Opening Day 53 Man Roster Predictions **merged**

[blindzebra]

In light of the Hardy ruling and possible further reduction by Doty got my wheels turning.

Looking at the roster we have about 38-40 locks to make the team:

ST: Bailey, Jones, and LaDouceur (3)

Offense: Romo, Randle, McFadden, Witten, Escobar, Bryant, Williams, Beasley, Street, Smith, Free, Weems, Green, Leary, Martin, Collins, and Frederick (17)

Defense: Lawrence, Mincey, Gregory, Hardy, Crawford, McClain, Hayden, Lee, Hitchens, McClain, Wilson, Brinkley, Scandrick, Carr, Jones, Claiborne, Patmon, Church, Wilcox, and White (20)

That gives us 40 locks, with 2 missing 4 games as of now so we have 15 spots open, with a lot of questions.

Vaughn needs to either play Weeden off the roster or himself because keeping 3 QBs may be impossible this year. Who gets that 3rd RB spot? Do we keep a FB? Swaim, Hamilton, or Hanna or do we keep 2 of the 3? Can McDermott unseat Bernadeau? Who wins that 5th WR spot? Return Specialist? Which of the young DL with promise do we keep with Russell, Gardner, Crawford, Bishop, Coleman, and Whaley fighting for 2 or 3 spots? Which of the masses at LB get the 1 or 2 spots left? We seem to have a few guys at safety that will be core ST players but would be a target if they played on defense, who stays, if any?

Camp and preseason will be fun. We will have dog fights at 3 or 4 positions, and that last cut down will be painful with several guys never getting to our practice squad.

 

[5Stars]

This is a good post and it made me think. This team is on the rise!

 

[big dog cowboy]

I expect at least 9-10 picks in the 7th round next year.

Git-R-Done!

 

[waving monkey]

In light of the Hardy ruling and possible further reduction by Doty got my wheels turning.

Looking at the roster we have about 38-40 locks to make the team:

ST: Bailey, Jones, and LaDouceur (3)

Offense: Romo, Randle, McFadden, Witten, Escobar, Bryant, Williams, Beasley, Street, Smith, Free, Weems, Green, Leary, Martin, Collins, and Frederick (17)

Defense: Lawrence, Mincey, Gregory, Hardy, Crawford, McClain, Hayden, Lee, Hitchens, McClain, Wilson, Brinkley, Scandrick, Carr, Jones, Claiborne, Patmon, Church, Wilcox, and White (20)

That gives us 40 locks, with 2 missing 4 games as of now so we have 15 spots open, with a lot of questions.

Vaughn needs to either play Weeden off the roster or himself because keeping 3 QBs may be impossible this year. Who gets that 3rd RB spot? Do we keep a FB? Swaim, Hamilton, or Hanna or do we keep 2 of the 3? Can McDermott unseat Bernadeau? Who wins that 5th WR spot? Return Specialist? Which of the young DL with promise do we keep with Russell, Gardner, Crawford, Bishop, Coleman, and Whaley fighting for 2 or 3 spots? Which of the masses at LB get the 1 or 2 spots left? We seem to have a few guys at safety that will be core ST players but would be a target if they played on defense, who stays, if any?

Camp and preseason will be fun. We will have dog fights at 3 or 4 positions, and that last cut down will be painful with several guys never getting to our practice squad.

My guess is: Swaim,Bishop,Gardner,Russell makes the cut.
Without consideration of cap: Coleman,Berny do not. My guess looking at your names.
Then there is the stand by TC injury disclaimer

 

[Nation]

Hardy will not count toward the 53 as he'll likely at least will serve two games of a suspension

 

[Manwiththeplan]

My guess is: Swaim,Bishop,Gardner,Russell makes the cut.
Without consideration of cap: Coleman,Berny do not. My guess looking at your names.
Then there is the stand by TC injury disclaimer

So if we cut Berny, who is the back up center?

 

[DenCWBY]

I don't know Claiborne makes it unless there's vast improvement in health and ability or we're short in the D backfield late in training camp. I wish Fred, Martin or one of the other lineman could long snap to save a spot that LaDouceur plays. Longsnapper is such a patsy position however probably more important since they are backing up extra points 10 yards.

 

[waving monkey]

So if we cut Berny, who is the back up center?

Great question , We had Collin fall into our lap and his a bad man. Can he play back up center?
Can Leary also provide some of that > TC will be a lot of mixed and match but your question is on point.

Edit :the long snapper is one of the leagues best and too critical.

 

[basstapp]

I think the IR Green -

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Great question , We had Collin fall into our lap and his a bad man. Can he play back up center?
Can Leary also provide some of that > TC will be a lot of mixed and match but your question is on point.

