Early 53-Man Roster Projections

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 7:00 AM EDT

With less than a week to go before the first roster cuts and two weeks left until the final 53 Man roster is released, I decided it could be fun to argue (should be plenty of dissension about who will make the team and who will find themselves searching for another job) the potential opening day roster. The reason I call this an "early" look is because two weeks leaves a myriad of factors that could effect this (injuries, trades, etc). Players with a (*) next to their name denotes a lock.

QB	Josh Freeman*
QB	Josh Johnson *
QB	Rudy Carpenter

Hit the Jump to see the rest of the roster. Leave your comments and let's get a debate going. I have actually changed my mind (pending injury) about Stovall and Clayton, which is only one of many areas in which you can take issue with.

RB	Carnell Williams*
RB	Derrick Ward
RB	Kareem Huggins
FB	Earnest Graham*
WR	Mike Williams*
WR	Sammie Stroughter*
WR	Arrelious Benn*
WR	Michael Spurlock
WR	Maurice Stovall
WR	Reggie Brown
TE	Kellen Winslow *
TE	Jeremy Stevens *
TE	John Gilmore
T	Donald Penn *
T	Jeremy Trueblood*
T	Demar Dotson*
T	Xavier Fulton*
G	Davin Joesph *
G	Jeremy Zuttah*
G	Keydrick Vincent *
G	Marc Dile
C	Jeff Faine *
C	Jonathan Compas
S	Tanard Jackson*
S	Sean Jones *
S	Sabby Piscatelli *
S	Cody Grimm
S	Corey Lynch
CB	Ronde Barber *
CB	Aqib Talib *
CB	Myron Lewis*
CB	Elbert Mack
CB	EJ Biggers *
LB	Barrett Ruud *
LB	Quincy Black *
LB	Geno Hayes *
LB	Dekoda Watson
LB	Adam Hayward*
LB	Niko Koutouvides
DE	Stylez White*
DE	Kyle Moore*
DE	Tim Crowder
DE	Erik Lorig
DT	Gerald McCoy*
DT	Roy Miller*
DT	Brian Price*
DT	Ryan Simms
K	Connor Barth*
P	Brent Bowden*
LS	Andrew Economos*

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Comments

No Lock for Tanard Jackson....

or was that a typo?

by Joe Grizzly on Aug 25, 2010 7:17 AM EDT reply actions

Just missed it.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Good chance Myron Lewis is a lock, being a third round pick.

Just to be clear, I am probably being sarcastic.

by Mr.Hoss on Aug 25, 2010 7:18 AM EDT reply actions

He is. Fixed

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think Compas is really a lock

And I’d say Graham is.

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

I do think Compass is.

You need a backup center. Also, I tried updating it the “locks” earlier. When I put this together I missed some. Apparently I forgot to publish the changes. Graham, Jackson and Lewis are all locks.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

A backup center who is flexible enough to play Guard.

While Faines injury may be a one-time deal, you can’t take the risk of him re-injuring his arm and get caught with your pants down and nobody to replace him.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

If he's not a lock, he's 97% likely to make the team.

Who would you add to the roster if you took Compas off?

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I think they've been working out Zuttah at center to prepare him

And Compas hasn’t been all that impressive anyway. If they think Zuttah can play center well enough, they can cut Compas to make room for, say, Clifton Smith.

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Haven't heard that. Will look into it, and in the meantime remove the *lock.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Found a little bit on him working out there.

Certainly making himself an asset by learning multiple positions. While Compas may not be a lock, and I will change it, I think he’s got a pretty good chance of making the team. I don’t find it realistic that they bring 4 RB’s into the season. However, stranger things have happened with this organization.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Zuttah played center in both preseason games with the 2nd and 3rd team as well

Though to be fair, his performance wasn’t all that good.

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Probably a little unfair not to put Brown as a lock either.....

but I’ll leave it as a question mark just for the sake of argument.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 25, 2010 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds about right to me

by Yankees10 on Aug 25, 2010 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Linebacking Corp

I have no argument with the picks, but doesn’t that list scare anybody? And not in the good way?

by jrscott on Aug 25, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

no, seems fine to me

by Yankees10 on Aug 25, 2010 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

No one seems to think Jon Alston makes the roster?

by buccer on Aug 25, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

They don't?

I think he will Backup LBs are likely to be Hayward, Alston, Watson in my opinion. I think Koutouvides is going to be out.

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Koutouvides has been our ST guy for how long?

Alston seems to have made a bigger impact in preseason as a backup but Koutouvides seems to have stood out better on special teams. Coin flip?

by buccer on Aug 25, 2010 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I can never make heads or tails of special teams performance on screen

But I think Alston’s a strong special teams guy too

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

7 linebackers would'nt be out of the question.

Especially if Hayward ends up playing some at full back as well.

5 picks out of the first 100 in a draft saturated with talent. Yes, I'm optimistic.

by chuckyforpres on Aug 26, 2010 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Clifton Smith goes from Pro Bowl in 2008, to not making the roster. Not disagreeing. Its just surprising. I guess that’s just the way it works in the NFL these days. Seems like the Bucs are pretty deep in terms of ST returners this year though…

by Pinto on Aug 25, 2010 2:50 PM EDT reply actions

Can you break down your WR choices?

And why Zuttah over Vincent?

by bucs24fan on Aug 25, 2010 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

Zuttah over Vincent?

