Pre-Camp Roster

[mgteich]

It's the day before camp. How could I fail to start a roster thread? Much can happen, but I see 47 roster spots as pretty well sown up. Among the 47, there will be lots and lots of competition for position in the depth chart, and for reps one the season starts.

I have settled on seven defensive linemen. I suspect that we will end up with six. But for now, these seven all seem to be part of a 53 man roster.

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, Taylor (or a free agent)
WR (7) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE, AIKEN
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen, Ohrnberger/Bussey/Welch (I prefer a free agent)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (7) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, Lewis, Pryor
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (5) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, Arrington/Wheatley/fa
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM

 

[WattsPatsFan]

I do not see keeping Aiken as much as I like him as a superb St guy. Since the Pats no longer need him as a WR back-up, his spot on the roster might be better going to a seventh DL and keep Arrington and Wheatley thereby providing great depth at DL and DB.

It's the day before camp. How could I fail to start a roster thread? Much can happen, but I see 47 roster spots as pretty well sown up. Among the 47, there will be lots and lots of competition for position in the depth chart, and for reps one the season starts.

I have settled on seven defensive linemen. I suspect that we will end up with six. But for now, these seven all seem to be part of a 53 man roster.

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, Taylor (or a free agent)
WR (7) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE, AIKEN
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen, Ohrnberger/Bussey/Welch (I prefer a free agent)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (7) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, Lewis, Pryor
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (5) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, Arrington/Wheatley/fa
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM

 

[patsfan13]

Agree on the D and specialist. I would see 6 wr and 5 RB given the age of the RB group.

Other than that, in agreement.

 

[jsull87]

Ok here's mine. I don't know why because i am a big fan of the two but i think maybe one out of morris of taylor might not make it but here we go.

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, BJGE
WR (7) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE, AIKEN
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen, Ohrnberger (Welsh to the PS)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, Pryor (Unfortunately lewis doesn't make it in the numbers game)
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (6) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, Arrington,Wheatley (what can i say i like the extra db and i have a soft spot for wheatly because i want some more otu of the 2008 draft)
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM

 

[Ring 6]

It's the day before camp. How could I fail to start a roster thread? Much can happen, but I see 47 roster spots as pretty well sown up. Among the 47, there will be lots and lots of competition for position in the depth chart, and for reps one the season starts.

I have settled on seven defensive linemen. I suspect that we will end up with six. But for now, these seven all seem to be part of a 53 man roster.

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, Taylor (or a free agent)
WR (7) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE, AIKEN
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen, Ohrnberger/Bussey/Welch (I prefer a free agent)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (7) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, Lewis, Pryor
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (5) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, Arrington/Wheatley/fa
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM

Have we ever kept 7 WRs? You have 7 locks.
Dont know how G Warren is a lock and Lewis isnt. What are you basing that on? To me they are neck and neck.

 

[mgteich]

It depends on whether you counted Ventrone and Slater as SR's or STers.

I could have listed Aiken and Tate as STer's.
=====================================

Yes, I think Warren is more likely to make the roster than Lewis. I think that you will find that most analysts agree. With regard to Lewis, I do have him as the #6 DL over Pryor.

Have we ever kept 7 WRs? You have 7 locks.
Dont know how G Warren is a lock and Lewis isnt. What are you basing that on? To me they are neck and neck.

 

[mgteich]

We've almost always had a couple spots that end up being players who are top special teamers and play little if at all at a position. Aiken is the special team captain and a top special teamer. There is always room for a couple.

I also think that it is quite possible that we will keep Wheatley. It is camp injuries that will determine that final rosters spot. We also could keep only eight OL's.

I do not see keeping Aiken as much as I like him as a superb St guy. Since the Pats no longer need him as a WR back-up, his spot on the roster might be better going to a seventh DL and keep Arrington and Wheatley thereby providing great depth at DL and DB.

 

[mgteich]

Actually, I have no problem cutting Pryor for Wheatley. I would rather keep Lewis.

Green-Ellis hasn't shown anything. If Taylor doesn't make it, I suspect that Belichick will pick up a free agent early or one of the 600 final cuts.[

QUOTE=jsull87;1866401]Ok here's mine. I don't know why because i am a big fan of the two but i think maybe one out of morris of taylor might not make it but here we go.

