Roster Allocation Of Positions

[mgteich]

Yes, the last few spots can from any position, and injuries will be key in making the final choices. But, still, what do we want? My choices are below. Compared to last year, we have added a 3rd quarterback and taken the position from the defense (no 5th safety).

While anything can happen at the end, it seems reasonable for me to have a set of numbers in my head. Otherwise, the tempatation is to keep an extra player or two when discussing specific units. Sure, we would like a 6th RB, a 7th WR, a 4th TE, a 10th OL, a 16th and a 17th front seven player, and a 10th DB. But then that's why we would like a 60 man roster.

For me, I would not want to go below these numbers. My last (least value) position is the 5th RB. So, I could see giving that position back to the defense (10th DB or 16th front seven player). That is the last decision to make.

======================

OFFENSE (26)
QB (3) We finally have 3 again.
RB (5) The backups need to be special teamers.
WR (6) This includes one special teamer and one returner.
TE (3)
OT (4)
OG/C (5)

DEFENSE (24)
DL/LB (15) Includes one special teams only player
CB (5)
S (4)

SPECIALISTS (3)
K
P
LS

 

[patsfaninpa]

Yes, the last few spots can from any position, and injuries will be key in making the final choices. But, still, what do we want? My choices are below. Compared to last year, we have added a 3rd quarterback and taken the position from the defense (no 5th safety).

While anything can happen at the end, it seems reasonable for me to have a set of numbers in my head. Otherwise, the tempatation is to keep an extra player or two when discussing specific units. Sure, we would like a 6th RB, a 7th WR, a 4th TE, a 10th OL, a 16th and a 17th front seven player, and a 10th DB. But then that's why we would like a 60 man roster.

For me, I would not want to go below these numbers. My last (least value) position is the 5th RB. So, I could see giving that position back to the defense (10th DB or 16th front seven player). That is the last decision to make.

======================

OFFENSE (26)
QB (3) We finally have 3 again.
RB (5) The backups need to be special teamers.
WR (6) This includes one special teamer and one returner.
TE (3)
OT (4)
OG/C (5)

DEFENSE (24)
DL/LB (15) Includes one special teams only player
CB (5)
S (4)

SPECIALISTS (3)
K
P
LS

Good job recapping. I even agree about the 5th rb. That may come down to whether S. Vereen is healthy or not. If he's healthy and looking good(Which I expect) Sammy Morris is in trouble. I would side with the 10th db.

Do ya think Yeatman makes it to the practice squad if we cut him? Looks like a RT project and even caught a couple of balls the other night.

DL is the most interesting thing to follow for me. We won't know until the cuts are made because a lot will depend on practice and conditioning. We just don't know what BB thinks about the status of certain guys. I have 9 dl and 6 lb's. Hope we can get a couple of lb's to the practice squad. Tarpinian and maybe someone cut from another squad that has been running the 4-3 longer and has better depth than us at the olb position in that defense.

 

[Mark Morse]

Final cuts are going to be a ***** this year! I think you see a few players traded for draft pick, and not conditional either) before they get cut.

 

[Fencer]

One consideration:

At which positions do we have guys PUPed who are good candidates to contribute later in the year?

The obvious answers are RB (Faulk) and DL (Brace, Deaderick).

 

[patfanken]

Final cuts are going to be a ***** this year! I think you see a few players traded for draft pick, and not conditional either) before they get cut.

I really doubt that there will be any trades involving the last cuts. There are still a lot of FA's who haven't been picked up yet; We will certainly have many scouts at our preseaon games, but that is only to make note of who THEY like if they become available.

MG, I enjoy the thought process and effort in these posts. I always read them. But this is like shooting in the dark. The only thing I can add is that perhaps the PR comes from the RB camp IF Vareen is as quick as they say and has the hands that they say. I would prefer that the PR be a RB since he's the guy who is the professional at what we'd like to see happen....which is running the ball. Nothing against Edelman, who did a fantastic job last season

 

[mgteich]

Ellis (PUP) and Cannon (NFI) are also possibilities in addition to Faulk, Brace and Deaderick.

One consideration:

At which positions do we have guys PUPed who are good candidates to contribute later in the year?

The obvious answers are RB (Faulk) and DL (Brace, Deaderick).

 

[mgteich]

I think Tarpinian is very safe on the Practice Squad. Yeatmen is more likely to be picked up, but this not the kind of thing that Belichick worries about.

Good job recapping. I even agree about the 5th rb. That may come down to whether S. Vereen is healthy or not. If he's healthy and looking good(Which I expect) Sammy Morris is in trouble. I would side with the 10th db.

Do ya think Yeatman makes it to the practice squad if we cut him? Looks like a RT project and even caught a couple of balls the other night.

DL is the most interesting thing to follow for me. We won't know until the cuts are made because a lot will depend on practice and conditioning. We just don't know what BB thinks about the status of certain guys. I have 9 dl and 6 lb's. Hope we can get a couple of lb's to the practice squad. Tarpinian and maybe someone cut from another squad that has been running the 4-3 longer and has better depth than us at the olb position in that defense.

 

[Metaphors]

For me, I would not want to go below these numbers. My last (least value) position is the 5th RB. So, I could see giving that position back to the defense (10th DB or 16th front seven player). That is the last decision to make.

When looking at the roster in this way, I like to consider a couple of things:
- Gameday actives vs. inactives
- Dedicated ST players

For example, Light isn't competing for one of four OT spots...he is competing for one of three active OT spots. And Belichick always keeps a couple of players that practice, eat, sleep, breathe the kicking game and are only loosely on the depth chart at other positions (Slater and White being the latest).

If you just go chalk on the roster, you end up with players that either don't play ST (Branch) or are limited there (Sanders)...plus you have to get rid of talented youngsters (like Tate/Price/Love/Deaderick/Pryor/Sergio/Butler/Barrett) that could still develop into excellent players.

If injuries don't thin out the herd, I'm thinking that older and/or more expensive players that we assume are safely on the roster could be surprise cuts. Branch, Warren, Wright, Sanders and White seem like the candidates to me. We go through the roster guessing exercise every year and it never turns out exactly as expected. Given the roster depth and non-existent offseason, this year should be no different.

 

[The Scrizz]

I think Tarpinian is very safe on the Practice Squad. Yeatmen is more likely to be picked up, but this not the kind of thing that Belichick worries about.

I agree abut Tarp, I also think Markell Carter gets through. BB may not worry about Yeatman but I don't think OTG would survive that tragedy. I think he's looked better than Smith in the 1 day of camp I made it to and the 1st game. Still a lot of football left before final cuts but I am rooting for Yeats!

 

[nnmnmmnn]

So with the change to the third QB rule... Bill is only going to dress 2 QBs and use the extra spot elsewhere. That's a given, right?

 

[Coach42]

I hate having to carry 3 QBs. Good players are going to be cut, which sucks. However, that just shows you how bad ass the Patriots could be this year.

 

[Ring 6]

So with the change to the third QB rule... Bill is only going to dress 2 QBs and use the extra spot elsewhere. That's a given, right?

I would imagine that since we have carried only 2 QBs many times, BB will see having a 46th active as more valuable than covering the risk of 2 QB injuries in one game.