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- Jul 30, 2010
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- Jemma
Well, I'm bored. I don't want to bore y'all with what I think happens in other threads, so I think I'll just keep it to my opinions, as foolish as they may be. So...here it is:
QB - Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett.
(Stafford is the starter, Bennett is the backup. That's how it's going to be. I don't see any way Rypien or Winn make the roster. Maybe we'll sign another quarterback, but so long as Stafford is healthy, I think that's unlikely.)
RB - Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Zach Evans, Tyrion Davis-Price (San Francisco cut)
(No, I do not think that Sony Michel makes the team. Yes, he's a veteran that they signed, but I don't know how much he has left in the tank. I also think we poach a running back from a rival, be it Seattle or San Francisco. I think that the running backs here are good enough to each take snaps. Akers is probably our best back, Williams is our best pass-protector, and Evans is talented in his own right. As for a power back, I think San Fran surprisingly cuts Tyrion Davis-Price, given that they have McCaffery, Mitchell, Juszczyk, and others, and given that TDP underwhelmed in his rookie year. I think we're good.)
WR - Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Chatarius Atwell, Tyler Johnson, Puka Nacua, Lance McCutcheon, Jaelon Darden (Cleveland cut).
(Well, there's a bit of a shock here (in the player I think we pick up, knowing my luck at those players, given that Ramsey and Tyler Johnson were two of them.). I think Jefferson does well in a contract year. Johnson is someone I've always liked, going back to his days at Minnesota. Nacua and McCutcheon might get looks if there are injuries - and there's always injuries. I think/hope we pick up Darden if/when Cleveland cuts him; he's never going to be the dynamic threat I thought he'd be on offense, but he's as good a returner as any in the league.)
TE - Ben Skowronek, Hunter Long, Davis Allen.
(The first shocker: Higbee gets traded to a tight-end-needy team for a fourth round pick in 2024. The second shocker: Skowronek wins the starting job at tight end. The third - okay, maybe cutting Hopkins isn't a shocker. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if McVay finally says that Skow is our H-back, while Long gets the majority of the receiving snaps. Either one could work. Davis Allen gets occasional snaps, but I think they'll put him in a redshirt role.)
OL - Alaric Jackson, Tremayne Anchrum, Steve Avila, Logan Bruss, Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon, Coleman Shelton, Zachary Thomas, A.J. Arcuri.
(Nine offensive linemen and not Brian Allen or Joseph Noteboom? What devilry is this? (Yes, I traded both of them, shh.) Honestly, I think Avila wins the center job, since it gets the best people in the lineup (i.e., Bruss, Anchrum, maybe McClendon) and because I love his bulk, pass-protection, and I think he's smart enough to call protections. Bruss, I think, will bounce back. Anchrum is still only twenty-five, and I know that they're high on him. I think A-Jax has a huge year as well, and Havenstein is simply solid. Shelton, Zachary Thomas, Arcuri, and McClendon are the backups, and honestly, I think they're all we need at the moment; someone's going to cut an offensive lineman, and we'll likely pick that man up.)
DL - Aaron Donald, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht, Larrell Murchison, Kobie Turner, Earnest Brown IV.
(Yeah, I believe that Hoecht is sent back to the defensive line; thus far, he has not shown the ability to contain at an outside linebacker spot - a cardinal sin. However, I doubt it matters much because he's definitely starting either way. Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald. BB3 gets the opportunity to run with the starters, and I think he takes that opportunity. Murchison, Turner, and EB4 are the other three who make the defensive line spots, and Turner could really impress.)
LB - Ernest Jones, Daniel Hardy, Kier Thomas, Byron Young, Nick Hampton, Desjuan Johnson, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, Kelechi Anyalebechi.
(Jones is probably the best young middle linebacker we've had since Laurinaitis, and possibly even longer. He's vocal, a leader, and a very damn good football player. Hardy and Thomas get the first crack at the starting job, as they're the "vets" of the group, but Young, Hampton, and Johnosn could also impress (even though Johnson is a tweener, I think his ability wins out). I honestly don't see Ochaun Mathis making the roster; he struggled mightily at Nebraska, and is super raw. Definitely could be a practice squad option, though. Rozeboom and Hummel are key special teams players, and Anyalebechi is my sleeper pick to make the roster.)
