MORSE: Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection 1.0
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Roster Projection
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 6 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) Patriots Projected Roster
We are 6 days away from cut-down day, Tuesday, August 29th. All teams need to get down to 53 players by 4:00 EST.
This is my latest shot at projecting the moving target known as the New England Patriots’ final 53-man roster. There are so many uncertainties revolving around the Offensive line. With 19 days remaining before the game against the Eagles, Cole Strange is dressed but not practicing, and Michael Owenu is still on PUP, while Calvin Anderson is on the Non-Football Illness list. The Jack Jones court case is like the sword of Damocles hanging over the team’s head. I will have one more projection on Tuesday morning.
Offense (23)
QB (3) M.Jones, M.Cunningham, B.Zappe
Jones and Zappe are locks. Malik Cunnigham has shown enough in practices and pre-season games to make the roster. If he is waived, he will not make it through waivers. He is a raw project at WR and had a really bad game against Green Bay. He had a pass right in his hands and got popped and dropped the ball. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see him behind center because the game was suspended. I would go as far as seeing him as the number 2 QB on game day because he can do so many other things on Special Teams and be a Tayson Hill type of change of pace QB. If Jones were to get hurt for any length of time, then Zappe would start. Cunningham will also mimic those mobile QBs we will face as the scout team QB.
Cut: Trace McSorley (PS)
RB (3) R.Stevenson, E.Elliott, P.Strong,
The Elliott signing was great and will keep Stevenson fresh. Ty Montgomery came back to practice as a full participant today, but just can’t stay healthy. JJ Taylor just can’t catch a break. Note: Strong returned today in a Red Non-Contact jersey.
Cut: K.Harris (PS), JJ Taylor (PS), CJ Marable, Ty Montgomery (PS Vet)
WR (7) D.Parker, J.Smith-Schuster, M.Slater, P.Douglas, K.Boutte, K.Bourne, T.Thornton(IR)
I don’t like Parker because he can’t get any separation. We should call him Velcro because DBs stick to him. If he should get cut, I wouldn’t be surprised. JuJu has been a disappointment so far. I liked what I saw from Douglas in his brief time in the Green Bay game. He made a nice adjustment on his 15 yard catch and took a 2-yard loss and made it a 2-yard gain. He was 9 for 9 on targets / catches in the joint practices. He got nicked up in the Green Bay game and was working on the other field at practice today. Are they purposely hiding him in the pre-season games?
IR Tyquan Thornton – he will make the Final 53 only to be placed on IR and be eligible to be recalled after 6 weeks. He is hurt again and wouldn’t be surprised if he is cut outright even though he was a 2nd round pick last year.
Boutte is showing progress and I liked what I saw in the Green Bay game. Mike Giradi of Boston Sports Journal threw some shade on Boutte with a report from scouts that say Boutte doesn’t have that 2nd gear needed to pull away from DBs.
Cut: Tre Nixon, Raleigh Webb and Thyrick Pitts (PS) – Nixon was waived today to add McCall – if he passes through waivers, he will be put on IR with a shoulder injury suffered in the Green Bay game.
TE (2) H.Henry, M.Gesicki
Gesicki’s injury shows the need for a 3rd TE. Sokol is better blocker than either of these two players. Sokol was instrumental with his block that got Stephenson into the end zone vs the Packers 1st team Goal Line unit. I have 3 TEs on the PS and they will be shifted up and down from the Practice Squad with liberal call ups.
Cut: Firkser (PS), Sokol (PS) Washington (PS), Lumpkin
C (2) J.Andrews, D.Andrews
Jake Andrews has done nothing to earn a spot on this team. He is making it because he was a 4th Rd, 107th overall selection in the draft. He was picked ahead of OT Dawand Jones who has performed fantastic for the Cleveland Browns. Ferentz is old and it’s time for him to go. No one will pick him up. He will be on the shadow roster a phone call away. Former Patriots draft pick Hjalte Froholdt, whom the Patriots gave up on, is the starting Center for the Arizona Cardinals. It’s too early to give up on Jake Andrews.
Cut: Ferentz, Roussey (PS)
G (3) C.Strange, A.Mafi, C. Hines
PUP: M.Onwenu,
Not sure that Owenu will be ready for the opening day. He stays on PUP until he is ready and can be activated. Strange should be back this week. Mafi has been a surprise. He had little experience having played just two years of O-line (Converted Nose Tackle). He has been thrown into the lineup with the starter’s injuries. I am hoping that Owenu goes back to Tackle. Hines had shown well late in the Houston game.
