Constructing The 53 Man Roster

[Mitch]

BA and Steve Keim sat down after the Falcons game to discuss the roster and Keim approached it this way. He asked BA to determine right off the top of his head the 45 game day actives.

My guess as to which 45 players BA has in mind is just as good as yours. But, if i were to guess for week 1, here's my best prediction:

Offense (21): (* STs contributor)

QB (2): Palmer, Stanton (Gabbert emergency)
RB (4): D.Johnson, K. Williams*, C. Johnson, Penny*
WR (5): Fitzgerald, Jaron Brown*, John Brown, Nelson, Golden*
TE (3): Gresham, Niklas*, Momah*
OL (7): Humphries, Iupati, Shipley, Boehm, Veldheer, Wetzel*, Toner*

Defense (21):

DT (5): Rucker, Peters, Mauro, Nkemdiche, Gunter*
ILB (4): Bucannon, Dansby, Reddick*, Bynes*
OLB (3): Golden, Jones, Martin*
CB (4): Peterson, Bethel*, B. Williams*, T. Williams*
S (5): Mathieu, Branch*, Bethea*, Baker*, Ford*

STs (3):

LS: Brewer
PK: Dawson
P: Wile

Thus, including Blaine Gabbert...there's the top 46.

Veterans who could be on the bubble:

1. RB C. Johnson---waiver wire claim RB who can play STs?
2. WR B. Golden---Ross? Dobson?
3. LB J. Bynes---waiver wire claim?
4. S A. Bethea---Miller? Gallon?

That leaves 7 spots:

Draft Pick protections (3):

1. WR Chad Williams
2. G Dorian Johnson
3. T Will Holden

The Pool for 4 Best Remaining Players:

1. RB Andre Ellington
2. WR Jeremy Ross
3. WR Aaron Dobson
4. TE Hakeem Valles*--PS eligible
5. T Ulrich John*--PS eligible
6. G Tony Bergstrom
7. DT Xavier Williams
8. DT Ed Stinson (IR?)
9. LB Philip Wheeler
10. LB Scooby Wright*--PS eligible
11. LB Cap Capi
12. LB Jarvis Jones (IR?)
13. S Harlan Miller*--PS eligible
14. S Ironhead Gallon*--PS eligible
15. P Richie Leone*--PS eligible

Now---look at that list of 15 players and ask yourself who are the 4 best players?

Who are your 4?

First, I ask myself: of the PS eligible players, is there anyone who might be claimed off waivers?

The only one who might be, imo, is T Ulrich John. The questions then become: (1) is Ulrich John more valuable than Dorian Johnson or Will Holden? (2) Will Holden is another swing tackle behind John Wetzel, do we need a third in John?

My answer to those questions are no (have patience with Dorian Johnson and Will Holden) and no (we have 4 tackles with Humphries, Veldheer, Wetzel and Holden.

Maybe, Steve Keim can trade Ulrich John for a LB?

Thus, I already feel safe about being able to keep Valles (or I prefer Ricky Seals-Jones), Wright, Miller and Gallon on the PS.

Therefore, my top 4 are:

!. DT Olsen Pierre
2. WR Jeremy Ross
3. DT Xavier Williams
4. LB Cap Capi

All 4 of these players could very well be claimed off waivers. Pierre could emerge as one of our best interior pass rushers. Ross is one of the top 5 WRs, talent-wise and is an asset on STs. Williams can play NT and 34DE. Capi gives us an added edge. Plus, when active on game days, all 4 of these players can contribute on STs.

Practice Squad:

1. RB James Summers
2. WR Carlos Agudosi
3. WR Krishawn Hogan
4. TE Ricky Seals-Jones
5. T Ulrich John
6. DT Peli Anau
7. LB Scooby Wright
8. LB Alex Bazzie
9. CB/S Harlan Miller
10. S Ironhead Gallon

What players do you like best? How would you construct this roster?

