47 Locks Or Close

mgteich · Apr 29, 2017

Almost anyone is upgradable. And I understand that some of these could be beaten out for a roster spot. However, I think it reasonable to focus on the last 6 roster spots. A couple of more could be consider open (Ealy? Andrews) but I don't see them being beaten out. Obviously, we almost always sign a free agent to upgrade positions beyond the six I listed. I find it extremely unlikely that any of the 46 would be beaten out by an UDFA or even by a JAG signing.

OFFENSE (22)
3 QB Brady, Garappolo, Brisset
5 WR Cooks, Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Amendola (includes punt returners)
4 RB Gillislee, White, Burkhead, Lewis
1 FB Develin
2 TE Gronkowksi, Allen
3 OT Solder, Cannon, Garcia
2 OG Thuney, Mason
1 C Andrews
1 ST Slater

The open spots are on the OL and the #3 TE (if there is one).

DEFENSE (22)
8 DL Flowers, Guy, Brown, Branch, Valentine, Ealy, Rivers, Wise
4 LB Hightower, Ninkovich, McClellan, Van Noy
4 CB Gilmore, Butler, Rowe, C Jones
3 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon
3 ST Ebner, J Jones, King

We need an addition DT, a corner, a STer and perhaps a SS.

SPECIALISTS (3)
3 SPEC Gostkowski, Allen, Cordona

ausbacker · Apr 29, 2017

I'm going to come out and say it; THIS ROSTER LOOKS ****ING SWEET.

Deus Irae · Apr 29, 2017

Lansdowne · Apr 29, 2017

Slater and Develin should be locks, with Slater as the best gunner in the league, and Develin (who I believe got 3 All-Pro votes as a special teamer, is one of the best fullbacks in the league, and signed an extension recently).

Chevy · Apr 29, 2017

Locks or Close ... What about Devlin? Didn't he just sign a 2 year deal?

pazrul72 · Apr 29, 2017

The true impressiveness of that roster isn't so much the top end talent, though Brady and Gronk are both all pros, it's the insane depth of it. You can go 46 deep without finding a C minus or worse player. That's unfuggin believable! With the exception of Hightower I see not one well there goes the Super Bowl injury. Gronk goes down? Well Allen is still serviceable. Brady? Grop is at least solid. Gilmore? Butler is the man. Branch? Brown/valentine/guy is a pretty good rotation. Eldeman? Time for cooks to earn his money. Solder? I think Garcia could at least hold down the fort. Hogan? Mitchell with a year two leap could be exciting. I would bet good money our second string could beat the bottom 10 teams in the league.

mgteich · Apr 29, 2017

BoTown said:
Slater and Develin should be locks, with Slater as the best gunner in the league, and Develin (who I believe got 3 All-Pro votes as a special teamer, is one of the best fullbacks in the league, and signed an extension recently).

Slater is there.
I forgot Develin. I have made the edit.

mgteich · Apr 29, 2017

pazrul72 said:
The true impressiveness of that roster isn't so much the top end talent, though Brady and Gronk are both all pros, it's the insane depth of it. You can go 46 deep without finding a C minus or worse player. That's unfuggin believable! With the exception of Hightower I see not one well there goes the Super Bowl injury. Gronk goes down? Well Allen is still serviceable. Brady? Grop is at least solid. Gilmore? Butler is the man. Branch? Brown/valentine/guy is a pretty good rotation. Eldeman? Time for cooks to earn his money. Solder? I think Garcia could at least hold down the fort. Hogan? Mitchell with a year two leap could be exciting. I would bet good money our second string could beat the bottom 10 teams in the league.

Garcia is NOT ready to hold down the fort at LT. However, Fleming and Waddle have both started at LT, and one is very, very likely to be on the 53.

jboston19 · Apr 29, 2017

I was going to ask if McClellan and Van Noy were locks or just highly probable, but seeing as there's only 1 fa linebacker right now, they don't seem to have much competition.

pazrul72 · Apr 29, 2017

mgteich said:
Garcia is NOT ready to hold down the fort at LT. However, Fleming and Waddle have both started at LT, and one is very, very likely to be on the 53.

I disagree. By hold down the fort I mean if Solder gets dinged up and has to miss a game or three I think he could do an at least average job. I saw some seriously quick feet and excellent pass blocking from him in everything I watched. No push in the run game but that's ok for a game or two I can deal with that. I do agree that the best thing for him would be to ride the bench, hit the weight room, and learn the position first but I saw enough natural talent and athleticism to feel comfortable saying he can be at least ok with protection being slide to his side, quick throws, or a TE being kept in. You know things you can do to hide weaker players who aren't quite ready for prime time yet but are serviceable.

