An Early Roster

[ctpatsfan77]

Who are the two Jacksons on PUP, though?

C, WR, and E, DB

 

[spacecrime]

I still don't like the depth at NT too much - although I'm happy with the SF #1 next year I would have been quite happy taking Alan Branch at #28.

Me too. I don't want to use a first round pick for depth. I want a guy who will take a starting position.

 

[solman]

I don't think a team has ever had so much talent in danger of getting cut because of the 53 man roster.

If BB decides that Matt Gutierrez has the stuff I could see him being added. I could also see another WR being added.

I think I'd replace

Caldwell,
veteran free agent/(Mills),
veteran free agent/(Mays),
Andrews

With

Troy Brown
Gaffney
James and
One rookie who makes good.

Maybe BB will work his magic and find a way to get some value from the 5 or so draft picks he's going to have to cut.

 

[Jimke]

At the time of the draft the Jets were criticized for packaging most

of their draft picks to obtain two potential starters. The Pats were

praised for not doing the same. It will be ironic if the Jets end up with

more Patriot's picks making their roster than we have making ours.

 

[BelichickFan]

At the time of the draft the Jets were criticized for packaging most of their draft picks to obtain two potential starters. The Pats were praised for not doing the same. It will be ironic if the Jets end up with more Patriot's picks making their roster than we have making ours.

It wouldn't be ironic at all, The Jest only drafted two viable players, their other picks would only make the roster over ours because The Jest is a weaker team. Additionally, the Patriots could have drafted Harris at #28 but passed which gives a not so subtle hint at their feelings towards him. Lastly, our two big trades (except Moss) were to trade into next year, not pick up multiple picks this year by trading down.

 

[TeamPats]

So it looks like if C. Brown came off the scrap heap to become a NE Patriot then Mills would be the odd man out. I still think that if no significant injury at the RB position occurs in early Training Camp Brown would likely choose the Pats over any other team.

 

[AzPatsFan]

None of the Offesnive linmen drafted were any way near being ready for the NFL. That was a reason that they were so heavily discounted as players. All were developmental players needing at least a year or three of body building and position conversion before they are ready. Allare smnmart, and hard workers but htat is all. Hence they are all Practice Squad candidates.

Ditto for Gutierrez at QB. Justin Rodgers is another developmentl guy with smarts, size, and acceptable speed For Lb; and no experience playing at the position. He too is a Practice squad candidate.

Oscar Lua is the only later Day 2 candidate that is anywhere near ready to play the position for which he was drafted. But he is a marginal talent. He has neither size, nor speed, nor athletic talent that would make him a great player. But he can be a ST talent, perhaps.

I would think the only candidates for the 53 were Merriwether and perhaps Brown. Although I thought Kareem Brown's chances were marginal as he is a boom or bust guy. With the unfortuante death of Mr. Hill, he may find a roster spot, for at least a year.

This draft, but especially so, cannot be fairly evaluated for at least three years to see what occurs with the developmental players.

 

[BelichickFan]

I would think the only candidates for the 53 were Merriwether and perhaps Brown. Although I thought Kareem Brown's chances were marginal as he is a boom or bust guy. With the unfortuante death of Mr. Hill, he may find a roster spot, for at least a year.

I have little doubt Brown would have made the team. Hill would have battled the LeKevin Smiths for the bottom of the roster as others can play NT if needed. Hill, RIP, was beaten out by Mike Wright, a UDFA, and was a turnstile on the rare occasions he played. Sorry to be politically incorrect but Hill's time on the roster was coming to an end, it had to be.

Agreed, the rest will be battling for the practice squad or MAYBE a spot or two at the very bottom of the roster.

 

[stcjones]

I think Gafney (or however you spell it) is ahead of caldwell

I think he certainly has the edge as a better "crunch" time or playoff receiver.....Caldwell kind of lost it there.........I see Gaffney making this team......not sure about Caldwell...I suppose there is the chance that both could be retained.....

 

[DaBruinz]

None of the Offesnive linmen drafted were any way near being ready for the NFL. That was a reason that they were so heavily discounted as players. All were developmental players needing at least a year or three of body building and position conversion before they are ready. Allare smnmart, and hard workers but htat is all. Hence they are all Practice Squad candidates.

Ditto for Gutierrez at QB. Justin Rodgers is another developmentl guy with smarts, size, and acceptable speed For Lb; and no experience playing at the position. He too is a Practice squad candidate.

Oscar Lua is the only later Day 2 candidate that is anywhere near ready to play the position for which he was drafted. But he is a marginal talent. He has neither size, nor speed, nor athletic talent that would make him a great player. But he can be a ST talent, perhaps.

I would think the only candidates for the 53 were Merriwether and perhaps Brown. Although I thought Kareem Brown's chances were marginal as he is a boom or bust guy. With the unfortuante death of Mr. Hill, he may find a roster spot, for at least a year.

This draft, but especially so, cannot be fairly evaluated for at least three years to see what occurs with the developmental players.

Not sure why you say that all 3 OL taken are conversion projects. Oldenburg and Hilliard played OT in college. Oldenburg was a LT for Colorado State. Hilliard played both LT and RT for Oklahoma State, switching back and forth as the team needed. He was also a leader on that line.

I think that Oldenburg has a chance to be the starting RT, particularly with the issues that O'Callaghan (injuries) and Kaczur (maturity/Attitude) have. Britt hasn't shown to be capable of being the starter yet.

