MG's 48; Let The Preseason Begin

[Sciz]

I wouldn't bet the farm that Slater makes the team. Things are very tight at WR and S. Not saying he won't but it's far from a lock.

Slater is absolutely a lock. The Pats just handed him a $2M signing bonus. He's arguably the best ST coverage man in the NFL. His chance of being cut has been blown out of proportion for years, but now there's no way he's going anywhere. It'd make no sense to cut Slater for a WR. The top 3 WRs are going to get 95% of the WR snaps if they're healthy. There's no point in having any more than 5 true WRs.

 

[Joey007]

Slater is absolutely a lock. The Pats just handed him a $2M signing bonus. He's arguably the best ST coverage man in the NFL. His chance of being cut has been blown out of proportion for years, but now there's no way he's going anywhere. It'd make no sense to cut Slater for a WR. The top 3 WRs are going to get 95% of the WR snaps if they're healthy. There's no point in having any more than 5 true WRs.

This.

As long as the guy's performing well you don't cut a guy after giving him 2 million. Edelman's more likely to get cut than he is, and that's very unlikely as well.

 

[IcyPatriot]

What's the over / under on how many 53's MG predicts this year ...

JK .... MG ... love your passion for team details.

 

[Ring 6]

1) I listed a 48 man roster. I listed the FIVE open positions (see below for what I posted before). I guess that you can only respond to 53 man rosters.

2) I expect us to carry 9-10 defensive backs. Five would need to be able to play corner.

3) Separating out OLB's from DE's and ILB's is your specialty not mine. List Ninkovich and Scott as OLB's and there are plenty.

4) I like Warren much better as a DT than Brace. However, I'm fine with Brace as the 53rd defensive player.

5) I listed SIX wide receiver positions, same as everyone. 3 are on the 48 man roster. 1 is an open position (Branch or Stallworth). Edelman and Slater are included in specialists.

==========
FROM PREVIOUS POST

IMHO, the remaining 5 positions are completely wide open.

4th WR
9th OL
8th DB
9th DB
25th defensive player

Yeah, read it quick, my bad.
Not sure though why you like a very old Warren 'much more' than a young Brace who clearly has shown excellent potential whenever he has been on the field.
We have seen what both have to offer, and they figure to be going in opposite directions. Brace has been better on the field the last 2 years, with the exception of doing something to keep himself off of it way too much

 

[TriplecHamp]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (4) Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Eric Kettani
WR (7) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Jabar Gaffney, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater, Donte Stallworth
TE (3) Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells, Rob Gronkowski
C (0)
G (4) Brian Waters, Dan Connolly, Nick McDonald, Logan Mankins
T (3) Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Nate Solder
DE (5) Ron Brace, Jonathan Fanene, Jake Bequette, Trevor Scott, Chandler Jones
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Myron Pryor, Justin Francis, Kyle Love
ILB(5) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Dane Fletcher, Jeff Tarpinian, Brandon Spikes
OLB(3) Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Bobby Carpenter
CB (6) Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore, Will Allen, Alfonzo Dennard, Ras-I Dowling
SS (2) James Ihedigbo, Steve Gregory
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
ST (2) Zoltan Mesko, Stephen Gostkowski

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

probably drop a receiver for Deaderick

 

[Avenger]

QB (3) Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer
RB (5) Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Brandon Bolden, Spencer Larsen
WR (6) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Visanthe Shiancoe
C (2) Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell
G (3) Brian Waters, Donald Thomas, Nick McDonald
T (3) Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon
DE (4) Jonathan Fanene, Jake Bequette, Trevor Scott, Chandler Jones
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Brandon Deaderick, Myron Pryor, Kyle Love
ILB(4) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Donta Hightower, Niko Koutouvides
OLB(4) Rob Ninkovich, Jeff Tarpinian, Tracy White, Bobby Carpenter
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Alfonzo Dennard, Sterling Moore
SS (2) Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner
FS (2) Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken
PUP (5) Jake Ballard, Logan Mankins, Markus Zusevics, Myron Pryor, Daniel Fells
IR (2) Brad Herman, Jamey Richard
Exempt (1) Tony Fiammetta
Practice Squad (8) Justin Francis, Eric Kettani, Matt Kopa, Jeremy Ebert, Malcolm Williams, Marcus Forston, Alex Silvestro, Kyle Hix
Active Players: 53
Total Players: 69

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Slater is absolutely a lock. The Pats just handed him a $2M signing bonus. He's arguably the best ST coverage man in the NFL. His chance of being cut has been blown out of proportion for years, but now there's no way he's going anywhere. It'd make no sense to cut Slater for a WR. The top 3 WRs are going to get 95% of the WR snaps if they're healthy. There's no point in having any more than 5 true WRs.

Cool, I didn't say he wouldn't make it, only that he's not a lock. I'll stick with it for now. As for the money? I wonder if BB would say, "Hey, we can't cut this guy. We just gave him $2m"? The money matters, absolutely, but I doubt it's the bottom line when choosing to keep Slater, or anyone else.