DB - Cobie Durant, Robert Rochell, Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Shaun Jolly, Vincent Gray, Jason Taylor II, Quindell Johnson, Rashad Torrence II.
(Shocked that there's no Jordan Fuller? With Ernest Jones getting the green dot, I feel that Fuller gets traded before he's cut, especially considering his injury history and that it's his last year of his contract. What I wouldn't mind seeing is Derion Kendrick going as well; I don't know if I can forgive him for his numerous miscues, and he's far too slow to afford to be this bad. I also think that Rochell steps up in a big way, so that we don't need Witherspoon. Jolly and Gray form the remaining cornerbacks; I have high hopes for both, especially Jolly, since the Rams kept him on the roster almost all of last season. As for the safeties, I think Yeast and Lake are our starters, although Taylor, Johnson, and Torrence could easily step up as well.)
ST - Tanner Brown, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward.
(An all-rookie special teams battery! I think that we could easily go with that. Ward was one of the best rookie longsnappers, Evans looks like a gem at punter, and I liked Brown's overall work as a kicker more than Dunn's, so I'm happy we went with him. Darden, as mentioned, is the returner.)
Practice Squad - Braxton Burmeister (WR), Xavier Smith (WR), Sean Maginn (OC), Mike McAllister (OC), Ochaun Mathis (EDGE), Zach VanValkenburg (EDGE), DeAndre Square (ILB), Timarcus Davis (CB), Tyon Davis (CB), Jordan Jones (CB/SAF), Cameron McCutcheon (CB/SAF), Tanner Ingle (SAF).
(I guess we could see a specialist here, but none really grab my attention over the rookies. I could see a quarterback as well, but I don't know. Burmeister and Smith are exciting wide receiver talents who can return punts and kicks, Maginn and McAllister are your center prospects, Mathis and ZVV are the edge rushers. Square is an interesting inside linebacker who will definitely get a shot of competing against Rozeboom and Hummel. The next four prove you can never have too many corners, and Ingle will get every chance to compete in a deep safety room.)
QB - Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett.
(Stafford is the starter, Bennett is the backup. That's how it's going to be. I don't see any way Rypien or Winn make the roster. Maybe we'll sign another quarterback, but so long as Stafford is healthy, I think that's unlikely.)
RB - Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Zach Evans, Tyrion Davis-Price (San Francisco cut)
(No, I do not think that Sony Michel makes the team. Yes, he's a veteran that they signed, but I don't know how much he has left in the tank. I also think we poach a running back from a rival, be it Seattle or San Francisco. I think that the running backs here are good enough to each take snaps. Akers is probably our best back, Williams is our best pass-protector, and Evans is talented in his own right. As for a power back, I think San Fran surprisingly cuts Tyrion Davis-Price, given that they have McCaffery, Mitchell, Juszczyk, and others, and given that TDP underwhelmed in his rookie year. I think we're good.)
WR - Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Chatarius Atwell, Tyler Johnson, Puka Nacua, Lance McCutcheon, Jaelon Darden (Cleveland cut).
(Well, there's a bit of a shock here (in the player I think we pick up, knowing my luck at those players, given that Ramsey and Tyler Johnson were two of them.). I think Jefferson does well in a contract year. Johnson is someone I've always liked, going back to his days at Minnesota. Nacua and McCutcheon might get looks if there are injuries - and there's always injuries. I think/hope we pick up Darden if/when Cleveland cuts him; he's never going to be the dynamic threat I thought he'd be on offense, but he's as good a returner as any in the league.)
TE - Ben Skowronek, Hunter Long, Davis Allen.
(The first shocker: Higbee gets traded to a tight-end-needy team for a fourth round pick in 2024. The second shocker: Skowronek wins the starting job at tight end. The third - okay, maybe cutting Hopkins isn't a shocker. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if McVay finally says that Skow is our H-back, while Long gets the majority of the receiving snaps. Either one could work. Davis Allen gets occasional snaps, but I think they'll put him in a redshirt role.)
