53 Man Roster Decisions

[Mitch]

It's fun to speculate on what players will make enough of an impression during camp to make the 53 man roster. Let's play HC/GM and offer our own decisions on the following personnel scenarios:

#2, #3 RBs: The top candidates are Marcel Shipp, J.J. Arrington, Damien Anderson and Roger Robinson. What TWO make it? Is there a scenario in which a #4 RB is kept? If so, whom?

(I will post my answers at the end...)

FB: The candidates are James Hodgins, Obafemi Ayanbadejo and John Bronson. If only ONE makes the roster, who does? Will DG keep TWO? If so, who are the two?

#5 WR: (Top 4: LF, AB, BJ, LM) The candidates are Todd Watkins, Damarious Bilbo, Greg Lee, Zamir Cobb, Carlyle Holiday, Michael Spurlock, Brian Alford, Troy Walters. Who wins the #5. If the Cards keep SIX WRs...who wins the #6?

#9 OL: (Top 8: LD, RW, AS, MB, OR, DL, NL, EB) The Candidates are Fred Wakefield, Rolando Cantu, Jeremy Bridges, Dante Ellington, Alan Reuber, Shawn Lynch, Kyle Schmitt. Who's the #9? Is there a #10? If so, whom?

#8, #9 DL: (Top 7: CO, DD, KC, BB, AS, GW, JL) The candidates are Kenny King, Tim Bulman, Langston Moore, Anton Palepoi, A.J. Schable, Tyler King. Who's the #8? Is there a #9? If so, whom?

#7, #8 LB: (Top 6: KD, JD, CP, BJ, GH, DB) The candidates are Orlando Huff, Isaac Keys, Lance Mitchell, Mark Brown, Lawrence Pinson. #7? is there a #8?

#5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10 DB (Top 4: AR, AW, EG, DM) The candidates are Lamont Reid, Robert Griffith, Jack Brewer, Aaron Francisco, Jay McCareins, Darryl Hunter, Ernest Shazor, Dyshod Carter, Chris Harrell, Justin Wyatt.
The team will most likely carry NINE...will there be a #10?

_______________________________________________________________

My answers:

#2 RB: Marcel Shipp (diligent, hard-nosed veteran sticks)

#3 RB: J.J. Arrington (offers team excellent 3rd down option)

#4 RB: Roger Robinson (will make team as KR...and only one FB will be kept)

#1 FB: John Bronson (bruiser who learns fast and is very valuable on STs)

#5 WR Carlyle Holiday (exceptional athlete emerges as one of the team's major surprises in camp)

#6 WR: Michael Spurlock (wins PR job and doubles as a nifty slot WR)

#9 OL: Fred Wakefield (impresses coaches with work ethic, coachability and improvement)

#8 DL: Kenny King (if healthy, he's a lock...otherwise Bulman or Moore make it here...the team can still sign Bulman to the practice squad)

#7 LB: Mark Brown (has good camp and vies for starting WLB slot)

#8 LB: Lance Mitchell (special teams play secures his spot)

#5 DB: Lamont Reid (steady backup corner and nickel back)

#6 DB: Jack Brewer (excellent special teamer vies for starting FS spot)

#7 DB: Jay McCareins (surprise of camp vies for immediate playing time)

#8 DB: Aaron Francisco (versatile and aggressive)

#9 DB: Robert Griffith or Ernest Shazor (still too close to call...if Griffith is playing well, Shazor is still elligible for the practice squad)
_________________________________________________________

53 Man Roster:

QB (3): Warner, Leinart, Navarre

RB (4): James, Shipp, Arrington, Robinson

FB (1): Bronson

TE (3): Bergen, Edwards, Pope

WR (6): Boldin, Fitzgerald, Johnson, McCoy, Holiday, Spurlock

OL (9): Davis, Wells, Stepanovich, M. Brown, Ross, Lutui, Leckey, E. Brown, Wakefield

DL (8): Okeafor, Dockett, Clancy, Berry, Smith, Watson, Lewis, King

LB (8): Dansby, Darling, Pace, Hayes, Blackstock, Johnson, Brown, Mitchell

DB (9): Rolle, Wilson, Green, Macklin, Reid, Brewer, McCareins, Francisco, (Griffith or Shazor)

ST (3): Player, Hodel, Rackers

Note: I know...54...still deciding on that last decision!
______________________________________________________________

PS (7): WR Watkins, WR Lee, WR Bilbo, DT Bulman, DE Schable, S Harrell, CB Wyatt.
______________________________________________________________
Your turn, my friends! Good luck!

