The Initial 53 Man Roster

[mgteich]

At edge, we’re counting on Ponder and Jones to hold the fort down as Jacas and Hutchins develop. I gotta believe we’ll be hitting that waiver wire pretty hard come tomorrow. They gotta bring in someone.

Jacas could take at least half the year to develop, ditto for Hutchins

 

[n1997y]

Generally I pretty much agree. If anything I think @Ring 6 is being a little pessimistic about this year’s lineup. Details inline.

Is the depth worse? Compared to last year:

Qb Devito/Dobbs toss up

I’d give DeVito the edge. And I like Dobbs.

Rb Gibson vs the new guy Not earth shattering
Wr. Pretty much same guys. Diggs abd Boutte out Brien and Doubs in everyone else same

AJ Brown and Doubs this year are an upgrade over Diggs and Boutte from last year.

TE Hooper/Raridon TE3 non factor both years.
OT 100% better to have Lomu over Lowe and the other flotsam and jetsam is similar
IOL last year we had Brown and Wallace this year we have Brown and VR

OL upgrades at backup OT, starting IOL with AVT and Wilson over Wilson and Bradbury and backups with Van Roten. This year will get even better when Brown and Bryant return.

offense depth no worse probably a little better

Definitely better

Edge. Last year we had Jennings and ponder. This year we have ponder and the bc rookie. I liked Jennings the coaching staff didn’t.

Toss up. Swinson on PS would help

DT. May’s Tonga

NT is a deficiency this year.

LB No one as depth we had last year was very good, so this year version can’t be much worse
CB Added prunty

Agree Prunty makes this year better

S Added Reed

Agree Reed makes this year better

Maybe not quite as good as last year with Landry on pup but not far off.

Landry hurts, losing Tonga hurts, LB and Edge are either tossups or may be slightly worse this year.

Overall I think @manxman2601 was right on both #1 and #2, pessimistic about depth especially offense depth.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Generally I pretty much agree. If anything I think @Ring 6 is being a little pessimistic about this year’s lineup. Details inline.

I’d give DeVito the edge. And I like Dobbs.

AJ Brown and Doubs this year are an upgrade over Diggs and Boutte from last year.

OL upgrades at backup OT, starting IOL with AVT and Wilson over Wilson and Bradbury and backups with Van Roten. This year will get even better when Brown and Bryant return.

Definitely better

Toss up. Swinson on PS would help

NT is a deficiency this year.

Agree Prunty makes this year better

Agree Reed makes this year better

Landry hurts, losing Tonga hurts, LB and Edge are either tossups or may be slightly worse this year.

Overall I think @manxman2601 was right on both #1 and #2, pessimistic about depth especially offense depth.

Ring6 was only comparing the backups.

For example he did not consider Diggs and Boutte versus Brown and Doubs because those are the starters, not backups. The backups are literally the same guys. Williams is a year older which is good, Hollins is a year older which is bad. So overall the backups are the same as last year, so no improvement or loss. Get it?

You were comparing starters and backups which is different than Ring6's post.

 

[Water Boy]

I'd didn't see much of QHutch in the preseason. I know he's a core special teamer. I'm curious if he gets any meaningful reps at DE.

 

[Family]

Generally I pretty much agree. If anything I think @Ring 6 is being a little pessimistic about this year’s lineup. Details inline.

I’d give DeVito the edge. And I like Dobbs.

AJ Brown and Doubs this year are an upgrade over Diggs and Boutte from last year.

OL upgrades at backup OT, starting IOL with AVT and Wilson over Wilson and Bradbury and backups with Van Roten. This year will get even better when Brown and Bryant return.

Definitely better

Toss up. Swinson on PS would help

NT is a deficiency this year.

Agree Prunty makes this year better

Agree Reed makes this year better

Landry hurts, losing Tonga hurts, LB and Edge are either tossups or may be slightly worse this year.

Overall I think @manxman2601 was right on both #1 and #2, pessimistic about depth especially offense depth.

I think the backups are comparable to last year's... offense a little better - defense a little worse.

But I think they were thin (in different areas) last year. It was to be expected considering almost everyone from the past was gone.

So the major question: it possible to stay as healthy as last year?

Injuries mostly went their way.

 

[n1997y]

Ring6 was only comparing the backups.

