2009-2010 Roster & Practice Squad

[Parliament10]

What should the 2009-2010 Roster be? -- 45-man, 53-man, Practice Squad?

Versatility is key. And a team is only as good as its backups. Put those two philosophies together, behind a solid starting line-up, and you've got the makings of a great team. Here's what I think.


Offense:

QB -- Tom Brady

The Line -- Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur

TE -- Benjamin Watson

RB -- By Committee -- Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

WR -- Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, and in the 4, Matthew Slater.

Between Moss (Must be double-teamed), Welker (Ditto mostly), Galloway (Old, but still productive) and the Versatile Slater (Special Teamer, Safety, etc. etc.), we've got a lock at WR. Anyone else is there for injury insurance, or just to confuse the opposition.



Backups:

QB -- Kevin O'Connell, Julian Edelman (WR/QB), Practice Squad: Brian Hoyer.

-- O'Connell is the most promising backup. Remember, Brady started as a 4th stringer, and moved his way up. Cassel, likewise came from obscurity. We won 11 games with him in 2008-2009. Matt Guiterrez doesn't impress. I don't see the need for taking up a Roster spot with a QB that trips over his own feet. Not even as the emergency QB (over 45-man). Our 3rd QB option should go to Edelman. He played QB in college, ran and rushed as well. He's a decent Backup at both QB & WR and even RB. Keep Hoyer on the Practice Squad for a couple of years, as a quick insurance option/policy.

The Line -- Russ Hochstein, Ryan O'Callaghan, Billy Yates, Dan Connolly, Mark LeVoir.

-- Everyone here can play more than one position, to varying degrees. Most came off the Practice Squad If they can get some time at Special Teams, we can better utilize their talents, and thereby keep them from getting bored.

Hochstein, in particular, has been a versatile contributor for the Patriots, and in his regular-season and playoff career has started 12 games at guard, 10 games at center, two games at fullback and one game at tight end. He's even a backup for Long Snapper.

TE – I'm personally not a fan of this position. I'd go for the Wildcat. But, David Thomas is a good 2nd TE with maybe Chris Baker as a 3rd. I wouldn't go over two on the roster, putting the 3rd on the P. Squad.

RB – With the RB by Committee, there's really no “Backup” per se. But, I'd add someone else to the P. Squad, as insurance, which is (6) six total out of 61-men. This position racks up injuries. It's the only one where you've got to act kind of like bulldozer, and go through a number of professional football players, at close and imminent contact. Very rarely does a RB “Breakaway”.


WR --

No other WR should be entertained, unless they have some Versatility, either on Special Teams, Defense or another Offensive position. That Starts with the mold of Slater (After Troy Brown), and includes Edelman. Tate, White & Aiken. It would help if some of these guys can play CB, and/or Safety, as Slater can.


(Matthew Slater: 2008 (14/0): Finished second on the team with 13 special teams tackles as a rookie. Was a part of the special teams coverage and return units and saw limited action at wide receiver and safety.)

Julian Edelman: 2008 Season – Was the Golden Flashes’ starting quarterback, playing in 12 games and completing 153-of-275 passes for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns with 11 interceptions … Led Kent State in rushing with 1,551 yards on 215 attempts and ran for 13 touchdowns.

Brandon Tate: Needed just 165 punt return yards to become the eleventh player in NCAA history with 1,000 yards on both kickoff and punt returns (835 punt return yards).

Shun White: As a senior in 2008, played in all 13 games and led Navy in rushing with 1,092 yards on 132 carries and eight rushing touchdowns … Caught four passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.


Sam Aiken: Enters 2009 having recorded 27 career receptions for 351 yards and has totaled 71 career special teams tackles.

It drops from there.

27 Players = Offense



Defense:

The 3-4 is fantastic, if you've got the right personnel.