 

[Ryanwb]

No way Bronson makes the team over Femi....

I pretty much agree with the rest

 

[CardLogic]

Good attempt, Walt! Very tough to call at this point.

All I will say, is that training camp will be very competitive this year. It ought to be fun to watch.

There could be a couple of surprises...

 

[Chainthroer]

Mitch- I appreciate the comments. But, I agree to a degree with RYANWB, re Bronson vs Femi. I do not remember Bronson doing much at all at either FB or TE last year. But, I like his size, and possibly he could be the lead blocker we've been looking for. Femi ran half as well last year as in 2004, but caught almost twice as many passes. We need a lead blocker!!

 

[joeshmo]

There is no question what so ever that a healthy Griffith will be on the 53 man roster.

I can probably say the same for Huff - You may not have liked him last year but there isnt another single LB on the roster that has shown they can be on Huffs level at the WLB spot. Not a one. Blackstock or the 5th round rookie would have to have a huge camp and preseason to take his place, and even then Huff is a valuable, cheap, and already knows the system backup. And LB depth is exactly what Green has been talking about since the first OTA.

Bronson does not deserve the bruiser label until he has actually shown he can be a bruiser.

Still dont get the love for Holiday. Walters easily has the inside track on him. Watkins might have the inside track on him as well.

 

[ajcardfan]

Ayenbadejo is a stone cold lock for this roster. Green didn't sign him to a 2 year deal with bonus because he's on the bubble. Marginal FBs routinely sign one year deals league wide. I think Bronson has a shot, but it will be at the expense of Robinson or one of the 9 DBs.

I also think Holiday has no shot. Green loves to keep his draft picks, and he has all sorts of options at returners. I think Walters and Watkins both stick, with Watkins possibly going to the PS.

 

[kerouac9]

There are rumors that Huff is going to get an in-season contract extension. There's no way that he doesn't make the roster unless he gets injured.

I don't think that the Cards keep 10 DBs. I'm guessing they'll take 9, because there's no chance that any of their bubble players get picked up by another team (and where's Robert Tate on your list? Didn't he get signed in the offseason?). Both Griffith and Francisco will make the roster.

 

[spanky1]

No way Bronson makes the team over Femi....

I pretty much agree with the rest

I'm in the Bronson camp.

 

[spanky1]

There are rumors that Huff is going to get an in-season contract extension. There's no way that he doesn't make the roster unless he gets injured.

I don't think that the Cards keep 10 DBs. I'm guessing they'll take 9, because there's no chance that any of their bubble players get picked up by another team (and where's Robert Tate on your list? Didn't he get signed in the offseason?). Both Griffith and Francisco will make the roster.

Huff....an in season externtion. I have not heard a peep about this.

 

[kerouac9]

Huff....an in season externtion. I have not heard a peep about this.

It was in an ESPN.com Whispers Around the NFL column, I think. I'll see if I can find it...

For what it's worth, I think that Orlando Huff's roster spot is far more secure than Lance Mitchell, who has done nothing but fall short of otherwise low expectations.

 

[HeavyB3]

Griffith and Huff wil be on the team, guarenteed. Niether of them played so badly last year that they would get cut. Sure neither of them are the greatest players, but both are veterans and both played decent.

 

[Russ Smith]

I also think Holiday has no shot. Green loves to keep his draft picks, and he has all sorts of options at returners. I think Walters and Watkins both stick, with Watkins possibly going to the PS.