For example he did not consider Diggs and Boutte versus Brown and Doubs because those are the starters, not backups. The backups are literally the same guys. Williams is a year older which is good, Hollins is a year older which is bad. So overall the backups are the same as last year, so no improvement or loss. Get it?

You were comparing starters and backups which is different than Ring6's post.

Then why did his post say this:

“Wr. Pretty much same guys. Diggs abd Boutte out Brien and Doubs in everyone else same”

You may be right, but that’s what had me talking about all the WRs.

 

[KCSVEN]

Comments on the comments


2. Why are C.Canada and W.Rousse on this football team and Vildor and any other OLman you want to name on it. I swear I have never heard the name Walter Rouse mentioned before this list came out and... Wait a minute, Is he the guy we Traded for w5ith the Vikings? Well then I get THAT choice, but Vildor had a great camp and Canada NEVER stood out. I don't get that one.

Canada is the top gunner. He was impressive in pre-season. Without Schooler he's a key special teams player. He was impressive beating the double teams off the line. Looks like needs some work at CB but he's Schoolers replacement for now.

-Rouse can play guard and tackle, lots of flexibility, had a good pre-season. With the interior injuries and Bryant's injury having a guy that can play pretty much anywhere as a backup has value.

 

[n1997y]

I think the backups are comparable to last year's... offense a little better - defense a little worse.

But I think they were thin (in different areas) last year. It was to be expected considering almost everyone from the past was gone.

So the major question: it possible to stay as healthy as last year?

Injuries mostly went their way.

That’s really the key question. Much more important than whether we’ve improved or not.

There was a lot of attention paid to the weak schedule last year, and almost none paid to the overall health and lack of injuries. I recall hearing that the Patriots were the healthiest team in the entire NFL based on games missed, or players on IR, or something like that. Anyway we did get bitten by a couple of injuries in the playoffs but overall we were incredibly healthy last year.

If the team can stay healthy that will be a big help. Of course.

 

[Clonamery]

Canada is the top gunner. He was impressive in pre-season. Without Schooler he's a key special teams player. He was impressive beating the double teams off the line. Looks like needs some work at CB but he's Schoolers replacement for now.

-Rouse can play guard and tackle, lots of flexibility, had a good pre-season. With the interior injuries and Bryant's injury having a guy that can play pretty much anywhere as a backup has value.

Vikings were waiving Rouse to presumably get him to the PS? That doesn't sound like a good pre-season for a 3rd year player. Sounds more like a warm body vet who is barely hanging on.

 

[KCSVEN]

Vikings were waiving Rouse to presumably get him to the PS? That doesn't sound like a good pre-season for a 3rd year player. Sounds more like a warm body vet who is barely hanging on.

Just going by the film. He played well overall, again against backups but he played well. 1 QB pressure and was top 5 overall in PFF pre-Season grades for Viking offense. He transitioned to guard but they had depth at guard. Joe Huber had experience in O'Connell's inside zone ruining scheme, and then they decided to keep 2 swing tackles. They knew Rouse was not making it thru waivers so took the trade.

I watched the tape and he looked good. Not sure what else I'm supposed be judging him by other than his play?

 

[Clonamery]

Just going by the film. He played well overall, again against backups but he played well. 1 QB pressure and was top 5 overall in PFF pre-Season grades for Viking offense. He transitioned to guard but they had depth at guard. Joe Huber had experience in O'Connell's inside zone ruining scheme, and then they decided to keep 2 swing tackles. They knew Rouse was not making it thru waivers so took the trade.

I watched the tape and he looked good. Not sure what else I'm supposed be judging him by other than his play?

Beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Ring 6]

Just going by the film. He played well overall, again against backups but he played well. 1 QB pressure and was top 5 overall in PFF pre-Season grades for Viking offense. He transitioned to guard but they had depth at guard. Joe Huber had experience in O'Connell's inside zone ruining scheme, and then they decided to keep 2 swing tackles. They knew Rouse was not making it thru waivers so took the trade.

I watched the tape and he looked good. Not sure what else I'm supposed be judging him by other than his play?

It’s a tryout. Someone who would be inactive moved to the practice squad so we have a few weeks to evaluate Rouse. He gets an opportunity to stick but otherwise is moved to the practice squad when Bryant is healthy, if they like Bryant better. Ideally neither needs to play this year.

