Player Signing C.J. Dippre added to 53. Saunders cut.

[Ross12]

Interesting move with Dippre. Have to wonder if some other team was trying to sign him off our PS and Pats decided to match. Otherwise it’s not clear why they didn’t just leave him on the PS and bring him up as a game day elevation.

That aside I’d think this portends an emphasis on the running game against Cincinnati this weekend. They’ll need blocking and Hoop is still in concussion protocol iirc.

It’s the same thing with Swinson. They never elevated him once but signed him to the 53. Were both at risk of being poached? Or were both wowing in practice? Somewhere in between?

 

[n1997y]

It’s the same thing with Swinson. They never elevated him once but signed him to the 53. Were both at risk of being poached? Or were both wowing in practice? Somewhere in between?

Another possibility is that they’ve been doing well enough to have earned pay raises. Signing them to the 53 gives them more money iirc. This could be another way Vrabes is rewarding good performance on the PS with opportunity for more opportunity.

 

[Zuma]

 

[Ross12]

Another possibility is that they’ve been doing well enough to have earned pay raises. Signing them to the 53 gives them more money iirc. This could be another way Vrabes is rewarding good performance on the PS with opportunity for more opportunity.

Yep. They have been talking up Swinson here and there for a few weeks so they are potentially just putting their money where their mouth is. I haven’t heard them mention Dippre but perhaps it’s just because nobody asked. At the same time, Vrabel gushed over Truman Jones more than once and he got poached.

 

[TommyD4207]

Yep. They have been talking up Swinson here and there for a few weeks so they are potentially just putting their money where their mouth is. I haven’t heard them mention Dippre but perhaps it’s just because nobody asked. At the same time, Vrabel gushed over Truman Jones more than once and he got poached.

If they can actually get anything out of Swinson...

 

[Mack Herron]

Dippre has been my biggest disappointment of this rookie class. Of all the UDFA's we signed he was my binky and favorite to be the guy who made an impact on the roster.

I didn't have any illusions that he'd be another Gronk. I just wanted him to be another Pharoah Brown, who was very effective as a part time blocking TE, who could catch a few passes along the way. I actually hoped they'd resign him to be the 3rd TE.

Dippre was the same size. So, I hoped he'd be as effective as Brown, only a lot younger. So maybe dreams DO come true

On the other side, I liked what I read about Saunders and thought he might get to the roster. Here's hoping no one poaches him and he gets back to the PS

Don’t give up on your dreams Ken.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

It’s the same thing with Swinson. They never elevated him once but signed him to the 53. Were both at risk of being poached? Or were both wowing in practice? Somewhere in between?

My guess there is that Jennings is going to take the jumbo DE snaps Williams was getting and Swinson is a candidate to backfill Jennings STs snaps to offset the increase.

 

[TommyD4207]

My guess there is that Jennings is going to take the jumbo DE snaps Williams was getting and Swinson is a candidate to backfill Jennings STs snaps to offset the increase.

Might get some pass rush snaps too. I, for one, am getting tired of watching Jennings just sort of fall into the tackle he's against with every pass rush. I imagine the Patriots are too.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Might get some pass rush snaps too. I, for one, am getting tired of watching Jennings just sort of fall into the tackle he's against with every pass rush. I imagine the Patriots are too.

Certainly a possibility. I took a look at snap counts and the EDGE rotation right now appears to be, roughly...

Landry - 75% of the snaps
Chaisson - 67%
Jennings/Ponder - 25% each

If Williams inside is replaced by more run defense oriented players, maybe they want to shift some of Jennings snaps to a better pass rusher.

I do think you need to keep in mind the context of Swinson's promotion though. They were already heavy on DT depth but weaker on the EDGE on their 53 so when the spot opened by Williams going on IR, signing another DT probably didn't make sense. We all love to search for some hidden meaning of the move or talk ourselves into it being a young player rising up, but it could just be ho-hum roster management and he won't even be active haha

 

[jdlboot14]

Might be about Westover not really adding anything to the pass game too.
I doubt Dippre gets many snaps - if he's even active. We'll see if Hooper is out of concussion protocol though.
Either way, it's a good move because we need to see if Dippre has anything to develop before really addressing TE as one of this offseason's main priorities.

