Post Mini-Camp Roster Projection

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Post Mini-Camp Roster Projection


QB: (2). Garoppolo, Brissett

As of today Brady is out for the 1st 4 weeks. I believe there is a good chance that his suspension is overturned, but for now I'll use his spot to sneak another guy into this projection.​

RB: (5). Blount, Lewis, Foster, Bolden, Develin

Bolden is a potential cut, but I'll keep him around for now. A lot of young defensive players will play heavily on ST so he could be replaced. White may be traded for a late round pick. There is a good chance that NE acquires another RB this preseason to throw into the mix.​

WR: (5). Amendola, Hogan, Mitchell, Edelman, Dobson

Martin gets bumped if Dobson can miraculously stay healthy and productive once the pads come on. If by chance Edelman or Amendola lands on PUP, Martin probably sticks. I think Carter could have a bright future in this offense but for now he lands on the PS. Lucien also goes to the PS.​

TE: (3). Gronk, Bennett, Harbor

I still think Derby has a chance to stick on the roster, but for now I'll say he goes to the PS.​

OL: (9). Solder, Vollmer, Stork, Mason, Cooper, Thuney, Waddle, Kline, Cannon

There is a good chance that NE acquires another OT this preseason to bump Cannon, but for now I'll say he sticks. I'll give Stork the edge over Andrews, but not by much. Thuney and Kline may be backup Centers. Andrews could be traded.​

DT: (4). Brown, Knighton, Branch, Valentine

This spot seems pretty straight forward, but keep an eye on Kearse. He could be a sleeper to bump Branch.​

DE: (5). Nink, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom, McClellin

I'll project Long to be a surprise cut. I like the idea of him being here, but I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank. Flowers could develop jnto an important contributor, and Grissom could see a role as an interior pass rush specialist. I read that he looks quite a bit bigger this year. I also think McClellin's best role is as a pass rusher from the DE spot.​

LB: (5). Collins, Hightower, Elandon Roberts, Rufus Johnson, KGH

Freeny is a somewhat suprise cut here, but I think they have big plans for Roberts to replace him. Rufus Johnson may be a suprise name to this list, but I think he has the size and athleticism to be a valuable edge defender and a key ST player as well. KGH might eventually evolve into the Chung role, but for now he makes his mark as a ST ace.​

CB: (6). Butler, Ryan, Coleman, Cyrus, Roberts, J. Jones

6 CBs seems like a lot, but with NE playing a base nickle most weeks DB depth is critical, especially those that can play STs as well. The Pats have a lot of young talent here and they aren't in the business of letting good young players get away. LeBlanc makes the PS.​

S: (5). DMC, Chung, Harmon, Richards, King

Ebner is a suprise cut, but he may wind up on an exemption list due to his Olympic commitment. Again, DBs are a big part of this roster. King is a key ST player.​

ST: (4). Ghost, Allen, Cardonna, Slater

I think we can safely call Slater strictly a ST player at this point.

PUP: Tre Jackson​

 

[Brandon_Cox]

So, you're saying that Tre Jackson doesn't make the roster?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Rosters projections are tough this year. A lot of the guys I'd like to put on the roster may be squeezed off due to numbers. I honestly am not sure how it will shake out.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

So, you're saying that Tre Jackson doesn't make the roster?

I think he's a candidate to start on PUP, or IR with a possiblity to return.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Rosters projections are tough this year. A lot of the guys I'd like to put on the roster may be squeezed off due to numbers. I honestly am not sure how it will shake out.

I'm certainly not sure either, but it's fun for me to try to project, even though it's an impossible exercise.

 

[Flash]

Imo it would be a good idea to carry 6 WRs this year. Edelman and Amendola have gotten into a bunch of freak injuries for the past couple of years, there is literally less than 1% chance that both play all 16 games in a season without getting hurt. I want Dobson to succeed but I have very little faith in his foot. Martin would be a good add. I would bump Jonathan Jones off the roster instead. While it's true that we play a base nickel and CB depth is important, neither Logan Ryan nor Malcolm Butler has gotten hurt in the past two years (knock on wood), so CB is a position where we could cheat the depth a little bit.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Imo it would be a good idea to carry 6 WRs this year. Edelman and Amendola have gotten into a bunch of freak injuries for the past couple of years, there is literally less than 1% chance that both play all 16 games in a season without getting hurt. I want Dobson to succeed but I have very little faith in his foot. Martin would be a good add. I would bump Jonathan Jones off the roster instead. While it's true that we play a base nickel and CB depth is important, neither Logan Ryan nor Malcolm Butler has gotten hurt in the past two years (knock on wood), so CB is a position where we could cheat the depth a little bit.