In fact, Slater made my early 53-

QB (3) Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer
RB (4) Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley
WR (6) Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Jabar Gaffney, Deion Branch, Matthew Slater, Brandon Lloyd
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Visanthe Shiancoe, Aaron Hernandez
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (4) Logan Mankins, Donald Thomas, Dan Connolly, Brian Waters
T (4) Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Mat Kopa
DE (5) Jonathan Fanene, Jake Bequette, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace, Chandler Jones
DT (4) Vince Wilfork, Justin Francis, Tim Bulman, Kyle Love
ILB(4) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Dane Fletcher, Brandon Spikes
OLB(2) Bobby Carpenter, Rob Ninkovich
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Alfonzo Dennard, Sterling Moore
SS (2) Steve Gregory, James Ihedigbo
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: http://patspicker.patsfans.com

 

[rookBoston]

My latest:
- projected trade sending Hoyer to San Diego. So much for the security blanket. Mallet will grow into it faster with more reps.
- Bolden has done enough. I'm finally on the bandwagon. That's what Larsen gets for getting hurt.
- I cut Branch ahead of Stallworth
- I cut Koppen. The fact that Wendell is getting first team reps ahead of Koppen is a bad sign for the vet.
- Mankins is starting on PUP in this scenario, but I've listed Waters. Could be the other way around.
- I kept Kopa, but I use him as an adjective for the best OT available. I have no read on who it's going to be, because all the OTs have been pretty sad. Better prediction instead of Kopa is a vet that is currently on some other team's TC roster, but gets dropped in the cutdowns.
- I added Andre Carter as our new Chandler Jones coach.
- I cut Scott, no regrets. The guy's got nothing to offer we dont already have. Francis has outplayed him.
- Francis makes the squad, and so does Bequette. Both to contribute mostly on ST and provide depth at DE.
- Warren is cut at DT. I want the spot for Brace.
- I don't understand why everyone is cutting Carpenter. He's absolutely making this team
- I chose Tarp ahead of White. Coin flip on this one.
- Moore can play and DB position and inspires a lot of confidence in me.
- I kept Dennard ahead of Ebner. Could be the other way around, but Ebner needs to give me a reason first.
- I chose Will Allen over Ihedibo or Barrett. I like the veteran as a stabilizing force for an otherwise young squad.

QB (2) Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett
RB (4) Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Brandon Bolden
WR (6) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Visanthe Shiancoe
C (2) Ryan Wendell, Nick McDonald
G (3) Dan Connolly, Brian Waters, Donald Thomas
T (4) Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Sebastian Vollmer, Mat Kopa
DE (6) Andre Carter, Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jermaine Cunningham, Justin Francis, Jake Bequette
DT (5) Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Jonathan Fanene, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace
ILB(2) Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher
OLB(4) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian
CB (4) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Alfonzo Dennard
SS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson
FS (3) Steve Gregory, Sterling Moore, Will Allen
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Danny Aiken, Zoltan Mesko

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: Pats Picker 2012

 

[mgteich]

I prefer a grizzled old vet for backup. I have much less problem with Warren getting significant reps than Brace.

In the end, I can easily be convinced that Brace is the best option for the 16th defensive front seven player, the 15th defensive player. My past tendency is to want to keep an additional STer if we keep 16, instead of the 5th safety.

The bottom line is that we will have competition for the wide body positions and Pryor will also be in the mix, if he can stay on the field. Personally I would rather have an extra widebody than a 10th DB, but that's just me.

Yeah, read it quick, my bad.
Not sure though why you like a very old Warren 'much more' than a young Brace who clearly has shown excellent potential whenever he has been on the field.
We have seen what both have to offer, and they figure to be going in opposite directions. Brace has been better on the field the last 2 years, with the exception of doing something to keep himself off of it way too much

 

[jah]

I'm assuming that everyone on PUP stays (which obviously won't happen) and Waters retires--worst case scenario. Somehow, we still look competitive:

QB (3) Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB (4) Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden
WR (5) Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater
TE (3) Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Visanthe Shiancoe
C (2) Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
G (3) Dan Connolly, Donald Thomas, Nick McDonald
T (4) Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Mat Kopa, Darrion Weems
DE (5) Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Jermaine Cunningham, Jake Bequette, Justin Francis
DT (5) Vince Wilfork, Jonathan Fanene, Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace
ILB(2) Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher
OLB(4) Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower, Bobby Carpenter, Jeff Tarpinian
CB (5) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore, Alfonzo Dennard
SS (2) Patrick Chung, James Ihedigbo
FS (3) Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson, Will Allen
ST (3) Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken
PUP/NF-Inj/DNR (7) Waters, Zusevics, Mankins, Vollmer, Fells, Ballard, Pryor

It's way more likely that the spots taken by Kopa and Weems are filled by trades or free agents unless BB really thinks they're ready. I also finally decided that a true FB isn't even necessary since Hernandez can play FB in passing situations and offensive linemen can do it on the goal line.

 

[Ring 6]

I prefer a grizzled old vet for backup. I have much less problem with Warren getting significant reps than Brace.

In the end, I can easily be convinced that Brace is the best option for the 16th defensive front seven player, the 15th defensive player. My past tendency is to want to keep an additional STer if we keep 16, instead of the 5th safety.

The bottom line is that we will have competition for the wide body positions and Pryor will also be in the mix, if he can stay on the field. Personally I would rather have an extra widebody than a 10th DB, but that's just me.

5th safety should just be a special teams luxury. Being undermanned upfront would be a big mistake.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I prefer a grizzled old vet for backup. I have much less problem with Warren getting significant reps than Brace.

In the end, I can easily be convinced that Brace is the best option for the 16th defensive front seven player, the 15th defensive player. My past tendency is to want to keep an additional STer if we keep 16, instead of the 5th safety.

The bottom line is that we will have competition for the wide body positions and Pryor will also be in the mix, if he can stay on the field. Personally I would rather have an extra widebody than a 10th DB, but that's just me.

Last year G Warren said he would only play for the Patriots. if true, he's excellent shadow roster.

You know someone will get hurt so keep Brace and bring Warren when needed. (If Warren will only play for the Patriots).

 

[mgteich]

I agree. The #9 defensive back must be able to play nickel or dime back.

5th safety should just be a special teams luxury. Being undermanned upfront would be a big mistake.