The only issue with that is while Green has been bringing in stanford guys left and right the majority of them don't wind up making the team. I loved Troy Walters a few years ago but at this point he's a reach to make the roster, he's had a problem over the years fumbling on punt returns and he's not really a burner kind of WR, and he doesn't really return Kickoffs. I think Watkins has the same issue he's not a kick returner, but he IS a burner and that might get him over the hump.

I hope one of these guys(Robinson, Walters, Watkins, McCoy etc) develops into a legit KR we sure need help there.

 

[Duckjake]

and where's Robert Tate on your list? Didn't he get signed in the offseason?).

Tate is still on the roster. He has a real good chance of sticking because he has long ties to Green and plays special teams.

However he will be 33 in October.

 

[kerouac9]

Tate is still on the roster. He has a real good chance of sticking because he has long ties to Green and plays special teams.

However he will be 33 in October.

I was just wondering why he was overlooked by Walter. I think that Tate will have a hard time making the roster this season--he was cut in training camp last season. I just think that he has a better chance than Jay McCareins or Darryl Hunter, whoever they are.

 

[JeffGollin]

There will always be training camp surprises, so it's difficult to predict who'll emerge on the roster.

Injuries are the biggest wildcard. Others involve such negative intangibles as work ethic, holdouts, propensity to overeat etc. and positive ones like "the dude was a better than expected" coming off a senior year injury or (like Q) rehab work.

That said - I think the most fun may be in watching the battle for a defensive line spot. Let's assume for the moment that Berry, Okeafor, Clancy and Dockett are locks. Next echelon figures to include guys like Ken King, Gabe Watson, Jon Lewis and I might throw in Antonio Smith as well. You've got to figure that Pace will provide additional rotational flexibility from his DE/LB tweener spot. And what about Bulman - who showed promise last year? The other guys (Moore, Palepoi, T. King) figure to be long shots. But I love the possibility that the first 7 guys I mentioned will perform well enough at Camp to be in the final rotation. If they're that good, we will - for the first time in a long while - have a deep and talented D-line both inside and out.

But like I said earlier - injuries and other unknown factors will probably result in a number of surprises.

 

[MadCardDisease]

No way Bronson makes the team over Femi....

I agree. Plus I can finally say his full name perfectly and impress my friends.

 

[Duckjake]

I was just wondering why he was overlooked by Walter. I think that Tate will have a hard time making the roster this season--he was cut in training camp last season. I just think that he has a better chance than Jay McCareins or Darryl Hunter, whoever they are.

But he was resigned three weeks later and played in 13 games and did ok with 28 tackles and 2 INTs.

Having played for several seasons with the Vikings when Green was coach should help but his age probably won't.

2005: Returned to the Cardinals on Thursday, 9/29 after being released on 9/3 at the 53-man cut down point … saw action in every game after being re-signed … returned to action in his first week back providing two tackles, an interception, forced fumble and a pass break up vs. SF (10/2) … recorded his second interception in two weeks vs. Car (10/9) while adding five solo tackles and one pass defensed … made his second consecutive start vs. Ten (10/23) and recorded one pass defensed and five tackles … saw action in every game the rest of the season, primarily on special teams.

 

[kerouac9]

Tate was cut and then moved up when we moved everyone's favorite Fullback-whos-never-played-the-position-before Bronson was placed on IR. I posted last training camp that Tate was a finge player who wouldn't make the roster, and there was an uproar. Because Antrelle was nicked, Tate was signed when a roster spot opened. I see no reason to believe that something similar won't happen again this season. The Robert Tates of the league are always going to be available for their pet coaches (like Bryan Gilmore for Jerry Sullivan).

I think that the depth-chart movement is the most interesting thing about training camp, but I think that--as before--the roster is generally set. 70% of those open roster spots will go to guys that will be inactive for at least half the games and we'll never hear from again afterward.

