Breer's 'way too early' 53-man

[supafly]

Here is mine so far with comments

QUARTERBACK (2)
Tom Brady
Brian Hoyer
RUNNING BACK (4)
Kevin Faulk
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Fred Taylor

Does everyone realize that because we run shotgun so much Kevin Faulk is actually our '#1' RB in that he plays more snaps than any others?
Given that, I worry less about the durability or age factors.

RECEIVER (5)
Julian Edelman
Torry Holt
Randy Moss
Taylor Price
Brandon Tate
Wes Welker



TIGHT END (3)
Alge Crumpler
Rob Gronkowski
Aaron Hernandez


OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Dan Connolly
Nick Kaczur
Dan Koppen
Mark LeVoir
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Stephen Neal
Sebastian Vollmer
Rich Ohrenberger

No way Ohrenberger is cut in favor of Larsen. Larsen will go to ps.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Ron Brace
Damione Lewis
Myron Pryor
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Mike Wright


Brandon Deaderick goes to practice squad, but could beat out Pryor.
I will choose Warren as the veteran who should be able to make the team but gets cut that we see every year.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6)
Tully Banta-Cain
Derrick Burgess
Jermaine Cunningham
Rob Ninkovich
Pierre Woods
Shawn Crable

Lot of special teams play here. Bruce Davis has a shot if any of Ninko, woods, crable stumble

INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)
Gary Guyton
Jerod Mayo
Tyrone McKenzie
Brandon Spikes


CORNERBACK (6)
Kyle Arrington**
Leigh Bodden
Darius Butler
Devin McCourty
Jonathan Wilhite
Terrence Wheately

6 corners is a lot, but with only 4 safeties we have s/t room at this spot, and a lot of guys who can contribute there.

SAFETY (4)
Patrick Chung
Brandon McGowan
Brandon Meriweather
James Sanders



SPECIALISTS (3)
K Stephen Gostkowski
P Zoltan Mesko
LS Jake Ingram

Andy--great job as always. Did you mean to have 6 WR's instead of 5, or are you not counting the 6th spot due to Welker's unknown status? If you meant to have 6 WR's then we have our 53. If you only meant to have 5 like its stated, then we're actually missing 1 more spot.

Not meaning to nitpick at all, just wondering what you thought about it. Thanks.

Edit: FWIW--I believe we could use 1 more on the DL, just my opinion. With 4 man fronts + subs coming in like Pryor, and the possibility of Lewis on goal line/short yrd situations, we are using just about everyone at times. We could use a 7th for injury depth. Thoughts?

 

[upstater1]

My feelings.

1. With Light, Vollmer, Kaczur, around, Belichick may decide to go with Ohrnberger instead of LeVoir, or heck, maybe just 8 lineman, especially if Welch is on the PS as a backup tackle.

2. I could see them cutting a RB like Green-Ellis.

3. Darryl Richard isn't mentioned, and I could see him figuring into things.

4. Wheatley makes the team because Belichick wants more than 4 CBs who can cover--in case of injuries. It's a passing league.

5. I see 10 DBs, not 9, so special teams ace Arrington/Locket make the team.

 

[Ring 6]

Andy--great job as always. Did you mean to have 6 WR's instead of 5, or are you not counting the 6th spot due to Welker's unknown status? If you meant to have 6 WR's then we have our 53. If you only meant to have 5 like its stated, then we're actually missing 1 more spot.

Not meaning to nitpick at all, just wondering what you thought about it. Thanks.

Edit: FWIW--I believe we could use 1 more on the DL, just my opinion. With 4 man fronts + subs coming in like Pryor, and the possibility of Lewis on goal line/short yrd situations, we are using just about everyone at times. We could use a 7th for injury depth. Thoughts?

I'm counting Welker as part of the 53, so thats 6 WRs.
I think 6 DL is fine. If/when we play 43 we use a LB as a DE anyway.

 

[mgteich]

I agree on 50 of your roster spots. But then, the final SIX are usually up for grabs.

AIKEN or WELKER
I hope that you are right and that Welker is ready. I expect Aiken and/or Slater to find a way onto the roster.

WARREN or DEADERICK or CRABLE
I think that Warren is the most likely at this point to take the 16th front 7 position.
I'm rooting for Deaderick. I agree that he may beat out Pryor.

2 of LARSEN and CONNOLLY and OHRNBERGER
I expect Ohrnberger to be ready to be the Game Day backup interior lineman.
That would allow us to protect the #3 center in the draft on the 53-man roster.
Don't you believe that Ohrnberger is ready to move past Connolly?

Here is mine so far with comments

QUARTERBACK (2)
Tom Brady
Brian Hoyer
RUNNING BACK (4)
Kevin Faulk
Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Fred Taylor

Does everyone realize that because we run shotgun so much Kevin Faulk is actually our '#1' RB in that he plays more snaps than any others?
Given that, I worry less about the durability or age factors.

