The 53

[Chevy]

I wish there was a James Develin v2 out there they'd nab.

I was hoping BB would use the 7th on Luepke ... he looked pretty good in PS Game 3.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I need him to hold on for two seasons, as I can't imagine BOB will stick around any longer than that.

You never know. BOBs son is at Tufts. Hes from the area. Who knows

 

[Fatmancryin]

Reiff and Thornton to IR. That opens 2 spots. If they are Who gets those spots? Waiver claims or someone that released yesterday?

 

[patfanken]

If you take the current roster and add in the sorts of players the team is likely to get rummaging through other teams' castoffs, even under the sunniest of anticipations, what sort of roster are you looking at? To me, it looks like a team headed for a losing record and last place in the division. BO'B aside, I think the team will be worse this year than last, and I struggle to see how that is anything other than unacceptable. I know everybody is tired of hearing it, but this team needs a GM. Sometimes all the other teams are zagging for a reason, and overly-clever zigging is just plain dumb. The mishandling of the O-line is sheer dereliction, isn't it? If this is a multi-year rebuild, where's the progress? RB? TE? QB? OL? Can anyone argue there is a balanced allocation of resources, offense vs defense? When you have to keep 11 offensive linemen, stripping other groups of talent and potential in the hope that your O-line might (might) at some point rise to the level of mediocrity, what are you doing? Has the drafting been well done over the past several years? Have needs been anticipated? Have the pipeline and the bench held replacements for players you knew were coming to the end of their playing years? Maybe playing chess when the game is checkers isn't always all that d----d smart.

Eloquently stated, T, but I think you are a bit overboard with your negativity.

First take the elephant in the room, the OL. Going in we were likely to be strong at 4 of the 5 positions with Brown in a contract year and hungry, Strange looking for a 2nd year jump, Andrews a top 5 C in the league, and Owenu who is already where we hope Strange will be this year. The off season objective was to find a serviceable RT and swing T, and upgrade the interior OL depth.

If they knew that EVERYONE on that OL, including most of the RT prospects would miss SIGNIFICANT time due to injury and illness, they might have drafted differently. But you CANNOT predict injuries especially when they are so widespread at this position group. In an ideal world the 4 known commodities would have had hundreds of snaps together. Out of the prospects say Anderson and McDermott became the RT and swing guy (either or). Mafi is already an upgrade as depth at OG, and Russey might not be ideal as back up C, but serviceable; And it looks like they might have missed on Andrews at least so far. Some players DO improve. To be more succinct, when the major roster decisions were being made NOONE could have predicted what occurred on the OL. Bad luck. Back in 2003 the 5 rather average OLmen we had never missed a snap on the field or in practice and that continuity was instrumental in a superbowl win. Go figure

But you are right in this, the OL situation has turned OUT to be a mess. But a mess that can be straightened out in a month with a bit of luck.

2nd, You might be right that this will be another losing season, the division and schedule might be the toughest one in Bill's 23 years here. Personally, I believe this team needs another year of rebuilding before it competes for a championship and they have the draft capital and the cap space to significantly add more talent (read explosiveness) next year.

3rd - While you slam the GM for the job he's done on offense, you ignore the job he's done on defense. The draft added THREE significant starters or rotational players A significant upgrade at punter, a significant upgrade in FG talent. (Lets see how he does as far as consistency) We seem to have solved the back up interior guy with Mafi and looked like we had a rotational guy at CB in Bolden....until his injury. That's a pretty good draft assuming NONE of the other guys contribute. (and I still have high hopes for Sow, just not this year)

4th - Improvement at RB, TE, QB, OL - At RB we have one of the best young guys in the league, and an experienced solid guy in Elliot. Improved, maybe let's see who the 3rd guy is. TE? could be with a healthy Gisiski again they need to add a third guy. QB, by ALL reports Mac has been solid all through camp and much improved over last season. OL already discussed. So we could very well be improved at 3 of the 4 positions you mentioned and EVENTUALLY improved on the OL too.

