What's your (way too early) final roster?

[jjchieffan]

I know that it's too early. But I thought that this would be good to bump during camp and at final cutdowns. I would imagine that there are still going to be some guys added post June 1 that will be on the roster. But for the most part, our final 53 should come from the current group. Who ya got? Here's mine

Offense
QB (2) Mahomes. Henne
OL (9) Fisher Wylie, Reiter, LDT. Schwartz, Erving, McKenzie, Allegretti, Hunter
WR (6) Watkins, Deiter, Pringle, Robinson, Hardman, Davis(Hill starts out roster exempt-suspended.)
TE (3) Kelce, Yelder, someone not yet on the roster
FB (1) Sherman
HB (3) Thompson, Damian Williams, Darrell Williams

Defense
DL (8) Jones, Clark, Nnadi, Williams, Ogbah, Saunders, Okafor, Speaks
LB (6) DOD, Ragland, Hitchens, Neimann, Johnson, Wilson
S (4) Matheiu. Watts, Lucas, Thornhill
CB (6) Fuller, Breeland, Ward, Smith, Reaser, Fenton

Special teams (3)
K: Butker
P: Colquit
LS: Winchester

Yes, I know. I only have 51. I'm trying to decide who to put in those spots. Right now, I am thinking that the udfa rookie OT Boyd could end up snagging a spot if he shows well in camp. But we're deeeep at running back. Would they keep 4 plus Sherman? Maybe another wide receiver? I don't know. On defense, it'll be interesting to see if Fields can claim that other spot. I also have Kpass left off. But this defensive scheme could save his career. So, I'm just going to leave those 2 spots open....for now.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If Hill doesn't get suspended, Tremon Smith could be in real trouble.

If Hill's active, they're gonna wanna still see Hardman get some run out there, if only to get used to the speed of the NFL game. They'll have him returning kicks and punts at that point.

And if Smith isn't a primary returner, I'm just not sure what use he is to this squad. At that point, I think Fields gets the last CB slot over him.

Offense (26)
QB (3) - Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Chase Litton
RB (4) - Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde, Darwin Thompson, James Williams
FB (1) - Anthony Sherman
TE (3) - Travis Kelce, FA pickup, Yelder (ugh),
WR (7) - Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman, Cody Thompson, Byron Pringle, Jamal Custis
OT (3) - Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz, Cameron Erving
OG (4) - Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Wylie, Khalil McKenzie, Nick Allegretti
OC (1) - Austin Reiter

Defense (24)
DE (4) - Frank Clark, Breeland Speaks, Alex Okafor, Emmanuel Ogbah
DT (4) - Chris Jones, Derrick Nnadi, Khalen Saunders, Justin Hamilton
LB (5) - Anthony Hitchens, Dorian O'Daniel, Damien Wilson, Gary Johnson, Reggie Ragland
CB (6) - Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Charvarius Ward, Mark Fields, Keith Reaser, Rashad Fenton -- If they keep Smith I think Fields will win the job over Fenton.
DB (5) - Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thornhill, Jordan Lucas, Armani Watts, Daniel Sorensen

Special Teams (3)
P Dustin Colquitt
K Harrison Butker
LS James Winchester

I like a lot of this, but I could see Lucas cut. I could also see them move on from Ragland if literally ANYONE else steps up in that group. His inability to cover has got to be an issue. Also not sure we keep 3 TE, unless all 3 are of quality. The PS will likely have at least one candidate in case of injury.

Edit: Missed X Williams the first time. I think they absolutely keep him over Hamilton.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

You’d rather keenp Sorenson instead of Lucas?

[Kiimo]

I think if Niemann has another productive preseason there's no way they cut him.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

You’d rather keenp Sorenson instead of Lucas?

I think they will. Lucas is fine, but he didn't seem to be a playmaker. I think Sorenson will be more of a hybrid S/LB in the defense.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I like a lot of this, but I could see Lucas cut. I could also see them move on from Ragland if literally ANYONE else steps up in that group. His inability to cover has got to be an issue. Also not sure we keep 3 TE, unless all 3 are of quality. The PS will likely have at least one candidate in case of injury.