Edelmania · Apr 29, 2017

Sweet roster. I wouldnt put Ninko and King on the lock list, and I would probably add Roberts.

smg93 · Apr 29, 2017

pazrul72 said:
I disagree. By hold down the fort I mean if Solder gets dinged up and has to miss a game or three I think he could do an at least average job. I saw some seriously quick feet and excellent pass blocking from him in everything I watched. No push in the run game but that's ok for a game or two I can deal with that. I do agree that the best thing for him would be to ride the bench, hit the weight room, and learn the position first but I saw enough natural talent and athleticism to feel comfortable saying he can be at least ok with protection being slide to his side, quick throws, or a TE being kept in. You know things you can do to hide weaker players who aren't quite ready for prime time yet but are serviceable.

How about we see him in at least one practice first....

PatsFanSince74 · Apr 29, 2017

Thanks to the OP for the timely and thorough reminder!

After reading some of the threads out here since February, I'd started to think that maybe Belichick didn't know how to put a team together.

BaconGrundleCandy · Apr 29, 2017

Been saying for weeks and today only made us better. This is the most balanced, talented and deepest team in the league.

It's special.

BobDigital · Apr 29, 2017

I don't worry about the end of the 53 that much really. It is always nice to fill it out.

I still feel like the Pats have a big hole at LB #2 and if Hightower goes down for a period of time they have no solution for it.

I.M. Fletcher · Apr 30, 2017

BaconGrundleCandy said:
Been saying for weeks and today only made us better. This is the most balanced, talented and deepest team in the league.

It's special.

I don't think that is going far enough.

This roster could fight to be one of the greatest teams of any era. It simply doesn't have a significant hole, or depth issues anywhere. It is littered with All Pros and Pro Bowlers all over the field, to the point that losing any single player isn't catastrophic. They could lose the greatest player in the history of the game, and still win the AFC. Think about that for a second. It perfectly blends quality and quantity, so there is always plenty of competition and defined roles for everyone to succeed within.

I have never seen a team so well constructed from top to bottom. And we arent done with the 90 man roster yet. There will still be a vet or two that could bring something else to the table, and the UDFAs look like a lively bunch as well.

ViperGTS · Apr 30, 2017

I.M. Fletcher said:
I don't think that is going far enough.

This roster could fight to be one of the greatest teams of any era. It simply doesn't have a significant hole, or depth issues anywhere. It is littered with All Pros and Pro Bowlers all over the field, to the point that losing any single player isn't catastrophic. They could lose the greatest player in the history of the game, and still win the AFC. Think about that for a second. It perfectly blends quality and quantity, so there is always plenty of competition and defined roles for everyone to succeed within.

I have never seen a team so well constructed from top to bottom. And we arent done with the 90 man roster yet. There will still be a vet or two that could bring something else to the table, and the UDFAs look like a lively bunch as well.

It has one decent hole. The LB position. Roberts is good but has some weaknesses. It can be masked, like they did last season, but a nice complement to Hightower woods be nice.

Patsgofor4 · Apr 30, 2017

mgteich said:
Almost anyone is upgradable. And I understand that some of these could be beaten out for a roster spot. However, I think it reasonable to focus on the last 6 roster spots. A couple of more could be consider open (Ealy? Andrews) but I don't see them being beaten out. Obviously, we almost always sign a free agent to upgrade positions beyond the six I listed. I find it extremely unlikely that any of the 46 would be beaten out by an UDFA or even by a JAG signing.

OFFENSE (22)
3 QB Brady, Garappolo, Brisset
5 WR Cooks, Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Amendola (includes punt returners)
4 RB Gillislee, White, Burkhead, Lewis
1 FB Develin
2 TE Gronkowksi, Allen
3 OT Solder, Cannon, Garcia
2 OG Thuney, Mason
1 C Andrews
1 ST Slater

The open spots are on the OL and the #3 TE (if there is one).

DEFENSE (22)
8 DL Flowers, Guy, Brown, Branch, Valentine, Ealy, Rivers, Wise
4 LB Hightower, Ninkovich, McClellan, Van Noy
4 CB Gilmore, Butler, Rowe, C Jones
3 S McCourty, Chung, Harmon
3 ST Ebner, J Jones, King

We need an addition DT, a corner, a STer and perhaps a SS.

SPECIALISTS (3)
3 SPEC Gostkowski, Allen, Cordona

Did McClellan make enough plays last year to warrant a guaranteed spot? IMO, no? Ninkovich is likely safe but he really seems to be a step slower last year. He wasn't as disruptive in the backfield and had a hard time setting the edge. I wonder whether the double dip at DE this weekend and the other DL additions foreshadows a change to LB.

meatface · Apr 30, 2017

I don't know if I would call Lewis a lock, which feels weird to say.

rookBoston · Apr 30, 2017

Here's the part I love most about this roster.

Our 2nd team offense...

QB Garoppolo
RB Burkhead, Lewis
WR Hogan, Amendola, Mitchell
TE Allen
OL Garcia, Barker, Karras, Waddle, Fleming

... versus the Jets starting 11...

QB McCown
RB Forte, Powell
WR Decker, Enunwa, Peake
TE Bowman
OL Ijalana, Carpenter, Johnson, Winters, Beachum

Good god, how is it even fair that our bench strength are better than their starters?

47 Locks Or Close

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