Projected Roster after Preseason Game 1

[doesntmatter1]

Agree. White's strongest run came in the Super Bowl. He's been pretty worthless as a runner before and after that run as he falls down at first contact. It's also very obvious that the Pats are passing when he's in the game. However, he's the only durable back.

I question if he is actually durable. I've never seen him take a big hit rushing because he rarely gets to the second level. I felt the same way about Benjarvus Green Ellis.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Those of you wanting to cut White are actually insane. I'm calling an asylum now.

 

[Sfpat]

Well, I’m not arguing against his ST value. I’m just saying that Richards actually plays defense, and that he did it more than 1/4 of the snaps last year.

That’s much different than the suggestion of Slater on offense or Ebner on defense. There’s no comparison, there. Richards plays his position.

More like he plays "on defense". To say he "plays defense" is a stretch

 

[mgteich]

I agree with 50 of these. As an aside, I think that it is simply silly to list Ebner as a safety. What were his reps by year at that position?

OFFENSE
I expect to see DECKER (player 51) on the team, even if it takes 8 games for him to become valuable. I suppose that you are right with regard to Britt being given a chance. I would cut CROSTONto make room for Decker, and try to move Croston to the Practice Squad (at full pay if necessary).

DEFENSE
I'm fine with everyone being set except McCourty and J Jones.
======
THE LAST TWO ROSTER SPOTS
For me, this is the battle at defensive back. I'm fine with the 6 plus our developmental DB The SEVEN: Gilmore, Rowe, Dawson, Jackson, Chung, Harmon and McCourty.

There are lots of players competing for the last two spots. I think we need a corner and a safety. One of the two needs to be a top corner. You have McCourty and J Jones. I agree that these are the current favorites. There are several youngsters with a shot at the roster. We could find a player from another team.

Offense 24

QB (2) T.Brady, B.Hoyer - no surprises here.

RB (6) S.Michel, J.Hill, R.Burkhead, J.White, J.Develin, B.Bolden - Hill beats out Gill and Webb in a numbers game.

WR (4) C.Hogan, K.Britt, C.Patterson, P.Dorsett - Decker has a long way to go to make the circle of trust. This is light but it only needs to be 4 games and no one they could add to the unit will help that make. Just throw it to TEs and RBs more.

TE (3) R.Gronkowski, D.Allen, J.Hollister - Not much to think about here.

OL (9) D.Andrews, S.Mason, J.Thuney, T.Brown, M.Cannon, I Wynn, Waddle, T. Karras, C. Croston - You can guess between Karra or Croston making it if you want. Personally I'd rather have both.

Defense 24

DE (4) T.Flowers, D.Wise, A.Clayborn, D.Rivers - There is no need to carry a 5th guy on the roster. He will never see the field in front of any of these 4 right now.

DT (5) L.Guy, D.Shelton, A.Butler, M.Brown, V.Valentine - Valentine barely makes the cut for now as the 9th DL. But it is close.

LB(5) D.Hightower, K. Van Noy, E.Roberts, J.Bentley, M.Flowers - Sam hasn't done anything yet and with Langi hurt and no one else to challenge this spot feels pretty locked up.

CB (6) S.Gilmore, E. Rowe, D.Dawson, J.McCourty, J.Jackson, J.Jones - McCourty makes it for now but Ryan Lewis or someone else could take that spot easily. The fact he didn't play at all last night was interesting to me. I just wonder how much youth they are comfortable with at this spot. If McCourty is cut you have Gilmore/Rowe and a bunch of kids really.

S (4) D.McCourty, D.Harmon, P.Chung, N.Ebner - Richards finally gets cut. After last nights game I don't see how his spot can be justified any longer. Even if he is a BB binkie.

ST (5) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona, Slater, King,

STs: Webb - RB, E. Pleasant - S. Lucien - WR, K. Davis - DE,

SUSP: Edelman - WR

 

[Ring 6]

I agree with 50 of these. As an aside, I think that it is simply silly to list Ebner as a safety. What were his reps by year at that position?

