently. It is early. There are about 25 decision points. I don't see our rosters as that different. We agree on 49 players. Also, I would be fine with your four changes. All your players are in my next five players (Thomas would be my other). For me, except for kicker, we are dealing with the bottom of the roster.

Of my roster, you would:

CUT: Sullivan, Alexander, Gay, Gramatica and
ADD: Evans, Mincey, Jones, Gostkowski

Let's look at the four disagreements (your player first)

EVANS vs. SULLIVAN
I think that we need a 7th DL more than a fullback who can't block. I don't feel all that strong over Sullivan vs. Hill. I wouldn't mind a real fullback. If Evans plays well on special teams, he could of course stay.

MINCEY vs. ALEXANDER
I like Alexander because he plays inside. I'd rather have a free agent.

JONES vs. GAY
If Wilson moving inside is for real and Jones shows he really wants to play wherever he's needed, then, I'm fine with switch. Mentally, I've moved Andrews to replace Jones on the ST. There are many posters who would be shocked if Gay doesn't make the squad.

GOSTOWSKI vs. GRAMATICA
I like the kid too. Why does that matter? Martin is a seasoned veteran playing very well.

mg,
We've been doing 53-man projections for the last few years, and we always tend to see eye to eye on these things. Last year, we were pretty well aligned at this point in the offseason, and were pretty much on target. I think the only real surprise on the starting roster was Wright.

This year is going to be different. And one item of proof is that there are still a lot of unknowns.

My adjustments to your roster:

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) Brady, Cassell
RB (5) Dillon,Maroney,Faulk,Cobbs,Evans (Evans was running with the kicking teams vs ATL)
WR (4) Branch,Caldwell,Brown,Jackson (I'm fine with this too since you've listed Childress as PR. In effect, he is our 5th WR. Kight or Berlin would be the darkhorse options... it would cost Cobbs his roster spot.)
KR/PR (2) Andrews,Childress
TE (4) Watson,Graham,Thomas,Mills
OL (8) Light,Mankins,Koppen,Neal,Gorin, Hochstein,O'Callaghan,Stevenson (Trading Tucker to Cleveland basically solves the question)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) Seymour,Wilfork,Warren,Green,Wright,Smith (I see no reason to keep Sullivan. I'd keep Hill ahead of Sullivan)
OLB(5) Colvin,Vrabel,Brown,Banta-Cain,Mincey (rather keep Mincey, which may give us enough depth to play Vrabel inside in a pinch)
ILB(5) Bruschi,Beisel,Gardner,Davis,Izzo (Alexander as a contributor is just that much wishful thinking... remember Tuitele?)
CB (4) Wilson,Hobbs,Samuel,C.Scott (I believe the Wilson move is for real, either Gay or Scott will go to the Shadow Roster along with Poteat)
S (5) Harrison,Hawkins,Sanders,G.Scott,Jones (net-net, I've shifted Wilson, dropped Gay, kept Jones... purely to help ST. Obviously, I'm hoping Tebucky isn't badly injured. Losing Mel Mitchell already hurts us on ST.)

SPECIALISTS
K Gostkowski (believe in the Kid)
P Miller
DS Paxton

 

[VJCPatriot]

Only 4 WRs? The Pats wideouts don't exactly have a rep for being durable. I think there will be 5 min, maybe 6. Especially since we don't exactly have a lot of quality might have to go with quantity.

LB is also an unsettled position that is likely to change. Maybe Claiborne or Ruff will be signed for ILB? Roach has looked promising but he's a rook so he might end up on PS.

 

[mgteich]

Childress is the 5th WR. He's listed as a returner. Also, all four TE's are fine receivers. The 6th wide receiver has been really a returner spot, filled this year by Andrews. BTW, we'll can still have a couple of receivers on the practice squad. BTW, how many catches do you think the #4, #5 and #6 receivers had last year, in the year Brady let the league in passing. I assure you that the contributions (as a WR) from Davis, Dwight and Childress were small indeed.

Only 4 WRs? The Pats wideouts don't exactly have a rep for being durable. I think there will be 5 min, maybe 6. Especially since we don't exactly have a lot of quality might have to go with quantity.

LB is also an unsettled position that is likely to change. Maybe Claiborne or Ruff will be signed for ILB? Roach has looked promising but he's a rook so he might end up on PS.

 

[patchick]

OL (8) Light,Mankins,Koppen,Neal,Gorin (dante likes Gorin more than we do) Hochstein,O'Callaghan,Stevenson (no Britt)

Maybe Dante does like Gorin, but as the backup LEFT tackle? If you're PUPing Kaczur, I think that makes a case for Wesley Britt to stick as the guy who's been seeing the LT action in camp.

 

[flutie2phelan]

Odd coincidence. At the same time mg posted this thoughtful mock roster, i was enjoying the view
from a lovely lakeshore not far from his hometown ... pondering the same subject ...
and coming to some of the same contrarian conclusions.

Notably ... "Kaycur" and Pass staying on PUP,
and Hill going IR.
Until this afternoon none of that had ever occurred to me.
Also, this pm was the first time i really saw O'CALlaghan making the 53.

I respectfully demur at quite a few of the other - sometimes contrarian - predictions.
But there really is no need this soon to wrangle about any of those.
Mainly, my compliments on a fairly well-reasoned set of non-mainstream visions ... grist for the board.

 

[PatsMan26]

Re: What about the kicker?

Mincey better then TBC? If TBC gets significant playing time (which he will this year) he will bring a lot to the table. Mincey may become something one day but right now TBC will contribute much more.

 

[BelichickFan]

OLB(4) Colvin,Vrabel,Brown,Banta-Cain (no Mincey;is he better than TBC?)
ILB( 6) Bruschi,Beisel,Gardner,Alexander,Davis,Izzo

I don't like this group. Mincey will make the team. I'm most of the way through the 3rd quarter watching Mincey on every play and the guy is good considering he is switching positions. Strong at the point of attack, hustle, some pass rush moves. You can definitely take one of your horrible ILB off this list and replace him with Mincey. I don't care about the ILB/OLB thing, Vrabel can always go inside, that would probably be our best move right now. I'd prefer to have Mincey or Brown start at OLB than Beisel or Gardner at ILB - based on one game. Honestly, I might keep Woods over another ILB rather than cut him and hope to P.S. him. He was quite active although I liked Mincey better.