We are likely to set a record

[mgteich]

What is the fewest number of rookies to make the 53-man squad in the bb era? I will be surprised if as many as five make it this year. I am rooting for five: Meriweather, Brown, Hairston, Lua and Gutierrez. I think three or four is more likely.

 

[JoeSixPat]

What is the fewest number of rookies to make the 53-man squad in the bb era? I will be surprised if as many as five make it this year. I am rooting for five: Meriweather, Brown, Hairston, Lua and Gutierrez. I think three or four is more likely.

No idea - but since Lua wound up being a special teams contributor at USC I think that's working in his favor big time - and I have a feeling that he's going to prove himself to be too tempting to leave on the practice squad... though a medical redshirt/IR is possible with some of these guys

 

[mgteich]

The other list someone might consider making is a list of all the draftees we've lost form the Practice Squad in the last six seasons. I think the list is very short. We won't use a roster spot for Lua, unless we think that he can contribute, which is quite possible.

No idea - but since Lua wound up being a special teams contributor at USC I think that's working in his favor big time - and I have a feeling that he's going to prove himself to be too tempting to leave on the practice squad... though a medical redshirt/IR is possible with some of these guys

 

[PatsFanInVa]

As we all know, young players are cheap players... so this might not be the kind of record we want to set.

But I've already run through half a dozen models of "why is this year different from every other year," and, much like Chomsky tossing every rule of transformative grammar and defaulting to "A transform alpha," I have decided the model is a purely descriptive function following an opportunistic value approach.

Still and all - it's a sign of a sh*t-hot offseason if we end up without room for many rooks, at the same time as being a sign that we'd better watch our wallet in the near future.

We're nowhere near "cap jail," from everything I know, but I'm not sure how many more "names" we can acquire, long-term. (It's already a logjam if we want to keep Stallworth and Moss next year, unless Randy has decided to officially designate himself a 501 C-3 charity for tax purposes.)

PFnV

 

[DarrylS]

What is the fewest number of rookies to make the 53-man squad in the bb era? I will be surprised if as many as five make it this year. I am rooting for five: Meriweather, Brown, Hairston, Lua and Gutierrez. I think three or four is more likely.

From what I am reading Lua and Hairston are the most intriguing, not sure if we want to develop another QB right now, but who knows. See either Lua or Hairston getting red shirted this year..

 

[Mike the Brit]

I will be surprised if as many as five make it this year.

... if this is the year that we don't lose any players off the roster to injuries in training camp, I think that you could be right.

 

[JustWinBrady]

IMO, Pats will carry 2 QBs again, Gutierrez to the practice squard.

 

[dhamz]

That assumes no training camp injuries which is very unlikely.

 

[brdmaverick]

IMO, Pats will carry 2 QBs again, Gutierrez to the practice squard.

agreed (10 char)

 

[spacecrime]

The other list someone might consider making is a list of all the draftees we've lost form the Practice Squad in the last six seasons. I think the list is very short. We won't use a roster spot for Lua, unless we think that he can contribute, which is quite possible.

Trying to stash Cory Chapman on the practice squad hurt us dearly two years ago. Indy signed him the week before Dillon and Faulk got hurt. Not having a RB agaisnt Denver allowed them to ignore the run and tee off on Denver. There was no way of knowing ahead of time that Dillon and Faulk would get hurt, of course.

It isn't so much numbers taken from practice squads, but the quality of player. Naturally, only the very best players are taken from anyone's practice squad, but these are the guys you most do not want to lose.

Also, you need to consider not just those plucked from practice squads, but players claimed on waivers at final countdown. Guys like Andruzzi.

It is easy to say that very few are taken, because it is true. But you can't stash a very good player because there are a lot of teams with crappy depth.

If Lua is better than the raiders or cards 53rd man, he won't be taken from our practice squad. He'll be claimed on waivers.

You can't worry about it, but neither can you count on him being there.

As Yoda would say, "Cut or not cut. There is no stash."

 

[patchick]

As Yoda would say, "Cut or not cut. There is no stash."

Perfection!


I'd be surprised if fewer than 5 rookies made it: say Meriweather, Brown, Gutierrez, a linebacker (Lua is an early leader) and an OL (maybe Elgin). Even that would mean cutting 5 draft picks!

I'll believe there's no room when camp ends with no significant injuries or disappointments (think Ethan Kelley's sudden departure after showing up out of shape).

 

[Jimke]

Five sounds like a reasonable number of rookies to make the team.

In the case of Guiterrez, he will either show enough to make the 53

man roster or be cut outright. The Pats need a quarterback ready for

the 2009 season (when Cassel leaves) and won't mess around with

Guiterrez if he doesn't have the potential to be a future starter in an

emergency.

 

[JustWinBrady]

Five sounds like a reasonable number of rookies to make the team.

In the case of Guiterrez, he will either show enough to make the 53
man roster or be cut outright.

Any player that doesn't make the 53 is cut (unless IR'ed, PUP). Once cut they can then be added to any NFL team's practice squad as long as they are PS eligible. They may have to clear waivers first though

 

[Rob0729]

It all depends where the Pats feel they need to carry more depth.

If we do in fact resign Seau, we have a lot of bodies fighting for LB spots. We will have Thomas, Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau, Colvin, Wood, Alexander, and Izzo already on the roster. Wood and Alexander are both potential cut or practice squad candidates. We added Justin Rogers and Oscar Lau in the draft and a few other UDFAs. Rogers and/or Lau along with the UDFAs could be victims of a number game there.

Also, how many o-linemen will we carry? We already have Hochstein, Britt, Yates, Mruczkowski, and O'Callahan as back ups. That makes ten returning o-linemen from last year. Can either or all of Oldenberg, Elgin, and Hilliard play well enough to overtake any of these guys. With the depth we have at WR, we might be able to carry an extra o-lineman. But even so, I can't see all three guys making the final 53 man roster.

I think there are a couple of bubble players and positions with depth concerns that could impact the swing of how many rookies we keep. Considering most of the players we drafted were low round picks, it is a good bet that quite a few of them won't make the final 53 man roster.

 

[patsgo]

From what I am reading Lua and Hairston are the most intriguing, not sure if we want to develop another QB right now, but who knows. See either Lua or Hairston getting red shirted this year..

hairston couldnt catch a pass at rookie camp, and when he wasnt dropping them he was bobbling them,hes practice squad all over him

 

[primetime]

Perfection!


I'd be surprised if fewer than 5 rookies made it: say Meriweather, Brown, Gutierrez, a linebacker (Lua is an early leader) and an OL (maybe Elgin). Even that would mean cutting 5 draft picks!

I'll believe there's no room when camp ends with no significant injuries or disappointments (think Ethan Kelley's sudden departure after showing up out of shape).

I think Justin Rogers makes it over Lua because of more potential over the long term. But you never know.

 

[Rob0729]

I think Justin Rogers makes it over Lua because of more potential over the long term. But you never know.

I agree. Also, I think this the type of player the Pats like to make their LBs. Belichick loves to convert DEs to LBs because they are big and strong and are used to locking up with o-linemen. I never bought this team needed fast LBs like Briggs or Beason. They like them big, smart, and versatile.

 

[stinkypete]

What is the fewest number of rookies to make the 53-man squad in the bb era? I will be surprised if as many as five make it this year. I am rooting for five: Meriweather, Brown, Hairston, Lua and Gutierrez. I think three or four is more likely.

I'm going to say 3, Mariweather, Brown and Lua. If a 4th sneaks in, It may be Elgin. I think Hairston and Gutierrez make the practice squad, and will be on the 53 in 2008.