Elgin could, very well, push of for a back-up spot as a C/G. Hochstein is signed to a decent contract and the Pats could trade him for a pick the way they did Gorin and Tucker.

All 3 could bomb and end up on the practice squad or gone. But Elgin is my favorite of the 2nd day picks to make the team.

 

[tombonneau]

I agree with most of this; however, I see them keeping 6 WRs to start the season, and that's regardless of whether Brown and/or Jackson start the season on PUP.

I think BB has seen too many teams snakebitten with lack of WR depth and won't run that chance this season.

Moss
Stallworth
Welker
Washington
Gaffney
Caldwell/Brown/Jackson

Is what I see. If Jackson or Brown are ready to start the season, I see Caldwell getting the boot (you could easily substitute Washington or Gaffney here, it's a matter of opinion, but whoever you see as the least of Washington/Gaffney/Caldwell will go).

This would likely be at the expense of a 5th RB.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Alright, here is mine,

OFFENSE 24
QB - 2 Brady, Cassell
RB - 3 Maroney, Morris, Faulk
FB - 2 Evans, Mills
C - 2 Koppen, Hochstein
G - 3 Neal, Mankins, Yates
OT - 4 Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Britt
WR - 5 Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Caldwell, Gaffney
TE - 3 Watson, Thomas, Brady

DEFENSE 26
DE - 5 Seymour, Warren, Green, Wright, Brown
DT - 2 Wilfork, Smith
LB - 7 Vrabel, Colvin, Thomas, Bruschi, Seau, Eric Alexander, Woods
CB - 5 Samuel, Hobbs, James, Gay, Scott
S - 4 Harrison, Meriweather, Sanders, Wilson

ST - 3 Izzo, Willie Andrews, Mel Mitchell



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

PUP (1)
Chad Jackson

If Troy Brown comes back, Gaffney I think goes.

 

[rookBoston]

I'll go on record predicting that Kaczur will start at RT on Week One for some team not called the New England Patriots.

If both O'Callaghan and Britt will look good in TC, and at least one of the Day Two rooks shows enough to earn a roster spot, Kaczur will be expendable (in the same way R-Randall, Ashworth and Gorin were expendable) and attractive (with his starting experience, size and athleticism) to other teams.

I think BB will take a 2008 3rd rounder for him.

 

[tombonneau]

I'll go on record predicting that Kaczur will start at RT on Week One for some team not called the New England Patriots.

If both O'Callaghan and Britt will look good in TC, and at least one of the Day Two rooks shows enough to earn a roster spot, Kaczur will be expendable (in the same way R-Randall, Ashworth and Gorin were expendable) and attractive (with his starting experience, size and athleticism) to other teams.

I think BB will take a 2008 3rd rounder for him.

I'd strongly disagree with this move if it happened.

For a team that is a favorite to win the 2007 Super Bowl:

2007 Starting Caliber RT >>> 2008 3rd Round pick

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think Kaczur is in too well with the organization right now. Just an accumulation of "stuff" that you hear. I think they would move on and maybe for a little less than rookBoston suggested.

 

[g-fresh]

Don't discount Dante Scarnecchia working his magic an turning one of the O line rookies into a starter. Like BelichickFan said, I don't think they are in love with Kaczur and O'Callihan is a concusion away from being lost for the season. I wouldn't be shocked if we see a new face at RT this year.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Just an accumulation of "stuff" that you hear.

I'm not saying that this isn't true, but what happens is that someone offers an opinion as fact on a message board or talk radio, someone else repeats it, that gets repeated, and, all of a sudden, there is an "accumulation" of "stuff".

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not saying that this isn't true, but what happens is that someone offers an opinion as fact on a message board or talk radio, someone else repeats it, that gets repeated, and, all of a sudden, there is an "accumulation" of "stuff".

Yeah, I know, but there's been about three references to maturity, work ethic, attitude that all seem to be independent. He's just someone I have a bad feeling about - and I expect to be proven to be correct

 

[tombonneau]

Yeah, I know, but there's been about three references to maturity, work ethic, attitude that all seem to be independent. He's just someone I have a bad feeling about - and I expect to be proven to be correct

Not being a **** here, but could you show me instances where this stuff has been said about Kaczur? I've honestly never heard anything negative about the guy, so am just curious as to what you are referencing.

I know he came into the league old (26?) so I'd be surprised if he had any kind of maturity issues ...

 

[BelichickFan]

Not being a **** here, but could you show me instances where this stuff has been said about Kaczur? I've honestly never heard anything negative about the guy, so am just curious as to what you are referencing.

The most recent was from Tomase here :

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1001773

"There are whispers out of Foxboro that the Pats are unhappy with Kaczur’s focus and work ethic."

The second one will take a little more digging, it was from Felger when Kaczur was a surprise DNP in the Denver playoff game in 2005 - shoulder was the official reason. That may be too old to find a link.

Those are the two somewhat valid ones. The third is questionable for sure, it was from :

Doesn't come across as BSing but take it FWIW.

http://www.kffl.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3510563&postcount=9

"Let him go! i met this girl in a bar about 6 months ago and somehow we got to discussing football (so i didnt get laid, whatever... ) anyway, she grew up w/ N.K and said all he talks about now is how much weed he gets to set around and smoke now that he's getting an NFL paycheck. It's one thing if you are gonna do that, but its another if you're going to and start suckin @$$ on the field!!!"