Post your current roster projections

[RayClay]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Good catch. Maybe Taylor will make Faulk expendable. Anyone know Faulk's salary off the top of their head?

Well, you misunderstood my post. They both have lots of receptions, but they are very different players.

I don't think Taylor would replace Faulk at all. Faulk is very light on his feet and has a knack of making the toughest catches on the run in the toughest situations. He's also deadly quick on the draw.

We only have four RBs total to me. Why fix it if it ain't broke? We have depth and four guys who can play totally different roles IMO (Sammy at FB sometimes, I'd say).

Taylor's old, but probably our best pure RB with a different style tha MO and hopefully tutor him, though I think he's fine if healthy, he could stand to refine his approach to the line of scrimmage.

 

[RoughingthePasser]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Haha no.

Faulk had one of his best years in his career statistically last season and is one of the most important players on the offense. I think he's earned a couple bad days in training camp. There is 100% no way Kevin Faulk gets cut (especially for Green-Ellis), sorry.

Exactly.

Disagree with the Faulk prediction.
Faulk is staying

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

DB, could you compare Smith and Thomas and why you chose Smith?
Thanks

The easiest way to explain it is this.

From what I've seen, Alex Smith is Blocking TE who can also catch passes. David Thomas is a Pass Catching TE who can block. In other words, Alex Smith, as the 3rd TE would be called upon in situations where he would excel whereas, Thomas, is just adequate as a blocker.

Now, maybe that has changed entering this camp, I don't know. But, again, there are 4 pre-season games this year where they will have almost the full 80 man squad to work with. And that will help decide more on who makes it.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Good catch. Maybe Taylor will make Faulk expendable. Anyone know Faulk's salary off the top of their head?

Faulk's salary is 2.9 million this year.

Here are the questions I have regarding Taylor. How well can he recognize the blitz. How good of a blocker is he?

If the Patriots were to part ways with Faulk, I believe that Taylor would have to be better at both than Faulk.

The other problem with letting Faulk go is that he's been pretty steady back as a kick returner and a punt returner when the Pats need someone to hold onto the ball. Unless the Pats feel confident in using Maroney in both capacities, I don't see Taylor as supplanting Faulk.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Good catch. Maybe Taylor will make Faulk expendable. Anyone know Faulk's salary off the top of their head?

Faulk > Mr. Four Names


Given this team's recent history of injury at the RB position, I don't see Faulk getting axed or traded.

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Well, you misunderstood my post.

I think I understood okay.

I just added my own rambling thoughts and by putting them in the same paragraph as my comment on your post made it seem like I was still commenting on your post.

Sorry.

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Faulk > Mr. Four Names

But no one is suggesting otherwise. There are about a dozen posts explain this, but what the hell, here's another one:

Cutting one player and keeping another does not necessisarily say anything abpout the relative abilities of either player. It talks to the team makeup. Period.

Examples:

Vrabel > Vince Redd, yet last March Vrabel was let go and (at the time, at least) Vince kept. So was Alexander

WMG > Pierre Woods, yet in 2005 WMG was cut loose and Pierre Woods brought on board.

The year before Monty Biesel made the team and Ted Johnson did not.

If Faulk is kept or cut (and I think he will be kept) it will depend on whether his production vs salary is justified, and whether or not another player (such as Taylor) can do an equal job cheaper. Not saying Taylor can or cannot, just that keeping BJGE and cutting Faulk does not mean BJGE > Faulk.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

But no one is suggesting otherwise. There are about a dozen posts explain this, but what the hell, here's another one:

Cutting one player and keeping another does not necessisarily say anything abpout the relative abilities of either player. It talks to the team makeup. Period.

Examples:

Vrabel > Vince Redd, yet last March Vrabel was let go and (at the time, at least) Vince kept. So was Alexander

Except that Vrabel wasn't let go. Let go implies that he was cut. He wasn't. He was traded. And the Pats re-signed Alexander, who was a UFA.

