MJ's Final 53

[Mitch]

Offense 26, Defense 24 & Special Teams 3 (53 players)

Quarterback (2)

In: Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton

Out: Logan Thomas, Phillip Sims

Analysis: Its possible the Cardinals go into the season with two quarterbacks on the active roster. Thomas & Sims are both practice squad eligible. Sims may a have a slight edge, Thomas being a draft pick carries some weight.

Running back (5)

In: Andre Ellington, Chris Johnson, David Johnson, Stepfan Taylor and Robert Hughes.

Out: Kerwynn Williams, Marion Grice, and Paul Lasike.

Analysis: Williams has played well in the preseason. Grice & Williams could land on the PS. Taylor is entering his third season, very good in pass protection, and special teams. Hughes will be used short yardage situations.

Wide receiver (6)

In: Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Jaron Brown, Brittan Golden and J.J. Nelson.

Out: Trevor Harman, Ryan Spadola, Jaxon Shipley.

Analysis: Shipley In the mix for the 6th WR would a good option for the practice squad.

Tight End (4)

In: Troy Niklas, Jermaine Gresham, Darren Fells and Ifeanyi Momah

Out: Gerald Christian.

Analysis: Momah is still learning the position, but you could see the upside. Christian is more of an h-back, and could end up on the practice squad.

Offensive linemen (9)

In: Jared Veldheer, Mike Iupati, A.Q. Shipley, Jonathan Cooper, D.J. Humphries, Earl Watford, Lyle Sendlein, Ted Larsen and Bradley Sowell.

Out: Jon Halapio, Cameron Bradfield, Antoine McClain & Anthony Steen.

Analysis: Bobby Massie is facing a possible suspension, and won't count against the 53-man roster. The offensive line has some depth with Larsen, Sendlein Sowell, Humphries & Watford. Cardinals released Crisp an undrafted free agent. Steen could be an option for the practice squad.

Defensive linemen (7)

In: Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker, Rodney Gunter, Cory Redding, Ed Stinson, Xavier Williams and Josh Mauro.

Out: Matt Shaughnessy & Alameda Ta’amu.

Analysis: Corey Peters went on IR. Ta’amu went into camp on the bubble, being healthy and in shape will go a long way. UDFA Williams will push Ta’amu for a roster spot. Otherwise, Williams is eligible for the practice squad. Mauro is a sleeper to make the roster. Something to watch unfold in camp Shaughnessy moving from linebacker to the defensive line also could be an option for a trade.

Linebacker (9)

In: Alex Okafor, Markus Golden, Kareem Martin, LaMarr Woodley, Sean Weatherspoon, Kevin Minter, Kenny Demens, Shaq Riddick and Alani Fua.

Out: Gabe Martin & Edwin Jackson.

Analysis: Woodley is a low-risk one-year deal. Likely rotate with Golden at OLB. Riddick missed the entire off-season workouts, and just started practicing this week, they like his length.

Secondary (8)

In: Patrick Peterson, Jerraud Powers, Justin Bethel, Tyrann Mathieu, Deone Bucannon, Rashad Johnson, Tony Jefferson and Chris Clemons.

Out: Cardinals would like to add a veteran CB, Clemons would be the odd man out if they another CB. Jonte Green, Jimmy Legree, C.J. Roberts, Cariel Brooks & Harold Jones-Quartey.

Analysis: Cardinals would like to add 4th CB. Eight players in the secondary could change to nine depending on the numbers game. Brandon Person was waived-injured.

Specialist (3)

In: Mike Leach, Chandler Catanzaro & Drew Butler.

Analysis: BA said Butler was more consistent throughout camp.

As for the final 53-man roster going into the season, expect the Cardinals to continue to search the waiver wire for certain positions. (CB, OLB, ILB, OL)



Read more: http://www.foxsports910.com/onair/m...ected-53man-roster-30-13917134/#ixzz3knEBMidL

 

[Mitch]

Josh Weinfuss' Final 53

Here is a position-by-position look at who stays, who goes when the Arizona Cardinals make their final cuts.

