Is It Time For Edelman To Go?

[Sciz]

I think his age helps over White. Plus Tarp is also cheaper than white.

I am rooting for Tarp.

White got $300k guaranteed though, so it doesn't really help the cap much at all to keep Tarpinian instead.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, we should embrace special teams.

The question is how many. 2-6 seems to be the "right" answer. The larger number seems common late in the season.
=============================
Your answer seems to be 4, including Slater, White, Edelman, and Larsen. This is as good a guess as most. This list includes 2 who are listed as WR's, 2 who are listed as LB. You have Larsen beating out Koutovides and Tarpinian (reasonable).

I would add a defensive back to make the total 5 (Cole over Brown).

Matt Slater, Tracy White, Julian Edelman, Spencer Larsen:

Accept special teams, embrace special teams, think special teams

 

[ATippett56]

Yes, we should embrace special teams.

The question is how many. 2-6 seems to be the "right" answer. The larger number seems common late in the season.
=============================
Your answer seems to be 4, including Slater, White, Edelman, and Larsen. This is as good a guess as most. This list includes 2 who are listed as WR's, 2 who are listed as LB. You have Larsen beating out Koutovides and Tarpinian (reasonable).

I would add a defensive back to make the total 5 (Cole over Brown).

Training camp competition and insurance against injuries during preseason.

Special Teamers:

Mesko
Gostkowski
Aiken
Slater (6th Wide Receiver)
Edelman (5th Wide Receiver and Primary Punt Returner)
Larsen/White/Koutouvides/Tarpinian
Cole (5th cornerback)
Gregory (4th safety)

With Marquice Cole and Steve Gregory added to the roster, Sergio (where's the ball?) Brown can take a hike.

 

[ATippett56]

BOTTOM LINE
Where do we disagree? Maybe the disagreements came before I made the "choices" to fill the offense to 25 positions. I would note that the 3rd TE and 3rd QB are both included. No fullback roster is defined, although at present the 4th RB is a fullback.

I don't know what my choice is for the last roster spot usually allocated to the offense.

As of now, MY top choice is #9 OL (it almost always is). However, if Light retires, I could easily see us going with 3 tackles: Solder, Vollmer and Cannon. Obviously, there are other possible choices (5th RB, 6th WR, 2nd STer and we could give the roster spot to the defense). This decision need not be made until the last roster cut.
=======================================
OFFENSE 25 (could be 24 or 26)
QB 3
RB 4
WR 5
TE 3
OL 8
ST 1
Player 25 (most likely options include 9th OL, 5th RB, returner, utility player)

From a purely offensive (as opposed to defensive) perspective, there should be plenty of competition at the wide receiver position (Ochocinco/Stallworth/Branch/Gonzalez/Underwood) and the interior offensive line positions if Brian Waters does not retire (Gallery/Wendell/Thomas/McDonald)

 

[ctpatsfan77]

THIS!

Lousaka Polite brought zero last season. We NEED a 3rd TE to keep Hernandez from having to do too much blocking at 235 pounds or so. With Light's possible retirement, Solder is going to actually have to play tackle this year.

Marcus Cannon?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think we can make due without him

 

[mgteich]

DEFENSE
DL 7
LB 8
DB 9
ST 1

COMMENTS

8 LINEBACKERS: Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher, Ninkovich, Scott, Cunningham, Carter, ???
(an additional one is listed as a STer)

I would note that one of the ST/LB you listed is likely to make the team as the emergency #8 LB. This is even after we upgrade 1 or 2 of the listed LB's.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Have you given up on Allen already, or is he simply DB insurance for camp?

Training camp competition and insurance against injuries during preseason.

Special Teamers:

Mesko
Gostkowski
Aiken
Slater (6th Wide Receiver)
Edelman (5th Wide Receiver and Primary Punt Returner)
Larsen/White/Koutouvides/Tarpinian
Cole (5th cornerback)
Gregory (4th safety)

With Marquice Cole and Steve Gregory added to the roster, Sergio (where's the ball?) Brown can take a hike.

 

[ATippett56]

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Have you given up on Allen already, or is he simply DB insurance for camp?

Cornerbacks: McCourty, Dowling, Arrington, Moore, Allen, Cole

Since Will Allen is 33 years old, I would say for now that he is training camp insurance. I saw enough of Shaun Ellis and Gerard Warren last season to not rely on defensive relics. I could also envision a position change for Sterling Moore from cornerback to free safety contingent upon the team's 2012 NFL Draft selections.

 

[Avenger]

THIRD TIGHT END
I have included the 3rd TE in both my"core" 21 man offense and in my 25 man offense (repeated below for convenience). I have always supported having a 3rd TE. That being said, the 3rd TE is one of the options for the last 4 offensive roster spots. We certainly have gone without. Last year, it was clear that we intended to carry a blocking TE. belichikc found the top one in the draft plus he found a top UDFA (a binkie for many).

THIRD QUARTERBACK
Again, this is an option. I would carry a 3rd QB. I have supported this choice in the past.

FIVE RUNNING BACKS AS OVERKILL
Again, the the 5th running back is an option, one that we have taken in the past. It seems that we almost always have injuries at this position, sometimes two or three during the season. It seems reasonable to have a backup. As of now, we have a fullback as our #4 running back. I had expected us to add a veteran backup, in case of injury. Instead we added on of then top fullbacks in the league, and gave him a 2-year contract.
==================================
BOTTOM LINE
Where do we disagree? Maybe the disagreements came before I made the "choices" to fill the offense to 25 positions. I would note that the 3rd TE and 3rd QB are both included. No fullback roster is defined, although at present the 4th RB is a fullback.

I don't know what my choice is for the last roster spot usually allocated to the offense.

As of now, MY top choice is #9 OL (it almost always is). However, if Light retires, I could easily see us going with 3 tackles: Solder, Vollmer and Cannon. Obviously, there are other possible choices (5th RB, 6th WR, 2nd STer and we could give the roster spot to the defense). This decision need not be made until the last roster cut.
=======================================
OFFENSE 25 (could be 24 or 26)
QB 3
RB 4
WR 5
TE 3
OL 8
ST 1
Player 25 (most likely options include 9th OL, 5th RB, returner, utility player)

IF both Brady and Mallet go down I would be fine with Edelmen taking snaps for a game or two till we bring in a FA or trade

 

[Ring 6]

You must have been out of the country in 2009.

Really? Earning playing time 3 years ago and not in the last 2 is your example of proving his ability?

 

[Gronkandez]

Really? Earning playing time 3 years ago and not in the last 2 is your example of proving his ability?

The Patriots have been saving him so other teams can't scout him.....like they did with Haynesworth last preseason.

 

[shmessy]

Really? Earning playing time 3 years ago and not in the last 2 is your example of proving his ability?

Your exact quote was "How is it circular thinking to doubt that someone who has never earned reps as a WR could be a starting WR?"

Obviously you have a different definition of the word "never" than most people.

 

[shmessy]

The Patriots have been saving him so other teams can't scout him.....like they did with Haynesworth last preseason.

Sure, because he did nothing last year that would have shown up on your fantasy league screen.