 

[Duckjake]

Tate was cut and then moved up when we moved everyone's favorite Fullback-whos-never-played-the-position-before Bronson was placed on IR. I posted last training camp that Tate was a finge player who wouldn't make the roster, and there was an uproar. Because Antrelle was nicked, Tate was signed when a roster spot opened. I see no reason to believe that something similar won't happen again this season. The Robert Tates of the league are always going to be available for their pet coaches (like Bryan Gilmore for Jerry Sullivan).

I think that the depth-chart movement is the most interesting thing about training camp, but I think that--as before--the roster is generally set. 70% of those open roster spots will go to guys that will be inactive for at least half the games and we'll never hear from again afterward.

As opposed to previous years when 70% of the starting positions went to guys who we never heard from again afterward.

 

[spanky1]

I was just wondering why he was overlooked by Walter. I think that Tate will have a hard time making the roster this season--he was cut in training camp last season. I just think that he has a better chance than Jay McCareins or Darryl Hunter, whoever they are.

Hunter and McCareins were two very excellent UDFA signings. Both were highly sought after and had multiple teams chasing them. One will give LaMont Reid a real push to make the roster and the other will be PS bound.

 

[spanky1]

Aaron Francisco is going to push Griffith for the FS position. Shazor is becoming a Green favorite and will make the roster as back up to Wilson and on ST's.

While the subject (Bronson vs Hodgins/Femi) as a thread has had a previous life of it's own here, I still see this as one of the TC stories to follow.

I can't see Lance Mitchell losing out on a roster spot....sure he struggled last year but he is now a full two years removed from his knee injury and it's too early to write him off.

Kenny King, IMO backs up Berry on the roster.

I'll be surprised if Huff beats out Blackstock at WILL. Mark Brown is TC fodder IMO.

The battle for the 5th WR is Carlyle's to lose.

Troy Walters is headed for a battle for the KR/PR position.

 

[kerouac9]

Aaron Francisco is going to push Griffith for the FS position. Shazor is becoming a Green favorite and will make the roster as back up to Wilson and on ST's.

I can't see Lance Mitchell losing out on a roster spot....sure he struggled last year but he is now a full two years removed from his knee injury and it's too early to write him off.

Kenny King, IMO backs up Berry on the roster.

I'll be surprised if Huff beats out Blackstock at WILL. Mark Brown is TC fodder IMO.

I bet that Aaron Francisco does push Griffith for the starting FS postion. A lively position battle would likely make both players better. Regardless, both are going to make the roster and the money's still on Griffith to start. The real question is whether Shazor gets a roster spot or spends another season on the practice squad or the inactive list. I can see this team only keeping three safeties and letting Francisco back up both Griffith and A. Wilson. The love for Ernest Shazor on this board--another player who's never done anything in the NFL--continues to mystify me.

Lance Mitchell was a 5th round pick, and an underperforming special teams player. This team doesn't have much invested in him if he doesn't show anything in training camp. If it comes down to 'Femi/Bronson and Mitchell and special teams performance is the deciding factor (like if Gerald Hayes stays healthy through the preseason), then Mitchell's going to be selling used cars in Norman. According to OurLads.com, Mitchell is 4th on ther depth chart at MLB, behind Dansby, Darling, and Hayes. Blackstock is behind Calvin Pace at the strongside position. People here seem to think that he had a good rookie season, but everything I've seen out of Cardinals camp seems to suggest that he was a disappointment. The fact that the Cards drafted another LB at his position in the last draft isn't encouraging. He'll make the roster, but he's far from a secure starting job.

Kenny King backing up Berry would be a very, very bad idea. The battle will be between Jonathan Lewis and Kenny King for the backup UT job, with King getting the slight edge if he can stay healthy because Lewis is practice-squad eligible. Antonio Smith will be the primary backup at both end positions with Anton Palepoli behind him.

 

[ajcardfan]

The only issue with that is while Green has been bringing in stanford guys left and right the majority of them don't wind up making the team. I loved Troy Walters a few years ago but at this point he's a reach to make the roster, he's had a problem over the years fumbling on punt returns and he's not really a burner kind of WR, and he doesn't really return Kickoffs. I think Watkins has the same issue he's not a kick returner, but he IS a burner and that might get him over the hump.

