The 46 man game day roster

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CoachO

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With all the prediction threads that have been posting, I would like to propose taking a little different approach to it. Seems everyone has their opinion on what the 53 man roster could and should look like, but how about trying to project the 46 man "ACTIVE" roster that takes into account who the core special team guys will be.

I found a rather interesting article about "Roster construction" and they go so far as breaking it down to how most teams approach deciding on the 46 man game day roster. I realize it's from Bleacherreport, but this actually is one of their better pieces.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1640782-the-anatomy-of-a-53-man-roster-in-the-nfl

My 46 man Game day "active" roster"

Offense (21)
QB: (2) Bradford; Hill
RB: (3) Stacy; Mason; Pead
TE: (3) Cook; Kendricks; Harkey
WR: (5) Austin; Britt; Quick; Givens; Pettis
OL: (8) Long; Robinson; Wells; Saffold; Barksdale; Barnes; Joseph; Jones

Defense (22)
DL: (8) Quinn; Long; Hayes: Sims; Brockers; Langford; Donald; Sam
LB: (6) Laurinaitis; Ogletree; Dunbar; Armstrong; Bates; Steward
DB: (8) Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; McDonald; McLeod; Davis; Alexander; Gaines;

Specialists (3)
K: Zuerlien P: Hekker LS: McQuaide

Special Teams:
Kickoff Team:
Zuerlein; Pead; Gaines; McLeod; Joyner; Davis; Alexander; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Sam

Kickoff Return:
Davis; Alexander; Sam; Steward; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Jones; Barnes; Harkey; Mason

Punt Coverage:
Pead; McGee; Alexander; Sims; Bates; McQuaide; Armstrong; Sam; Harkey; Davis; Hekker

Punt Return: Austin; Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; Davis; Ogletree; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Donald; Steward
 
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bluecoconuts

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Is that before Bailey comes back, and when he does who sits for him? Or do you think they only dress 5 receivers?
 

CoachO

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Is that before Bailey comes back, and when he does who sits for him? Or do you think they only dress 5 receivers?

This is for the period without Bailey. By then, it will depend on injuries and what they actually project his role to be when he is activated. Even then, I doubt they dress more than 5 WRs.
 

BigRamFan

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Just curious @CoachO what do the bolded names represent. At first I thought it was your special teamers but that was not consistent with your special teams list.
 

CoachO

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Just curious @CoachO what do the bolded names represent. At first I thought it was your special teamers but that was not consistent with your special teams list.

Yes, the bolded names are the Special Teams players. Did I over look someone? Oh I see Ididnt bold any of the LBs,, fixed on the OP,,,
 

BigRamFan

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Yes, the bolded names are the Special Teams players. Did I over look someone? Oh I see Ididnt bold any of the LBs,, fixed on the OP,,,
Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on any of your wisdom. (y)
Your 46 seems reasonable to me. Do you see a 6th WR on the 53 man roster? If so, who have you got?
 

CoachO

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Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on any of your wisdom. (y)
Your 46 seems reasonable to me. Do you see a 6th WR on the 53 man roster? If so, who have you got?

Yes, until Bailey comes back, I think it may end up being TJ Moe. That's my preference (yes, Black & Gold homer). I also can see him being in the mix as one of the ST core guys, but I tried to lean towards defensive players on the coverage units whenever possible.
 

Rams43

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With all the prediction threads that have been posting, I would like to propose taking a little different approach to it. Seems everyone has their opinion on what the 53 man roster could and should look like, but how about trying to project the 46 man "ACTIVE" roster that takes into account who the core special team guys will be.

I found a rather interesting article about "Roster construction" and they go so far as breaking it down to how most teams approach deciding on the 46 man game day roster. I realize it's from Bleacherreport, but this actually is one of their better pieces.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1640782-the-anatomy-of-a-53-man-roster-in-the-nfl

My 46 man Game day "active" roster"

Offense (21)
QB: (2) Bradford; Hill
RB: (3) Stacy; Mason; Pead
TE: (3) Cook; Kendricks; Harkey
WR: (5) Austin; Britt; Quick; Givens; Pettis
OL: (8) Long; Robinson; Wells; Saffold; Barksdale; Barnes; Joseph; Jones

Defense (22)
DL: (8) Quinn; Long; Hayes: Sims; Brockers; Langford; Donald; Sam
LB: (6) Laurinaitis; Ogletree; Dunbar; Armstrong; Bates; Steward
DB: (8) Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; McDonald; McLeod; Davis; Alexander; Gaines;

Specialists (3)
K: Zuerlien P: Hekker LS: McQuaide

Special Teams:
Kickoff Team:
Zuerlein; Pead; Gaines; McLeod; Joyner; Davis; Alexander; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Sam

Kickoff Return:
Davis; Alexander; Sam; Steward; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Jones; Barnes; Harkey; Mason

Punt Coverage:
Pead; McGee; Alexander; Sims; Bates; McQuaide; Armstrong; Sam; Harkey; Davis; Hekker

Punt Return: Austin; Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; Davis; Ogletree; Armstrong; Bates; Sims; Donald; Steward

I see what you did there with the OL, Coach. Can't disagree given the flexibility for backup OT among Saffold, and Robinson with Joseph, Jones, and Barnes to plug in at OG.

I am mildly surprised to see Sam active on DL rather than having Carrington available in the DL rotation. What am I missing there?
 