In the end T, you never know until the season is over. Remember in the Spring of 2001, the prestigious PFWeekly put out a list of teams LEAST likely to be in a superbowl over the next 5 years. #1 on that list were the NE Patriots. Now I do not know how successful this team will be. Right now there are STILL a lot of moves in motion, but NOTHING will be known for certain until its all over and THEN we can assess all the moves that have been made and credit given or taken away.

 

[patfanken]

You never know. BOBs son is at Tufts. Hes from the area. Who knows

I think he has another child with medical issues that are well served by Boston's excellent medical situation. His wife is from here as well. And of course he is a Dorchester boy as well (like myself)

Personally I believe Bill will coach 2-3 more years. He will leave the team better than he found it. Mayo will be the HC, with Steve and BOB as the OC and DC respectively.

 

[jdlboot14]

When do they announce the captains?
That will be a bit interesting this year. I think the clear candidates are: Mac, Andrews, Bentley, Slater.
And maybe 1 or 2 newcomers?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think he has another child with medical issues that are well served by Boston's excellent medical situation. His wife is from here as well. And of course he is a Dorchester boy as well (like myself)

Personally I believe Bill will coach 2-3 more years. He will leave the team better than he found it. Mayo will be the HC, with Steve and BOB as the OC and DC respectively.

Yea the other son has special needs.

I think the wife is from NC or Georgia. They met at Wake Forest.

 

[Sciz]

When do they announce the captains?
That will be a bit interesting this year. I think the clear candidates are: Mac, Andrews, Bentley, Slater.
And maybe 1 or 2 newcomers?

It was September 7 last year

 

[Sicilian]

When do they announce the captains?
That will be a bit interesting this year. I think the clear candidates are: Mac, Andrews, Bentley, Slater.
And maybe 1 or 2 newcomers?

My bet is on Jon Jones, but could see Adrian Phillips as well.

 

[Real fan 02]

So here is the 53 man roster as it stands after the cuts... there are several position groups that need to be filled out...

Offense
Quarterback (1): Mac Jones
Running back (2): Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott
Wide receiver (6): DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton
Tight end (2): Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki
Offensive line (11): Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson

Defense
Defensive tackle (5): Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Lawrence Guy, Sam Roberts, Daniel Ekuale
Edge (5): Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Keion White, Anfernee Jennings, Deatrich Wise
Linebacker (4): Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu, Mack Wilson Sr.
Safety (4): Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant, Shaun Wade

Special Teams
Specialists (7): Chad Ryland, Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater, Brenden Schooler, Chris Board, Ameer Speed


Things will get shifted about as players get claimed, or get added to the practice squad ... some general thoughts

Need at least 1 more QB
Need at least 1 more RB, preferably 2
Would like to see 1 more TE
Shaun Wade made the cut at CB? why?
11 players on the OLine seems excessive... but with injury considerations, some may be cleared out and placed on ir or the pup eventually so maybe pick up a few roster spots there...
7 Special Teams players? Kicker Punter LS, Slater and Schooler Yes ... but Board and Speed could go and no one would notice...


what would you change/add/subtract?



*

Great post! Well.. Add: a Veteran to back up Mac, ADD: another RB, O line we've spoke about at nauseum.. no additions

Everything on STs is fine,

On defense we'll need EVERYONE.. Pape you know me.. I'm always optimistic but it's not the talent at O line it's the cohesion, the execution that is worrisome. This offense needs that to be able to function, and do what BOB wants to do. If we don't then it's no better than last season.

 

[Hyped]

Looking at the initial 53, my impressions:

- Tyquan Thornton and Riley Reiff are the only guys I can see us putting on I/R.
- Onwenu and Strange were not PUP'd. Calvin Anderson is off the NFI.
- No chance do we keep 11 OL-men. I expect 2-3 of them to be waived/PUP'd/PS'd/IR'd.
- We need at least 1 QB and 1 RB....probably 2 RB's on the active roster.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agree. Wade is a backup to the backup and has done nothing here to warrant a roster spot. Allegedly he had a very good camp. Whatever.