I hope one of these guys(Robinson, Walters, Watkins, McCoy etc) develops into a legit KR we sure need help there.

At the first minicamp this year Green said BJ was going to get first crack at being the PR and maybe even KR. I do think Walters is a fall back if BJ looks bad at that spot. But, if Walters isn't the PR, I don't think he'll be on the squad.

 

[spanky1]

I bet that Aaron Francisco does push Griffith for the starting FS postion. A lively position battle would likely make both players better. Regardless, both are going to make the roster and the money's still on Griffith to start. The real question is whether Shazor gets a roster spot or spends another season on the practice squad or the inactive list. I can see this team only keeping three safeties and letting Francisco back up both Griffith and A. Wilson. The love for Ernest Shazor on this board--another player who's never done anything in the NFL--continues to mystify me.

Lance Mitchell was a 5th round pick, and an underperforming special teams player. This team doesn't have much invested in him if he doesn't show anything in training camp. If it comes down to 'Femi/Bronson and Mitchell and special teams performance is the deciding factor (like if Gerald Hayes stays healthy through the preseason), then Mitchell's going to be selling used cars in Norman. According to OurLads.com, Mitchell is 4th on ther depth chart at MLB, behind Dansby, Darling, and Hayes. Blackstock is behind Calvin Pace at the strongside position. People here seem to think that he had a good rookie season, but everything I've seen out of Cardinals camp seems to suggest that he was a disappointment. The fact that the Cards drafted another LB at his position in the last draft isn't encouraging. He'll make the roster, but he's far from a secure starting job.

Kenny King backing up Berry would be a very, very bad idea. The battle will be between Jonathan Lewis and Kenny King for the backup UT job, with King getting the slight edge if he can stay healthy because Lewis is practice-squad eligible. Antonio Smith will be the primary backup at both end positions with Anton Palepoli behind him.

I'm not sure that I'd take the word of OurLads over both Green and Pendergast who have said that Blackstock will be moved to W/OLB and compete for the starting spot.

People have to realize that Blackstock came out as a Junior. He desreves a year or two before he gets hung out to dry.

A lot of the so called "pundits" have been saying that Dockett is undersized for the UT position and that he might be looked at a DE. Rubbish to that I say. If Dockett at 6'4"/295 is too small for the UT, then Kenny King at 6'4'/280 is far more undersized. I agree, if he can stay healthy, Lewis likely ends up on the PS. I can't see Palepoi making the 53 man roster. How the heck Seattle drafted him in round 2 a couple of years ago is beyond me.

Brandon Johnson likley sticks based on his ST skills. Longer tearm, if Blackstock continues to be slow to develop, he might be a prospect at W/OLB.....but he needs at least another 15 lbs. That we drafted him is more as a result of BPA versus a statement as to Blackstock's future prospects.

Just for the record......to expect rookie UDFA's (a la Shazor) to turn heads right from the get go is unreasonable....so the comment that he hasn't done anything in the NFL is harsh IMO. He actually made progress over the last half of last season.

 

[joeshmo]

The size between King and Dockett is a lot closer then you think. The last weigh in had them at only 6 lbs apart. King came in at 284 and Dockett came in at 290.

Thoughout practices so far Mitchell has been the 3rd MLB and not much work at any of the other positions. Not a good sign, Unless Darling doesnt make the team or Hayes doesnt show to be healthy enough.

The LB depth chart at the end of OTA's and going into training camp is/was as follows:

SLB - Dansby - Pace
MLB - Hayes - Darling
WLB - Huff - Blackstock

Johnson, Brown, Keyes, Pinson, Mitchell - Were rotated in multiple positions for the 3rd unit. At least that is what Sommers answer was in my email a few weeks back after I had a question on one of the sportingnews weekly online articles he does. People should email our in town sport writters more often. They are very personable and will get back to you, it might take a little longer and they may not be able to answer everything but they will get back to you.