Roster Projections: Reiss, Rodak, Yates Unanimous: No Fullbacks make it

[BananaRepublican]

What's a fullback?

Two half backs mooshed together.

 

[patfanken]

I don't understand the Bolden love. I don't remember seeing him doing much to distinguish himself against the Bengal scrubs. If its a given that Demps is going to make the team, then I don't see Bolden on the initial 53 - 4 RBs are enough. I can see the possibilities of us adding a FB to that mix, but unlikely given the needs elsewhere.

 

[Sciz]

I don't understand the Bolden love. I don't remember seeing him doing much to distinguish himself against the Bengal scrubs.

Probably because he played against the Saints

 

[UK_Pat37]

I don't see the Bolden hype either. certainly a PS candidate but I just didn't see anything from him against the Saints.

The fact Kettani had his position changed to FB basically tells me they have every intention of carrying one...they wouldn't go to the trouble otherwise and just cut losses with the injuries there.

Kettani had a knock but if he can stay healthy and prove some worth at the position, no reason why he shouldn't make it.

Same thing with Fells...I think they envision taking a 3rd TE otherwise there would have been no point in activating him off of PUP.

So a 3rd TE and a FB seem like certainties.

Demps by no means a lock. Don't get the hype. He's lighter than he should be from Olympic prep, fumbled a lot in college and has missed the entire draft process...so we need to see if that has stunted his growth in any way. There is absolutely no room for him and Woodhead together...we'd be wasting a roster spot by taking both and they should ideally be in direct competition with one another.

I'm with the line of thinking that Koppen misses out, especially if Waters does return. We won't carry more than 9 OL....if we only carry 8 then someone like Thomas might find himself expendable too if waters does return.

For now, I have a spot open for Cole on the DB chart (giving me 10 in total) but if Waters does return, I think we will scrap a DB for him to fit in.

 

[Zeus]

Greg Bedard's piece today says McDaniel is intent on keeping a fullback.

But I don't see them keeping 4 TEs and a fullback.

Hopefuls on the spot in busy stretch - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[patsfan13]

I would rather carry 4 TE's than 3TE and a FB, a TE can be flexed into the backfield to provide blocking as needed or bu put in motion to block for a running play (remember D Graham and his wham blocks?).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Connolly doing a bunch of it. It seems that he's not a part of the center competition at all (Wendell seems to have already won), leaving him the role of keeping Waters' spot warm until he gets back. Then he's the 4th interior OL.

I prefer this possibility:

LT-LG-Wendell-Connolly-RT > LT-LG-Connolly-[any avail. RG]-RT

to the possibility that Wendell has actually beaten out Connolly, who was the starting center all of last season.

If/When Waters returns, I have a hard time thinking it'll be Wendell-Waters instead of Connolly-Waters.

 

[Rob0729]

Here's Greg Bedard's pass at it. He does have a fullback making the roster:

Hopefuls on the spot in busy stretch - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[The Gr8est]

Here's Greg Bedard's pass at it. He does have a fullback making the roster:

Hopefuls on the spot in busy stretch - Patriots - Boston.com

I don't see any way that both Branch and Schiancoe make it. I would expect Donald Thomas to make it instead of Branch; 8 OL with the questions, is too few.

Personnally, I would prefer Bolden over a FB. Ridley already has a knee injury, without him, there are no "bangers" among the group; it would truly be a RBBC in that case.

A TE or Connolly as a FB on occasion?

 

[WhiZa]

I don't see any way that both Branch and Schiancoe make it. I would expect Donald Thomas to make it instead of Branch; 8 OL with the questions, is too few.

Personnally, I would prefer Bolden over a FB. Ridley already has a knee injury, without him, there are no "bangers" among the group; it would truly be a RBBC in that case.

A TE or Connolly as a FB on occasion?

I agree. Looking at the cap numbers Branch is the highest paid WR opposite of Gaffney and Stallworth. Stallworth is making peanuts this year when you include bonuses (or lack their of). We might be able to keep Schiancoe and Fells if Fells stays on PUP and no FBs are kept.

Bolden might even play FB. If you remember BJGE's first year or two he played FB/ST as he worked his way up the ranks. Bolden actually looks more the part anyway.

 

[part-timer]

Qb- Brady,Hoyer,Mallett
TE- Gronk,Hernandez,Fells,(Ballard comes off PUP week 8, practices under exemption till week 11 and replaces Fells on roster).
Rb-Ridley,Vereen,Woodhead,Demps,Bolden
Wr-Lloyd,Welker,Gaffney,Stallworth,Slater
Ol-Soldier,Mankins,Connolly,Waters,Vollmer,Connon,Wendell,McDonald,Thomas (If Waters does not return, Koppen stays)
Cb-Mccourty,Dowling,Arrington,Moore,Cole,(Dennard to IR)
S -Chung,Gregory,Wilson,Ebner,Barrett
Lb-Spikes,Mayo,Hightower,Carpenter,Scott
De-Jones,Ninkovich,Fanene,Cunningham,Deaderick,Bequette
Dt-Wilfork,Love,Pryor,Brace
ST-Gostkowski,Mesko.Aiken

PS-WR Ebert,OT Hix,TE Silvestro,OL Kopa,FB Kettani,LB Rivera,DT Forston,Best CB prospect off waiver wire.

Tough cuts: Koppen,Edelman,Branch

 

[The Gr8est]

Qb- Brady,Hoyer,Mallett
TE- Gronk,Hernandez,Fells,(Ballard comes off PUP week 8, practices under exemption till week 11 and replaces Fells on roster).
Rb-Ridley,Vereen,Woodhead,Demps,Bolden
Wr-Lloyd,Welker,Gaffney,Stallworth,Slater
Ol-Soldier,Mankins,Connolly,Waters,Vollmer,Connon,Wendell,McDonald,Thomas (If Waters does not return, Koppen stays)
Cb-Mccourty,Dowling,Arrington,Moore,Cole,(Dennard to IR)
S -Chung,Gregory,Wilson,Ebner,Barrett
Lb-Spikes,Mayo,Hightower,Carpenter,Scott
De-Jones,Ninkovich,Fanene,Cunningham,Deaderick,Bequette
Dt-Wilfork,Love,Pryor,Brace
ST-Gostkowski,Mesko.Aiken

PS-WR Ebert,OT Hix,TE Silvestro,OL Kopa,FB Kettani,LB Rivera,DT Forston,Best CB prospect off waiver wire.

Tough cuts: Koppen,Edelman,Branch

Replace Barrett with Edelman and I am on board with this.