 

[Krangodnzr]

I would probably keep Ulrick John over one of the receivers.

Dobson is the real wildcard in your scenario. He has shown glimpses of starting ability in the past but he hasn't put it together for a full season plus he has been hurt this preseason.

I think the key to the team is keeping Carson healthy and upright, so OL takes a higher priority.

 

[Ohcrap75]

Great Job! Did I miss something with Olsen Pierre? The rest looks pretty good to me. I am hoping to replace either Penny or CJ with a young RB that gets cut and possibly find a WR with some size to add through FA or Trade.

 

[Mitch]

Great Job! Did I miss something with Olsen Pierre? The rest looks pretty good to me. I am hoping to replace either Penny or CJ with a young RB that gets cut and possibly find a WR with some size to add through FA or Trade.

Yes. Ohcrap! Thanks for picking up on that. I had originally had Pierre as one of the actives, but took him off for week 1 due to his concussion, but he makes the roster for sure.

Thus, I would make Pierre one of my top 4 and waive Dobson (hate to do it). Ross' STs ability gives him the edge over Dobson.

 

[CFLredzoned]

Therefore, my top 4 are:
!. DT Olsen Pierre
2. WR Jeremy Ross
3. DT Xavier Williams
4. LB Cap Capi

I like how you broke that down. It's hard to argue with any of that. Those are my top 4 out of that group.

The practice squad seems pretty safe. Though we could lose one of the safeties. But we have plenty of those. Maybe Keim tries to trade one? And maybe Dorian Johnson would be safer than U John? Scooby should be safe. I get the feeling he'll end up working his way back to the roster for ST in time for a late playoff run.

 

[Mitch]

I like how you broke that down. It's hard to argue with any of that. Those are my top 4 out of that group.

The practice squad seems pretty safe. Though we could lose one of the safeties. But we have plenty of those. Maybe Keim tries to trade one? And maybe Dorian Johnson would be safer than U John? Scooby should be safe. I get the feeling he'll end up working his way back to the roster for ST in time for a late playoff run.

I agree about Scooby and several of these PS players becoming active when the time is right. Cards did a good job of promoting from within the past couple of years.

I wonder if Aaron Dobson is still PS eligible. I think he only has 2 years NFL roster experience.

 

[Proximo]

Pierre is going to be active on game days - Do not agree with you that he is in that 15, he is a lock as he and nkimdiche are the only dl with decent pass rush skills. I think Gunter would be inactive over him, but most likely both will be active.

I think Ford will be inactive or the 4th RB whoever that is.

I do not think Penny is making the team, and I don't want him to make the team. There is likely to be at least 10 - 15 rb better than him cut this weekend.

I do not like the idea of protecting all three of those draft picks. None of them deserve to make the team and at least 1 should be cut.

So of your 15 my 4 would be

Ellington,
Capi,
Xaiver Williams,
Ulrich John

I would like them to cut Holden, and keep Ulrich John instead.

Depending what we can actually get at RB from waivers I would seriously consider dumping Chris Johnson. Ellington will have the #4 Running back spot as it stands.

With the one open spot left I would sign the best TE / WR available. I think Williams, Golden, Chris Johnson and our punter could all potentially be upgraded by waiver claims.

 

[splitsecond]

Jeremy Ross and Cap Capi are not making the roster.

 

[BACH]

I Think you need to look at it by the Numbers as Well.

You are assuming that It's a fair game between the 15 for the 4 spots. It's not.

Two of the four positions Will go to a DL and a OLB out of depth concerns.

1. Cap Capi has looked good at valuable position that needs depth. Easy #1 in terms of being the Safest Pick to stay. No competition

2. Pierre Olson. Was on the active roster without playing and with 9 DLinemen. Too Good not to be there.

3. Xavier Williams. I feel that He's the Best of the remaining players. It's a rotational position and I feel 7 players are needed.