DR RAM

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There's not much on that list that I can argue against, until full camp, and then preseason rolls around. There are too many variables, obviously, but on paper, I'd feel pretty good about that 46, based on the players that I know, and the players that I don't other than some limited film, and paper. I like the versatility, speed, and talent projected on special teams, and that (ST) is how all of these fringe players will make it. Versatility, and talent will be highly contested by this new group, and the other young players already on the team. The secondary will be the most interesting, but linebacker could be very interesting.

OP did a pretty good job, IMO.
 

12intheBox

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Hard to argue with much of O's 46 ....

A few changes once Bailey is back:

Offense (22)
QB: (2) Bradford; Hill
RB: (3) Stacy; Mason; Cunningham
TE: (3) Cook; Kendricks; Harkey
WR: (6) Austin; Britt; Quick; Givens; Pettis; Bailey
OL: (8) Long; Robinson; Wells; Saffold; Barksdale; Barnes; Joseph; Jones

Defense (21)
DL: (8) Quinn; Long; Hayes: Sims; Brockers; Langford; Donald; Carrington
LB: (5) Laurinaitis; Ogletree; Dunbar; Armstrong; Bates
DB: (8) Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; McDonald; McLeod; Davis; Alexander; Reid

Specialists (3)
K: Zuerlien P: Hekker LS: McQuaide
 

CoachO

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No Carrington in the DT rotation?

I knew that would be one of the things that would pop, but with the ability for Hayes and Sims to drop inside on passing downs, I went with a 3 man rotation of DTs, with the idea of having either Hayes or Sims mixing into that rotation on passing downs.

Imagine a front four of Quinn, Hayes, Donald and Long on 3rd and long situations.....

Obviously, this only works if Michael Sam manages to secure a core ST role. If he doesn't, then Carrington dresses, and you add someone like TJ Moe, or McGee to the ST mix.
 

BigRamFan

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However you stack your 46 it appears obvious we will have some talent standing on the sidelines out of uniform. It's pretty impressive the roster that has been put together since Fish/Snead took over.
 

CoachO

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Hard to argue with much of O's 46 ....

A few changes once Bailey is back:

Offense (22)
QB: (2) Bradford; Hill
RB: (3) Stacy; Mason; Cunningham
TE: (3) Cook; Kendricks; Harkey
WR: (6) Austin; Britt; Quick; Givens; Pettis; Bailey
OL: (8) Long; Robinson; Wells; Saffold; Barksdale; Barnes; Joseph; Jones

Defense (21)
DL: (8) Quinn; Long; Hayes: Sims; Brockers; Langford; Donald; Carrington
LB: (5) Laurinaitis; Ogletree; Dunbar; Armstrong; Bates
DB: (8) Jenkins; Johnson; Joyner; McDonald; McLeod; Davis; Alexander; Reid

Specialists (3)
K: Zuerlien P: Hekker LS: McQuaide

As I mentioned, this list was prior to Bailey returning.

I assume from your list, you think Pead will be gone. And who from the DB group do you have Reid replacing? And do you have Cunningham returning kickoffs, or is that where you have Reid?
 

12intheBox

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3 DTs seems a bit thin. I love the looks that we can put together in passing situations, but if we lose Brockers in the first quarter against the Seahawks or the 9ers, I don't want to have just 2 DTs (one of them a rookie) to play every other running snap that game. I know Hayes can hold his own inside, but he isn't who we want standing across from Iupati on 3rd and 1.
 

12intheBox

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I had Reid replacing Gaines. And I'm on the fence with Pead. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but if I had to put $$ on either Pead or Cunningham dressing at this point, I take Cunningham.
 

CoachO

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3 DTs seems a bit thin. I love the looks that we can put together in passing situations, but if we lose Brockers in the first quarter against the Seahawks or the 9ers, I don't want to have just 2 DTs (one of them a rookie) to play every other running snap that game. I know Hayes can hold his own inside, but he isn't who we want standing across from Iupati on 3rd and 1.

Obviously, this is just an over view look. It will surely be altered based on the opponent. So I agree with you, if they are going up against Seattle, and/or SF, you would favor a stronger DT presence.

This was geared to WEEK ONE, and obviously is very speculative.
 

CoachO

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I had Reid replacing Gaines. And I'm on the fence with Pead. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but if I had to put $$ on either Pead or Cunningham dressing at this point, I take Cunningham.

Fair enough, but I think whether Cunningham dresses or not, will be more a case of it being a choice between him or Mason. If one of them wins the KO Return duties, the other will most likely be the odd man out. There just isn't enough between them and/or Stacy that makes me feel comfortable enough in passing situations that they can be counted on to pass block. So ST aside, until that area is shored up, IMO, Pead still has a place on this roster.
 

12intheBox

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I thought Stacy got a lot better as the year went on in pass blocking - but yeah - if Pead's pass protection is that much better than Cunningham's, that could very well be the difference.

STs will dictate a lot - as you have said.

I like the O Line unit a lot - quality depth along the line. When we bring in a 6th lineman in a jumbo package - who will be the extra lineman in? I assume its Joseph, but I generally think of a tackle checking in and just lining up outside of the starting 5 - will they move the extra lineman in on the interior and slide everyone down?
 

ChrisW

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I want Reid to succeed so badly. But, looking over our talent pool for DBs, he may be left out. I can't be honest with myself for plugging him in the roster over anyone else. Hopefully he blows camp out of the water and makes it. Impressive talent in the secondary compared to a year ago. Needs some fast development first, though.