WMG > Pierre Woods, yet in 2005 WMG was cut loose and Pierre Woods brought on board.

This isn't entirely true. McGinest was let go in February after many failed attempts to renegotiate Willie Mc's contract. Woods wasn't signed until May 8th, after the draft.

The year before Monty Biesel made the team and Ted Johnson did not.

That's strike three, space. Beisel was brought in the year that Ted Johnson retired the day before training camp started. It was thought that Ted Johnson would be there opposite Chad Brown as the starters since Bruschi was recovering from his stroke and Phifer was injured.

Space, you are usually a lot better with your info.

If Faulk is kept or cut (and I think he will be kept) it will depend on whether his production vs salary is justified, and whether or not another player (such as Taylor) can do an equal job cheaper. Not saying Taylor can or cannot, just that keeping BJGE and cutting Faulk does not mean BJGE > Faulk.

I fully agree with what you are saying, just your examples don't support your theory.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

But no one is suggesting otherwise...

DaBruinz covered most of your points, so let me just flesh out my point a bit:

Faulk is much better than BJGE. Furthermore, I don't think they are even competing directly with one another. Faulk has been the only RB who's proven to be capable of filling the role he plays since at least as far back as when Dillon was in the backfield. Even if Taylor is able to fill that role now that he's here, I wouldn't expect the Patriots to cut Faulk because injuries to the RB (specifically Taylor) spot would mean that Maroney or Morris would have to fill Faulk's role.

Until Maroney shows that he can pick up the blocking consistently or Faulk's play declines, I don't see the team taking such a risk.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

Watching past seasons with Brady, Faulk consistently makes BIG plays that make drives. Unless his speed and quickness have unexpectedly markedly declined, which nobody is saying, Faulk is on the roster. Brady is too comfortable with him.

As to the observation that Faulk had a bad day in camp, everyone does. The day I went Hoyer looked among the worst I'd ever seen a QB look in a Pats camp. Within 24-48 hours (I forget) Gutz was cut.

 

[jmt57]

Alright, I'll play the roster-prediction game too.

Offense
QB (3): Tom Brady, Kevin O’Connell, Andrew Walter
RB (4): Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk
WR (5): Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Greg Lewis, Sam Aiken
TE (4): Chris Baker, Ben Watson, Alex Smith, David Thomas
OL (9): Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins, Stephen Neal, Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Sebastian Vollmer, Russ Hochstein, Rich Ohrnberger, Mark LeVoir

Defense
DL (7): Vince Wilfork, Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Ron Brace, Mike Wright, Le Kevin Smith
ILB (4): Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Tedy Bruschi, Paris Lenon
OLB (5): Adalius Thomas, Derrick Burgess, Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Tully Banta-Cain
S (4): James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather, Pat Chung, Brandon McGowan
CB (5): Shawn Springs, Leigh Bodden, Terrance Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler

Special Teams
Stephen Gostkowski, Chris Hanson, Jake Ingram


More details on how I arrived with these predictions here:
2009 Roster Predictions - New England Patriots Forums - PatsFans.com Patriots Fan Messageboard
Plenty of solid competition for roster spots this year.

 

[Bartmac36]

the two I'm really pulling for to make it are BJGE and Nunn, and I think they both have good shots to hang in there...I also hope Tank Williams has a chance to hang on...I wouldn't mind if Ventrone or Slater got cut though, I think Edelman can take there place...

 

[aurakilla]

wasnt sure where to post this...........but what happened to Brandon tate?

and i really hope law firm makes the team, idk why he just seemed really good to me

 

[DaBruinz]

wasnt sure where to post this...........but what happened to Brandon tate?

and i really hope law firm makes the team, idk why he just seemed really good to me

Tate is currently on the Active/PUP list.

 

[aurakilla]

Tate is currently on the Active/PUP list.

oooooooooooo, thank you sir

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Post your current Roster projections.

I don't think he gets cut for Ben-Jarvus, I think Taylor takes his place on 3rd down.