Great point. Martin is a guy who is tough to leave off of the roster. It would be nice to have a little extra insurance in the case of an injury. If I were to make a switch, I'd swap him for Bolden. Jonathan Jones is really intriguing to me and I think he will play well enough in Camp/PreSeason to force his way onto the roster. I'll feel good if DeAndre Carter makes it to the PS because there's something about his game that makes me think he could succeed in this offense and his availability would provide some insurance as well.

 

[Flash]

Great point. Martin is a guy who is tough to leave off of the roster. It would be nice to have a little extra insurance in the case of an injury. If I were to make a switch, I'd swap him for Bolden. Jonathan Jones is really intriguing to me and I think he will play well enough in Camp/PreSeason to force his way onto the roster. I'll feel good if DeAndre Carter makes it to the PS because there's something about his game that makes me think he could succeed in this offense and his availability would provide some insurance as well.

Bolden would be a tough cut for me because of his ST role, he has been good rushing the punter. Idk if Jonathan Jones has experience on ST but if he does then I wouldn't mind the Bolden cut as much. Agree with everything else.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Bolden would be a tough cut for me because of his ST role, he has been good rushing the punter. Idk if Jonathan Jones has experience on ST but if he does then I wouldn't mind the Bolden cut as much. Agree with everything else.

For sure. Bolden is a very tough cut for me too. His blocked punt at SD in 2014 always stands out to me as a huge play that he is capable of making. In the end, though, this roster is really stacked with great veteran players and talented young guys. There will inevitably be some tough, unexpected cuts. Bolden could be one of them if they think Foster is worth keeping and if they see a young guy like maybe Rufus Johnson or one of the secondary players who can fill the punt rush void

 

[bbobbo]

For sure. Bolden is a very tough cut for me too. His blocked punt at SD in 2014 always stands out to me as a huge play that he is capable of making. In the end, though, this roster is really stacked with great veteran players and talented young guys. There will inevitably be some tough, unexpected cuts. Bolden could be one of them if they think Foster is worth keeping and if they see a young guy like maybe Rufus Johnson or one of the secondary players who can fill the punt rush void

also showed how classy he was to go back and check in with Scifres after he got injured on the block.

i just re-watched that play. it was Donald Brown who whiffed on the block of Bolden:


tags: gfycat chargers bolden scifres brown blocked punt

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

also showed how classy he was to go back and check in with Scifres after he got injured on the block.

i just re-watched that play. it was Donald Brown who whiffed on the block of Bolden:


tags: gfycat chargers bolden scifres brown blocked punt

True. Classy gesture by Bolden there for sure.

 

[jah]

It seems like you acknowledged Rufus as an edge player, but still put him with the linebackers. That would mean we really only kept 4 LB, 2 being 6th round rookies.

 

[jah]

also showed how classy he was to go back and check in with Scifres after he got injured on the block.

i just re-watched that play. it was Donald Brown who whiffed on the block of Bolden:


tags: gfycat chargers bolden scifres brown blocked punt

God d%#*!@t Donald.

 

[Huckleberry1]

As of today Brady is eligible the first four games.

 

[jah]

As of today Brady is eligible the first four games.

Are you referring to that technicality/formality about Berman? Because that doesn't count. The court mandated that Brady will serve his suspension, and that's that unless the en banc hearing is granted.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Are you referring to that technicality/formality about Berman? Because that doesn't count. The court mandated that Brady will serve his suspension, and that's that unless the en banc hearing is granted.

It's not a technicality, it's reality. Right now Brady is eligible to, play and will be eligible unless the court denies en banc, if that happens then he can petition the Supremes and request a stay until they decide. Either way he would be playing if the season started today.

I'm of the belief en banc will be granted but we will see?

