Post Preseason Game 1 - My Projected Roster

OFFENSE:

QB: Ben, Grad, Jones - I think Jones showed enough to at this point be considered for on the roster. It could change, but this is my gut.

RB: Bell, Blount, Archer, W. Johnson, Poole - Poole was great on special teams. I would like to see some more as a RB.

TE: Heath, Spaeth, Waters - Waters is just a guess, but it is what my gut says. The #3 TE won't play much IMO.

WR: A. Brown, Wheaton, J. Brown, Moore, Moye, and Bryant - I know 6 right. I just think Moye can do more to help us win at the moment than Bryant, but Bryant has so much potential I don't think he is going anywhere. They carry less Olineman to make this happen, but unless someone on that 2nd unit steps up....I don't see a point in keeping them. I thought Whimper would be an option, but he looked HORRIBLE. Johnson also didn't look comfortable. Right now, I'm not even sure who the #8 guy is let alone a #9.

OL: Beachum, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Adams, Wallace.....for the #8 spot, I think right now it is completely up for grabs and wouldn't surprise me if we get someone off the waiver wire.

DEFENSE:

DL: Thomas, McLendon, Heyward, McCullers, and Tuitt - I would only be keeping these 5 right now. With the position flexibility of both McLendon and Thomas to slide to the middle, the potential of McCullers to be a pure space eater, and the increased number of times the NT is coming off the field for sub packages, I think this is possible unless someone steps up. Someone like Munro or N. Williams may be placed on the PS in order to give us depth at the position without really impacting the roster. These 5 guys would all get helmets each game and then if someone gets hurt we would bring them up. Arnfelt really disappointed me on Saturday.

LB: Worilds, Jones, Timmons, Shazier, Williams, Spence, Moats, Carter, and Jones - I would like to see Zumwalt some on special teams and I think Garvin would be good to keep as well. I think Carter could be in trouble if Zumwalt and Jones both really show something on special teams.

CB: Ike, C. Allen, Gay, Blake, Richardson, McCain - I think McCain stays and I think the rookie will be kept for his potential. I cannot help but wonder if they think they can get him to the PS. If they do, it changes things.

S: Troy, Mitchell, Golden, Thomas, and W. Allen - I really liked Dangerfield in run support. He looked great on the goalline defense and I saw some potential there. I think this may be decided right at the last moment. Does Golden know the D? Do we trust him on D? If not, there is not point in keeping him. Is W. Allen to old and slow now? Yeah, he knows the D, but that doesn't help him catch the RB running past him.

I could care less about specials. 2 of those 3 are set already IMO and unless Podlesh gets back soon, the other will be set as well.

 

I wouldn't waste a roster spot on Poole only PS, I think they will keep 6 DL instead of 5.

 

While I agree in principle that we need 6 DL over another RB, I think Poole has done more to earn that spot at the moment than any of the potential DL guys. He has done exactly what was asked of him on special teams. Right now, if Tomlin wants his best 53 guys, after 1 game, Poole would be on the team IMO. That is not to say that after game #4 I will feel the same way, just that at the moment he is one of our best 53. They would need to keep 2 DL on the PS in case of injury. We only ever dress 5 anyway, so it would allow us to replace during the week for when a guy goes on the disabled list.

IMO, the 6th WR was also a spot I struggled with adding. It may come down to Poole vs. Moye for the last spot on offense.

 

I think Garvin will make the 53

 

ESPN has us keeping 10 LBers and they might just be right with they way they have been playing. The biggest thing is all of their games are different. If this was a Cowher team that thrived on specials I would say this is would absolutely happen. Either way it's a good problem to have.

 

Out of the list by Tarheel I think the main ones on the bubble or questionable would be:

Poole
Waters
Moye
H. Jones

Yes they could all easily make it. They could keep another DL in place of any of them (except Waters...we know there will be a 3rd TE)...who knows.

 

Poole (RB - do we keep a 5th?)
Waters (TE - Paulson or Palmer could be kept instead. I think Blanchflower is a cut to the PS)
Moye (WR - Do we keep 6?)
Oline - I honestly didn't see anyone that I want kept from the 2nd unit other than the 2 which I mention above. Hubbard was bad as was the other G. Whimper was HORRIBLE! I hope Johnson steps up or we are looking at the waiver wire for spot #6.

DLine - After this past game Mauro would be my guy, but N. Williams has potential as well albeit his showing was as a 3rd stringer. This position may keep 6 unlike the 5 I have listed above, but the last spot is going to come down to the end.

LB - I think we only keep 9 with Jones and Carter as potential cuts with Garvin and Zumwalt pushing for the spots. I would prefer Garvin and H. Jones, but I think Carter and Garvin has the lead due to last year and nothing more.

CB - Richardson is the one I have trouble with. I think the other guys are pretty much givens. The question for me is do we keep 6 CBs or only 5. With the way teams are throwing the ball around, I really could see this. I don't know if Richardson can get to the PS or not, but the CB position may be where that #6 DL comes from.

S - W. Allen and Golden are the 2 fighting for both being kept. Allen to me looks like he could be a cut. Dangerfield I need to see more of, but man his run support was spot on during that last goal line "stand".

Personally, I think that is about it. There may be a surprise here or there that I am not seeing but it is really just the bottom part of the roster.

 

one thing I noticed was zumwalt putting the other ILB in the right position pre snap. that I thought was pretty impressive for a rookie that has missed some practice and OTA time. molls played well too that night. garvin was decent in coverage. definitely going to be hard to cut some guys at LB.

 

I would have to agree with this. Garvin is not going anywhere.

Bman

 

I could see them keep either two and will j or 3 and will j, but not 4 and will j.

 

My problem with keeping 9 Olineman is that they haven't really earned it. Hubbard and every other backup other than Wallace and Adams, including Whimper, have not shown enough to stay. Every one of those guys but Whimper can go to the PS and that is what I think happens right now. My guess is Whimper is kept on the team and 2 guys go to the PS with W. Johnson being one of them. If they don't think Johnson can get through, then they will cut Whimper and hope he is still there if/when they need him.

 

Is nick Williams still a PS possibility?

 

how has Wesley Johnson not earned it? he will make the team. browning is also doing well, so far. hubbard didn't play near as bad as most made it out.

 

Earning it would be outplaying someone in the 2nd unit, guys like Hubbard and Browning and earning his spot. At the moment, he might make the team because he was a draft pick, but that IMO is it. When it comes to how Hubbard played....I think he was horrible, I mean horrible.

 

I've been on vacation for a week or so and don't have time to give much of a serious response today as I must get back to work.

A couple of thoughts. We WILL keep at least 6 DL so that must be addressed. OL, I had us keeping Hubbard on my 53 projection but that may change, Elkins or Browning ( who I'm pulling for ) may challenge here. We may need to look at the TE spot more. 2 are locks and W. Johnson will be a FB/TE and lets remember Adams played Blocking TE last yr....... could we keep only 2 TE's and either Rob B. or Waters on the PS.

Good effort and thought process on the projection with limited info... looking forward to the next installment.

PS.... Brice won't make the 53..... ( LOL Blast )

Cajun-