Roster Moves & Evaluation: Intense week ahead of Pats (and us)

[Deus Irae]

Since they released relatively productive A Johnson to sign him.
Since the DT market is getting thinner (no pun intended).
Since Valentine went out of Bills game with injury.
Since Hughes had DT/DE versatility and considerable experience, good against run.

If Valentine is OK (a big IF at the moment) then they probably just bring Johnson back from PS.
(the ? here remains the role of Scruggs who is DE turned TE + ST; release of Harbor could suggest TE+ST)

If Valentine is to miss few weeks then they can bring Hamilton from PS - but he didn't impress at all .. and it will be a lot of workload for Brown and Branch again which is not good at all.

They can bring back Knighton or Kuhn of course ..
_

The only two DTs they had for workouts this season are Brandin Bryant and Trevon Coley

Brandin Bryant - UDFA from SEA:
who has had a strong training camp as an interior pass-rusher.
His pro day bench-press effort of 38 reps of 225 pounds was five more than any defensive linemen invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. And his 4.81 time in the 40 was in the range of 2015 second-round pick Frank Clark (4.79).

Trevon Coley was Baltimore cut to 75 and wasn't re-signed to their PS.
_

So a guy like Hughes would be pretty handy right now and I guess Pats were not happy to hear he signed elswhere.

Hughes was never anything for the Patriots, and the whining about him being gone is ridiculous.

 

[long distance]

Hughes was never anything for the Patriots, and the whining about him being gone is ridiculous.

Of course if you put it that way ..

 

[RobertWeathers]

Jesus you'd think Hughes was the reincarnation of Jerome Brown...my god.

If BB thought the kid needed to be here he wouldn't have cut him after lunch with the ink still wet on his contract.

 

[Deus Irae]

Of course if you put it that way ..

Signed September 26th...

Or this :

Field Yates ?@FieldYates 35s36 seconds ago
Source: the Patriots are signing former Browns DL John Hughes.

One week tryout

Cut October 1st

 

[Mack Herron]

I think the Pats need replacements for Freeny and Bolden, who are both injured (and Freeny has struggled against the run, although it could be partly injury related). I doubt they would go into Sunday with only White and Blount at RB, but anything is possible. Sankey is an obvious replacement for Bolden, but would require a roster spot to move from PS. There is one opening with the Harbor move, but that would leave two more needed for Brady and Nink. Roberts is already on the roster and could replace Freeny, and Nink's return could also help. I think we could see two more roster moves this week. If Valentine cannot go, they could also use another DT.

 

[long distance]

Could be an interesting day .. Here's the morning line up:
BB at 9, Gronk follows, locker room & practice later.

1. First practice of TB in the season. New energy enter.
2. Injury news: do Valentine, Bolden and Freeny show up for practice? Injury report (Butler was one of the many B's getting hurt)?
3. Correlated - some new roster moves: At the moment there is one roster spot opened.
We had premature ejaculation with Reece but still might and makes sense (if in good condition) to happen.

 

[long distance]

 

[luuked]

Don't think it's likely but if we don't have to IR anyone that is dinked up I wouldn't be shocked if Nink won't be reactivated until after the Browns game.

We don't really have a shortage of players at his position and he can get acclimated until next week. He was out of practice for 4 weeks so one additional week for conditioning purposes wouldn't hurt. This way we can avoid cutting a player for now and maybe injuries will take care of the spot after the Browns game.

 

[aluminum seats]

Jesus you'd think Hughes was the reincarnation of Jerome Brown...my god.

If BB thought the kid needed to be here he wouldn't have cut him after lunch with the ink still wet on his contract.

I really see the Browns game as being a referendum on what is known as "the Hughes Decision." It's going to have a lasting impact on Belichick's legacy, I think.

 

[long distance]

and the promotion from PS to 53? - A Johnson, Sankey?



EDIT:
Had him for workouts recently.