 

[jah]

Here's my most recent crack at a 53, with thoughts after:

QB (2): Garoppolo, Brissett
RB (5): Lewis, Blount, White, Bolden, Develin
WR (6): Edelman, Hogan, Amendola, Martin, Mitchell, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Bennett, Harbor
T (4): Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Waddle
G/C (5): Andrews, Mason, Kline, Cooper, Thuney
DL (4): Brown, Knighton, Branch, Valentine
DL/LB (6): Sheard, Ninkovich, Long, McClellin, R. Johnson, Flowers
LB (4): Hightower, Collins, Freeny, Humber
CB (5): Butler, Ryan, C. Jones, Coleman, J. Jones
S (6): McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Ebner, King
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona
PS: Foster, Lucien, D. Roberts, Grugier-Hill, E. Roberts, T. Jackson, Stork, Karras, Derby, Grissom

-Brady is off my 53 until an OFFICIAL decision declares his suspension either delayed, or vacated. As of now, he is suspended for the first 4 games. End of discussion. It's ********, it's unfair, but it is what it is.
-In the same vein of my No Speculation rule: while guys like Edelman could end up on PUP, trying to predict that stuff just seems wrong. Not going to do it. When players go on PUP to begin camp, it will make it easier to find spots for a lot of the players I regretted cutting. But that hasn't happened yet.
-Want to put DJ Foster on the 53, but all we know is that he's a good athlete. I'm waiting for good reports on him from actual scrimmage drills.
-Donald Brown could end up on the team. They gave him a decent guarantee in his deal. It just doesn't make sense as things stand now. I don't see how he's anything but an older James White with slightly better rushing ability and considerably worse receiving ability. He's also the king of missing blocks.
-As much as Dobson has been "tearing it up", I had to give his spot to Martin. It seems like the team wants him around, and he appeared in games to have a better rapport with Brady than Dobson ever had.
-Predicting the offensive line is a painful exercise in futility. Cutting Tre' Jackson isn't quite so hard, but not ideal. Cutting Stork puts a bad feeling in my stomach, but he took a serious step back last year (the one bright spot was demonstrating versatility to play tackle) and it's beginning to look like he might just be easily injured. Maybe Cooper will be garbage once TC starts and his spot will be up for grabs.
-I want to cut Cannon, but after the tackle injuries last year, this team needs 4 tackles. He also could bounce back under Scar.
-Thin on the DL, but who's really worth a roster spot besides the 3-man rotation of Brown-Knighton-Branch + the 3rd round pick who gets a spot by default (despite what we all say about earning your spot on a BB team, Valentine is safe). Kuhn? Kearse? Vellano? No thanks. If there's more at this position, it'll be an outside acquisition.
-Too many edge players worth keeping. Sucks cutting Grissom a year after spending a 3rd on him when he's guilty of nothing more than invisibility. I hold out a lot of hope for Rufus and Flowers. If enough of the young guys emerge, Long goes the way of Torry Holt and Michael Jenkins.
-This LB situation sucks. Grugier-Hill doesn't seem ready for anything but ST, and Elandon Roberts' tape looks awful. I only have him on the PS because I couldn't think of anyone else worth a spot. Freeny and Humber are not inspiring depth. Hopefully McClellin and Ninkovich can pitch in there, especially if there's a number of other viable edge players.
-Jonathan Jones is my only UDFA on the 53 currently, because he's the only one who's actually been reported as making some on-field noise. Sucks cutting Darryl Roberts because he's a binky of myself and many of you as well, but it sounds like he's been surpassed. Worried that last year was his perfect opportunity and the injury ruined it. Hope he makes it to the PS.
-I think King is gonna be like Slater, Ebner, and partially Bolden in that he just keeps making the team for no reason other than ST. From what I've seen of his play, that's perfectly fine with me.

 

[jah]

It's not a technicality, it's reality. Right now Brady is eligible to, play and will be eligible unless the court denies en banc, if that happens then he can petition the Supremes and request a stay until they decide. Either way he would be playing if the season started today.

I'm of the belief en banc will be granted but we will see?

Your position requires the assumption that en banc will be granted. I don't like to predict things like court cases and injuries when predicting the 53.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Your position requires the assumption that en banc will be granted. I don't like to predict things like court cases and injuries when predicting the 53.

Nope, The OP said Brady was suspended as of now and that is not the case.

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

Nope, The OP said Brady was suspended as of now and that is not the case.

Sorry if I misspoke. All I'm saying is that there's a decent chance that Brady won't count again the 53 Man Roster week 1 and I included that in my projection.