QUARTERBACK (2)

Carson Palmer

Drew Stanton

Throughout the offseason, the battle in the Cardinals' quarterbacks room has been for the third job -- not the first or second. With Palmer and Stanton healthy, and both of the other two quarterbacks on the roster practice-squad eligible, Arizona doesn't need to keep a third. Circumstances may cause that to change quickly if Palmer gets re-injured but not as of now. Second-year quarterback Logan Thomas solidified his spot on the practice squad Thursday night in Denver with a near perfect outing. Phillip Sims has been consistent but struggled a bit early in the first quarter. That'll be enough for Arizona to pick Thomas.

RUNNING BACK (5)

Andre Ellington

Chris Johnson

David Johnson

Robert Hughes

Stepfan Taylor

Arizona has finally found the backfield it's been looking for under coach Bruce Arians. But the way Chris Johnson played Thursday night might lead Arians to make him the every-down between-the-tackle back, so he's a lock for the roster. He can certainly carry the load. My toughest decision was spots four and five. Kerwynn Williams looked good at times during camp but Arians mentioned his sub-par receiving skills more than once. Hughes is needed for pass protection, as is Taylor. But Taylor can also fill other roles as needed, like he showed the final four games of last season. Hughes and Taylor are also key special teams players.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Larry Fitzgerald

Michael Floyd

John Brown

J.J. Nelson

Jaron Brown

Brittan Golden

Nelson became a lock for the roster, in my opinion, during the first week of training camp. He's just reaffirmed that over the past three weeks. Brown has become an integral part of special teams as a gunner opposite Justin Bethel that his fate was also sealed once Jaxon Shipley couldn't supplant him. I battled for a while about Golden. He's definitely made strides toward being a good NFL receiver and his speed doesn't hurt his case. Golden will also be in contention for the returner position, which has been vacant since Arizona cut Ted Ginn Jr. But Golden is also the most expendable if a roster spot is needed.

TIGHT END (4)

Darren Fells

Troy Niklas

Jermaine Gresham

Ifeanyi Momah

I hate to say it but Gerald Christian's knee injury in the preseason finale made Arians' decision a little easier. Christian has been a contributor on special teams and has found a role in backfield blocking schemes. But with him out, the Cardinals are left with four tight ends, all of whom will make the roster. Momah has been one of the biggest surprises in camp and he's wowed with his receiving ability. Arians has called him an "adequate" blocker but that'll be enough to win the job. With how prone Niklas and Gresham have been, this is a position the Cardinals could end up going outside the team to fill roster spots later in the season.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Jared Veldheer

Mike Iupati

A.Q. Shipley

Jonathan Cooper

Bradley Sowell

Earl Watford

Lyle Sendlein

Ted Larsen

D.J. Humphries

With Bobby Massie's suspension for the first three games of the season pending, I didn't include him on my 53-man roster because until Week 4 his roster spot will be taken by someone else. However, when he returns and Iupati is healthy, I don't think Arizona keeps 10 offensive linemen. Potential victims could be Sowell, especially if Watford continues to develop, or Larsen, if Sendlein wins the starting center job and Shipley becomes the swing guard/center. The Cardinals will likely have one swing tackle and one swing guard/center active on game day in addition to the starting five. There's a possibility of having an eighth offensive lineman active but it's unlikely. Depending on how he starts the season, Humphries could be inactive on game days if Sowell is kept around. The more I break down the roster, Larsen and Sowell may be the odd men out once the offensive line is healthy again.

DEFENSIVE LINE (8)

Calais Campbell

Rodney Gunter

Frostee Rucker

Cory Redding

Xavier Williams

Ed Stinson

Josh Mauro

Alameda Ta'amu

This was the hardest position to nail down. There is so much depth on the defensive line that any combination of Mauro, Ta'amu or Matt Shaughnessy could have filled the final roster spot. I went with Mauro and Ta'amu because of Mauro's position flexibility (he can play defensive tackle and end) and because Ta'amu allows Gunter and Williams to be versatile. The Cardinals have sent a message by playing Shaughnessy on the third team all camp. He's in the second year of a two-year deal, and it wouldn't be a hit financially. After moving him inside, he simply got pushed out of the rotation by Gunter and Redding. And with Martin -- who traded positions with Shaughnessy -- playing so well at outside linebacker, there's no need for Shaughnessy there.

