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- Jul 30, 2010
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- Jemma
Well, here is goes:
QB - Jared Goff (starter), Blake Bortles.
(No surprises here. Goff is obviously the starter, although Bortles is a huge upgrade over Mannion. Brandon Allen and John Wolford miss the cut.)
RB - Todd Gurley (starter), Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson(KR/PR starter), John Kelly.
(If Gurley's health issues - whatever they may be - manifest, I think we'll see Brown, Henderson, and Kelly split carries. If not? Well, a healthy Gurley is an upgrade over every running back in the league. Henderson likely wins the kick return and punt return job. Brown is a solid, dependable back. Justin Davis loses the camp battle of fourth running back/special teams to Kelly, who has less durability concerns and more talent than Davis. Matthew Colburn is a camp body.)
WR - Brandin Cooks (starter), Robert Woods (starter), Cooper Kupp (starter), Josh Reynolds, KhaDarel Hodge, Emanuel Hall.
(First surprise: we pick up Hall from the Bears, who cut him. Will it happen? I'm not sure, but I'm on the record saying that he will be cut by them and will join us. Cooks, Woods, and Kupp are obvious starters, although I can see Reynolds and Hodge getting snaps, as well as playing special teams.
JoJo Natson gets replaced by Henderson at kick and punt returner, while Mike Thomas is another odd man out. Alex Bachman and Nsimba Webster are interesting because of their athleticism and production (they're both probably on my practice squad), but probably won't make the team. Austin Proehl, as much as I love his dad as a player, isn't the same caliber of a player. Jalen Greene and Johnathan Lloyd are likely camp bodies.)
TE - Gerald Everett (starter), Kendall Blanton, Keenan Brown, Romello Brooker.
(The next surprise. I think that Higbee gets traded to a team who needs a tight end - for the purposes of my prediction, I'll say the Los Angeles Chargers for a third round pick, since they have absolutely nothing behind Hunter Henry, who is coming off of a season ending injury. This lets Everett gain the starting job, while Blanton focuses on being the blocking tight end.
I can't say enough about Blanton and why he'll make this team, but suffice it to say that I believe he's a better fit as a blocking tight end and underrated receiver than both Keenan Brown and Romello Brooker, and I am not saying this because I'm a Mizzou fan. Mundt gets the axe in favor of the Killer B's, though; it makes sense to carry four tight ends just in case Higbee is missed..)
OL - Andrew Whitworth (LT), Joseph Noteboom (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Blythe (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT), Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans, David Edwards.
(Whitworth, Noteboom, Allen, Havenstein, and Blythe need no explanation, and yes, I think Blythe retains his starting job before we lose him to free agency next year. Demby is probably going to make the cut as a bigger, better version of Barrett Jones. Evans could see time this year if an offensive lineman that isn't a center goes down with an injury. Edwards needs to add strength before he's ready to get a starting slot, but he's certainly earned time as a backup.
Vitas Hrynkiewicz has potential, but won't make the final roster (even though he's a candidate for my practice squad). Aaron Neary, I'm automatically striking from the roster with his DUI and recent suspension for substance abuse (NFL's words, not mine). Jeremiah Kolone has been signed/waived by the Rams a lot, so I doubt he makes the roster. Chandler Brewer, Brandon Hitner, and Matt Kaskey look like camp bodies to me.)
DL - Aaron Donald (DE starter), Michael Brockers (DE starter), Greg Gaines (NT starter), John Franklin-Myers (DE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Morgan Fox (DE).
(The starters aren't in doubt. Donald is amazing, Brockers still has something in the tank, and I was impressed by Gaines. The backups are intriguing, though. JFM looks like he'll likely take Brockers' slot after this season. SJD has come into camp with a purpose. Fox, if he's recovered from his injury fully, should be a hell of a backup.
Marquise Copeland is extremely interesting as a player, but I don't think he makes the roster (would've made it if I had seven defensive linemen, and still goes on my practice squad). Tanzel Smart has had his chances and hasn't capitalized. Bryant Jones is also interesting, but he's not making this team. Boogie Roberts is a camp body.)
LB - Cory Littleton (ILB, starter), Clay Matthews (ILB/OLB starter), Dante Fowler (OLB starter) Samson Ebukam (OLB), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (OLB), Justin Lawler (OLB), Trevon Young (OLB), Micah Kiser (ILB), Dakota Allen (ILB), Travin Howard (ILB).