OFFENSE
I expect to see DECKER (player 51) on the team, even if it takes 8 games for him to become valuable. I suppose that you are right with regard to Britt being given a chance. I would cut CROSTONto make room for Decker, and try to move Croston to the Practice Squad (at full pay if necessary).

DEFENSE
I'm fine with everyone being set except McCourty and J Jones.
======
THE LAST TWO ROSTER SPOTS
For me, this is the battle at defensive back. I'm fine with the 6 plus our developmental DB The SEVEN: Gilmore, Rowe, Dawson, Jackson, Chung, Harmon and McCourty.

There are lots of players competing for the last two spots. I think we need a corner and a safety. One of the two needs to be a top corner. You have McCourty and J Jones. I agree that these are the current favorites. There are several youngsters with a shot at the roster. We could find a player from another team.

I know we love UDFAs around here but calling Jackson a lock is a stretch.

 

[mgteich]

fair enough

However, it seems that Jackson is the top UDFA, and we do like to keep at least one developmental player.

I know we love UDFAs around here but calling Jackson a lock is a stretch.

 

[luuked]

How in the world do you even begin to make a positional comparison of Richards, Ebner, and Slater?

Richards played 26% of the defensive reps, last year. Ebner played 0% of the defensive reps, and Slater played 1.14% of the offensive reps. There is absolutely no comparison, whatsoever. You can add in Bolden, King and whomever else, but Richards stands alone—and by far.

People look at Richards as a safety, because that’s exactly what the hell he is. He’s just better known for playing STs.

New England Patriots 2017 Snap Counts | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Because like Ebner or Slater or Bolden his main job is ST. The reason why he was used more frequently on D is because we played so much big nickel last year and not because he is a special case. Keep your fingers crossed for Pleasant to beat him out.

 

[luuked]

Those of you wanting to cut White are actually insane. I'm calling an asylum now.

Are there people actually suggesting this? Jebus the preseason binkie disease is strong this year.

 

[supafly]

Because like Ebner or Slater or Bolden his main job is ST. The reason why he was used more frequently on D is because we played so much big nickel last year and not because he is a special case. Keep your fingers crossed for Pleasant to beat him out.

I guess I’m assuming more of the same with the 4 safety looks versus certain teams again this year, and having Pleasant as the main competition isn’t doing much to lessen the concern for defensive playing time.

That’s not even getting into the injury situation, as it’s difficult to imagine the top 3 being able to take so many reps again, and if that happens that 4th safety is going to see more time than expected.

At any rate, the team is obviously in good hands with Belichick and his personnel decisions, so I’m sure he’s got a plan for everything. In the meantime, I wouldn’t be disappointed if Pleasant ended up beating Richards for that spot.

 

[Ring 6]

fair enough

However, it seems that Jackson is the top UDFA, and we do like to keep at least one developmental player.

It’s very early to say that and we don’t keep a udfa justcto keep a udfa. Crossen would also be a developmental player and we liked him enough to use a pick. Lewis spent a year on the ps, just to name a couple.

 

[PP2]

I need the facepalm emoji, stat!

 

[Brady6]

QB – Brady, Hoyer (2)
RB – Burkhead, White, Michel, Hill (4)
FB – Develin (1)
WR – Hogan, Dorsett, Patterson, Decker, Britt (5)
TE – Gronkowski, D Allen, Hollister (3)
OL – T Brown, Cannon, Andrews, Mason, Thuney, Wynn, Waddle, Croston (8)

DL – M Brown, Shelton, Guy, Butler, Valentine (5)
ED – T Flowers, Wise, Clayborn, Rivers (4)
LB – Hightower, Van Noy, M Flowers, Bentley (4)
CB – Gilmore, Rowe, Dawson, J Jones, C Jones, Jackson, Lewis (7)
SAF – D McCourty, Chung, Harmon, J McCourty (4)

K – Gostkowski (1)
P – R Allen (1)
LS – Cardona (1)
ST – Slater, Ebner, King (3)

 

[luuked]

QB – Brady, Hoyer (2)
RB – Burkhead, White, Michel, Hill (4)
FB – Develin (1)
WR – Hogan, Dorsett, Patterson, Decker, Britt (5)
TE – Gronkowski, D Allen, Hollister (3)
OL – T Brown, Cannon, Andrews, Mason, Thuney, Wynn, Waddle, Croston (8)

