The Initial 53 Man Roster

[Wozzy]

Ponder is actually a perfect example.
the first 6 games, he averaged 5 defensive snaps per game, with 2 games listed as DNP
he is the perfect example of a developmental player not ready early in the season
thank you

How is he an example? The 2025 Patriots had one of the deepest OLB groups in the league… but Ponder still made the roster.

He didn’t play much because of depth of talent and paychecks… not because he couldn’t. Frankly with Landry’s knee injury he should have played more.

Don’t pretend like you knew 4th round pick Craig Woodson would play that well… you didn’t. You have to play and rely on rookies, especially when they prove they belong.

 

[Wozzy]

interestingly, per Mark Daniela Larison was on the 53 man roster, until the trade for Rouse

If he makes the PS he’ll still be on the team. If Kiner doesn’t impress in practice we might see Larison active in game one.

 

[rkarp1]

3 UDFA's this year...

 

[Triumph]

interestingly, per Mark Daniela Larison was on the 53 man roster, until the trade for Rouse

Wonder if KC will pickup Larison.

Reid loves a RB who can catch the ball.

 

[Ring 6]

Ponder is actually a perfect example.
the first 6 games, he averaged 5 defensive snaps per game, with 2 games listed as DNP
he is the perfect example of a developmental player not ready early in the season
thank you

Was it that it was he forced to play because of injuries?

 

[Wozzy]

Was it that it was he forced to play because of injuries?

They had Chaisson and Jennings, they had no shortage of options last year. It’s also not an accident he is starting at OLB this season.

 

[patfanken]

• 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 understand why you think the running game is going to be worse, Milt. The OL will be better personnel wise, especially on the left side. Campbell 2 will be better than Campbell 1. AVT will be MARKEDLY better than Wilson 1. Wilson 2 will be better in the run game than Bradbury and the right side will be as good as last season which is where we did most of our running.

The thing that is holding it up and making it look bad in the preseason games it the fact we are running an entirely new blocking scheme (outside zone instead of straight power blocking). AND since the starters rarely played this preseason, I don't expect it to look much better in the first month of the season since the OL rarely saw the starters getting live looks. I expect a lack of continuity by the OL for a while as they develop the familiarity, they need to function as a true unit

I am very hopeful that our run game will be much improved.... eventually. BTW- did I mention we have one of the better FB's in the league on the roster?

 

[rkarp1]

They had Chaisson and Jennings, they had no shortage of options last year. It’s also not an accident he is starting at OLB this season.

point made from my end, was that Ponder could not get on the field for defensive snaps at all until midway thru the season. even at that, we was mostly situational, to get after the QB

 

[patfanken]

ILB does not look "pretty good." It looks pretty much the same as last year. Spillane goes down...I expect effort and not much else.

You mean the 2 guys who anchored the #5 ranked defense last season and literally won 3 playoff games for the team? THOSE guys, he said sarcastically. Spillane was great against the run, and Ellis really came on the 2nd half of the season and should be better this season. The backups come with serious questions, but even THAT is an improvement from last season when we had serious questions about the Starters. Now we are worrying about the backups. baby steps, Clo, baby steps

 

[Wozzy]

point made from my end, was that Ponder could not get on the field for defensive snaps at all until midway thru the season. even at that, we was mostly situational, to get after the QB

On a lesser team that didn’t make the Super Bowl Ponder is starting. If the Pats were thin at OLB last year Ponder plays more and posts more stats.

You didn’t prove anything, especially since your contention is ILB and CB are “thin.” Jacobs, Obi and Canada are here because they belong, they earned it.

 

[upstater1]

3 UDFA's this year...

Some notables: Randall Gay, Brian Hoyer, Brandon Bolden, Malcolm Butler, JC Jackson, David Andrews, Jonathan Jones, Jakobi Meyers.

