This year's UDFA to make the team?

[MosiT]

It's no myth that this team is so good that it will be very hard for an UDFA to make the team, and the odds are long for two to make the team. Guyton and Redd have a shot, but that's all it is. The Pats roster is TIGHT.

I tend to agree about these two, especially Guyton.

Some people say they want to see how certain players look in pre season before they decide and I say that is about as useless as tits on a bull.

Unless coaches play some of these 3rd and 4th teamers against 1st and 2nd team opposition they never really get a true look at how they will perform.

Coaches go into preseason games and play first team offense against 1st team defense, and so on and on so many occasions some drafted rookie, or UD free agent, looks great but then he's only playing against other draftees or other UD free agent but then when they have to go up against realo NFL players, they look like the player that was an UDFA.

Year after year teams have players that look great in pre season games and all the fans are frothing at the bit and then one of two things happen, either the coaches know better and cut him, or he makes the team somehow and then when he has to perform against real players the truth comes out that he cant cut it.

That is what happens more often than not. Saying that you, as a fan, want to see more of him in pre season is totally ridiculous. Pre season, as any football fan knows means almost nothing. And each year it is getting to mean even more nothing than the previous year.

Coaches learn a lot more watching these kids in practice sessions than in pre season games. Most of them are just thrown into the pre season games so the team can fulfill their obligation to the NFL to play the games, but the coaches use these guys just so they dont have to use the regulars and to avoid the regulars from getting hurt.

Any UDFA that makes the team will have earned it from the practice field, not the pre season games.

And for the record, let it be known that I really dont know very much about football and the information i posted above was given to me by someone that knows more than I do, whatever that is good for I don't know.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Some people say they want to see how certain players look in pre season before they decide and I say that is about as useless as tits on a bull.

I feel totally chastised.

 

[MosiT]

I feel totally chastised.

And well you should. Whatever the hell that means.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

And well you should. Whatever the hell that means.

That shortage of Canadian to American to English dictionaries is truly having an effect on foreign relations.

 

[MosiT]

That shortage of Canadian to American to English dictionaries is truly having an effect on foreign relations.

Eh? ..........

And why are you sticking your tongue out. Does that have some sort of sinister or sexual meaning to it?

I mean, in your post you mention relations and stick out your tongue at the same time. Coincidence?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Eh? ..........

And why are you sticking your tongue out. Does that have some sort of sinister or sexual meaning to it?

I mean, in your post you mention relations and stick out your tongue at the same time. Coincidence?

Oops! Do you often get misidentified as a wench?

 

[MosiT]

Oops! Do you often get misidentified as a wench?

I get misidentified quite often. Do you?

 

[IcyPatriot]

I get misidentified quite often. Do you?

Wow ... NEM has huge balls coming in the Patriots forum.

Your charade will end soon hopefully.

 

[DaBruinz]

While I think Guyton or Redd has the most potential, I think Stupar is the most likely of the UDFA's to make the roster.

I think it will be tough for a 3rd LB to make the team as a rookie (assuming Mayo and Crable are locks).

OLB: Vrabel, Thomas, Woods, Crable
ILB: Bruschi, Mayo

There is 6 LB spots right there. Seau will make the team if he comes back, Izzo is likely to make the team as a special teamer, and Hobson seems like a good bet to play the strong inside position.

With the number of LB's at 9, then you add in Eric Alexander who has the experience (if not the results) and Bo Ruud who they thought enough of to use a 6th round pick on. I think 9 LB's on the 53 would be the maximum, so neither Ruud or Alexander is in a great spot to make the roster either.

Why would you think this? The Pats have carried as many as 13 LBs. In fact, I believe that they only carried less than double digits for the last 2 years. And I believe it was from a lack of talent available more than them liking DBs more.

The competition seems awfully stiff for Guyton or Redd to make the roster. Guyton probably has the better chance as he has the build and speed to play either inside or outside. My guess is that for Guyton to make the team he would have to make Izzo expendable on special teams. I do hope that we are able to keep Guyton or Redd on the practice squad if they show well in camp but are unable to crack the 53 man roster. My early guess at LB has Bruschi, Seau, Mayo, Vrabel, Thomas, Woods, Crable, Hobson, and Izzo making the 53 man roster.

At TE on the other hand, the competition is very weak for roster spots. Watson, Thomas, Spach, Pollard, and Stupar are the only TE's currently on the roster. The Patriots will likely keep 3 TE's and only Watson is an absolute lock to make the team. Thomas has been injured, Pollard looked awful the little I saw of him in Seattle last year, and Spach was a late season street free agent signing. I don't have a high opinion of Stupar, but the road to a roster spot at TE seems to be wide open. I do think the Patriots will likely sign a veteran blocking TE at some point, which will make a TE roster spot much more difficult to come by than it is right now. My guess is that Watson, vet blocking TE to be named later, and Thomas make the team. Pollard and Spach are kept on speed dial (like Rivers last year) and Stupar or another teams young TE ends up on the practice squad.

