DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Who are your final 53 and PS players?

I have been trying to narrow down the roster over the last couple days and figure out who is staying and who is getting the boot...as well as who is going to find themselves manning the practice squad.

I think that it will end up something like this....

OL: Lauvao, Thomas, Steiny, Pashos, Womack, Mack, St. Clair, Yates

DL: Coleman, Rubin, Smith, Rogers, Mosley, Shaefering, Geathers.

TE: Moore, Watson, Royal

WR: Cribbs, Massa, Robiskie, Stuckey, Mitchell

RB: Davis, Hardesty, Harrison, Hillis, Vickers

QB: McCoy, Delhomme, Wallace

DB: Adams, Brown, Elam, Haden, Wright, Ward, Assante, Mcdonald, Ventrone

LB: Benard, Bowens, Costanzo, Fujita, Gocong, DQ, Roth, Trusnick, Maiava, Veikune

LS: Pontbriand

K: Dawson

P: Zastudil

I think depending on injury, and how the coaches decide on the bottom of the roster, there are a few guys who aren't PS eligible who may find their way on the final 53.

Punter Reggie Hodges certainly has a shot if Zastudil can't get healthy.

Sorenson's value at safety may overshadow Ventrones value on ST.

OL Kooistra and Fanaika have the chance to overtake either St. Claire or Yates on the depth chart.

And finally, Syndric Steptoe could make his way onto the roster if they decide to add another receiver to the mix instead of carrying so many db's and lb's.


Then as for the practice squad---where I think you can hold 8 players?

1. PS Haggerty, Johnathan WR
2. PS Reinders, Joel OL
3. PS Danso, Kwaku DL
4. PS Francies, Coye DB
5. *PS Miller, Swanson DT / Brown, Titus LB
6. *PS Gamble, Joel TE
7. *PS Chancellor, Chris DB / Smith, DeAngelo DB

* These guys aren't guaranteed to be placed on the PS, the powers that be might just cut them outright to make room for other prospects to sign to the PS.

This would leave the following players cut:

Bowie, John DB
Engram, Bobby WR
Jennings, Chris RB
Murray, Pat OL
Lawson, Gerard DB
Ratliff, Brett QB
Robinson, Derreck DL
Sanford, Brian DL
Smith, Alex TE

What do you guys think? Especially these guys on the bubble---who stays, who goes?

I did essentially the same thing tonight. I have 3 differences:

1. Cut Yates, Keep Fanaika.
2. Cut Maiava, Keep Allen.
3. Cut Royal, Keep Smith.

I see DB and LB as the spots with the most "interesting" cuts. Sorensen is a probably my last cut. Ventrone's ST contributions got him kept, but could see that being flipped because Sorensen isn't a bad ST player himself.

Yates, Fanaika. Fanaika, Yates. Does it really matter? If either plays, we're pretty much screwed anyway, but you got to have at least 8 Oline.

I think we keep the extra WR, because it's odd to go into the year with only 5 WR. Wouldn't surprise me, but it seems a low number, especially when 1 is Cribbs who is so important in other roles. So someone had to go and Maiava was the odd man out IMO.

Lastly, Royal v. Smith. If Smith proves he can block decently, he has a shot. Haven't seen much of him, but I know Royal's Dlineman's hands don't help his case. Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part. If Watson and Moore were better blockers, probably would have only kept 2 TEs because of Peyton Hillis playing an H-Back type role.

Getting the roster to 64, IMO is pretty easy. Those last 11 cuts get dicey. And we'll probably have some injuries that clear this up a bit more. Hopefully it's those guys on the margin not at the top.

Eric Barton would not make the team either.

I would not be surprised if St Clair did not make the team, in favor of a younger player with better upside.

Yea, I had him listed as one of the cuts...must've forgot to list him there.

I think he will end up either retiring, being cut, or taking some kind of injury settlement.

I just don't see him coming back.

Why didn't you just ask for players who are likely not to make the team or are likely to make the team that ould be a suprise to those who will read this.

I could see Brian Robiskie wr, and James Davis rb, both getting cut and that would be a surprise. I could see them both making the team also.

I could see a reason to cut Eric Steinbach og, and Robert Royal te, and that would be a surprise to alot of people.

I think it would be a surprise if Haggerty, Mitchell, and Steptoe, all made the team, but I could see it happening.

I could see a case where 1 of the 3 db's drafted this year doesn't do enough to make the team, even though they were such draft picks that it would be a surprise.

I'm pretty confident this team is better with St Clair than without him even if he doesn't start behind Pashos and Thomas, because he is the only other reliable tackle on the outside and he, St Clair, can play outside of the others for a 6 man line.
The team is better with St Clair but that hasn't stopped them from cutting someone before.

I think Engram defintly makes this team, He is the 3rd best receiver behind Mo Mass and Stuckey.

I think they will use more of "not receivers" as receivers this year, for instance

Evan Moore, not a receiver
Josh Cribbs, not a receiver
Jerome Harrison, not a receiver

These will line up as receivers, they are going to have to just to get the best players on the field.

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I could see Brian Robiskie wr ... ... getting cut and that would be a surprise.

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Based on the reports comingo ut of camp...that wouldn't be a surprise...that would be an A-Bomb going off in the city of Cleveland....

Glad to see he thinks so little of our WR corps that he could see our #1/#2 WR being cut and our "starting" WRs being a TE a RB and a KR.

Of course it all makes sense after reading his vitriol spilled toward the FO for having the gall to actually draft defense with our first 2 picks I mean, he's so upset at the amount of money we paid to Haden (the man plays DEFENSE!) that I'm surprised he doesn't think the FO is going to cut half the team and replace them with circus chimps.

dont forget Engram

camp cuts could be a factor, but I doubt it will be as great a factor as in years past. We * appear* to have better quality at the bottom of the roster.

I think we carry 9 OL on the roster.Pardon me if this is a re-hash of older posts,and some of this is just a no-brainer.Prediction......

LT - Thomas
LG - Steinbach
C - Mack
RG - Womack (plays RT tackle at times)
RT- Pashos

back-ups:

RT/LT - St.Clair
C/G - Lauvao
G: Kooistra
G/T: Fanaika

cut:
Yates, gets picked by another team
Murray

PS
Reinders
Bender

Since Reinders is in a boot there is a chance he is "stashed" on IR for the rest of the season.

Bubble>
Kooistra, Fanaika and Yates are really the players on the bubble. Three players fighting for two positions. Yates and Kooistra are not PS eligible.
If a camp cut is added it's here. DUH.........
Realistically it will be hard to find a camp cut that is an improvement on any of our current back-up OL.

I'm not a big Steinbach fan, but some of the DTers are starting to win me over.

I think we are on the same page here.

Very similar to my preliminary roster, with exception to Koostra over Yates, but I am leaning to the side of Yates, for no other reason then the lack of a back-up Center.

i hear josh cribbs is on the bubble

no, I cant let it go

Here is the semi official and partially authenticated YTown roster prediction:

QB: Delhomme, Wallace, McCoy (3)
RB: Hardesty, Harrison, Hillis, Davis (4)
FB: Vickers (1)
TE: Watson, Moore, Royals (3)
WR: Massaquoi, Robiske, Stuckey, Cribbs, Someone not currently on the roster (I just don't see any of our other current WRs making the regular season roster) (5)
OL: Thomas, Steinbach, Mack, Lauvoa, Womack, Yates, St. Clair, Kooistra (Pashos could take St Clair's spot except that he hasn't been healthy yet) (8)