Draft Profile

Former defensive lineman who, with more experience at guard, should be able to unlock more of his nasty once he?s able to react more and think less. His lack of experience and technique make him a project, but he has drive blocking traits that should be fleshed out by teams looking for power at guard. While the move inside should play more to Ferris? strengths, his issues with pass protection will take much more time to correct.

 

[long distance]

Unfortunately .. and as expected Bolden and Valentine absent. As reported before Bolden avoided serious injury but could loose time. Sure hope nothing major with Valentine since this position looks really thin at the moment.

 

[varjao]

This last game was so awful I closed the gamepass before its end. What happened to Bolden? If he needs weeks to recover, I don't think we save his roster spot, not with 3 QB's.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I don't understand that mindset. If he goes on IR, he can't do anything physical for the rest of the year. Going on IR would stunt his development. And out of curiosity, how many times does a typical 3rd string Patriots QB throw during the limited media portion of practice? In other words, is "none" unusual or not?

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Though it's supposed to be minor, thumb surgery would be a valid reason to IR him and roll with the two QB as usual.

 

[Mack Herron]

This last game was so awful I closed the gamepass before its end. What happened to Bolden? If he needs weeks to recover, I don't think we save his roster spot, not with 3 QB's.

He got spun near the end of the game with knee and foot going in different directions (ugly). No official word, but looked like a bad sprain and Reiss reported not year-ending (ACL) but could miss time. Pure speculation from video I think he would miss at least a few weeks. They have Blount, White and Foster on the roster, but White is not trusted to see rushing downs and Foster has been inactive. Sankey would seem like a natural call up from PS but that would require a roster move.

 

[long distance]

At the moment there is one open spot on the roster with TB and probably Ninko activated on Saturday. Normally that would mean one roster cut by the end of the week.

The problem is Bolden and Valentine look to be out for Browns game and could loose more time. That indicates additional roster moves.

1. There are only 2 healthy DTs left at the moment. I dont believe they will go into the game with only 2 DTs on the roster. Brown's and Branch's workload increased by almost 100%! (from an average of 35 snaps in weeks 1-3 to over 60 in week 4). A significant part of it was due to increased time D was on the field but some of it also due to Valentin's injury. We can argue that Brady alone will take off significant part of it, but without Valentine this position is getting critically thin. Id be surprised if they don't bring anyone to the roster and at the moment the only possibilities seem to be A Johnson and Hamilton from PS. So do they bring one or both (taking additional 2 roster spots requiring 3 cuts)? Hamilton is almost the spitting image of Valentine in measurables (and looks) although somewhat lighter - but more importantly didn't impress at all in preseason so it is a big question if they give him 30% of snaps like VV got. A Johnson can be productive but he is undersized to take VV's spot. So it will be interesting to see how they go about this situation re roster spots and game plan.

2. The absence of Bolden should be less painful but it affects two positions - back up RB (that became more critical with Blount's hip issue) and ST. Will they activate Sankey and add another cut to the toll? ST depth is deep and it shouldn't be a problem. There are two new ST guys possibly coming to the active roster: Rowe and Scruggs.

3. OL gets one new healthy body as well in Cooper who should be active for the first time. It is strange that the only roster move this week was adding another G to the PS. I hope Thuney is ok. Reports said nothing too serious.

4. With Rowe full participant Pats have officially 12 DBs on the roster which seems excessive even with some core STs among them (especially with some pretty thin positions elswhere - RB, WR, DT). His addition is a welcome competition for the struggling #3CB position but also for STs.

So - what happens on Saturday? It can be 1-4 cuts needed. I guess at least two maybe three cuts are coming.
Derby and Foster are the names most often mentioned but would it really be them with the new RB and WR development? And are they ready to part ways with them since there is a reasonable possibility they don't clear waivers? Its the same with E Roberts. Can it be somebody from the OL or DB units? Or IR (Bolden? Brissett? Hopefully not VV ..)?

 

[Mack Herron]

I expect to activate Sankey, Nink, Brady, possibly DT. Would at least need 2 moves.
Possibilities:
Brissett to IR
Foster released
Waddle released

 

[SVN]

 

[long distance]

I guess that means IR.