Its very likely that Watson starts the year on the PUP. Leaving Brady with just Thomas, and 2 other unknowns. Whether its Pollard, Spach, or Stupar.
My guess is that Pollard and Spach have the inside edges. Pollard because he's a mutli-year vet and Spach because he was very solid in the runblocking game last year.

 

[CoachK]

There is absolutely no reason an UDFA or two couldn't make this roster. I went to pats.com and looked at the roster. IMO, there are 33 locks to make the roster. Everyone else is fighting for a spot.

Tom Brady 	 QB 
Tedy Bruschi 	 LB 
Fernando Bryant 	 CB 
Shawn Crable 	 LB 
Kevin Faulk 	 RB 
Jabar Gaffney 	 WR 
Stephen Gostkowski 	 K 
Jarvis Green 	 DL 
Rodney Harrison 	 S 
Ellis Hobbs III 	 CB 
Chad Jackson 	 WR 
Nick Kaczur 	 T 
Dan Koppen 	 C 
Matt Light 	 T 
Logan Mankins 	 G 
Laurence Maroney 	 RB 
Jerod Mayo 	 LB 
Brandon Meriweather 	 S 
Sammy Morris 	 RB 
Randy Moss 	 WR 
Stephen Neal  	 G  
James Sanders 	 S 
Richard Seymour 	 DL 
David Thomas 	 TE 
Adalius Thomas 	 LB 
Mike Vrabel 	 LB 
Ty Warren 	 DL 
Kelley Washington 	 WR 
Benjamin Watson 	 TE 
Wes Welker 	 WR 
Terrence Wheatley 	 CB 
Vince Wilfork 	 DL 
Jonathan Wilhite 	 CB

The rest of these guys are all fighting to make the roster and IMO are all on the same playing field, either UDFA or vet.

Sam Aiken  	 WR  
Eric Alexander 	 LB 
Willie Andrews 	 DB 
Wesley Britt 	 T 
Josh Coffman 	 T 
Dan Connolly 	 OL 
Mark Dillard 	 S 
Kyle Eckel 	 FB 
Heath Evans 	 FB 
Carlos Feliciano 	 DT 
BenJarvus Green-Ellis 	 RB 
Matt Gutierrez 	 QB 
Gary Guyton 	 LB 
Chris Hanson 	 P 
Victor Hobson 	 LB 
Russ Hochstein 	 G/C 
Larry Izzo 	 LB 
C.J. Jones 	 WR 
Jimmy Martin 	 OL 
Chris Norwell 	 DE 
Ryan O'Callaghan 	 T 
Kevin O'Connell 	 QB 
Lonie Paxton 	 LS 
Scott Player 	 P 
Marcus Pollard 	 TE 
Vince Redd 	 LB 
Mike Richardson 	 CB 
Bo Ruud 	 LB 
Lewis Sanders 	 CB 
Matthew Slater 	 WR 
Kenny Smith 	 DL 
Le Kevin Smith 	 DL 
Henry Smith 	 NT 
Stephen Spach 	 TE 
Antwain Spann 	 CB 
Jonathan Stupar 	 TE 
Santonio Thomas 	 DL 
Casey Tyler 	 DE 
Raymond Ventrone 	 S 
Jason Webster 	 CB 
Ryan Wendell 	 C 
Tank Williams 	 S 
Pierre Woods 	 LB 
Mike Wright 	 DL 
Billy Yates 	 G 
Matt Cassel 	 QB

You might be able to quibble here and there, but even if you say there are 40 locks, that still leaves 13 spots up for grabs.

Just some quibbling to get through the off-season.

I'm not sure you could say Whilhite is a "lock". I would be comfortable saying Webster is a "lock".

 

[spacecrime]

Thomas, Spach, Pollard, and Stupar are the only TE's currently on the roster. The Patriots will likely keep 3 TE's and only Watson is an absolute lock to make the team. Thomas has been injured, Pollard looked awful the little I saw of him in Seattle last year, and Spach was a late season street free agent signing. I don't have a high opinion of Stupar, but the road to a roster spot at TE seems to be wide open.

I doubt that BB will cut Thomas and keep an UDFA because Thomas dropped a weight on his foot in the weight room. That's kinda dumb. You cut the UFDA, put him on the PS, and then if Thomas or Watson gets hurt, you activate him. I think it is safe to assume that Thomas won't get cut in TC.

Not sure about Pollard, he could be done. But don't discount wiley vets who have lost a step shining on the Patriots with a different team around them.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I tend to agree about these two, especially Guyton.

Some people say they want to see how certain players look in pre season before they decide and I say that is about as useless as tits on a bull.

MosiT pokes a stick in Box's direction - who'd a thought that would happen...

Unless coaches play some of these 3rd and 4th teamers against 1st and 2nd team opposition they never really get a true look at how they will perform.

