Super Cool Roster Analysis from ESPN.com

[DaisyCutter]

Mike Sando is going an NFC West blog over on ESPN.com. Below is the roster analysis he posted yesterday (it's frequently updated). The coolest part is the average number of players at the position that the franchise has kept since 2003.

Interesting stuff as you build your prospective 53-man rosters.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-2-114/Training-camp-roster-analysis--Cardinals.html

I'll occasionally break down training-camp rosters across the division. The Cardinals lead it off as we hit the one-week mark of camp. The number in parenthesis after the position names indicates how many players the team is carrying at the position right now. The average number kept since 2003 reflects opening-day rosters, not the first cutdown to 53 players. I went with opening-day numbers because they were easier to verify. They also happened to be more meaningful, in my view. Here goes ... Quarterbacks (4)
Average number kept since 2003: 2.8
Locks: Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner
Looking safe: Brian St. Pierre
Also: Anthony Morelli
Comment: St. Pierre has so far proven he belongs on the roster. The Cardinals could also use the insurance.

Running backs (8)
Average number kept since 2003: 5.2
Locks: Edgerrin James, Terrelle Smith, Tim Castille, Tim Hightower
On the bubble: Marcel Shipp, J.J. Arrington
Also: Steve Baylark, Dionte Johnson
Comment: The Cardinals carried Castille, a fullback, on their roster last season even though he didn't play. That tells you the team likes him.

Wide receivers (10)
Average number kept since 2003: 5.6
Locks: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet
On the bubble: Jerheme Urban, Jamaica Rector, Jemalle Cornelius, Lance Long, Ahmad Merritt, Sean Morey
Comment: Special-teams contributions could be important here. Morey is a factor in that aspect of the game.

Tight ends (5)
Average number kept since 2003: 3.0
Locks: Ben Patrick, Leonard Pope, Jerame Tuman
Also: Alex Shor, Brent Miller
Comment: This position appears set.

Offensive linemen (14)
Average number kept since 2003: 9.0
Locks: Al Johnson, Mike Gandy, Reggie Wells, Levi Brown, Deuce Lutui, Lyle Sendlein, Elton Brown
On the bubble: Elliot Vallejo, Brandon Keith
Also: Peter Clifford, Thaddeus Coleman, Carlton Medder, Hercules Satele, Scott Peters
Comment: The depth drops off after the first five or six linemen. Vallejo has impressed coaches as a prospect. Keith, a seventh-round choice, was the only offensive lineman the Cardinals drafted this year.

Defensive line (12)
Average number kept since 2003: 8.4
Locks: Darnell Dockett, Antonio Smith, Gabe Watson, Bryan Robinson (veteran), Alan Branch, Kenny Iwebema, Calais Campbell, Travis LaBoy
On the bubble: Joe Tafoya
Also: Jason Banks, Keilen Dykes, Bryan Robinson (rookie FA)
Comment: Adding Campbell and Iwebeme in the draft bolstered depth.

Linebackers (10)
Average number kept since 2003: 7.0
Locks: Chike Okeafor, Bert Berry, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Clark Haggans
On the bubble: Monty Beisel, David Holloway, Chris Harrington, Matt Stewart, Ali Highsmith
Comment: Haggans has stood out as one of the Cardinals' best newcomers.

Defensive backs (14)
Average number kept since 2003: 8.6
Locks: Roderick Hood, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eric Green, Antrel Rolle, Aaron Francisco, Adrian Wilson
On the bubble: Oliver Celestin, Ralph Brown, Matt Ware
Also: DeMario Minter, Michael Adams, Dennis Keyes, Travarous Bain, Marcus Brown
Comment: Rolle's transition to safety leaves cornerback a bit thin. Ware has a shot at one of the final spots.

 

[Duckjake]

Off the wall roster prediction for 2008:

Alex Shor stays and Leonard Pope goes.

 

[BigRedRage]

Off the wall roster prediction for 2008:

Alex Shor stays and Leonard Pope goes.

off the wall as in completley impossible?

 

[football karma]

Off the wall roster prediction for 2008:

Alex Shor stays and Leonard Pope goes.

I dunno DJ

unless he goes out drinkin and throws up in Mr B's town car -- I dont see it

hard to give up on a Jr eligible 6-8 guy going into this third year that showed the improvement he did last year.

They can always stash Shor on the practice squad

 

[football karma]

Boy --

not alot of spots up for grabs on the roster

key questions on a couple positions:

Keep 5 or 6 backs? they had Castille on the active roster last year -- if they keep only 5, it comes down to Terrell Smith vs Castille vs Arrington

5 or 6 wideouts? If the above is 6 backs, then its five WRs. I am assuming that Morey stays for his special teams work (and apparently incriminating pictures of the coaching staff) -- for the 6th WR -- do you go Urban (who played a bit last year) or do you grab a skill set you dont have in the shifty Jamaica Rector / Ahmad Merritt etc? Does Lance Long become the young Sean Morey?

8 or 9 db's? Ware has been working with 1st team nickle. Celestin? Would be great for one of the young corners to assert themselves in camp.

 

[Duckjake]

I'm basing it on the Cards history of letting good players go simply because they have a problem with false starts.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Boy --

not alot of spots up for grabs on the roster

key questions on a couple positions:

Keep 5 or 6 backs? they had Castille on the active roster last year -- if they keep only 5, it comes down to Terrell Smith vs Castille vs Arrington

5 or 6 wideouts? If the above is 6 backs, then its five WRs. I am assuming that Morey stays for his special teams work (and apparently incriminating pictures of the coaching staff) -- for the 6th WR -- do you go Urban (who played a bit last year) or do you grab a skill set you dont have in the shifty Jamaica Rector / Ahmad Merritt etc? Does Lance Long become the young Sean Morey?

8 or 9 db's? Ware has been working with 1st team nickle. Celestin? Would be great for one of the young corners to assert themselves in camp.

I think they're going to keep 6 running backs. Arrington can contribute on special teams, and hopefully Castille can, as well (if he can't develop in that way, there's no reason to keep him on the roster for a second season).

I don't think that Lance Long makes the roster. He had something like 6 receptions in his entire college career. Odds are low that he'll get plucked off waivers or a practice squad because of his little college experience and the cost of taking a kid off the practice squad.

WRs Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston, Doucet, Morey, Urban. Merritt and Rector suck; there's no reason to keep them around.

 

[Totally_Red]

An analysis like that where helps show where the depth is and isn't IMO. In other words where the cuts are relatively hard, e.g. LB and WR, and where you are scrounging to decide who to keep, e.g. DB and O-line.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I think/hope Travarous Bain makes the team.