On the flipside, you may keep 3 because both of the backups kinda suck. I can't really swear by it, but my memory is that we tended to keep 3 TEs only when we weren't confident in the 2 we had. If they end up with a #2 TE they truly like, I could see them keeping Lovett on the PS to have on hand if needed. Yelder is also PS eligible so maybe he's the stash option. I just put 3 on there figuring that the team simply won't be happy with their #2 by the end of camp and may just keep an extra to see if one of the backups can distinguish himself.

As for Ragland - if they keep Sorensen it will be in part because of their desire to limit Ragland to situational use. You'd essentially see something of a Ragland/Sorensen platoon situation. I think they'll sub-package so often that Ragland will only be used when he's in a position to be successful (obvious run downs or situations where the Will has been replaced by a safety in more of a big nickel package).

I still can't imagine this is the 90 we'll take to camp, though. The LB and TE groups are just miserably awful.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

I think if Niemann has another productive preseason there's no way they cut him.

He'd have to simply beat Ragland head up.

Because I think they're hell-bent on not putting Hitchens in at the Mike for base sets. If that's the case, Ragland is really the only guy that can play the Middle.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Gary Johnson needs to make the team

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

On the flipside, you may keep 3 because both of the backups kinda suck. I can't really swear by it, but my memory is that we tended to keep 3 TEs only when we weren't confident in the 2 we had. If they end up with a #2 TE they truly like, I could see them keeping Lovett on the PS to have on hand if needed. Yelder is also PS eligible so maybe he's the stash option. I just put 3 on there figuring that the team simply won't be happy with their #2 by the end of camp and may just keep an extra to see if one of the backups can distinguish himself.

As for Ragland - if they keep Sorensen it will be in part because of their desire to limit Ragland to situational use. You'd essentially see something of a Ragland/Sorensen platoon situation. I think they'll sub-package so often that Ragland will only be used when he's in a position to be successful (obvious run downs or situations where the Will has been replaced by a safety in more of a big nickel package).

I still can't imagine this is the 90 we'll take to camp, though. The LB and TE groups are just miserably awful.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He'd have to simply beat Ragland head up.

Because I think they're hell-bent on not putting Hitchens in at the Mike for base sets. If that's the case, Ragland is really the only guy that can play the Middle.

Well, at this point, I don't know what LB out there that can help. Some young guy is gonna have to step up and take the reigns or something.

The TE thing, atleast, I think Andy can develop someone there and get atleast credible play. I mean, **** last year we had Harris there.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

He'd have to simply beat Ragland head up.

Because I think they're hell-bent on not putting Hitchens in at the Mike for base sets. If that's the case, Ragland is really the only guy that can play the Middle.

Niemann also looked lost when he played during the regular season.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Niemann also looked lost when he played during the regular season.

Well, to be fair, pretty much all of the defenders looked lost last season, especially at LB.

[tyton75]

Where is Jeremiah Attaochu ?

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Niemann also looked lost when he played during the regular season.

It's almost like Niemann was playing instinctually in the preseason and then during the regular season got coaching from Sutton oh how to play his "Look, then think where you should be, then think where everyone else should be, then solve for X to decide which direction to run in, then start running" defense.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Kiimosabi

It's almost like Niemann was playing instinctually in the preseason and then during the regular season got coaching from Sutton oh how to play his "Look, then think where you should be, then think where everyone else should be, then solve for X to decide which direction to run in, then start running" defense.

Or, he just wasn't very good. Shocking, considering he was an UDFA.

I can't imagine why he'd look good playing against guys who won't make rosters in the preseason.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Or, he just wasn't very good. Shocking, considering he was an UDFA.

I can't imagine why he'd look good playing against guys who won't make rosters in the preseason.

Or he was a rookie playing for an historically inept defensive scheme and assuming anything is premature.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

Or he was a rookie playing for an historically inept defensive scheme and assuming anything is premature.

I think assuming a UDFA isn't a starting NFL player is probably a safe bet until proven otherwise.

To just say "why isn't Niemann on there?" when he has done nothing apart from look decent against grocery baggers and shitty against actual NFL players is committing to an even more dubious assumption.

There are far far FAR more Jesse Haynes than there are Priest Holmes. You can bet on Niemann if you want, but it's not a particularly good bet if history is any guide at all.