These roster projections make it difficult to track the impact on special teams. They still need to field 11 guys on, what, 6 individual special teams? Only three or four of those positions are clearly labeled in these rosters (kicker, holder, punter, snapper, a couple of coverage guys).
It would be an interesting thought exercise to start the roster build by creating the special teams units, then fill in the offense and defense to get to 53, and see who that leaves off of the offense and defense. That allows us to make deliberate decisions to weaken special teams in order to add players to the offenses and defense, and thus get a sense of that impact.
That requires much more knowledge of the positions on each of the special teams than I have. There must be names for each of the other positions on the special teams, right? What is the third position from the center called on punt coverage, for example?
Good point. I actually use it to some extent in my roster build. Don't know all the positions since unfortunately it is not much written about . but - thanks to Patspropaganda - I know Pats used 6-8 core STers last season (playing all 4 “key“ units - kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return).
Here a link:
Special Teams
(unfortunately they stopped this great ST reviews after week 7)
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This is my list of 2017 core ST + main part-time contributors . based on last year and my current roster.
Slater, Ebner, JJ, Burkhead, O’Shaughnessy, Rivers, McClellin, E.Roberts/Bates + Develin, Chung, McCourty, Harmon
(top ST udfas if they make 53: Langi, D.Jones, D.Travis. J.Thompson, Likely)
You can add any of Freeny, Richards, Bolden that Pats might prefer over some guys Id like to keep..
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Just for reference my current 53+ list based on some 2016 film (rookies) + spring OTA reports - that mean only so little..
QB (3) T.Brady, J.Garoppolo, J.Brissett
RB (4) M.Gillislee, R.Burkhead, J.White,
D.Lewis/D.J.Foster
FB (1) J.Develin
WR (6) B.Cooks, J.Edelman, C.Hogan, M.Mitchell, D.Amendola, M.Slater
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, D.Allen, O'Shaughnessy
C (2) D.Andrews, T.Karras,
G (3) S.Mason, J.Thuney,
Douglas (+C)
T (4) N.Solder, M.Cannon, A.Garcia, C.Fleming
DT (4) M.Brown, A.Branch, L.Guy, V.Valentine
DE (5) T.Flowers, K.Ealy, R.Ninkovich, D.Rivers, D.Wise,
LB(5) D.Hightower, K.VanNoy, E.Roberts, S.McClellin,
H.Langi/T.Bates
CB (5) M.Butler, S.Gilmore, J.Jones, C.Jones, E.Rowe,
D.Thomas/K.Moore
SS (2) P.Chung, N.Ebner,
D.Travis/J.Thompson
FS (3) D.McCourty, D.Harmon,
D.Jones
SP (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona
Total players: 49+4/6(options)+2/4(hunch)
Note: one or three “surprise“ trades/cuts from the 49 can be “expected“ . as well as some “tactical“ decisions also in light of new IR rule (possibility of bringing two guys back) + PUP etc.