4. Tough one. WR Ross, WR Dobson and S Miller are the best left. WR is the biggest position of need. I'll go with Dobson because Ross is too similar to Smoke, JJ and Golden.

 

[WindCardinal]

A few weeks ago I thought Jarvis Jones was a lock for the roster but this back injury is concerning... I remember during the 2013 draft process Mitch called Jones a "can't miss prospect" and was gunning for him hard. But he also had a spine condition that was concerning. I'm wondering if this injury is related to that...

 

[WindCardinal]

I Think you need to look at it by the Numbers as Well.

You are assuming that It's a fair game between the 15 for the 4 spots. It's not.

Two of the four positions Will go to a DL and a OLB out of depth concerns.

1. Cap Capi has looked good at valuable position that needs depth. Easy #1 in terms of being the Safest Pick to stay. No competition

2. Pierre Olson. Was on the active roster without playing and with 9 DLinemen. Too Good not to be there.

3. Xavier Williams. I feel that He's the Best of the remaining players. It's a rotational position and I feel 7 players are needed.

4. Tough one. WR Ross, WR Dobson and S Miller are the best left. WR is the biggest position of need. I'll go with Dobson because Ross is too similar to Smoke, JJ and Golden.

Pierre is a lock for the roster in my opinion (what's with guys that seem like their last names should be first names and vice versa) so it's down to either keeping only 6 DL or having Williams make the roster. I thought Anau was making a push but didn't see him on the stat sheet this past game( I didn't watch it)

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Well thought out, Mitch.

Agree with others that Olson Pierre is a lock, and will dress.

I've seen nothing out of Rudi Ford. Harlan showed great instinct on a pass over the middle last week and generally has played well going back to his trial last year. Maybe Ford has shown on STs but I haven't noticed.

I also agree with Proximo that 3 is a lot of red shirts to keep on the roster. I still am annoyed with the draft trade down in the 3rd Round. Could have taken a nice CB there, but instead ended up with the hero pick of Chad Williams and Holden. Now we have to waste 2 roster spots on "potential"(and to save face).

Count me in on Ulrich John over Holden. I've been a big fan of Wetzel and Toner, but both did not fare well against Atlanta. Depth and health (both OTs didn't finish the season) are a problem on the OL, we need to keep guys that are not 3rd stringers.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I Think you need to look at it by the Numbers as Well.

You are assuming that It's a fair game between the 15 for the 4 spots. It's not.

Two of the four positions Will go to a DL and a OLB out of depth concerns.

1. Cap Capi has looked good at valuable position that needs depth. Easy #1 in terms of being the Safest Pick to stay. No competition

2. Pierre Olson. Was on the active roster without playing and with 9 DLinemen. Too Good not to be there.

3. Xavier Williams. I feel that He's the Best of the remaining players. It's a rotational position and I feel 7 players are needed.

4. Tough one. WR Ross, WR Dobson and S Miller are the best left. WR is the biggest position of need. I'll go with Dobson because Ross is too similar to Smoke, JJ and Golden.

2. Olson Pierre.
4. Ross is nothing like Smoke and JJ. He's built like Anquan. I don't know if he'll make it, but I've been impressed. He can also return kicks.

 

[CFLredzoned]

BA says Munyer looked really really good at center. (2 reallys.) Wolfley is also impressed by him and thinks he'll be on the PS.

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Daniel-Munyer/ad34cb47-e4f9-4ba6-b6fe-0712d83a5157
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/daniel-munyer-player-stats

 

[Mitch]

BA says Munyer looked really really good at center. (2 reallys.) Wolfley is also impressed by him and thinks he'll be on the PS.

http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Daniel-Munyer/ad34cb47-e4f9-4ba6-b6fe-0712d83a5157
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/daniel-munyer-player-stats

What's interesting about the coaches liking Munyer---and we saw the coaches switch Toner to guard (where he struggled vs. the Falcons)---does this put Toner on the bubble? Would they keep G/C Tony Bergstrom and waive Toner?