DL: R.Smith, Rogers, Rubin, Moseley, Schaefering, Robinson, Geathers (7)
LB: Roth, Fujita, Gocong, Benard, Costanzo, Maiva, Trusnic, and 1 other. That other could be Bowens, Barton, Veikune, or Brown ..... no idea what way they go. Forced to guess, I pick Bowens. (8)
S: Elam, Ward, Assante, Adams, Ventrone (5)
CB: Brown, Wright, Haden, McDonald, Either Francies or a late roster cut. (5)

ST: Dawson, Pontbriand, Hodges

That leaves 2 spots. Maybe an extra DL sneaks in here to help cover suspensions. Maybe Ratliffe makes it for a few weeks into the season as the 4th QB. (not out of the question if there are still major concerns about McCoy) Maybe another DB makes it. Could be that we carry an extra OL until all of the injury issues are sorted out. Hard to tell at this point.




Practice Squad?

Probably LB Titus Brown if he is eligible. (and I'm not going to bother checking at this point)
2 DL Probably Swanson Miller and Brian Sanford
Maybe a CB like Chancellor
WR Mitchell ... man he needs a LOT of work
OL Reinders, Bender, or Malecki

Probably 1 more DB.


That's the way my crystal ball sees it.

Did you purposely leave out DQ or was that an oversight? I agree with Bowens being one of your (8).

Shoot, I agree with every one of your choices except I would add Coleman as a DL. (8) is more than enough DL...but with pending/possible suspensions and injuries to Mosely and Rogers...???

I think Pashos makes the team along with the guys you mentioned - including St Clair. Too many injuries along the line to start the year with only (8) guys on OL. So...there goes the (2) remaining spots. (To Pashos & Coleman)

I think Davis played his way on to the team over Veikune. (I know they play different positions...it's all about special teams.)

I previously thought Mitchell was in...until I actually saw him play a little. Raw is an understatement. I agree that our 5th WR is not presently on our roster.

That leaves out guys like:

Alex Smith
Sorenson
T Brown
Engram
Veikune
Barton
DQ
Jennings
Lawson
S Miller
B Sanford
Ratliff

So...if we are trying to make room for one or two of the above cuts...where does the spot(s) come from?

I think the bubble guys on your/my roster are the last guys in line at OL, DL, RB (simply due to numbers), and S. So...here are the last guys at their positions thereby putting them on the bubble:

OL - Pashos. He hasn't played and hardly practiced. With Womack out until the reg season, St Clair dinged, & Lauvao in Hawaii...I would conclude that IF an extra spot MUST come from our list of OL...that cut would be Pashos. I think this is the least likely cut.

DL - Geathers. Robinson has been too good to cut. Geathers is raw but a guy I like. If Mosely stays on PUP, we gain a little temporary roster relief...but unfortunately at a position with many question marks. I can really see Mosely start the year on PUP. If the suspensions are non-game suspensions, I thnk Geathers gets cut and we try and stash him on the PS. I think this/these are the most likely options IF we are looking to keep one of the listed cut guys.

RB - I think Davis is last on the RB list. (Unless Hardesty goes to IR...hope not.) Unfortunately, it is a numbers game for Davis. I think it boils down to a 9th LB or 5th RB. As I said above, I think he makes the team. I think cutting Davis is the least likely option.

S - Ventrone is last...you want him or Sorenson?

Thoughts:

I think the heartburn is over how to keep T Brown.

I won't be surprised if we try and keep A Smith...yes 4 TEs.

The ST coach will want Sorenson.

EM will want Veikune.

I wonder if some people now see my point in why DQ is a probale cut/trade? (Who do you cut to keep him? Especially not knowing when/if he will return this year.)

I think the small dilema in who to keep....means we are finally getting a better roster with which to compete.

It's too bad for some guys, but this is "The Truth" --

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I think the small dilema in who to keep....means we are finally getting a better roster with which to compete.

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Actually, I forgot about DQ ..... and I think it's entirely possible that he could be traded.

Some tough calls,...