(Littleton and Fowler needs no explanation. Matthews will likely start at OLB, but will move to ILB in certain situations. Ebukam, Okoronkwo, and Kiser have tons of potential to be contributors in our defense. Lawler, Young, Howard, and Allen are likely special teams contributors, but that's nothing to be ashamed of in the NFL.
Bryce Hager might've re-signed with us, but I think that younger cheaper talent wins out. Josh Carraway has bounced from team to team, so I doubt he makes it with us. Ketner Kupp is not the player that Cooper is. Natrez Patrick, Troy Reeder, and Landis Durham are camp bodies.)
DB - Aqib Talib (CB starter), Marcus Peters (CB starter), Nickell Robey-Coleman (slot CB starter), John Johnson (SS starter), Eric Weddle (FS starter), David Long (CB), Kevin Peterson (CB), Taylor Rapp (SS), Nick Scott (FS), Ramon Richards (FS/CB).
(More surprises: Hill and Hatfield don't make the roster, likely being traded to a team that could use a starting cornerback - in Hill's case, Oakland's fifth round pick - while Hatfield is likely traded for a conditional seventh - let's say, Washington. The starters aren't a surprise, and the draft picks - Rapp, Long, and Scott - aren't a surprise either. Peterson isn't a surprise either, since he might be the eventual NRC replacement.
It's Richards that might shock. But he was a cornerback and safety at Oklahoma State, getting ten interceptions during his college career, and the Rams liked him enough to keep him on their practice squad. I think his versatility helps us.
That leaves a whole host of other cornerbacks and safeties left out in the cold. Dont'e Deayon and Darious Williams are smaller corners who have no place with NRC, Peterson, Long, and Richards. Marqui Christian is cut because of financial reasons and because his role is basically being replaced by Rapp. Both Jake Gervase and Steven Parker are interesting (possible practice squad safeties), but they are both beat out by Richards because of the latter's versatility.)
ST - Greg Zuerlein (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Jake McQuaide (LS).
(No surprises here.)
QB - Jared Goff (starter), Blake Bortles.
(No surprises here. Goff is obviously the starter, although Bortles is a huge upgrade over Mannion. Brandon Allen and John Wolford miss the cut.)
RB - Todd Gurley (starter), Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson(KR/PR starter), John Kelly.
(If Gurley's health issues - whatever they may be - manifest, I think we'll see Brown, Henderson, and Kelly split carries. If not? Well, a healthy Gurley is an upgrade over every running back in the league. Henderson likely wins the kick return and punt return job. Brown is a solid, dependable back. Justin Davis loses the camp battle of fourth running back/special teams to Kelly, who has less durability concerns and more talent than Davis. Matthew Colburn is a camp body.)
WR - Brandin Cooks (starter), Robert Woods (starter), Cooper Kupp (starter), Josh Reynolds, KhaDarel Hodge, Emanuel Hall.
(First surprise: we pick up Hall from the Bears, who cut him. Will it happen? I'm not sure, but I'm on the record saying that he will be cut by them and will join us. Cooks, Woods, and Kupp are obvious starters, although I can see Reynolds and Hodge getting snaps, as well as playing special teams.
JoJo Natson gets replaced by Henderson at kick and punt returner, while Mike Thomas is another odd man out. Alex Bachman and Nsimba Webster are interesting because of their athleticism and production (they're both probably on my practice squad), but probably won't make the team. Austin Proehl, as much as I love his dad as a player, isn't the same caliber of a player. Jalen Greene and Johnathan Lloyd are likely camp bodies.)
TE - Gerald Everett (starter), Kendall Blanton, Keenan Brown, Romello Brooker.
(The next surprise. I think that Higbee gets traded to a team who needs a tight end - for the purposes of my prediction, I'll say the Los Angeles Chargers for a third round pick, since they have absolutely nothing behind Hunter Henry, who is coming off of a season ending injury. This lets Everett gain the starting job, while Blanton focuses on being the blocking tight end.