OFFENSE (25)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, BJGE
WR (7) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE, AIKEN
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen, Ohrnberger (Welsh to the PS)

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, Pryor (Unfortunately lewis doesn't make it in the numbers game)
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (6) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, Arrington,Wheatley (what can i say i like the extra db and i have a soft spot for wheatly because i want some more otu of the 2008 draft)
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM[/QUOTE]

 

[eagle eye]

Well McCourty has been talked about as a 4 down guy since we drafted him so somebody going to lose out in on STs because of that. My guess is that Aiken is the man that will lose out.

 

[Ring 6]

It depends on whether you counted Ventrone and Slater as SR's or STers.

I could have listed Aiken and Tate as STer's.
=====================================

Yes, I think Warren is more likely to make the roster than Lewis. I think that you will find that most analysts agree. With regard to Lewis, I do have him as the #6 DL over Pryor.

What 'analysts' have even commented on, much less thought about whether Gerard Warren or Damione Lewis is more likely to play for the Pats?

I still dont think you get 7 WRs by counting special teamers? Neither of those guys actually were WRs either, they were trained there in camp, because they would make the team as a s/ter so they were taught a position on the other side of the ball for emergency purposes. Both are primarily defensive players aside from special teams. Aiken is entirely a WR.

 

[patriot lifer]

I can already picture it now. With every tidbit and nugget of information disseminating from journalists and pfw bloggers covering TC, we will routinely make adjustments to our 53-man rosters. "oh, so-and-so looked good today in the morning session, looks like Wheatley's off again to make room for so-and-so"

Got to love TC and the bajillion sources we read about camp battles and performances. There's nothing quite like it.

 

[DarrylS]

Guess everyone figures that Mankins is a wash for this team... hope not.

 

[Joker]

Darryl...we've seen this movie before...Branch,Milloy,Law, Bledsoe etc.

He's a very good player..he also has very defined ethics or whatever you want to call it.Living in Cal. and roping calves is not exactly the Left Coast paradigm. I think he's gone and has been gone since the line in the sand was drawn...add to that the physical manhandling he took versus the Giants in the Bowl and I get the feeling BB isn't that worried about filling his guard spot. I love the guy but the team philosophy towards building a roster HERE precludes his asking price.

 

[DarrylS]

Darryl...we've seen this movie before...Branch,Milloy,Law, Bledsoe etc.

He's a very good player..he also has very defined ethics or whatever you want to call it.Living in Cal. and roping calves is not exactly the Left Coast paradigm. I think he's gone and has been gone since the line in the sand was drawn...add to that the physical manhandling he took versus the Giants in the Bowl and I get the feeling BB isn't that worried about filling his guard spot. I love the guy but the team philosophy towards building a roster HERE precludes his asking price.

Not defending, just hoping it would get worked out.. it is what it is, the business of patriots football..

 

[Joker]

Guard isa never a major priority on any football team...it's great to have dominant guards..no question...but LT and RT and a dominant center can carry any team.I love Mankins because I love who he is in today's narcississtic sports world BUT...think...Willie went to Cleveland...Law went to the dyam Jets! Branch stays here who knows how famous he would have gotten.It's the philosophy...there's a lot of ways to win in this league...since 2000 only one team has shown it can do it in a consistent fashion...and when that team doesn't play AS A TEAM, they ultimately lose at crunch time.Think, how did the whole country MISS why BB let Brady run the offense in the first bowl? The ultimate team player...Troy Brown...had the hole in StL defense from the start. In hindsight, if you can get Vinitieri in FG range in a dome,you win...and yet,the Pats let HIM walk...yeah I hate it but it works...and not to beat a dead horse,whatever Bill wants to do is fine with me.He's the most prepared,intelligent and steel nerved coach I've ever seen.

 

[mgteich]

My BOTTOM LINE is that Aiken is our top special teamer and will make the team as such. List him as a safety or center if you want; it doesn't matter. He won't be playing on the offense or defense.

To be clear, I think that there is always room for one or two players who will not see the field except for a couple of plays all year except on special teams. Last year, we had Aiken, Slater, Alexander and Lockett (I would even include Arrington here).

It seems that BECAUSE Aiken is able to play wide receiver, that is considered a negative. The fact of the matter is that Aiken won't make the 2010 as a wide receiver.