 

[Betterthanmost]

I think he now likely have the offense reasonably down. This guy is very underated and Drake can use him in the end zone.

 

[PatsFan2]

Dippre has been my biggest disappointment of this rookie class. Of all the UDFA's we signed he was my binky and favorite to be the guy who made an impact on the roster.

I didn't have any illusions that he'd be another Gronk. I just wanted him to be another Pharoah Brown, who was very effective as a part time blocking TE, who could catch a few passes along the way. I actually hoped they'd resign him to be the 3rd TE.

Dippre was the same size. So, I hoped he'd be as effective as Brown, only a lot younger. So maybe dreams DO come true

On the other side, I liked what I read about Saunders and thought he might get to the roster. Here's hoping no one poaches him and he gets back to the PS

ken: late bloomer?? The Dip that is.

 

[p8ryts]

Might be about Westover not really adding anything to the pass game too.
I doubt Dippre gets many snaps - if he's even active. We'll see if Hooper is out of concussion protocol though.
Either way, it's a good move because we need to see if Dippre has anything to develop before really addressing TE as one of this offseason's main priorities.

Run the ball!

 

[Toofy]

If dippre cannot block , he should be deemed useless .

I liked what Tonga brought in. Let's hope dippre is a plus version of holilins as a blocker. Westover has underwhelmed . Let's see if dippre can be 50% of what Washington does for Steelers. Logically he should open up lanes for Henderson better than Tonga with faster speed and better blocking abilities .

But Tonga was awesome as a fullback. I would call him a pancake - back.

 

[PatsFan2]

If dippre cannot block , he should be deemed useless .

I liked what Tonga brought in. Let's hope dippre is a plus version of holilins as a blocker. Westover has underwhelmed . Let's see if dippre can be 50% of what Washington does for Steelers. Logically he should open up lanes for Henderson better than Tonga with faster speed and better blocking abilities .

But Tonga was awesome as a fullback. I would call him a pancake - back.

Darnell Washington was on the Steelers PS for a spell *unbelievable*. So sorry we didn't sign him off it: he's hitting his strides now

 

[Triumph]

Hey, I like it... A lot of us were very high on Dippre in the offseason because of his size and blocking talent but he never really did anything in camp. Perhaps with two-thirds of a season's worth of practice squad reps and learning, he has a better grasp on the role and can get in there and do it now. They don't need him to go dominate anyone, but it would be nice to get some competent inline blocking so that Henry can be split out as the "move" TE and be used as more of a receiver.

Regarding Saunders, I am guessing Vrabel is high on what Pettus has been doing with his opportunities. He specifically called out Pettus in the locker room for his 4th down stop at the end of the game last week and said it would lead to "more opportunities".

Vrabel is all about his players earning more opportunities by taking advantage of present opportunities.

I heard him say that post game locker room to the team. Very similar to BB.

 

[mgteich]

Well, we are finally bringing the last of our "star" camp players to the 53. Ponder and Chism made the initial 53.

THE TEAM WAS "SET" BY THE TIME WE PLAYED GAME ONE
Woods, Divito, Durden and Gregory had been claimed from other teams and were on the 53 by Game One.

I GUESS that the roster was basically set before Game One with 4 players on the PS that we thought had a future. One (Jones) was poached. The rest are on the current 53 (Jennings, Swinson and Dippre).
==============
HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER ADDITIONS THAT ARE STILL HERE?
Saunders has come and gone. Myers is still here. I would expect that more work from Ponder (or Swinson) will send him packing also.
=========
BOTTOM LINE
The squad was set by the start of Game One. Vrabel has used Practice Squad elevations well to deal with injuries, while keeping 3 of the 4 Practice Squad players were cared about. All the other PS machinations are about future elevations.

 

[BobDigital]

Why not try Dip? Westover kind of took his spot. They do different things, but some similar things too. And Westover certainly doesn't appear 53 worthy.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I looked at his highlights... Looks lumbering slow.

Gronk was a beast man... It's insane how he could run so fast and furiously . There could be only 1 gronk and we were lucky to have him.

Yup, you got it quickly. Big, strong, blocking TE who is lumbering.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Maybe McDaniels is planning 3 TE sets that McVay runs for the Rams. Wasn't McDaniels with McVay for awhile informally during his off year?