Patriots 53 roster predictions

[Cman]

Here's my new take at the final 53, by position (with my changes noted):

Quarterback (3): Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
Running back (4 5): BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Sammy Morris*
Wide receiver (6): Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
Tight end (3 2): Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman*
Offensive tackle (4): Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
Guard/center (5): Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell, Rich Ohrnberger
Defensive end (5): Jermaine Cunningham, Eric Moore, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Mark Anderson Mike Wright
Defensive tackle (5): Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Gerrard Warren, Myron Pryor, Kyle Love
Linebacker (6): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White
Cornerback (5): Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler Antwan Moulton
Safety (5): Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung, Sergio Brown, Josh Barrett
Specialists (3): Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth

Brace, Cannon, Daedrick and Faulk are all make it on the injured/pup/whatever list.

The difficulty is knowing what is going on at RB (with Ridley being injured, do you keep another RB? is he badly enough injured that you put him on IR and add Morris?) and DE (which of the vets to keep/cut? do you keep 4 or 5, given the injury history with this group?).  

*The big change was going with 2 TEs in order to keep Sammy Morris at RB.

[Bahku]

Here's my new take at the final 53, by position (with my changes noted):

Quarterback (3): Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
Running back (4 5): BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Sammy Morris*
Wide receiver (6): Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
Tight end (3 2): Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Will Yeatman*
Offensive tackle (4): Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
Guard/center (5): Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell, Rich Ohrnberger
Defensive end (5): Jermaine Cunningham, Eric Moore, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Mark Anderson Mike Wright
Defensive tackle (5): Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Gerrard Warren, Myron Pryor, Kyle Love
Linebacker (6): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White
Cornerback (5): Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler Antwan Moulton
Safety (5): Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung, Sergio Brown, Josh Barrett
Specialists (3): Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth

Brace, Cannon, Daedrick and Faulk are all make it on the injured/pup/whatever list.

The difficulty is knowing what is going on at RB (with Ridley being injured, do you keep another RB? is he badly enough injured that you put him on IR and add Morris?) and DE (which of the vets to keep/cut? do you keep 4 or 5, given the injury history with this group?). 

*The big change was going with 2 TEs in order to keep Sammy Morris at RB.

Like this right down the line, Cman, except the two TE thing makes me nervous ... I'd rather roll the dice at RB, as I don't think the injury situation is that bad, but losing either Gronk or Aaron to injury is a distinct possibility with their size, and I'd feel a lot better with a backup at that position. Tough call.

[Jon]

The Pats have gone with 3 TEs as long as I can remember. Gronk had a pretty bad back in college. Let's say it's a major game. Let's say late in the year. First 5 mins Gronk goes down. Now you're down to one TE.  If it's late in the season it's a little hard to get another. Now you're trying to get through a whole post season on one TE. If he gets hurt the next game you have no TEs. Or maybe a street free agent.  I guess you promote a rookie with no game experience from the practice squad. So you'd have to at least carry two guys on the practice squad. So assuming you want both Yeatman and Smith on the practice squad (remember they liked someone enough to let Crumpler go and it wasn't Gronk or Hernandez because they already liked them). Now you're trying to get two guys to the practice squad without 30 teams claiming them. I'm not buying it. I think they keep a blocker to do dirty work.

The thing is, Yeatman has not been that impressive. If Gronkowski or Hernandez went down, I'm not sold that Yeatman would actually get their minutes. I think the far more likely scenario is that they'd play more 3+ WR sets or 2 RB sets. Furthermore, I question how much of an upgrade Yeatman is over Smith or Mills. If the difference is as slight as it seems, why keep Yeatman when you can stash one of them on the practice squad.

On top of that, if one of our two TE got hurt early in a game, you really only need someone for goal line plays. And as I said in another post, I don't see why Solder can't do it. He played TE in high school and should be able to block there at the very least.

In other news Eric Moore was cut this afternoon, so he won't make the 53 man roster. That probably bodes well for Mike Wright. On my IPhone now so don't feel like going through the hassle of posting the link, but it is in the Globe's Extra Points section.

[Cman]

Notable cuts so far:
Brandon Tate
Eric Moore
Sammy Morris
Lee Smith
Tiquan Underwood

Also, apparently there is a good chance that Merriweather could be cut (but part of me thinks this is all part of the plan to light a fire under him).

[Cman]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

[Bahku]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

Wow ... just wow ... don't get that one. Thanks for the updates, C. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but I don't see it.

[Cman]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

Wow ... just wow ... don't get that one. Thanks for the updates, C. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but I don't see it.

This might be good news for Darius Butler.  Maybe they plan to use Dowling a bit at Safety, freeing up addl playing time for Butler.

But, yeah, I'm still scratching my head.

