Early roster projections

[Fencer]

mgteich posted the following in the sticky, and was accused of putting it in the wrong place.

I'll follow with my version in the next post here.

Mgteich's ROSTER AS OF APRIL 28 (60 competing for 53 spots)

OFFENSE (27 competing for 25 positions)
QB - 3 Tom Brady, Cassel/Gutierrez, O’Connell
RB - 3 Faulk, Maroney, Morris
FB - 1 Evans
C - 1 Koppen
G - 4 Neal, Hochstein, Mankins, Yates
OT - 4 Light, Kaycur, O'Callaghan, Britt
WR - 6 Moss, Gaffney, Welker, Washington, Chad Jackson, Slater/Aiken
TE - 3 Watson, Dave Thomas, Pollard

DEFENSE (30 competing for 25 positions)
DE - 4 Warren, Green, Seymour, Santonio Thomas
DT - 3 Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith, Wright
OLB- 4 Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Crable, Woods/Ruud
ILB- 5 Bruschi, Mayo, Hobson, Seau, Izzo
CB - 4 Hobbs, Bryant, Wheatley, Wilhite/Richardson
S - 4 Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather, Williams
DB – 1 Webster/Lewis Sanders/Andrews/Law

SPECIALISTS (3)
P - 1 Hanson
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS - 1 Paxton

OUT FOR NOW (12)
C Connolly
OT Martin
WR Jones
FB Eckel
TE Spach
DE Smith
LB Slaughter, Alexander
CB Spann, Mixon
S Ventrone
P Player

 

[Fencer]

OFFENSE (I got up to 26)
QB - 3 Tom Brady, Cassel/Gutierrez, O’Connell Agreed
RB/FB - 5 Faulk, Maroney, Morris, Evans, Eckel I added Eckel back in, who BB seems to love
C - 1 Koppen
G or G/C - 4 Neal, Hochstein, Mankins, Yates Agreed
OT - 4 Light, Kaycur, O'Callaghan, Britt Agreed
WR - 6 Moss, Gaffney, Welker, Washington, Chad Jackson/Slater/Aiken Agreed, except that Jackson is at risk too
TE - 3 Watson, Dave Thomas, Pollard Agreed

DEFENSE (24 for now, but it'll probably go higher)
DE - 4 Warren, Green, Seymour, Santonio Thomas
DT - 3 Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith, Wright Agreed, although I'd switch labels on some of the DL backups
OLB- 4 Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Crable, Woods BB loves Woods, for some reason
ILB- 5 Bruschi, Mayo, Hobson, Seau/Alexander/Lua, Izzo Agreed, but Alexander could make it, and Lua has a chance too
CB - 4 Hobbs, Bryant, Wheatley, Wilhite 4th round pick probably won't be cut in camp
S - 3 Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather
DB – 1+ Webster/Lewis Sanders/Andrews/Law/Williams/Richardson/Spann/Ventrone I expanded the list a bit

SPECIALISTS (3) Agreed
P - 1 Hanson Regrettably
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS - 1 Paxton

PS

Ruud
2+ DBs

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I agree that Eckel is the most obvious cut to make room for another defender. Or getting down to 5 WRs, if 2 of Jackson/Slater/Aiken disappoint. But with Gaffney on a one-year deal, I think they'll give Jackson every chance.

I also think Seau is a prime candidate for PUP/shadow roster.

 

[jaychamp]

Lua has a chance too

Isn't Lua gone?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I agree that Eckel is the most obvious cut to make room for another defender.

Eckel was recommended to Belichick by BB's dad. That, combined with what happened when the Pats tried to sneak Eckel onto the PS leads me to believe that he is the last JAG-type player BB wants to cut.

 

[mgteich]

OFFENSE (25)

Yes, you know that we will not carry 26 on offense.

I agree that the tradeoff is between the 6th receiver and the 5th running back.

In recent years, we have chosen to keep the sixth receiver. While I like the 5 running back scenario better, I don't think Belichick does. He like Eckel, but he was only on the 53 because Morris was hurt. As I posted yesterday, I would have drafted Hester at 69 instead of letting San Diego strengthen their team by trading up to get him.

=================================================

DEFENSE (25)

I know the last couple can be at any position, but, for now, I am pretty locked in at having 7 DL's, 9 LB's and 9 DB's. Aren't you? I agree that the versatility of our players makes it difficult to label their position as defensive linemen or linebackers. For example Thomas can certainly play ILB.