DL – M Brown, Shelton, Guy, Butler, Valentine (5)
ED – T Flowers, Wise, Clayborn, Rivers (4)
LB – Hightower, Van Noy, M Flowers, Bentley (4)
CB – Gilmore, Rowe, Dawson, J Jones, C Jones, Jackson, Lewis (7)
SAF – D McCourty, Chung, Harmon, J McCourty (4)

K – Gostkowski (1)
P – R Allen (1)
LS – Cardona (1)
ST – Slater, Ebner, King (3)

Makes you wonder if it is already too late to start the JMac safety conversion process. Think it will end up Pleasant instead of JMac but the rest seems like a very good guess.

 

[turkeyneck]

Lucien stays. Britt doesn't.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t White our best pass blocking running back? Seems kind of important with a 41 year old quarterback.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t White our best pass blocking running back? Seems kind of important with a 41 year old quarterback.

What idiot is proposing he should be cut?

 

[Hyped]

Here's my guess as of the end of the 1st pre-season game:

Roster locks in BOLD.

QB (2) - Tom Brady & Brian Hoyer
OL (8) - Trent Brown, Isaiah Wynn, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, LaAdrian Waddle, & Ted Karras
RB (6) - James White, Sony Michel, James Develin, Brandon Bolden**, Rex Burkhead, & Jeremy Hill
TE (3) - Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, & Jacob Hollister
WR (6) - Chris Hogan, Philip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson**, Matthew Slater**, Eric Decker, & Kenny Britt

Offense total: 25

DE (4) - Trey Flowers, Adrian Claybon, Deatrich Wise Jr., & Derek Rivers
DT (5) - Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine, & Adam Butler
LB (6) - Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Marquis Flowers, Ja'Whaun Bentley, & Brandon King**
CB (5) - Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, & Ryan Lewis
S (5) - Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Duke Dawson, & Nate Ebner**

Defense total: 25

K (1) - Stephen Gostkowski
P (1) - Ryan Allen
LS (1) - Joe Cardona

Specialists total: 3

Suspended: Julian Edelman
PUP: Harvey Langi
** = Core ST'er.

Note: Patriots.com has Duke Dawson listed as a safety on their unofficial depth chart. Interesting...

 

[jah]

Here's my guess as of the end of the 1st pre-season game:

Roster locks in BOLD.

QB (2) - Tom Brady & Brian Hoyer
OL (8) - Trent Brown, Isaiah Wynn, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, LaAdrian Waddle, & Ted Karras
RB (6) - James White, Sony Michel, James Develin, Brandon Bolden**, Rex Burkhead, & Jeremy Hill
TE (3) - Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, & Jacob Hollister
WR (6) - Chris Hogan, Philip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson**, Matthew Slater**, Eric Decker, & Kenny Britt

Offense total: 25

DE (4) - Trey Flowers, Adrian Claybon, Deatrich Wise Jr., & Derek Rivers
DT (5) - Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, Lawrence Guy, Vincent Valentine, & Adam Butler
LB (6) - Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Marquis Flowers, Ja'Whaun Bentley, & Brandon King**
CB (5) - Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, & Ryan Lewis
S (5) - Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Duke Dawson, & Nate Ebner**

Defense total: 25

K (1) - Stephen Gostkowski
P (1) - Ryan Allen
LS (1) - Joe Cardona

Specialists total: 3

Suspended: Julian Edelman
PUP: Harvey Langi
** = Core ST'er.

Note: Patriots.com has Duke Dawson listed as a safety on their unofficial depth chart. Interesting...

Langi can't go on the PUP. I don't disagree with anything else on here, except who would return punts?

 

[captain stone]

Does anyone remember the name of that web page from which we can click & drag our roster predictions? Haven't seen it used here this season.

 

[Brady6]

Makes you wonder if it is already too late to start the JMac safety conversion process. Think it will end up Pleasant instead of JMac but the rest seems like a very good guess.

JMac played some safety and even some OLB with Cleveland last year so I think he can do it here as well. I believe he is a better option than Richards or Pleasant.