The order they are listed is not meant to reflect a depth chart. Both are locks. Williams, stroughter and benn should be obvious. As for Spurlock he has been outstanding in preseason and will fill smiths role as kr. Stovall and clayton are a toss up to me, I just think the organization is ready to move on from clayton.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 26, 2010 12:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Looks Dead On

It’s a shame Clayton gets cut and we get absolutely nothing back on our investment. We should have been shopping him since the beginning of FA.

by buccer on Aug 25, 2010 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

I think we have

But he’s basically untradeable with that contract

by Sander on Aug 25, 2010 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Here is my Depth Chart

QB – Freeman, Johnson , Carpenter (INactive gameday)
RB – Caddy, Huggins, Ward
FB – Graham
WR – Mike Williams, Sammie, Mo Stovall, Reggie Brown, Benn, Clayton(Cut or traded ASAP), Spurlock
TE – Winslow, Stevens, Gilmore
OT – Penn, Trueblood, Lee, Fulton
G – Joseph, Vincent , Zuttah
C – Faine , Zuttah (backing up G and C )

Here is the depth chart Morris released for the 3rd preseason game.

Changes not noted -

RB – huggins 2nd over ward
WR – Sammie infront of Stovall
Guard – Vincent over Zuttah

Nickel back – Biggers infront of Lewis
DT – Roy Miller over Price
SS – Sean Jones over Sabby

KR – Spurlock & Huggins
PR – Spurlock

by tbbuc4 on Aug 25, 2010 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Link , SORRY

by tbbuc4 on Aug 25, 2010 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

it would be foolish to not keep Clifton Smith

The guy got the ball out past the 30 consistently.
I remember thinking after every score we gave up last year (lots of them) – “at least Cliffy can get us a good return”.
I’m sorry, he was our most valuable player last year, without him we would have been even worse. As we all know, field position is one of the most important parts of football, and he guarantees good field position.

by touw_22 on Aug 25, 2010 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Spurlock and his

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 26, 2010 12:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Spurlock and Smiths numbers were similar.

Spurlock is a very effective returner but he has also made himself valuable at WR this offseason. A player who has value at another position besides returner is going to get more of an opportunity to make than team than one who is pretty useless at his “position.”

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 26, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree this is likely what the bucs are thinking

However, I would argue when you have a returner of his caliber, his “starting” position is KR, and you shouldn’t cut him to keep a backup who will never see the field. Spurlock had similar numbers, but much fewer returns.
Would the Bears have made it to the Superbowl without Hester? – he did more for his team as KR than he ever will at WR.
I think we will regret this when we see Smith tearing it up for some other team and Spurlock is just average.

by touw_22 on Aug 26, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention Smith can't even get on the practice field right now because of injuries.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 26, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

What about the Practice Squad?

Most of the 53 man roster seems set, or as near as damn it.

I’d be interested to see who they keep on the practice squad that nearly made the team.
For instance, the WR position has gone from weakest position on the roster to one people are talking about as a strength, because of the depth.
While I don’t see it as a strength yet (unproven) it is deep with potential, esp with the like of Preston Parker not getting a look in – presumably Bucs want the 2 rookies, Stroughter is a lock and 2 experienced vets so Spurlock wins the only other slot.

Does Peanut get re-signed to the practice squad while they evaluate his concussions – will he accept a spot on the practice squad?

What about the TE that’s played well in both preseason games (can’t remember his name)?

by RotatedCuff on Aug 26, 2010 6:16 AM EDT reply actions

Practice Squad is hard to judge because they typically allow players

to see if any other team will take them. Not to mention, it doesn’t really matter (not trying to be a jackass).

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 26, 2010 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with most of your roster decisions.

Biggers has proved thus far he deserves the nickel spot though while Lewis has been pretty non-existent. Vincent has looked slightly better at guard than Zuttah. Also, no Micheal Bennet? I see him as 3 or 4 on the DE depth chart and I doubt Lorig makes the team. Huggins looks to be hot right now, but probably right that Ward will end up with the #2 spot at least to start the season.
Who would’ve thought WR would be one of our deepest positions?

5 picks out of the first 100 in a draft saturated with talent. Yes, I'm optimistic.

by chuckyforpres on Aug 26, 2010 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

RB

Why keep Ward? Am i the only one who likes what he has seen from Carlos Brown? Yes he has played only with & against the 3rd/4th stringers. But he is very effective in the touches he is getting. He can run in or out and can catch the ball fluidly. Knocks on him that I’ve heard are he was only a 2nd string player in college, so was Brady, right? He looks good to me.

by RustyRhino on Aug 27, 2010 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

He's played OK

but I’m not sure we’d risk touches on him.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 28, 2010 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Ward played better?

Miami game Carlos Brown 4 carries 22 yards 5.5 avg Derick Ward 12 carries 20 yards 1.7 avg
KC game Carlos Brown 6 carries 32 yards 5.3 avg Derick Ward 5 carries 11 yards 2.2 avg
Sure Brown has not played against 1string Defenses but has Ward?
Brown is Young and hungry and Wants to Play! This is very important.
Ward got the money and has never looked like the player he was with the Giants. Whining and complaining don’t cut it!
Why not risk giving more touches to Brown?
Brown’s 5.4 average per carry versus Ward’s 1.95 average per carry.
Id say give him a few more touches with that comparison.

by RustyRhino on Aug 28, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions