Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 4.0, Only 2 QBs Remain
 Bill Belichick has a lot of moves to make for a pretty deep Patriots roster in 2014. (USA TODAY Images) |
The New England Patriots made some surprise moves this weekend cutting veterans Tommy Kelly, Will Smith, and James Anderson. Kelly seemed to be rehabbing well from his ACL surgery and took most of the first team reps on the defensive line. He played well during the past two pre-season games and seemed destined to start next to Vince Wilfork. But at 33, the team seems intent with going with younger players, still it seems strange to cut ties to Kelly with both Chris Jones and Sealver Siliga sidelined with injuries.
Anderson seemed to adapt well in the coverage linebacker role the team envisioned for him but perhaps they saw something in film that also projects them to go younger. Smith didn’t seem comfortable in the mainly 3-4 role that plugged him in so that in itself wasn’t a big surprise.
So, here is a look at the: “53 Man Roster Projection 4.0 Training Camp” We’ll break down the positions and take a look at how the players fit and performed in training camp and try to name a Patriots roster for 2014.
Here’s a look at our first projection, done after the 2014 NFL Draft.
Projection #2 after mini-camp can be found here:
And Projection #3 mid-way thru training camp is here:
The team has to make some cuts to get down to the 75 man limit by 4 p.m. on Tuesday. So first up, the Offense…
 The Patriots will need a healthy and improved Aaron Dobson in 2014. (USA TODAY Images) |
Quarterback - Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Garappolo
Brady has been in mid-season form and looks ready to go. This is the first major change as the team saves a roster spot and releases or finally trades Mallett to make room elsewhere on the roster for depth.
Garappolo seems to be picking up the offense much quicker than anticipated and the team will go with him as the backup and Brady’s heir apparent.
Opening day roster – Brady, Garappolo (2)
Running Backs – Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, James White, Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray, Roy Finch
Lots of talk about Ridley and his fumbling but he is still the best pure running back with power they have, in White and Vereen, both are excellent in the passing game and can generate yards in limited roles in the running game.
Gray nudges Bolden out in this scenario as he can provide a capable backup to Ridley and with two pass catchers in the backfield, they could use the bigger body. Finch is intriguing as a pass catcher and returner and will be a practice squad candidate.
Opening day roster- Ridley, Vereen, White and Gray (4)
Tight End – Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui, James Develin, Steve Maneri, Justin Jones
Still the thinnest roster spot of them all, Gronkowski and Hooman aren’t ready for games yet and Maneri and Jones are all they have going into the Giants game for the pre-season finale. Neither will make the roster although Jones with his intriguing size could find a practice squad role.
Devlin is an emergency tight end but will still be the team’s fullback.
Opening Day Roster- Gronkowski, Hooman, Develin (3)
Wide Receiver– Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Brandon Lafell, Danny Amendola, Josh Boyce, Kenbrell Thompkins, Jeremy Gallon, Derrick Johnson, Brian Tyms, Wilson Van Hooser
Here is a place for the team to stash an extra player as Tyms may be kept without consequence for the first four weeks of the season while on a league mandated suspension and won’t count against the 53 man roster limit. This buys the team an extra month to decide whether to keep him or Boyce, who has underwhelmed this summer.
Edelman and Amendola have really turned it up a notch and are playing excellent. LaFell has gotten much more comfortable in the offense and has begun to get a little bit of that trust factor with Brady. Thompkins although a Brady favorite, is still plagued by inconsistency and for the time being will be at most a #3 option. Dobson is back at practice and may be ready for a Week 1 in Miami.
Opening Day Roster- Dobson, Edelman, Lafell, Amendola, Thompkins, Tyms*, Boyce (7*)
Offensive Line– Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Cameron Fleming, Marcus Cannon, RJ Mattes, Jordan Devey, Logan Mankins, Jon Halapio, Josh Kline, Chris Barker, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Bryan Stork, Braxston Cave
There has been so much mixing and matching along the offensive line, it is dizzying to keep up with but there are no major changes here. The best nine players (for now) make the roster, although this position will fluctuate especially earlier in the season.
For now Devey although playing a ton gets let go along with Wendell.
Open Day Roster – Solder, Vollmer, Fleming, Cannon, Mankins, Connolly, Kline, Halapio, Stork (9)
Total number Offense (24*) Next the Defense…
 Darrelle Revis anchors a revamped and improved New England secondary. (USA TODAY Images) |
Defensive End – Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jerel Worthy, Zach Moore, Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanan, Ben Bass
Jones and Ninkovich both are locked and both looked outstanding against the Panthers when having fresh legs. The biggest question is can they spell those two enough reps during the season to keep them that way.
With the team going for a heavy 3-4 look thru most of camp, these players are actually playing more of an OLB role but I don’t think that will continue and for now Buchanan nudges out Bass who we haven’t seen much of yet with Worthy. Both are eligible for the practice squad if they pass thru waivers.
Opening Day Roster – Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Moore, Worthy (5)
Defensive Tackle – Vince Wilfork, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Sealver Siliga, L.T.Tuipulotu, Eathyn Manumaleuna,
Jones and Siliga are injured and they are both needed to fill out the depth here. With Kelly being released, it opens the door for Vellano who has played very well in pre-season. We’re still waiting to see our first glimpse of Easley in a game situation although it may be awhile just yet.
Opening Day Roster – Wilfork, Easley, Vellano, Siliga, Jones (5)
Linebacker - Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Steven Beauharnais, Chris White James Anderson, Ja’Gared Davis, James Morris, Cameron Gordon, Darius Fleming, Taylor McCuller, Deontae Skinner
Mayo, Collins and Hightower are locked in as starters. Anderson’s release opens the door for youngsters Morris and Davis that nudge out Beauharnais who goes to the practice squad. Morris can more than function as a coverage linebacker and is a versatile player who can go in STs as well. Special teamer Chris White gets bumped off the roster in this view.
Opening Day Roster – Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Fleming, Davis, Morris (6)
Cornerback – Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner*, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Jemea Thomas, Daxton Swanson, Malcolm Butler, Travis Hawkins
Corner is still the deepest position on the team, Revis, Ryan, Dennard and Arrington are locks. Browner gets a four week exemption due to his suspension. Malcolm Butler has really turned heads in camp with solid play. He earns at least a 4 week reprieve due to Browner’s suspension but may also be some outstanding trade bait.
Thomas and Swanson, who flashed early but were injured are good candidates for the practice squad.
Opening Day Roster – Revis, Ryan, Dennard, Arrington, Butler, Browner* (6*)
Safety – Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung, Nate Ebner, Kanorris Davis, Tavon Wilson, Shamiel Gary
No change here, McCourty is locked into one position and Chung has made a late push for the other, getting a lot of repetitions. Harmon and Ebner lock down the other two slots as Tavon Wilson lands on the practice squad.
Opening Day Roster – McCourty, Harmon, Chung, Ebner (4)
Total number Defense (25*) Next Special Teams…
Specialists: Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Danny Aiken, Matthew Slater
Gostkowski and Allen were an excellent tandem in 2013, and nothing changes there. Gostkowski is solid and has been kicked a 60 yard field goals against the Panthers. We watched him kick several 64 yarders during mini-camp. Slater is a special team’s captain Pro-Bowler and a lock.
Opening Day Roster – Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken, Slater (4) Total Roster (53)
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