RECEIVER (5)
Julian Edelman
Torry Holt
Randy Moss
Taylor Price
Brandon Tate
Wes Welker



TIGHT END (3)
Alge Crumpler
Rob Gronkowski
Aaron Hernandez


OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Dan Connolly
Nick Kaczur
Dan Koppen
Mark LeVoir
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Stephen Neal
Sebastian Vollmer
Rich Ohrenberger

No way Ohrenberger is cut in favor of Larsen. Larsen will go to ps.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Ron Brace
Damione Lewis
Myron Pryor
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Mike Wright


Brandon Deaderick goes to practice squad, but could beat out Pryor.
I will choose Warren as the veteran who should be able to make the team but gets cut that we see every year.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6)
Tully Banta-Cain
Derrick Burgess
Jermaine Cunningham
Rob Ninkovich
Pierre Woods
Shawn Crable

Lot of special teams play here. Bruce Davis has a shot if any of Ninko, woods, crable stumble

INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)
Gary Guyton
Jerod Mayo
Tyrone McKenzie
Brandon Spikes


CORNERBACK (6)
Kyle Arrington**
Leigh Bodden
Darius Butler
Devin McCourty
Jonathan Wilhite
Terrence Wheately

6 corners is a lot, but with only 4 safeties we have s/t room at this spot, and a lot of guys who can contribute there.

SAFETY (4)
Patrick Chung
Brandon McGowan
Brandon Meriweather
James Sanders



SPECIALISTS (3)
K Stephen Gostkowski
P Zoltan Mesko
LS Jake Ingram

 

[lillestroom]

Way-too-early 53-man roster projection - Extra Points - Boston.com

Pretty good list and explanations; factors in Special Teams a lot, which makes sense.

Has Warren not making it, Holt barely (needs a strong showing). Throws in the towel on Ohrnberger, Wheatley, Crable. A lot of love for the '10 picks.

Sticks with status quo at RB, but he wouldn't be shocked if Paschall bumps Law Firm. Has the Eric Alexander era ending; he's been OK but I still have nightmarish visions of him chasing Dallas Clark downfield in that AFCCG.

No way Crable gets cut.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

My feelings.

1. With Light, Vollmer, Kaczur, around, Belichick may decide to go with Ohrnberger instead of LeVoir, or heck, maybe just 8 lineman, especially if Welch is on the PS as a backup tackle.

2. I could see them cutting a RB like Green-Ellis.

3. Darryl Richard isn't mentioned, and I could see him figuring into things.

4. Wheatley makes the team because Belichick wants more than 4 CBs who can cover--in case of injuries. It's a passing league.

5. I see 10 DBs, not 9, so special teams ace Arrington/Locket make the team.

I honestly don't see any situation where LeVoir gets cut...if anything he might be traded at some point, but I think BB likes him.

 

[patsfan55]

As good as any at this point. I wonder a bit about about the 5th RB this year, though. Granted that seems to be the league's most injury-prone position, but it's also one of the most fungible and easy to plug in.

Yeah, I think I would put Gerard Warren and Shawn Crable ahead of Benjarvus, as much as I like him

 

[RayClay]

I'm mystified by the "Holt has to shine" comment. We should have plenty of ST candidates.

If Holt can run a route and catch a ball, he's a lock I think.

Granted we've had duds that couldn't do that, but who's knocking Holt off the roster among that grab bag of the unproven.

To me, the only one who can beat out Holt, is Holt. It can be done, as Galloway proved.

 

[RayClay]

Have no idea of Ohrnberger's progress, but if he's making any why would they cut a Guard with some time in the system. Neal's gone, and Mank's not signed.

Burgess being listed as an OLB throws the validity of the whole roster into question.

 

[Patjew]

DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Ron Brace
Damione Lewis
Myron Pryor
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Mike Wright


Brandon Deaderick goes to practice squad, but could beat out Pryor.
I will choose Warren as the veteran who should be able to make the team but gets cut that we see every year.

AJ, do you have Brace ahead of Pryor? Is it inconceivable that Brace could be beaten out rather than Pryor, since Pryor seemed to get more snaps last year?

 

[Brady2Welker]

I have a feeling that Aiken may sneak in for nothing more than ST use, although this depends on either Tate/Price going another year on practice squad before they're ready. If they both make it past camp, then I guess we wont see Aiken, but I just have this gut feeling hell sneak on.

 

[lillestroom]

Again... I reiterate.

Brace gets cut (as does Pryor). Crable makes the team, and sadly so does Ninkovitch (who really is turd)

 

[mgteich]

Brace is ahead of Pryor as the backup NT. That is his position. Brace did little in his first year, but his development isn't that much slower than other non-first round DL's. In any case, it is too early to give up on our backup NT. Belichick seems fine with starting Brace if Wilfork is out for a series or for a game or two.

AJ, do you have Brace ahead of Pryor? Is it inconceivable that Brace could be beaten out rather than Pryor, since Pryor seemed to get more snaps last year?

 

[JackBauer]

Again... I reiterate.

Brace gets cut (as does Pryor). Crable makes the team, and sadly so does Ninkovitch (who really is turd)

I give this about a .005 percent chance of happening.

 

[Urgent]

I agree with Breer that it's early to be guessing Crable vs. Brace type of decisions, although always interesting to project top 53. Good discussion.

Looking more broadly at the roster on defense:
I wonder if the team is being rebuilt to win the last loss, much like armies often are.

If you look at what's gone on with the defense:
Replaced the starting DE, listed at 6-2 275, with a couple free agents listed at 6-2 300 (Lewis) and 6-4 330 (Warren).
Passed on OLB's like Jerry Hughes and Sergio Kindle, both around 6-2, 250-255#, 4.70, for a bigger, slower OLB in Cunningham.
Added a very physical but potentially slow ILB high in the draft.
Passed on a highly touted CB in Kyle Wilson for the more physical tackling machine in Devin McCourty.

The defense has focused on stopping the run, while many of us have been very concerned with generating pressure on the passer.