9/1 Roster - What's Not to Like?

[The Dynasty]

Vrabs can play inside as well but then you lose outside pressure. A.Thomas was a much better player last year on the outside and I'd like him to stay there.

Completely agree with that. I don't want Thomas to move to inside, he wouldnt be as effective. I like Vrabal outside as well.

 

[wdkantro2]

Perhaps because he has never caught a pass in an NFL game and probably won't any time soon.

I'm curious why Ventrone is listed as a safety, while he is clearly a receiver now.

He played four games in the preseason at receiver, zero at safety. In the offseason it was announced that he would be converted from safety to receiver. Do you know something that we don't?

 

[mgteich]

If either Bruschi or Mayo needs relief inside (or are injured), AT is playing inside. Get used to it! We are not depending on Alexander (we do remember how well that worked don't we?). And we will not depend on a rookie STer or Izzo.

As of now our #5 OLB is Woods, by a long way. So, I expect him to get more reps if one of the top four is off the field. I hope for Crable to be the #5, situational pass rushing, LB as the season progresses, but I really don't expect it. Jarvis Green does just fine.

You might guess from the above that I want Seau back when he is healthy, to share time inside, and to be available for the post season.

 

[Mark Morse]

If either Bruschi or Mayo needs relief inside (or are injured), AT is playing inside. Get used to it! We are not depending on Alexander (we do remember how well that worked don't we?). And we will not depend on a rookie STer or Izzo.

As of now our #5 OLB is Woods, by a long way. So, I expect him to get more reps if one of the top four is off the field. I hope for Crable to be the #5, situational pass rushing, LB as the season progresses, but I really don't expect it. Jarvis Green does just fine.

You might guess from the above that I want Seau back when he is healthy, to share time inside, and to be available for the post season.

Guyton is #3 ILB ... I know its hard to admit it. He outplayed your boy Hobson. Yes he will make mistakes (so won't Mayo). Ventrone is a WR that can play a multiple of positions. Both will be active for Sunday's game (because we have so many guys hurt).

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

What's not to like? Uh, the DB's suck balls. Deltha O'Neil will prove to be another mistake signing and cut in 3-5 weeks. The O-line is a mess and who the f*** knows what's going on with Tom Brady. The guy says he's fine but walks around like a grandpa.

 

[ausbacker]

What's not to like? Uh, the DB's suck balls. Deltha O'Neil will prove to be another mistake signing and cut in 3-5 weeks. The O-line is a mess and who the f*** knows what's going on with Tom Brady. The guy says he's fine but walks around like a grandpa.

Any general thoughts on life you'd like to contribute and enhance my day with?

After 3-5 weeks in, I'm sure an assessment will be given then based on playing performances.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

ROSTER AS OF SEPTEMBER 1 - a different way to look at the depth chart.
Bold names are "two-way" (offense/defense) players
Red names are "three-way" (offense/defense/special teams) players
- Based on use while here in NE (yes, I know about A. Thomas and Welker with other teams), projection for young/new players based on preseason work. Older players who aren't projected to play past positions are not tagged for previous roles, e.g. Bruschi at OLB, Seymour at FB, Vrabel at S.
====================
OFFENSE
QB - Brady, Cassell, O’Connell
RB - Maroney, Morris, Jordan, Evans
FB - Evans, Hochstein, Watson, Thomas, Pociask
C - Koppen, Hochstein, Connolly
G - Mankins, Hochstein, Yates, Connolly
OT - Light, Kaczur, Britt, Mankins
OL - LeVoir
WR - Moss, Gaffney, Welker, Washington, Aiken, Jones, Ventrone, Slater
TE - Watson, D. Thomas, Pociask, Vrabel, Hochstein, Britt
=======================
DEFENSE
DE - Warren, Green, Seymour, Wright, Smith, A. Thomas, Vrabel
DT - Wilfork, Warren, Green, Seymour, Wright, Smith, A. Thomas, Vrabel
OLB - Vrabel, A. Thomas, Crable, Woods
ILB - Bruschi, Mayo, Alexander, Guyton, Izzo, Vrabel, A. Thomas, Harrison
CB - Hobbs, Wheatley, O’Neill, L. Sanders, Wilhite, Meriweather, Ventrone
S - J. Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather, Ventrone, Slater, Moss
=========================
SPECIALISTS
P - Hanson
K - Gostkowski
LS - Paxton
==========================
PUP LIST
G/OT Neal
OT Ross
==========================
SUSPENDED
RB Faulk
================================
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB - Green-Ellis
DL - Adams
LB - Redd
CB/S - Spann
CB - Richardson
S - Dillard
OL - Bender
TE - DeVree

 

[Fencer]

====================
OFFENSE
QB - Brady, Cassell, O’Connell
RB - Maroney, Morris, Jordan, Evans
FB - Evans, Hochstein, Watson, Thomas, Pociask

That's legit. It's hard to think of a case where a FB is needed that's not a specialty package.