Hate to give up on Veikune and endure the subsequent "draft pick backlash," but he doesn't appear to have the wherewithal of Trusnik and Maiava. And I don't - despite the idle chatter - see the Browns trading D'Qwell to make the hole either.

I do not foresee a problem getting them on our PS, because none of the above mentioned players are NFL ready. There is always a chance of some other team claiming them, but at this point they are merely prospects.

Do you have to clear waivers to get placed on the PS ? If so, I would say, that's not a very fair labor practice,...but I'm no attorney.

I like that roster...but with T Brown replacing DQ.

I think we keep a 4th TE over a raw or old WR at this point.

If Mosely starts the year on PUP, choose between DQ & Veikune.

QB: Delhomme, Wallace, McCoy (3)

RB: Harrison, Hardesty, Davis (3)

FB: Vickers, Hillis (2)

TE: Watson, Moore, Royal (3)

WR: Massoqua, Robiskie, Stuckey, Mitchell (4)

OL: Thomas, Steiny, Mack, Womack, Pashos, Lauvao, St. Clair, Yates (8)

DL: Rogers, Rubin, Smith, Mosley, Coleman, Geathers, Shaefering (7)

LB: Roth, Bowens, Fujita, Gocong, Jackson, Benard, Veikune, (7)

CB: Brown, Wright, Haden, McDonald, Sorensen (5)

S: Ward, Adams, Elam, Assante (4)

ST: Cribbs, Dawson, Hodges, Pontbriand, Costanzo, Trusnick, Ventrone (7)

I REALLY wanna get rid of Elam, but that will never happen... Heck we probably won't even get rid of Barton... Stupid Vets...

Jason Trusnik, I think is more than just a ST guy.
I consider him one of our top 6 LB's. Veikune is eligible for the PS, Maiava is not and is a better a ST player so this is why I put him ahead of Veikune.

I don't automatically give a late round draft pick a free pass over players we may need early in the season.....ie; pending suspensions with 2 of our starting DL.
Okay, now all of a sudden your #7 is your #5 DL and will have to figure in the rotation.
I don't know if the Coach's feel that Geathers will be ready for saw mill so soon.
If Mosley is not ready to come off the PUP this could be a moot point and a Rookie will have to be put to the saw mill.

It's still premature, but Heckert has some tough choices a head of him.

Btw, why did you put Sorensen @ CB?

QB Delhomme, Wallace, McCoy =3
FB Vickers =1
RB Harrison, Hillis, Hardesty, Davis =4
WR Mo, Robo, Stuck, Cribbs, Mitchel l=5
TE Watson, Royal, Moore, Smith=4
OL Thomas, Steiny, Mack, Lauvao, St. Claire plus 3 to be added =8

ST Dawson, Pontibriand, plus punter yet to be added and yet to be earned spot =4

DL Rogers, Rubin, Robaire, Schaeffering, Geathers, Coleman =6
LB Benard, Fujita, Gocong, Roth, Maiava, Trusnik, Costanza, Bowens, Veikune, Brown, plus one to be added =11
S Elam, Asante, Ward, Adams =4
CB Wright, Haden, Brown, McDonald =4

DQ pup maybe IR
Barton cut
Porkchop likely IR
Pashos can see an injury settlement coming
Hodges replaced by waiver wire

I think we will see trades happening soon as teams deep at one position try to cash in before they have to cut. This is a good week for it.

Pashos is supposed to practice on Tuesday, at least that's what he told the media in an article I read last night.

j/c

I have a feeling Veikune makes the team. Mangini won't be willing to give up on a second round pick so quickly despite what all of us think about him so far. It'll be an ego/stubborn thing.

That might put Maiava out.

I think it'll all depend on how much say Holmgrem has on the final roster. He has no ties to DV.

I doubt Maivia is the one gone. I hope its Barton and Veikune.

we will carry 11 or 12 linebackers and they like using him as a DE so he has a good shot.

Yeah, that's the "tweener" factor,...