[Cman]

I feel bad for Tate, but he's pretty far down the WR depth chart, his value with KRs has dropped (and can probably be picked up by someone else -- Edelman, Vereen?), so I see why it makes sense to cut him.

[Jon]

Just heard Yeatman was cut too. On IPhone, so no link, but on ESPN Boston. I like it. At least one of the TEs the cut will make the practice squad. Depth is not a problem.

Merriweather shocks me. Don't want to start him? Fine. Doesn't mean be can't be useful in some situations.

[shookones99]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

Wow ... just wow ... don't get that one. Thanks for the updates, C. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but I don't see it.

I dont know.  Doesn't really surprise me.  He never really seemed to fit the "Patriot Way" personality wise.  When we drafted him we had Bruschi, Seymour, Harrison, Vrabel -- all those veterans to keep him in line.  

But now that Meriweather's becoming one of those veterans, his attitude/play style issues become far more glaring.  He had to go.  I just wish we coulda picked up a 4th rounder at the least.

[Cman]

So, from what I can tell at this point, the roster stands at 53, as follows:

Quarterback (3): Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
Running back (4): BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen
Wide receiver (6): Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater
Tight end (2): Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez
Offensive tackle (4): Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri
Guard/center (4): Logan Mankins, Dan Connolly, Dan Koppen, Ryan Wendell
Defensive end (5): Jermaine Cunningham, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Mark Anderson, Mike Wright
Defensive tackle (5): Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Gerrard Warren, Myron Pryor, Kyle Love
Linebacker (7): Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Rob Ninkovich, Dane Fletcher, Tracy White, Jeff Tarpinian
Cornerback (6): Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler, Antwan Moulton
Safety (4): Patrick Chung, Sergio Brown, Josh Barrett, James Ihedigbo
Specialists (3): Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, James Dearth

Brace, Cannon, Daedrick and Faulk are all make it on the injured/pup/whatever list.

Rich Ohrnberger on season ending IR

Note: Edited for corrections.

[Cman]

Thoughts based on the current (7pm ET Saturday) roster:

Patriots need help on the O-Line, with Ohrnberger gone for the season, and obviously it would be nice to have a bit more depth at the TE spot, so I think there are still some players at risk of being cut if/when BB finds players at those positions.  I think Darius Butler and Darryl Richard Jeff Tarpinian are two of the more likely to be cut. I just scratch my head at what has been going on at safety, but I guess BB and co. are pretty happy with Chung, Brown and Barrett.

[Cman]

I'll say one thing about the Merriweather cut, it tells the rest of the team that if you don't do it the BB way, you hit the highway.  Doesn't matter who you are.  Not saying I agree with that, but its got to have a bit of a humbling effect on the other "big names" on the team, and a bit of an empowering effect for the non big names.

[Chris]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

Wow ... just wow ... don't get that one. Thanks for the updates, C. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but I don't see it.

This might be good news for Darius Butler.  Maybe they plan to use Dowling a bit at Safety, freeing up addl playing time for Butler.

But, yeah, I'm still scratching my head.

Yeah, I definitely think Dowling will see a good amount of time at safety.  I think Belichick seems to be leaning towards more cover guys in the defensive backfield, and going away from the big hitters they have had there in the past.

I also think them only keeping 2 tight ends points to their plan for Solder.  They know they need to get him on the field, and I think they are going to do that by playing him as a blocking TE.  They have done this with linemen in the past, and Solder is actually a great fit as a tight end because of his athleticism to get out there to the second level. 

[Cman]

Globe now reporting Merriweather was cut.
I dont understand the Merriweather cut.
They really couldn't find a taker for him? They really feel like they are better options at safety? Pats are gonna go with Chung, Barrett, Brown and... Ihedigbo?

Wow ... just wow ... don't get that one. Thanks for the updates, C. I'm sure there's a method to the madness, but I don't see it.

This might be good news for Darius Butler.  Maybe they plan to use Dowling a bit at Safety, freeing up addl playing time for Butler.

But, yeah, I'm still scratching my head.

Yeah, I definitely think Dowling will see a good amount of time at safety.  I think Belichick seems to be leaning towards more cover guys in the defensive backfield, and going away from the big hitters they have had there in the past.

I also think them only keeping 2 tight ends points to their plan for Solder.  They know they need to get him on the field, and I think they are going to do that by playing him as a blocking TE.  They have done this with linemen in the past, and Solder is actually a great fit as a tight end because of his athleticism to get out there to the second level. 

Yeah, I could see that for Solder, but I think its also that Yeatman and Smith were just not far enough along to justify a roster spot.  I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats pick up a big TE from FA, if there' someone they like, but otherwise they'll likely go the Solder route.