Cut Vanterpool -didn’t play a snap in Green Bay game.
T (3) Tre.Brown, S.Sow, R.Reiff,
We knew this position was going to be a problem and it has been all Spring and pre-season. Could a trade be in the wind? Josh Jones is a swing tackle in his final year of his rookie deal. The former starter is a backup with the Cardinals. Darren Hartwell of Yahoo Sports wrote about the possibility of a trade. If a trade can be made, Hines would be cut.
Cut: C. McDermott
NFI: C. Anderson
Defense (27)
DE (2) D.Wise, K.White
Solid pair of ends that can be backed up by Barmore.
Cut: R. Perkins Can’t stay healthy
PUP: T. Flowers
DT (4) C.Barmore, D.Godchaux, D.Ekuale, C.Davis,
Ekuale has pass rushing ability but is weak against the run. Godchaux is the starting NT with Davis as a big body backup and short yardage specialist.
Cut: L. Guy, McCall (PS), J. Pharms, J Tavai, S. Roberts (PS) – Guy is a veteran and will become a free agent immediately. He is being cut with a wink and a nod. He will be resigned as soon as they can put the players on IR. This will also be an opportunity to rework his contract and give him a little extra perhaps in a signing bonus. I like “tryout” of the 6’3”, 354 lbs. McCall. He was on my draft list for the Patriots last year. Worth a look in camp and stash on PS. Strictly a NT who lacks any speed (5.43 40). He had 15 tackles as a rookie UDFA last season for Carolina. Roberts, and his dumb penalty for hitting a sliding QB, sealed his fate.
ILB (5) J.Bentley, J.Tavai, M.Wilson, C.Board, M.Mapu
Part of the reason the Packers were able to run last week was that Bentley didn’t play. Neither did Marte which disappointed me. Board and Wilson are more of an outside LB type. Board will be a key contributor on Special Teams.
Cut: C. Munson (PS), D. Fagot, C. Wells Munson felt awful after the collision which knocked out Bolden. He has Special Teams ability and should be a call up if needed.
OLB (3) M.Judon, J.Uche, A.Jennings
These are edge players with Uche strictly as a pass rushing specialist. Jennings has had a very good Spring and Pre-season so far. Judon is a handful for opposing D-lineman and can really set the edge.
CB (8) C.Gonzalez, Ma.Jones, Ja.Jones, M.Bryant, S.Wade, A.Speed, Jon.Jones, I. Bolden
I have 8 here because of the uncertainty of the Jack Jones situation and the concussion of Isaiah Bolden. I think Bolden makes the 53-man roster then gets put on IR to be eligible to come back after 6 games. Wade has had a pretty good camp and is insurance should Jack Jones be suspended. We will know more after Jack Jones September 15th Probable Cause hearing. As of right now Jack Jones is your starting Right Cornerback.
Cut Q. Mosley (PS), R, Randle (PS) – they have both done enough to earn spots on the PS.
SS (2) K.Dugger, A.Phillips
Cut: Joshuah Bledsoe (PS)
FS (3) J.Peppers, J.Mills, B.Schooler
Peppers is really another SS, but this is how the Pats Picker has him categorized. I really don’t like Mills at Free Safety. I think he is too slow. I would rather see Jon Jones there and play Marcus Jones at Slot Corner. Schooler is a ST player that can play a little FS if needed.
Cut: Brad Hawkins (PS)
Special Teams (3)
ST (3) C.Ryland, B.Baringer, J.Cardona
Cut: N. Folk, C. Waitman
Ryland had a brutal practice Monday, missing all three of his FGs. He is the highest-drafted Special Teams player in Patriots history. He won’t get cut. Baringer has a great game in Green Bay with two 60+ yard punts, two inside the 20, and hang time average of 4.9. He is a real weapon the way he can change the field position.
Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: http://patsfans.com/patspicker
Coming and Goings
As I mentioned in the 53-man Roster projection, the Patriots signed Marquan McCall, the big Nose Tackle from the University of Kentucky and Carolina Panthers. McCall signed as an Un-Drafted Free Agent last year after going undrafted. He made the 53-man roster and had 15 tackles in limited snaps. He is strictly a Nose Tackle/ Space Eater. The corresponding move was to waive injured Wide Receiver Tre Nixon. He injured his shoulder in the Green Bay game, and if he goes unclaimed, he will revert to the Patriots IR.
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