I think Lua has been waived. I can't see Seau on a taxi squad, and certainly not to save Alexander's spot. Alexander is the one on the shadow roster. The PUP could be interesting. Seau would accept that. With the recent additions, I can't see keeping Alexander. I'd rather keep and develop Ruud as a developmental player. Alexander has no present and he has no future.

I didn't outright cut one of last year's binkies: Richardson. He did look good in the preseason. I do agree that Wilhite is expected to beat him out for a roster spot.

I think that you underestimate Tank Williams. He is capable of starting if needed. He is not in the same class of player as Ventrone or Andrews. Also, we have carried 5-6 safeties. Belichick loves safeties! I can't see going with fewer than four, even though some of the corners can play safety.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Again I see maybee Law signing and a posibility thatShaun Alexander could be signed as a possible backup RB

 

[ctpatsfan77]

In recent years, we have chosen to keep the sixth receiver. While I like the 5 running back scenario better, I don't think Belichick does. He like Eckel, but he was only on the 53 because Morris was hurt. As I posted yesterday, I would have drafted Hester at 69 instead of letting San Diego strengthen their team by trading up to get him.

Eckel was activated because Maroney wasn't ready to go in the Dallas game, not because of an injury to Morris.

 

[Calciumee]

Isn't Lua gone?

That what I thought!!!

I am pretty sure he was cut at the same time as Colvin!

 

[tatepatsfan]

Yes, Lua was cut at the same time Colvin was

Mind if I take my crack at it?

Offense: 24

QB (3)- Brady, Cassel/Guitierrez, O'Connell
RB (4) - Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Evans
WR (5) - Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Washington, Jackson
TE (3) - Watson, Thomas, Spach/Pollard
OL (9) - Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein, Yates, Britt


Defense: (22)

DL (6) - Warren, Wilfork, Seymour, Green, Wright, Smith
LB (8) - Vrabel, Thomas, Bruschi, Mayo, Hobson, Woods, Crable, Alexander
DB (8) - Hobbs, Bryant, Webster, Wheatley, Harrison, Sanders, Meriweather, Williams

Special Teams: (7)

Gostkowski, Paxton, Izzo, Aiken, Andrews/Wilhite, Slater (then Hanson as favorite, but also Drago/Player)

Practice Squad: (8)

Stupar, Connolly, Martin, Thomas, Ruud, ???, ???, ???

 

[Fencer]

OFFENSE (25)

Yes, you know that we will not carry 26 on offense.

I agree that the tradeoff is between the 6th receiver and the 5th running back.

In recent years, we have chosen to keep the sixth receiver. While I like the 5 running back scenario better, I don't think Belichick does. He like Eckel, but he was only on the 53 because Morris was hurt. ...

DEFENSE (25)

I know the last couple can be at any position, but, for now, I am pretty locked in at having 7 DL's, 9 LB's and 9 DB's. Aren't you? ...

I think Lua has been waived.

.... I can't see Seau on a taxi squad, and certainly not to save Alexander's spot. Alexander is the one on the shadow roster. The PUP could be interesting. Seau would accept that. With the recent additions, I can't see keeping Alexander. I'd rather keep and develop Ruud as a developmental player. Alexander has no present and he has no future.

I didn't outright cut one of last year's binkies: Richardson. He did look good in the preseason. I do agree that Wilhite is expected to beat him out for a roster spot.

I think that you underestimate Tank Williams. He is capable of starting if needed. He is not in the same class of player as Ventrone or Andrews. Also, we have carried 5-6 safeties. Belichick loves safeties! I can't see going with fewer than four, even though some of the corners can play safety.

Good points re Eckel.

Good catch re Lua. Since he was IRed, the waiving seems for real.

I agree 7 DL is at least a pre-injury minimum. 9 LBs is probably a pre-injury minimum, and I don't think they'd go light with a lot of young guys, but it could go down to 8.

I think the safety count could be lower than other years if there are a lot of WRs and CBs playing the ST roles safeties sometimes have.

I don't know a lot about Williams, so great if we have a solid 4-safety rotation, especially given how injury-prone an aging Rodney has been.

We tend to go through a lot of CBs in a year. Hard to call that one

I like to think Alexander's time has come and gone too.

I still hope they can upgrade at punter somehow.

 

[maverick4]

Looking at that roster, it has to be the most complete and deep Patriots team I have ever seen in my life.