Edit :the long snapper is one of the leagues best and too critical.

Doubt Leary or Collins, who have to my knowledge never played center would be the #2 option going into the season.

 

[waving monkey]

Doubt Leary or Collins, who have to my knowledge never played center would be the #2 option going into the season.

Could well be, some things will wash in the coming months

 

[Nightman]

So if we cut Berny, who is the back up center?

Backups, we don't need no Backups!!!

 

[blindzebra]

So if we cut Berny, who is the back up center?

McDermott was a center at Miami and was getting plenty of reps at guard in OTAs. Martin has also gotten snaps at center, if memory serves.

 

[blindzebra]

Based on what we have done in the past and the make up of the roster I see us with:
QB (2), RB (3), TE (3), WR (5), OT (4), G (4), C (1). Giving us 22 offensive players.

DE (5), DT (4), LB (7), CB (6), S (4) Giving us 26 defensive players.

3 specialists puts us at 51 with the final 2 spots going to:

3rd QB, 4th RB, FB, 4th TE, 6th WR, or extra OL/DL we are forced to keep to not lose them. Plenty rides on what position the return specialist plays and how Swaim, Hamilton and Hanna look vs Clutts and Agnew.

 

[Teague31]

I think we trade Hanna and keep Swain.
I think we keep 3 RB's and Clutts.

 

[dallasdave]

In light of the Hardy ruling and possible further reduction by Doty got my wheels turning.

Looking at the roster we have about 38-40 locks to make the team:

ST: Bailey, Jones, and LaDouceur (3)

Offense: Romo, Randle, McFadden, Witten, Escobar, Bryant, Williams, Beasley, Street, Smith, Free, Weems, Green, Leary, Martin, Collins, and Frederick (17)

Defense: Lawrence, Mincey, Gregory, Hardy, Crawford, McClain, Hayden, Lee, Hitchens, McClain, Wilson, Brinkley, Scandrick, Carr, Jones, Claiborne, Patmon, Church, Wilcox, and White (20)

That gives us 40 locks, with 2 missing 4 games as of now so we have 15 spots open, with a lot of questions.

Vaughn needs to either play Weeden off the roster or himself because keeping 3 QBs may be impossible this year. Who gets that 3rd RB spot? Do we keep a FB? Swaim, Hamilton, or Hanna or do we keep 2 of the 3? Can McDermott unseat Bernadeau? Who wins that 5th WR spot? Return Specialist? Which of the young DL with promise do we keep with Russell, Gardner, Crawford, Bishop, Coleman, and Whaley fighting for 2 or 3 spots? Which of the masses at LB get the 1 or 2 spots left? We seem to have a few guys at safety that will be core ST players but would be a target if they played on defense, who stays, if any?

Camp and preseason will be fun. We will have dog fights at 3 or 4 positions, and that last cut down will be painful with several guys never getting to our practice squad.

Good post but no way Swaim gets cut, Swaim is going to be in the Pro Bowl as a TE on offense and a LB on defense. Old school 2 way player.

 

[Hoofbite]

I don't know Claiborne makes it unless there's vast improvement in health and ability or we're short in the D backfield late in training camp. I wish Fred, Martin or one of the other lineman could long snap to save a spot that LaDouceur plays. Longsnapper is such a patsy position however probably more important since they are backing up extra points 10 yards.

Claiborne makes it on the prayer he actually can figure it out.

It's awfully hard to be a top 5 pick that doesn't play out a contract when it's guaranteed either way.

 

[Redball Express]

Backups, we don't need no Backups!!!

I'm going to guess that if the injury to center is for any extended time..

Martin might be moved there and Collins moves to RT and Free goes to RG.

I think C is so important to the run and pass game..you have to put your next best guy there.

That's Martin hands down as you don't move Smith.

And Romo has to have a mauler in front of him to keep the middle of the defense from destroying the passing game.

The rookies on the OL move up all around.

If Bernadeau is still here..surely he becomes a swing guy playing G and OT.

Somewhere last year I seem to remember Martin played some C when they were moving him around the OL

 

[Kaiser]

Good post but no way Swaim gets cut, Swaim is going to be in the Pro Bowl as a TE on offense and a LB on defense. Old school 2 way player.

And kick Field Goals.

 

[Kaiser]

Great thread by the OP, I think most of these position battles get sorted out by injuries. There will no doubt be surprises but I think all the draft picks from the 5th round on were developmental guys taken with the idea they would be on roster if there are injuries to others but were likely bound for the practice squad.

Agree with BZ that we will lose players to other teams when we make our final cuts, but one factor that should work to our advantage is that teams will typically lean toward the guys they had in camp for their practice squad. It doesn't protect any of our late cuts, but it might help us keep one or two we are worried about losing.