FanPost

EARLY 53 MAN ROSTER

This is an early look at the roster, or at least an idea of what the current state is. Now I know this prediction will be wrong. In fact, I hope it is wrong because we have some weaknesses that need to be addressed before early September. Centre, and backup MLB and SS are glaring needs.

There will likely be some UFA signings to come, in addition to at least one or two waiver wire aquisitions.

Here is my quick take. Check the jump for my explanation.


QB J . LOCKER M. HASSELBECK R. SMITH
RB C. JOHNSON J. HARPER J. RINGER
FB Q. JOHNSON
WR N. WASHINGTON K. WRIGHT L. HAWKINS
WR K. BRITT D. WILLIAMS M. MARIANI
TE J. COOK C. STEVENS T. THOMPSON
LT M. ROOS M. OTTO B. STINGILY
G HUTCHINSON
C E. AMANO K. MATTHEWS VLACHOS
G L. HARRIS F. VELASCO
T D. STEWART T. KROPOG
DE D. MORGAN D. BALL M. SHEPPARD
DT J. CASEY S. MARKS Z. CLAYTON D. HARRIS
DT M. MARTIN K. KLUG S. SMITH
DE K. WIMBLEY DOUZABLE S. SOLOMON
OLB W. WITHERSPOON Z. BROWN
MLB C. MCCARTHY T. SHAW
OLB A. AYERS MCGRATH P. BAILEY
CB J. MCCOURTY C. HAWKINS R. MOUTON
CB A. VERNER SENSABAUGH T. CAMPBELL
FS M. GRIFFIN M. MARTIN R. JOHNSON
SS J. BABINEAUX C. SCOTT
K R. BIRONAS
P B. KERN
LS B. BRINKLEY
KR MARIANI WRIGHT WILLIAMS
PR MARIANI WRIGHT WILLIAMS


QB's - I have Locker jumping ahead of Hass. I like Hass, but I think we are ready to see Jake take over. I also have Rusty holding off our new undrafted FA signing.

RB - I have Harper jumping Ringer in this prediction. Although, I expect them to share RB2 duties.

FB - Quinn Johnson is all we have. I expect someone else to come in and challenge him for the job. I hear Mughelli on the Falcons may be let go. Somnthing to consider. Either way, FB's are easy to come by nowadays.

WR - I doubt there will be much of an issue here. I expect Wright to be our WR3. Williams WR4, and Hawk WR5.

TE - I didn't show it on my 53 man but I have Graham as the last cut. They may find a way to keep 4 TE's on the roster because Thompson will be raw, and they will want Graham to be a buffer. I doubt they cut Thompson and put him on the practice squad. If the FO was high enough on Thomspon to trade up to get him, then they won't run the risk of having him sign with another team (as you do when you place a player on the practice squad).

OL - I have them keeping 9. They kept 10 last year, so I am guessing that Munch likes to keep a high number of OL. They were sour on Kropog last year, and Otto and Stingley make him expendable. As for Amano at the C, what else do you expect me to do? I am just as confused about our draft and lack of a FA signing as you are. I hope that they bring in another C and either cut Amano or move him to RG, but for now we have to list our O Line with Amano in the middle.

DT - I know some of you are high on Harris, but we have too many DT's for him to make the roster. He is a practice squad candidate in my opinion. Martin is a big run stopper that signals the end of the Smith era. Smith makes over 3 million this year. He isn't worth that. Marks makes it in the final year of his rookie contract. Let's hope that it motivates him. I liked what I saw in Clayton last year so he makes it as well. As for Klug being a backup, we all know that he will likely see just as much playing time as the starters. He will rotate in on passing downs for the most part.

DE - I don't see why they resigned Sheppard this year. He looks stiff and slow. I say he gets cut. Solomon is another practice squad candidate. Did anyone watch his combine tape? He does not have any explosion. I know, I know. He has a "high motor". I would have a high motor too if I played in the NFL, it doesn't mean that I could sack a QB.

LB - Not really any controversy here. Is anyone else worried about our backup MLB? I could see this being addressed before September.

CB - Cutting Mouton was tough. He could end up being really good this year and making the team. I just couldn't think of who should go before him.

S - Johnson makes the cut by default. Either he moves to SS or we sign someone else to back up Babs. I guarantee we sign another veteran saftey before the season.

ST - Meet our new long snapper, I guess? Mariani holds on to the KR duties.

So go ahead, rip my reasoning to shreds. Just don't be one of those D-bags that says so and so will make the roster (and fail to mention who gets cut in his place).