In the 3 – With Ty Warren and Richard Seymour as bookends, and then Vince Wilfork as the Roto-Router-Man, you can't go wrong. Wilfork takes two guys everytime he moves; sometimes three. And Warren & Seymour often tie up +1 just long enough for an OL to make the corner.

In the 4 – with Adalius Thomas on one side, and what looks like Pierre Woods filling Mike Vrabel's shoes on the other side, we're kinda alright. Especially with what might be Tedy Bruschi's last hurrah, standing next to the very capable, Jerod Mayo as the IL's.

CB – We're hurting at this position, no question; and have been since Asante Samuel sailed. No one every really took care of the other side, anyway; Randall Gay was decent, and Ellis Hobbs held it down. But truthfully, we need two like Asante Samuel, plain and simple. As Backups, (but not as starters) I'd go with Leigh Bodden & Shawn Springs, followed by Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley:

Leigh Bodden – enters 2009 having played in 75 career games with 53 starts and has recorded 287 tackles (215 solo), 13 interceptions for 132 yards, 58 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 30 special teams tackles

Shawn Springs – enters 2009 having played in 157 career games with 147 starts and has made 662 tackles (568 solo), 8.5 sacks, 32 interceptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns, 137 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Jonathan Wilhite & Terrence Wheatley are promising 2nd year players, who can be factors on Special Teams, and may develop into better Backup CB's.


Safety –

Brandon Meriweather (SS) – has played in all 32 games with 11 starts over his first two NFL seasons with the Patriots (2007-08) and has totaled 95 tackles (70 solo), four interceptions, 12 passes defensed and 29 special teams tackles entering 2009.
He also led the Patriots with four interceptions in 2008, tying the highest total for a Patriots safety in a decade, dating back to when Lawyer Milloy had six interceptions in 1998.

James Sanders (FS) – enters the 2009 season having played in 55 games with 36 starts over his first four NFL seasons (2005-08), totaling 198 tackles (144 solo), one sack, five interceptions for 112 yards and a touchdown, 10 passes defensed and 21 special teams tackles.

Backups –

Brandon McGowan (FS) – enters 2009 having played in 25 career games with 13 starts and has recorded 115 career tackles (74 solo), two interceptions, five passes defensed, one fumble forced, one fumble recovery and 16 special teams tackles.

“Tank” Clevan Williams (SS) – enters the 2008 season having played in 70 career games with 59 starts and has recorded 303 career tackles (232 solo), 4.5 sacks, five interceptions for 14 yards, 27 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He has also blocked two field goals.

The Backup Backup –

Ray Ventrone – is a Versatile do-what-it-takes guy who makes it on guts alone.


Backups for the 3-4:

In the 3 – Without Question, Le Kevin Smith, Jarvis Green, and Mike Wright.
In the 4 – the Versatile (Patriots Creedo) Tully Bant-Cain, Eric Alexander, Gary Guyton, and Shawn Crable. After that it's a crap shoot.

23 Players = Defense



Special Teams:

Every Backup just named. Keep 'em busy; Keep 'em happy.

K – Stephen Gostkowski.
P – Chris Hanson.
LS – Nathan Hodel, backed up by Hochstein.

Kickoff Returner – Matthew Slater.
Punt Returner – Terrence Wheatley.

3 = Special Teams:

After that, place anyone who can contribute, wherever they can contribute.


Versatility:
Troy Brown did double duty. Anybody who isn't a stellar starter, better be training at a second, and even a third position. Go Wildcat. Play all three aspects of the game.


Practice Squad at 8:
Q – Brina Hoyer (get comfortable).
TE – Chris Baker
WR/CB – To Be Announced.
RB – To Be Announced.
A couple of LB's.
And a couple of Wildcats.


27 = Offense
23 = Defense
03 = K, P, LS
Total: 53-man Roster

[Celtics_Champs]

I would still like to see BB bring in a vet at the OLB position. Whether it be a small depth move. Or a trade for a could be starter like burgess.