BTW, how many plays did Eric Alexander play last yer at linebacker, even after we had injuries? Eric Alexander is a special teamer. I recall when we disagreed on whether to list Slater and Ventrone on the offense or defense. That was because they played neither.

What 'analysts' have even commented on, much less thought about whether Gerard Warren or Damione Lewis is more likely to play for the Pats?

I still dont think you get 7 WRs by counting special teamers? Neither of those guys actually were WRs either, they were trained there in camp, because they would make the team as a s/ter so they were taught a position on the other side of the ball for emergency purposes. Both are primarily defensive players aside from special teams. Aiken is entirely a WR.

 

[Criptonite]

Actually, I have no problem cutting Pryor for Wheatley. I would rather keep Lewis.

I thought Pryor played very well last year considering he was a late round rookie. I feel he's in a position very similar to Edelman on the other side of the ball. Despite bringing in talent like Holt and Price, I don't see how we could possibly cut Edelman. And despite bringing in talent like Lewis and Warren, I don't see how we could possibly cut Pryor.

 

[mgteich]

So, you're saying that you can't possibly see how G. Warren or Lewis could be more valuable to the patriots than Pryor. I respect your position. I just disagree. BTW, i am NOT saying that Pryor is likely to be cut. I am just saying that I could see circumstances where Pryor is the odd man out.

And just BTW, you compare Pryor with Edelman. Edelman started in place of the best slot receiver in football and did well. In how many games did Pryor start?

I thought Pryor played very well last year considering he was a late round rookie. I feel he's in a position very similar to Edelman on the other side of the ball. Despite bringing in talent like Holt and Price, I don't see how we could possibly cut Edelman. And despite bringing in talent like Lewis and Warren, I don't see how we could possibly cut Pryor.

 

[mgteich]

Final Three Roster Spots

FINAL THREE ROSTER SPOTS (3)
These can be at any position are are wide open at this point. For me, absent injuries, there are no "needs" beyond the 50. Perhaps it is useful to consider whether you all see any "needs". When we look at the Game 2 and Game 5 rosters, we may see three more special teamers as is often the case (it was last year).

OFFENSE (23)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, Taylor/fa/Green-Ellis
WR (6) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (8) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER, CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, Larsen

DEFENSE (23)
DL (6) WARREN, WILFORK, WRIGHT, BRACE, Warren/Lewis/Pryor, Warren/Lewis/Pryor
OLB (5) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (4) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (4)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM
ST (1) Aiken/Arrington

 

[Mark Morse]

OFFENSE (24)
QB (2) BRADY, HOYER
RB (4) MARONEY, FAULK, MORRIS, BJGE
WR (6) MOSS, WELKER, EDELMAN, HOLT, TATE, PRICE,
TE (3) GRANKOWSKI, HERNANDEZ, CRUMPLER
OL (9) LIGHT, KACZUR, KOPPEN, NEAL, VOLLMER
CONNOLLY, LEVOIR, LARSEN

DEFENSE (26)
DL (6) WARREN, WILFORK, WARREN, WRIGHT, BRACE, PRYOR
OLB (6) BANTA-CAIN, BURGESS, WOODS, NINKOVICH, CUNNINGHAM, Williams or Murrell
ILB (4) MAYO, SPIKES, GUYTON, MCKENZIE
CB (6) BODDEN, BUTLER, MCCOURTY, WILHITE, ARRINGTON, WHEATLEY
S (4) MERIWEATHER, SANDERS, CHUNG, MCGOWAN

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) GOSTKOWSKI
P (1) MESKO
LS (1) INGRAM

I have 6 areas we disagree on. Cut Aikens - McCourty is a ST demon and along with Arrington provide great outside gunners. Keep BJGE and cut Taylor because of the age difference and the fact that Taylor doesn't play ST and BJGE does. Keep Larsen as the 9th OL. Keep Pryor over Lewis (age) and the 2nd year is the biggest jump in learning. Brace could be in trouble here too! Keep either Williams or Murrell as ST LB. A LB is different than WR in ST's. I like having a LB back as the punt protector. Keep both Arrington (my binky) and Wheatlley. BB just likes having extra DB's and LBs.

I ike your last change in adding 1 ST regardless of position (ie Larry Izzo).