Where have I heard that lament before, let me think...

Coaches go into preseason games and play first team offense against 1st team defense, and so on and on so many occasions some drafted rookie, or UD free agent, looks great but then he's only playing against other draftees or other UD free agent but then when they have to go up against realo NFL players, they look like the player that was an UDFA.

Year after year teams have players that look great in pre season games and all the fans are frothing at the bit and then one of two things happen, either the coaches know better and cut him, or he makes the team somehow and then when he has to perform against real players the truth comes out that he cant cut it.

Sounds like what someone predicated would happen to Welker...

That is what happens more often than not. Saying that you, as a fan, want to see more of him in pre season is totally ridiculous. Pre season, as any football fan knows means almost nothing. And each year it is getting to mean even more nothing than the previous year.

Coaches learn a lot more watching these kids in practice sessions than in pre season games. Most of them are just thrown into the pre season games so the team can fulfill their obligation to the NFL to play the games, but the coaches use these guys just so they dont have to use the regulars and to avoid the regulars from getting hurt.

Any UDFA that makes the team will have earned it from the practice field, not the pre season games.

And for the record, let it be known that I really dont know very much about football and the information i posted above was given to me by someone that knows more than I do, whatever that is good for I don't know.

LOL - sounds like someone is trying to play the just a neighbor posting for the cause card again, too.

 

[fgssand]

actually, its 21 if you include the 8 practice squad spots some guys will be fighting for.

BTW, I think its a mistake to say that Woods, Wright, Yates, Paxton and Hobson aren't locks for this team.

I agree with these five and will go so far as to say Paxton is on this team - NO question, unless he breaks his arms and legs. Maybe an up and comer could beat out Woods or Hobson, but I doubt it.

 

[tombonneau]

Evans is almost a lock to make the team, the coaches and teammates love him. And how can you not be pumped when that big rumbler gets the ball? I really hope we give him some more playing time too.

How can anyone be excited when Evans touches the ball? He is slow, lacks vision, can't catch, and falls down immediately on contact. I don't think I've seen him break a tackle since that Miami game three years ago.

He must do a lot of little things right when he doesn't have the ball, because he is next to useless with it.

 

[tombonneau]

I agree with these five and will go so far as to say Paxton is on this team - NO question, unless he breaks his arms and legs. Maybe an up and comer could beat out Woods or Hobson, but I doubt it.

I think I read one of the TEs in camp was long-snapping. I'd MUCH rather have a legit #4 TE as the longsnapper rather than use the roster spot for a specialist who can only snap.

I know everyone likes to pretend that longsnapping is on par with splitting the atom, but I'd like to think there are actually people in the NFL who can do one job and still manage to competently long snap.

Though I have to admit, I was a few rows behind the Lonnie Paxton cheering section at the SB, and his girlfriend is SMOKING hot. Ridiculous.

 

[spacecrime]

Some people say they want to see how certain players look in pre season before they decide and I say that is about as useless as tits on a bull.

???? So then how to you decide who makes the team and who doesn/t?

 

[spacecrime]

Wow ... NEM has huge balls coming in the Patriots forum.

Your charade will end soon hopefully.

I thought it might have been bsamson or mikey or some other instigator from the past. No one is this dumb.

 

[MosiT]

I think I read one of the TEs in camp was long-snapping. I'd MUCH rather have a legit #4 TE as the longsnapper rather than use the roster spot for a specialist who can only snap.

.

That makes a lot of sense. Over the past several years the Pats have been very fortunate to have who I believe is the premiere long snapper in the NFL, Lonnie Paxton.

He has been the mainstay of the special teams kickers, punter and place kickers, and as one can recall over these years, there have been virtually no screwups with bad long snaps.

If there were a place on the pro bowl team for long snappers, Paxton would be the most deserving. Of course, I am biased.

But, in either case, there has been talk of Paxton wanting to move on or out or retire, etc. and its time to start looking for his replacement.

PS, what is that little red dot at the top where the number of my posts is?

 

[spacecrime]

PS, what is that little red dot at the top where the number of my posts is?

It's a way of recognizing those who are assets to the website (and those who are not).

If you look at the dark blue bar at the top of a post, there is an underlined number, a set of justice scales, and an exclamation point in a triangle. The underined number is the number that this particular post is in the thread, the exclamation point in the triangle is to notify the moderators of a post that violates the rules, and the scales allows you to give positive or negative feedback to the poster of that particular post.

You start off with a certain number of positive points, and that goes up or down depending on the feedback you get.

There are some rules to it posted somewhere on the site. You can't give feedback to yourself, for instance, and you can't keep giving the same person feedback, stuff like that. So your color indicates in a general way what the Patsfans community thinks of your posts.

I had forgotten all about it until you asked, and I don't think many people bother with it unless someone is especially onerous, or consistently provides quality discussion.

 

[Boston Tim]

Thanks for the info.