Funny, I don't think he can keep Ben-Jarvus Green Ellis. BJGE is not all that. He reminds me of Mike Cloud. One great game and then disapeared.

 

[patriotscpfc]

I'll have a go then:
QB3: Brady, O'Connell, Hoyer
RB7: Taylor, Maroney, Morris, Faulk,
WR13: Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis, Nunn, Aiken
TE17: Baker, Watson, Smith, De Vree
OT21: Light, Vollmer, Kaczur, Le Voir
OG/C26: Mankins, Neal, Koppen, Ohrnberger, Hochstein

DL33: Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Brace, Wright, Green, Smith
ILB37: Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi, Lenon
OLB41: Thomas, Burgess, Woods, Crable
CB46: Bodden, Wilhite, Springs, Butler, Wheatley
S50: Merriweather, Sanders, Chung, Williams

K: Gostkowski
P: Hanson
LS: Ingram

Edelman can get on the Practice Squad for a year. Same with the 5th-7th rounders.

I want to get Slater, Ventrone and BenJarvus in the roster as well, for various reasons

To do that, I would lose one of Wright/Green, Tank Williams (Springs could be Safety backup) and a player who will be injured during Pre-Season.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'm a fan of Watson, but I have to be honest: Dave "Wendy" Thomas looks very good out there this year and I think he edges Watson, the experiment finally coming to an end.

Thomas knows that his football caereer is on the line and he'd playing like it... as of today I'd say he makes the team too - which is very different from what I felt in the offseason. Watson doesn't seem to be quite as inspired but he's in the same boat.

 

[Urgent]

OFFENSE (24)
QB (3) Brady, O'Connell, Hoyer
RB (4) Taylor, Morris, Maroney, Faulk
WR (5) Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis, Nunn
TE (3) Watson, Baker, Smith
OT (4) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir, Vollmer
OG/C (5) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein, Ohrenberger

DEFENSE (26)
DL (7) Wilfork, Seymour, Warren, Wright, Brace, Green, LK Smith
OLB (5) Thomas, Woods, Burgess, Crable, Banta-Cain
ILB (4) Mayo, Bruschi, Guyton, Alexander
CB (5) Bodden, Springs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Butler
S (5) Meriweather, Sanders, Chung, Williams, McGowan

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
LS (1) Hodel

STARTING THE SEASON ON THE PUP LIST (1)
Tate

STARTING THE SEASON ON IR (1)
McKenzie

Tough cuts:
Aiken, Ventrone, BJGE, Lenon, Walter

Rookie releases:
Bussey, Pryor, Richard, Ingram, Edelman

Free agent releases:
Walter, Lenon, Ciurciu

Prior team member releases:
BJGE, Aiken, TE Thomas, O'Callaghan & Britt, Yates & Connolly, Richardson, Slater

 

[jmt57]

I like Urgent's bringing up the name of Alexander - a guy who seems to have been forgotten and written off by many here - as a possibility to make the roster. Personally I would not be surprised at all if he survives the cuts.

- - - - -

Here's a list of those that some here consider to be possibly cut. Think this group could have beaten the 2008 Lions?

QB: Kevin O'Connell, Andrew Walter, Brian Hoyer
RB: Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
WR: Greg Lewis, Sam Aiken, Matt Slater, Julian Edelman, Terrance Nunn, Shunn White
TE: David Thomas, Alex Smith, Ben Watson, Tyson DeVree
OL: Russ Hochstein, Mark LeVoir, Ryan O’Callahan, Wesley Britt, Billy Yates, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, George Bussey

DL: Jarvis Green, Le Kevin Smith, Steve Williams, Titus Adams, Darryl Richard, Myron Pryor
ILB: Paris Lenon, Vinny Ciurciu
OLB: Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Eric Alexander, Rob Ninkovich
S: Brandon McGowan, Tank Williams, Herana-Daze Jones, Ray Ventrone
CB: Shawn Springs, Mike Richardson, Jamar Love

LS: Nathan Hodel, Jake Ingram