C - Koppen, Hochstein, Connolly
G - Mankins, Hochstein, Yates, Connolly
OT - Light, Kaczur, Britt, Mankins
OL - LeVoir
WR - Moss, Gaffney, Welker, Washington, Aiken, Jones, Ventrone, Slater
TE - Watson, D. Thomas, Pociask, Vrabel, Hochstein, Britt

You should have included Washington. TEs act like tall WRs as much as they act like OTs.

=======================
DEFENSE
DE - Warren, Green, Seymour, Wright, Smith, A. Thomas, Vrabel
DT - Wilfork, Warren, Green, Seymour, Wright, Smith, A. Thomas, Vrabel

Yeah, I like to crow that Vrabel played NT in one playoff game very successfully. But in fact that was only in a gadget scheme. OLB - Vrabel, A. Thomas, Crable, Woods
ILB - Bruschi, Mayo, Alexander, Guyton, Izzo, Vrabel, A. Thomas, Harrison
CB - Hobbs, Wheatley, O’Neill, L. Sanders, Wilhite, Meriweather, Ventrone
S - J. Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather, Ventrone, Slater, Moss

To our knowledge, Moss is a DB only in very specialized packages.

=========================
SPECIALISTS
P - Hanson
K - Gostkowski
LS - Paxton
==========================
PUP LIST
G/OT Neal
OT Ross
==========================
SUSPENDED
RB Faulk
================================
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB - Green-Ellis
DL - Adams
LB - Redd
CB/S - Spann
CB - Richardson
S - Dillard
OL - Bender
TE - DeVree

But no argument with your general point.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

But no argument with your general point.

Agreed, Moss is only a "Hail Mary" S, but that does give him two-way honors.

Vrabel has dropped his knuckle into the dirt multiple times as an interior DL, granted it's usually on "must" pass downs and he's part of a specialized package, but he's done it at other times to disrupt blocking schemes on passing downs - I think he's earned his red badge.

Thanks for the feedback! :rocker:

 

[Fencer]

I'm not going to argue too hard against Vrabel's versatility. The guy really has lined up at 8 of the 22 starting positions, and NT is the only one where I might say "whoa, he didn't really demonstrate he can do a credible version of the regular job there".

If he's played a real 4-3 DT I missed it -- but I wouldn't be surprised if he did, and did so credibly.

That guy is going to have mad cred when he moves into coaching. He even is tied for an NFL receiving record, and tied as a high runner-up for another one. (For obvious reasons, nobody has ever caught a Super Bowl TD in more than two consecutive calendar years, and very few players have caught them for more than 2 consecutive Super Bowl appearances.) And by all accounts, he's not just tolerable but GOOD as a goal-line TE -- great separation at the line, very decent hands, adequate blocking (and lack of speed matters very little that close in).

 

[cstjohn17]

We can always lament and rail for more depth or pro-bowlers at every position but it is what it is. One of the top 4 or 5 rosters in the league, championship caliber. One issue we have is last year they had the deepest roster see free agency started, the 08 team is not as deep but we may never see such a stocked team again.

Lets roll.

 

[AllabouttheVinces]

It's good to see everyone has had their daily dose of Kool-Aid. What's not to like? Don't you think the roster would look a whole lot better with these guys:

Colvin
Samuel
Gay
Seau
Law
Stallworth
Neal
Graham/Brady
Any QB not named Cassel

The OL is a mess, the running game disappeared in the preseason (and the D couldn't stop the run), and the starting CB will be either a rookie or a guy who was cut by the Bengals. The Bengals!!

Apparently you've been too busy gushing over the rookies (they're unproven!) to notice there's been a huge talent drain since we last saw these guys play for real.

Last season was an amazing run that won't be duplicated. BB picked a year where the Pats have a cupcake schedule to turn over the roster. Smart planning. The Pats are still a playoff team, but they have definitely settled back toward the pack in '08. I see 11-5, maybe 13-3 with a few breaks. Just don't expect anything close to perfection this year.

 

[Ring 6]

It's good to see everyone has had their daily dose of Kool-Aid. What's not to like? Don't you think the roster would look a whole lot better with these guys:

Colvin
Samuel
Gay
Seau
Law
Stallworth
Neal
Graham/Brady
Any QB not named Cassel

The OL is a mess, the running game disappeared in the preseason (and the D couldn't stop the run), and the starting CB will be either a rookie or a guy who was cut by the Bengals. The Bengals!!

Apparently you've been too busy gushing over the rookies (they're unproven!) to notice there's been a huge talent drain since we last saw these guys play for real.

Last season was an amazing run that won't be duplicated. BB picked a year where the Pats have a cupcake schedule to turn over the roster. Smart planning. The Pats are still a playoff team, but they have definitely settled back toward the pack in '08. I see 11-5, maybe 13-3 with a few breaks. Just don't expect anything close to perfection this year.

I think it would look even better with Champ Bailey, Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Willis, well, hell all of the 53 best players in the NFL.

You seem to want this team to be undefeated then be able to keep every single player, and WANT TO keep the ones that are over the hill too.
This is a CAPPED LEAGUE. It is IMPOSSIBLE by definition for the best team to keep all of their players, and the losses we have had are very small (unless you count guys who can no longer play as losses)

We are a better team today than we were 1 year ago. It will be difficult to prove that with record, but to say 11-5 just seems to me like you aren't paying attention.