LINEBACKER(8)

Kevin Minter

Sean Weatherspoon

Alani Fua

Alex Okafor

Kareem Martin

Markus Golden

Shaq Riddick

LaMarr Woodley

At the start of training camp, I wasn't convinced Woodley would make the 53-man roster. But with all the young outside pass-rushers, Woodley is needed. Arizona may look thin at inside linebacker with Minter, Weatherspoon and Fua but safety Deone Bucannon will spend most -- if not all of his snaps in the box as a de facto linebacker. Fua wins this spot over fellow rookie Gabe Martin because of his size and versatility. Arians prefers players who are position flexible. With Fua having played outside linebacker in college and being put on special teams, he gives defensive coordinator James Bettcher a lot of options. One player who I think will also be a renaissance man as far as situational roles go is Riddick. While Golden will be a third-down rusher, Riddick can be used on all three downs.

CORNERBACK(4)

Patrick Peterson

Jerraud Powers

Justin Bethel

Cariel Brooks

The first three spots were guarantees. Bethel was a lock just because of his role as a gunner, for which he's gone to Pro Bowl the past two years. Brooks wins a tight battle with Jimmy Legree, who could end up on the practice squad. Arians had raved about Legree earlier in camp but Brooks performed better during preseason games, including returning an interception of Raiders QB Derek Carr 81 yards for a touchdown. Legree, who suffered a calf injury, could make the roster if Arizona decides to keep seven defensive linemen.

SAFETY(4)

Tyrann Mathieu

Tony Jefferson

Rashad Johnson

Deone Bucannon

Nothing new here. I could see the Cardinals signing Harold Jones-Quartey to the practice squad.

SPECIALIST(3)

Chandler Catanzaro

Drew Butler

Mike Leach

The biggest surprise here was Butler winning the job over veteran Dave Zastudil. Other than, it's the status quo for another season.

 

[Mitch]

Kent Somers Final 53

Here is a position-by-position look at who stays, who goes when the Arizona Cardinals make their final cuts.

QUARTERBACK (2)

Carson Palmer

Drew Stanton


RUNNING BACK (5)

Andre Ellington

Chris Johnson

David Johnson

Robert Hughes

Stepfan Taylor

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

Larry Fitzgerald

Michael Floyd

John Brown

J.J. Nelson

Jaron Brown

Brittan Golden


TIGHT END (4)

Darren Fells

Troy Niklas

Jermaine Gresham

Ifeanyi Momah


OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Jared Veldheer

Mike Iupati

A.Q. Shipley

Jonathan Cooper

Bradley Sowell

Earl Watford

Lyle Sendlein

Ted Larsen

D.J. Humphries


DEFENSIVE LINE (7)

Calais Campbell

Rodney Gunter

Frostee Rucker

Cory Redding

Xavier Williams

Ed Stinson

Josh Mauro


LINEBACKER (9)

Kevin Minter

Sean Weatherspoon

Alani Fua

Alex Okafor

Kareem Martin

Markus Golden

Shaq Riddick

LaMarr Woodley

Kenny Demens


CORNERBACK(3)

Patrick Peterson

Jerraud Powers

Justin Bethel


SAFETY (5)

Tyrann Mathieu

Tony Jefferson

Rashad Johnson

Deone Bucannon

Chris Clemons


SPECIALIST (3)

Chandler Catanzaro

Drew Butler

Mike Leach

 

[b8rtm8nn]

And all 3 are already wrong!

 

[Shaggy]

And all 3 are already wrong!

How are they already wrong, well besides Hughes and LT. Not to far off.

 

[Garthshort]

I can't believe that all three had six WR's and that Golden was one of the six. Five seems much more likely to me.

 

[Mitch]

I can't believe that all three had six WR's and that Golden was one of the six. Five seems much more likely to me.

And if we go with six---i think the 6th is Shipley.

 

[iRobot]

How are they already wrong, well besides Hughes and LT. Not to far off.

No Matt Barkley...