I can't say enough about Blanton and why he'll make this team, but suffice it to say that I believe he's a better fit as a blocking tight end and underrated receiver than both Keenan Brown and Romello Brooker, and I am not saying this because I'm a Mizzou fan. Mundt gets the axe in favor of the Killer B's, though; it makes sense to carry four tight ends just in case Higbee is missed..)
OL - Andrew Whitworth (LT), Joseph Noteboom (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Blythe (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT), Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans, David Edwards.
(Whitworth, Noteboom, Allen, Havenstein, and Blythe need no explanation, and yes, I think Blythe retains his starting job before we lose him to free agency next year. Demby is probably going to make the cut as a bigger, better version of Barrett Jones. Evans could see time this year if an offensive lineman that isn't a center goes down with an injury. Edwards needs to add strength before he's ready to get a starting slot, but he's certainly earned time as a backup.
Vitas Hrynkiewicz has potential, but won't make the final roster (even though he's a candidate for my practice squad). Aaron Neary, I'm automatically striking from the roster with his DUI and recent suspension for substance abuse (NFL's words, not mine). Jeremiah Kolone has been signed/waived by the Rams a lot, so I doubt he makes the roster. Chandler Brewer, Brandon Hitner, and Matt Kaskey look like camp bodies to me.)
DL - Aaron Donald (DE starter), Michael Brockers (DE starter), Greg Gaines (NT starter), John Franklin-Myers (DE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Morgan Fox (DE).
(The starters aren't in doubt. Donald is amazing, Brockers still has something in the tank, and I was impressed by Gaines. The backups are intriguing, though. JFM looks like he'll likely take Brockers' slot after this season. SJD has come into camp with a purpose. Fox, if he's recovered from his injury fully, should be a hell of a backup.
Marquise Copeland is extremely interesting as a player, but I don't think he makes the roster (would've made it if I had seven defensive linemen, and still goes on my practice squad). Tanzel Smart has had his chances and hasn't capitalized. Bryant Jones is also interesting, but he's not making this team. Boogie Roberts is a camp body.)
LB - Cory Littleton (ILB, starter), Clay Matthews (ILB/OLB starter), Dante Fowler (OLB starter) Samson Ebukam (OLB), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (OLB), Justin Lawler (OLB), Trevon Young (OLB), Micah Kiser (ILB), Dakota Allen (ILB), Travin Howard (ILB).
(Littleton and Fowler needs no explanation. Matthews will likely start at OLB, but will move to ILB in certain situations. Ebukam, Okoronkwo, and Kiser have tons of potential to be contributors in our defense. Lawler, Young, Howard, and Allen are likely special teams contributors, but that's nothing to be ashamed of in the NFL.
Bryce Hager might've re-signed with us, but I think that younger cheaper talent wins out. Josh Carraway has bounced from team to team, so I doubt he makes it with us. Ketner Kupp is not the player that Cooper is. Natrez Patrick, Troy Reeder, and Landis Durham are camp bodies.)
DB - Aqib Talib (CB starter), Marcus Peters (CB starter), Nickell Robey-Coleman (slot CB starter), John Johnson (SS starter), Eric Weddle (FS starter), David Long (CB), Kevin Peterson (CB), Taylor Rapp (SS), Nick Scott (FS), Ramon Richards (FS/CB).
(More surprises: Hill and Hatfield don't make the roster, likely being traded to a team that could use a starting cornerback - in Hill's case, Oakland's fifth round pick - while Hatfield is likely traded for a conditional seventh - let's say, Washington. The starters aren't a surprise, and the draft picks - Rapp, Long, and Scott - aren't a surprise either. Peterson isn't a surprise either, since he might be the eventual NRC replacement.
It's Richards that might shock. But he was a cornerback and safety at Oklahoma State, getting ten interceptions during his college career, and the Rams liked him enough to keep him on their practice squad. I think his versatility helps us.
That leaves a whole host of other cornerbacks and safeties left out in the cold. Dont'e Deayon and Darious Williams are smaller corners who have no place with NRC, Peterson, Long, and Richards. Marqui Christian is cut because of financial reasons and because his role is basically being replaced by Rapp. Both Jake Gervase and Steven Parker are interesting (possible practice squad safeties), but they are both beat out by Richards because of the latter's versatility.)
ST - Greg Zuerlein (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Jake McQuaide (LS).
(No surprises here.)