 

[Sicilian]

Colvin
Samuel
Gay
Seau
Law
Stallworth
Neal
Graham/Brady
Any QB not named Cassel

Colvin got cut by the Texans. His injury is worse than we thought.

Samuel wanted to break the bank. We didn't want to pay Ty Law that kind of money, and he was a TRUE shutdown corner.

Gay is a JAG. He filled in nicely in his early career but he's replaceable.

Sure, I'd love Ty Law... but it seems his asking price is a bit too high.

Stallworth will be missed, but again, by season's end he had lost his job to Gaffney, who we still have. Paying him the $11m he was owed this year to be a #4 WR would be ludicrous.

Um... we have Neal. Just not until week 7.

I do miss Graham, I'll give you that one. I think Brady was far too one dimensional. If he was in, you knew he wasn't running a route, and his blocking wasn't so legendary that it didn't matter. BB likes versatility.

And we half agree on Cassel. I don't think he's ideal, but bringing in a scrub cut from another team isn't necessarily the answer. If the scrub is smart enough to pick up on things in a week, sure. If not, just ride it out with Cassel and start fresh next offseason. If TB goes down, I'm honestly not comfortable with anyone out there at the moment.

All this, and as Andy said, THE CAP.

 

[SunnyDenmark]

We can always lament and rail for more depth or pro-bowlers at every position but it is what it is. One of the top 4 or 5 rosters in the league, championship caliber. One issue we have is last year they had the deepest roster see free agency started, the 08 team is not as deep but we may never see such a stocked team again.

Lets roll.

Very true what you write. I will only add that maybe we are not as deep as last year but (with all the new young blood) probably more athletic and FASTER than last year. So when yet again we are playing well into January, the younger legs will make a 3rd down stop to get the defense off the field. Hopefully no more playoff (defense) letdowns ( I don't use term 'meltdowns' as the Offense is also partly to blame).

Cheers from Denmark.

 

[PatriotsReign]

In BB's interview today (5:15 pm, WEEI), he let it be known that there will likely be more moves to come.

Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?

Reading that just got me pumped up for the season to start! I love that effn' line!

 

[WhiZa]

A good draft?

Do you have a crystal ball in front of you because I see nothing except for some good plays in worthless preseason games

Lets see how good a draft it is if the rookies play well ...in late January if we get that far

I'll be sure to do that too. I am saying the difference between the number of rookies that made the 53 (7) compared to last year (2) make it a good draft.

 

[captain stone]

There could be more to come, but what's not to like?

What's not to like? Let me count the ways...

ROSTER AS OF SEPTEMBER 1
====================
OFFENSE (25)
QB - 3 Tom Brady, Cassell, O’Connell
OK, though I'd rather have Damon Huard instead of Cassel; but he's not walking through that door.

RB - 3 Maroney, Morris, Jordan OK

FB - 1 Evans OK

C - 2 Koppen, Hochstein
I'm in with Flynn, and have had it with Hochstein.

G - 3 Mankins, Yates, Connolly
Yates is awful; I could live with Connolly, barely.

OT - 4 Light, Kaczur, Britt, LeVoir
Where's the backup LT? Britt is strictly a RT, and LeVoir just plain sux.

WR - 6 Moss, Gaffney, Welker, Washington, Aiken, Jones/Faulk
Aiken is a complete waste of space, and CJ Jones is a never-was/never-will-be.

TE - 3 Watson, Thomas, Pociask
I'll give Pokey-azz the benefit of the doubt, though I'd rather have a 3rd TE with actual NFL blocking experience.
=======================
DEFENSE (25)
DE - 3 Warren, Green, Seymour OK

DT - 3 Wilfork, Wright, Smith
Wright is a 3-4 DE/4-3 DT; he is NOT a NT. I don't even know if LeKevin is a NT, either; but he's too dam slow for DE.

OLB- 4 Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Crable, Woods
OK, though I'd rather have a healthy Rosie Colvin at the Vet Min + salary, instead of Woods.

ILB - 5 Bruschi, Mayo, Alexander, Guyton, Izzo
I'd rather have Victor Hobson than Larry Izzo. Heck, I'd rather have nobody than Izzo. I don't like Alexander either, but I can live with him if Izzo goes.

CB – 5 Hobbs, Wheatley, O’Neill, L. Sanders, Wilhite
Put up or shut up time for Hobbs. Can Wheatley stay healthy all year? Is O'Neill still a playmaker? Is Lew Sanders better-suited at FS? Will Wilhite's nickname be "Toast" by season's end?

S - 5 J. Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather, Ventrone, Slater
Bring back John Lynch, and have Ventrone serve as Welker's backup SWR.
=========================
SPECIALISTS (3)
P - 1 Hanson Still not sold on him.
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS - 1 Paxton
==========================
PUP LIST
2 Neal, Ross
================================
PRACTICE SQUAD
RB Green-Ellis
DL Adams
LB Redd
DB Spann, Richardson, Dillard
Get rid of Dillard and sign a WR to PS instead.

OL Bender
TE DeVree

This roster has some serious flaws, some of which I hope to see corrected after Week 1.