OL - Alaric Jackson, Tremayne Anchrum, Steve Avila, Logan Bruss, Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon, Coleman Shelton, Zachary Thomas, A.J. Arcuri.
(Nine offensive linemen and not Brian Allen or Joseph Noteboom? What devilry is this? (Yes, I traded both of them, shh.) Honestly, I think Avila wins the center job, since it gets the best people in the lineup (i.e., Bruss, Anchrum, maybe McClendon) and because I love his bulk, pass-protection, and I think he's smart enough to call protections. Bruss, I think, will bounce back. Anchrum is still only twenty-five, and I know that they're high on him. I think A-Jax has a huge year as well, and Havenstein is simply solid. Shelton, Zachary Thomas, Arcuri, and McClendon are the backups, and honestly, I think they're all we need at the moment; someone's going to cut an offensive lineman, and we'll likely pick that man up.)
DL - Aaron Donald, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht, Larrell Murchison, Kobie Turner, Earnest Brown IV.
(Yeah, I believe that Hoecht is sent back to the defensive line; thus far, he has not shown the ability to contain at an outside linebacker spot - a cardinal sin. However, I doubt it matters much because he's definitely starting either way. Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald. BB3 gets the opportunity to run with the starters, and I think he takes that opportunity. Murchison, Turner, and EB4 are the other three who make the defensive line spots, and Turner could really impress.)
LB - Ernest Jones, Daniel Hardy, Kier Thomas, Byron Young, Nick Hampton, Desjuan Johnson, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, Kelechi Anyalebechi.
(Jones is probably the best young middle linebacker we've had since Laurinaitis, and possibly even longer. He's vocal, a leader, and a very damn good football player. Hardy and Thomas get the first crack at the starting job, as they're the "vets" of the group, but Young, Hampton, and Johnosn could also impress (even though Johnson is a tweener, I think his ability wins out). I honestly don't see Ochaun Mathis making the roster; he struggled mightily at Nebraska, and is super raw. Definitely could be a practice squad option, though. Rozeboom and Hummel are key special teams players, and Anyalebechi is my sleeper pick to make the roster.)
DB - Cobie Durant, Robert Rochell, Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Shaun Jolly, Vincent Gray, Jason Taylor II, Quindell Johnson, Rashad Torrence II.
(Shocked that there's no Jordan Fuller? With Ernest Jones getting the green dot, I feel that Fuller gets traded before he's cut, especially considering his injury history and that it's his last year of his contract. What I wouldn't mind seeing is Derion Kendrick going as well; I don't know if I can forgive him for his numerous miscues, and he's far too slow to afford to be this bad. I also think that Rochell steps up in a big way, so that we don't need Witherspoon. Jolly and Gray form the remaining cornerbacks; I have high hopes for both, especially Jolly, since the Rams kept him on the roster almost all of last season. As for the safeties, I think Yeast and Lake are our starters, although Taylor, Johnson, and Torrence could easily step up as well.)
ST - Tanner Brown, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward.
(An all-rookie special teams battery! I think that we could easily go with that. Ward was one of the best rookie longsnappers, Evans looks like a gem at punter, and I liked Brown's overall work as a kicker more than Dunn's, so I'm happy we went with him. Darden, as mentioned, is the returner.)
Practice Squad - Braxton Burmeister (WR), Xavier Smith (WR), Sean Maginn (OC), Mike McAllister (OC), Ochaun Mathis (EDGE), Zach VanValkenburg (EDGE), DeAndre Square (ILB), Timarcus Davis (CB), Tyon Davis (CB), Jordan Jones (CB/SAF), Cameron McCutcheon (CB/SAF), Tanner Ingle (SAF).
(I guess we could see a specialist here, but none really grab my attention over the rookies. I could see a quarterback as well, but I don't know. Burmeister and Smith are exciting wide receiver talents who can return punts and kicks, Maginn and McAllister are your center prospects, Mathis and ZVV are the edge rushers. Square is an interesting inside linebacker who will definitely get a shot of competing against Rozeboom and Hummel. The next four prove you can never have too many corners, and Ingle will get every chance to compete in a deep safety room.)