 

[Wozzy]

You mean the 2 guys who anchored the #5 ranked defense last season and literally won 3 playoff games for the team? THOSE guys, he said sarcastically. Spillane was great against the run, and Ellis really came on the 2nd half of the season and should be better this season. The backups come with serious questions, but even THAT is an improvement from last season when we had serious questions about the Starters. Now we are worrying about the backups. baby steps, Clo, baby steps

Agreed, they moved on from Gibbens and Tavai because they wanted to get better… not worse.

 

[Bill Lee]

4. The one thing we know for certain is that whatever the roster looks like today, it will be different when we line up against the Seahawks in a couple of weeks

Nine days, actually. **** gets real in just 9 days.

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

Seems there is a deliberate strategy to favor developmental players over replacement-level vets.

Vikings were waiving Rouse to presumably get him to the PS?

Presumably he was like Boutte, a 3rd year guy they didn't have room for, and were willing to give a late round pick swap for him.

• 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.
• 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 agree with these points.

I predict we're gonna be screaming at our TVs a lot as Josh tries but fails to establish a running game, while other teams have success running on us.

I hate to be so reliant on a passing game.

I'm concerned Mondre isn't getting younger and he always seems to miss a few games so I think we'll wish we had better depth.

I'm thinking KVN would be a decent add.

Nah, pass. I love me some KVN, but he's spent.

 

[patfanken]

Agreed, they moved on from Gibbens and Tavai because they wanted to get better… not worse.

BTW Did either of those guys make a 53???

 

[rkarp1]

couple of familiar if not interesting names here

 

[jdlboot14]

On a lesser team that didn’t make the Super Bowl Ponder is starting. If the Pats were thin at OLB last year Ponder plays more and posts more stats.

You didn’t prove anything, especially since your contention is ILB and CB are “thin.” Jacobs, Obi and Canada are here because they belong, they earned it.

Well the thing about Jacobs & Obi are that they are violent tacklers. They may not always be in the right position to start, but they do appear to finish strong - and we know Vrabel values that.

 

[Wozzy]

BTW Did either of those guys make a 53???

Gibbens is a backup in Arizona… odd considering he supposedly (he didn’t) got starter money.

Tavai made it as a backup on Jacksonville, where LB is a total wasteland after Foyesade Oloukon.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Offensive depth seems better overall to me vs last year:
- at QB, I wasn't a Dobbs fan, I prefer Devito. Morton is meh but they must like him.
- RB3 is unknown cause we haven't seen Kiner play. He's probably not as good as Gibson, but Gibson was done in week 5.
- WR is much better due to the new #1 & #2, and with Williams-Douglas-Chism expected to improve (Hollins the same)
- at TE, I think Raridon will have a better year than Hooper did. TE3 is a wash
- OL has a 2nd unit of Lomu, Crownover, Van Routen, Rouse, and Brown, which seems better than what we had last year

 

[Clonamery]

You mean the 2 guys who anchored the #5 ranked defense last season and literally won 3 playoff games for the team? THOSE guys, he said sarcastically. Spillane was great against the run, and Ellis really came on the 2nd half of the season and should be better this season. The backups come with serious questions, but even THAT is an improvement from last season when we had serious questions about the Starters. Now we are worrying about the backups. baby steps, Clo, baby steps

Ok, Ken. Thankfully we play Miami twice and Spillane can have a couple of weeks off.

 

[PatsFan2]

Comments on the comments

1. First, I have to make an apology to Q. Hutch for making him my "worst" draft pick of April. I think more than once I called him a wasted pick. Well, the guy played well enough to make the team and made me eat my words. Good for him.

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.

3, I REALLY hope the Pats put a claim out on Ur Bernard, whom the Eagles waived and hope to get back on their PS. We have 5 DLmen and I think Bernard would be worth the roster spot to as depth and could be monster in 2-3 years

4. The one thing we know for certain is that whatever the roster looks like today, it will be different when we line up against the Seahawks in a couple of weeks

Alright so I thought we were playing this Wednesday.