Patriots: Who’s in, Who’s Out?

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

These are the days where championship football teams are built.

Or, they’re torn down.

This year, NFL roster limits were initially set at 90 players, allowing more opportunity for a player to make a club. However, in reality, it’s very difficult for an unknown – even a drafted player in many instances – to have enough opportunity to prove his worth to a team by his play on the field. This year, without off-season workouts and OTA’s (organized team activities), veteran players are seeing at least as much time as they have in past pre-seasons, if not a little more.

More bodies – time on the field = less chance to make it. It also means coaching staffs have a much harder job with the evaluation process, and puts their decisions under a microscope. Tough choices will be made, but will they be the right choices? With the Patriots’ roster currently at 80 players as of the first cut down date of August 30th, there are 27 more players who will be seeking work outside of New England by this Saturday…when all NFL rosters will be pared to 53 players (including practice squad) for the regular season.

Here is a best guess as to what the Patriots roster will look like, once all cuts are finalized after the final pre-season game this Thursday night against the New York Giants:

Offense – Quarterback (3)
Tom Brady
Brian Hoyer
Ryan Mallett

Since a third quarterback is allowed to be kept on an active game-day roster this season, expect the Patriots to keep Ryan Mallett, the rookie from Arkansas, around for awhile.

Running Back (5)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Danny Woodhead
Shane Vereen
Stevan Ridley
Sammy Morris

Kevin Faulk should begin the year on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, as he continues to work himself back from a knee injury. It means he won’t be able to play until Week 7, and at that time, the team will have to make a decision on his future.

Offensive Line (7)
Dan Koppen
Logan Mankins
Matt Light
Sebastian Vollmer
Dan Connolly
Nate Solder
Steve Maneri

Typically, only seven offensive linemen are activated on game days, so expect this group to start out. However, injuries happen frequently, so you can also expect another lineman – or two – to be placed on the practice squad.

Wide Receiver (5)
Wes Welker
Deion Branch
Chad Ochocinco
Julian Edelman
Brandon Tate

The “x” factor here is a guy like Matthew Slater, or even Taylor Price, who could also be kept on the roster for special teams considerations.

Tight End (3)
Rob Gronkowski
Aaron Hernandez
Will Yeatman

A mild surprise here, but based on playing time late in the pre-season, undrafted rookie free agent Yeatman rates a slight edge over draftee Lee Smith.

Defense – Defensive Line (10)
Vince Wilfork
Albert Haynesworth
Andre Carter
Shaun Ellis
Mark Anderson
Eric Moore
Myron Pryor
Kyle Love
Gerard Warren
Mike Wright

Ten on this list…could be 11 or 12 depending on health issues. Ron Brace is likely to start the season on the PUP list, as is Brandon Deaderick. Darryl Richard and Landon Cohen are on the bubble.

Linebacker (7)
Jerod Mayo
Jermaine Cunningham
Rob Ninkovich
Gary Guyton
Brandon Spikes
Dane Fletcher
Tracy White

This list could also increase by one player or two, depending on health issues…but if another LB is selected, it will come at the expense of a lineman. The Patriots like rookie free agent Jeff Tarpinian from Iowa, and just brought in former BC Eagle Ricky Brown from Oakland.

Defensive Backs (9)
Kyle Arrington
Josh Barrett
Leigh Bodden
Devin McCourty
Sergio Brown
Darius Butler
Brandon Meriweather
Patrick Chung
James Ihedigbo

This may be the toughest place to cut on the roster. Rookie second round pick Ras-I Dowling from Virginia was injured much of the pre-season, and just began practicing this past week. Don’t know if the Patriots can sneak him onto the practice squad (he would have to clear waivers), but he has not earned a roster spot – yet.

Specialists (3)
Stephen Gostkowski
Zoltan Mesko
James Dearth

Dearth is the long snapper, and another former member of the NY Jets.

If you’ve already counted the list – it’s at 52 players. That leaves one open spot…and there are several candidates who could claim it. OL Rich Ohrnberger, WR Matthew Slater, WR Taylor Price, WR Tiquan Underwood, WR/DB Buddy Farnham, LB Jeff Tarpinian, LB Ricky Brown and TE Lee Smith are all candidates…but the guess here is that either Ohrnberger or Slater claims the final spot. An eight-man practice squad can be signed beginning at 12 noon next Sunday.

If you’re looking for the upsets – Yeatman claiming a TE slot counts as one…Dowling not making this roster counts as another. Based on past history, Bill Belichick always has a surprise with an undrafted free agent or two reaching the regular season roster. It took awhile to come up with this list, as there were several tough choices to make…depending upon schemes (playing a 4-3 defense as opposed to a 3-4), weighing experience and considering draft choices.

The coaches are paid to make the tough choices. And how about the players? Some of them will be playing for their football lives this Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.

Is this a championship foundation being constructed? Or is there a fatal flaw hidden somewhere in the makeup? The next 72 hours may determine whether a Super Bowl is on the horizon…or not.