 

[Milton Quagmire]

• I expect the Patriots' passing offense to be better this year. The additions to the WR room and the OL should make that happen.
• I expect our running game to be even worse than last year. For whatever reason we can't seem to run block to save our lives. Can't bank on Treyeon breaking all those 50 yarders again.
• I expect our run D to play worse this year. The loss of Tonga as a big fatty NT has not been replaced.
• I expect our passing D to be similar to last year. To me, a lot will depend on Gonzalez' attitude. Will he be signed? If not signed, will he play "safe" to protect his body from injury? Similar to last year, I expect the Pats to apply little to no pressure on the QB on most passing attempts. Can't expect even the best CB's to cover for 5-7 seconds never mind expecting our backups to do it.
• All in all, I am happy with most of the changes to the offense, I think we protect Drake "Drake Maye" Maye better, but did him no favors in the running game taking some pressure off him (despite Vrabes' alleged focus on improving the run game). I also expect our Defense to not be able to carry this team like they did for stretches last year. Still feeling 11-6 "ish" and a playoff team.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Then why did his post say this:

“Wr. Pretty much same guys. Diggs abd Boutte out Brien and Doubs in everyone else same”

You may be right, but that’s what had me talking about all the WRs.

Because he was noting the change (to show no change to the backups). The key to that paragraph was everyone else same, therefore he concluded a wash, the backups were no better or worse.

 

[rkarp1]

I expect more moves
Canada is a fill in for Schooler. I think it is a little troubling there has been zero reported on his issue. NFI could be anything, including something life threatening. I hope the guy is ok.

Swynson surprised me, but clearly he was out played over the summer.

It has been drilled into me all summer that Muma was athletic and the staff loved him, but I said from day 1, he was a major question mark. he could be a nice PS option though

 

[Triumph]

The best news is that they are promoting the silver pants. That's a good sign this is their primary.

I have a buddy who is a UGA Bulldogs fan. He was named after Vince Dooly and lives in Carl, GA not far from Athens.

One of their mottos is "Run silver britches run"

 

[Ring 6]

Because he was noting the change (to show no change to the backups). The key to that paragraph was everyone else same, therefore he concluded a wash, the backups were no better or worse.

I was referring to backups. I mentioned 1 and 2 changed but everyone else stayed the same, so depth is the same.

 

[Ring 6]

• I expect the Patriots' passing offense to be better this year. The additions to the WR room and the OL should make that happen.
• I expect our running game to be even worse than last year. For whatever reason we can't seem to run block to save our lives. Can't bank on Treyeon breaking all those 50 yarders again.
• I expect our run D to play worse this year. The loss of Tonga as a big fatty NT has not been replaced.
• I expect our passing D to be similar to last year. To me, a lot will depend on Gonzalez' attitude. Will he be signed? If not signed, will he play "safe" to protect his body from injury? Similar to last year, I expect the Pats to apply little to no pressure on the QB on most passing attempts. Can't expect even the best CB's to cover for 5-7 seconds never mind expecting our backups to do it.
• All in all, I am happy with most of the changes to the offense, I think we protect Drake "Drake Maye" Maye better, but did him no favors in the running game taking some pressure off him (despite Vrabes' alleged focus on improving the run game). I also expect our Defense to not be able to carry this team like they did for stretches last year. Still feeling 11-6 "ish" and a playoff team.

I don’t know why the running game would be worse. The ol is better. The guys who played in preseason games won’t be playing in the real games.

Tonga only played 337 said all season and only 159 on running plays.

Let’s not forget this wasn’t a scratch and claw for the playoffs team.
After the initial settling in they won 16 of 17 games right up to the SB. They were almost unbeatable and 9 of those wins were by double digits, including 2 playoff games.
2025 Patriots were not a fluke they were a dominant team.

 

[Wozzy]

It has been drilled into me all summer that Muma was athletic and the staff loved him, but I said from day 1, he was a major question mark. he could be a nice PS option though

It was drilled into to you that between all the players and rookies brought in at ILB they would find some capable backups.

It was drilled into me that UDFA's rarely if ever make an NFL roster, yesterday three did... including Khalil Jacobs beating out Muma at ILB and Obiazor of course made the roster.

All in all ILB looks pretty good, but I just read Owen Pappoe got cut in Arizona, Liked the look of him as a rookie, so I might bring him in if they think they're "thin." But the coaches don't seem to be concerned about it at ILB, they seem to like the group.

 

[Family]

including Khalil Jacobs beating out Muma at ILB

Thanks for the laugh.