In the event Jack Jones is jailed/suspended I would assume Jon Jones/Mills start on the other side of Gonzo and M Jones and Miles Away Bryant back them up or at FS.

Me personally I don't know I'd want Jon on the outside, he's phenomenal in the slot.. but as you perfectly said if Jack isn't available.. Gonzo is going to have to continue to adapt quickly.. QBs will test him early.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

You never know. BOBs son is at Tufts. Hes from the area. Who knows

Interesting. Granddaughter starts fresh person (Heh!) orientation at Tufts today. She's EE like both her grandfathers, but much smarter & more mature (not difficult).

 

[n6249c]

When do they announce the captains?
That will be a bit interesting this year. I think the clear candidates are: Mac, Andrews, Bentley, Slater.
And maybe 1 or 2 newcomers?

Don’t know that Bentley is as clear a choice as the others.

I might add Dugger and Judon.

 

[jdlboot14]

Don’t know that Bentley is as clear a choice as the others.

I might add Dugger and Judon.

Bentley has been a captain the last couple years. I don't think he loses it this year.
Many speak of him as one of the top leaders in the locker room.

 

[n6249c]

Bentley has been a captain the last couple years. I don't think he loses it this year.
Many speak of him as one of the top leaders in the locker room.

Thanks for that. I hadn’t been paying attention to him that way.

 

[Username]

I know this will be massively unpopular, but Slater doesn't really add much on the field anymore, and I was kinda hoping he'd retire. Because as long as he's active, he'll always make the roster. I thought he looked far below his usual standard last year.

 

[dustcover]

Here's a copy in numerical order.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

If you take the current roster and add in the sorts of players the team is likely to get rummaging through other teams' castoffs, even under the sunniest of anticipations, what sort of roster are you looking at? To me, it looks like a team headed for a losing record and last place in the division. BO'B aside, I think the team will be worse this year than last, and I struggle to see how that is anything other than unacceptable. I know everybody is tired of hearing it, but this team needs a GM. Sometimes all the other teams are zagging for a reason, and overly-clever zigging is just plain dumb. The mishandling of the O-line is sheer dereliction, isn't it? If this is a multi-year rebuild, where's the progress? RB? TE? QB? OL? Can anyone argue there is a balanced allocation of resources, offense vs defense? When you have to keep 11 offensive linemen, stripping other groups of talent and potential in the hope that your O-line might (might) at some point rise to the level of mediocrity, what are you doing? Has the drafting been well done over the past several years? Have needs been anticipated? Have the pipeline and the bench held replacements for players you knew were coming to the end of their playing years? Maybe playing chess when the game is checkers isn't always all that d----d smart.

Terrible post. The main flaw is thinking that this is the roster for the year. It won't even be the same roster at the end of today, and there will be at least a half dozen other changes before opening day. The OL injuries & Anderson illness are all day to day, forcing us to keep 11 for now and then assess & adjust by Monday.

There's nobody better than Belichick at managing a situation like this, he's seen it all. Cutting the backup QB's was genius, they'll be back, and it buys him a few days to sort out the OL.

Overall this is a better roster than last year. Better weapons, better OL (in a few weeks), better offensive coaches, better overall D, better special teams. If this team played last year's opponents they'd win 11-12 games. This year our schedule has a lot of excellent teams on it cause the whole league's improved, but the result is going to be everyone bunched up around .500. 11-6 could be the best record in the AFC this year. So if we don't blow any games where we outplay the opponent, we'll win 9 or 10 games and make the playoffs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Interesting. Granddaughter starts fresh person (Heh!) orientation at Tufts today. She's EE like both her grandfathers, but much smarter & more mature (not difficult).
View attachment 52406View attachment 52406

Very nice! Gotta be proud of her!

My middle one started Fr year at Penn State last week and the oldest heads back to URI for her Jr year.

Getting quieter around here.....