speculation about the final 53-man roster. . .

[dogfish]

okay, i honestly don't think we can predict the final 53-man roster with any great deal of accuracy (i know people always think they can, but then WHAM, here comes the surprise cut!), but it's fun to speculate about, anyways. . . . here's my attempt to predict what i think the final roster may look like-- it's just for fun, so please, nobody kill me (this means YOU, cugel! ). . .



QB:
jake plummer
jay cutler
bradlee van pelt

HB:
ron dayne
tatum bell
cedric cobbs

FB:
kyle johnson
cecil sapp

WR:
rod smith
javon walker
darius watts
brandon marshall
todd devoe
domenick hixon

TE:
stephen alexander
tony scheffler
nate jackson
mike leach

OT:
matt lepsis
george foster
cornell green

OG:
ben hamilton
cooper carlisle
p. j. alexander

C:
tom nalen
greg eslinger

DT:
gerard warren
mike myers
demetrin veal

DE:
courtney brown
ebenezer ekuban
kenard lang
elvis dumervil
john engelberger
corey jackson

OLB:
d. j. williams
ian gold
patrick chukwurah

MLB:
al wilson
nate webster
keith burns

CB:
champ bailey
darrent williams
domonique foxworth
karl paymah
willie middlebrooks

S:
john lynch
nick ferguson
sam brandon
curome cox

K/P:
jason elam
todd sauerbrun
paul ernster



looking at a few areas of uncertainty. . . lets start from the top! clearly nothing is guaranteed, but i rather expect us to keep 3 qbs this year, both because of cutler's inexperience, and because the coaching staff seems to like BVP, and may want to keep him around as a potential long-term backup if he can continue to develop his passing skills. . . . with sapp's ability to play both FB and HB, and no other strong candidates around, i see the RB group as pretty much set, unless a trade happens that brings another RB who replaces cobbs. . . .

WR is one of the most intriguing battles this year, and since it's been discussed in great detail elsewhere i'll keep it brief. . . i expect lelie to be traded, even if he does report for a short period-- if he returns, obviosly he takes a spot. . . . it's possible terrell could make the roster, but i see watts beating him based on age and upside, and devoe and hixon based on special teams play, which we seem to be making a bigger committment to than in the past. . . i've got hixon on the roster under the assumption he can win the starting return specialist job-- if he doesn't, most likely terrell makes the roster and we take our chances with hixon clearing waivers and going on the practice squad. . . if hixon (who i believe also played safety in college) can tackle, it's possible that devoe gets cut and we go with terrell for a little more experience at the position-- i also think walker's health could affect this battle. . .

those who want leach cut should keep dreaming i say-- no coach wants to lose a game on a blown snap, so it's all good to say let some one else learn to do it, but i'll betcha he makes the team! if the coaching staff thinks brandon marshall can play TE, it's possible nate jackson doesn't make the team, but that would leave us awfully short on experience at the position. . . . the fact that we drafted two interior OL doesn't bode particularly well for chris myers in my book, but we'll see. . . i remember hearing good things about p.j. alexander before he got hurt last year, so i'm betting on him to beat out myers and chris kuper (who would then go to the practice squad)-- i also think eslinger's polish will help win him a spot, but in any case it's these 4 battling for 2 backup spots on the interior OL. . . . i think cornell green beats out carswell, unless possibly we only keep 3 TEs and then keep carswell as a backup at TE and OT. . . .

and i know, everybody's probably foaming at the mouth because i only have 3 DTs on this roster. . . . . i don't remember for sure, but did we even dress pope for every game last year? we've been told that dumervil may play inside some of the time (they appear to be serious about this), and with several potential nickel pass rushers and no real pass rush threat inside, i can see a combination of lang/engelberger/jackson playing DE on passing downs with dumervil and warren inside. . . . 6 DEs may be one more than we actually keep, but if dumervil plays some DT that gives us 9 DLs total. . . . it's certainly possible that we do keep a 4th DT instead of, say, middlebrooks or nate jackson, but it's not like we have any star candidates right now for that spot-- i can see us starting the season with only 3 and elvis, we can always call one up from the PS if there's an injury. . . . i'm not sure about their eligibility, but i can see amon gordon or patrice mumbo-jumbo in that role. . . . otherwise, jackson or engelgerger might get cut to make room. . . .

it's possible we keep louis green for special teams, but i see burnsie, devoe and middlebrooks as more valuable contributors there, and chukwurah and webster are probably better backups at LB, especially given their versatility. . . . if we want a 7th LB this year, maybe he makes it instead of middlebrooks or devoe. . . .

clearly, our top 4 corners are set, and if we keep a 5th for depth and specail teams, i see willie getting the spot over roc alexander, who i think is done for. . . it's possible that tyler everitt beats out curome cox, but i'll give cox the nod based on experience and some things the coaching staff said about him last year. . .

if ernster can't beat knorr then he flat sucks! i'll put my money on him because he can't be much worse, but it's no leap to imagine him being better-- still, i wouldn't be surprised if we cut him after sauerbrun gets back (if beefcake can handle kicking off), and use that spot to add a 4th DT or other position of need. . . .

alright, there it is. . . . i know there are more questions than answers, but that's just how it is going into camp-- that's probably true for the coaching staff as well as us lowly posters! discussion is very welcome, but if you're gonna be TOO critical of my projections at any one spot, let's see your predictions for the full 53-man roster first!


EDIT: i tried to put the players at each position loosely in the order i think the depth chart will reflect-- at some point i'm going to post more detailed predictions for a final depth chart based on this roster. . . . guess i'd better do it soon before they start cutting guys i have projected to the team!

[Reidman]

Great post Dog!!

I pretty much agree with that roster except for a couple of spots. I think David Terrell will probably make the cut and beat out one of the un-seasoned receivers. We need all the veteran leadership in that department that we can get but if Watts, Devoe or Marshall outplay him and prove they belong here than that would be a true lineup.

I also think they'll keep Alexander and extend their depth at corner because it
seems like we're injury-prone at that position and Alexander isn't a terrible corner IMO.

Otherwise I like how you broke it down and that roster seems likely and reasonable although like you stated, the obvious doesn't always present itself on cut day. Unfortunately my cp's have run dry. This is definitely worthy though so I'll get you later.

[dogfish]

Originally Posted by Reidman

Great post Dog!!

I pretty much agree with that roster except for a couple of spots. I think David Terrell will probably make the cut and beat out one of the un-seasoned receivers. We need all the veteran leadership in that department that we can get but if Watts, Devoe or Marshall outplay him and prove they belong here than that would be a true lineup.

I also think they'll keep Alexander and extend their depth at corner because it
seems like we're injury-prone at that position and Alexander isn't a terrible corner IMO.

Otherwise I like how you broke it down and that roster seems likely and reasonable although like you stated, the obvious doesn't always present itself on cut day. Unfortunately my cp's have run dry. This is definitely worthy though so I'll get you later.

reid, i totally agree that terrell may beat one of the young guys based on experience-- my projection is assuming that walker is 100% healthy, and even then they may want another seasoned receiver. . . . i'm also banking on watts' development, as he's now in his third year, and actually has more experience with our system than terrell does, and bigger upside. . . . i do think WR may be the fiercest battle of any position this year, and however it works out it's nice to finally feel like we have some options at the position. . . .

we'll see about alexander, but i'm betting he doesn't make the team this year. . .


and BTW, i love the william wallace avi!! i was just looking for a pic of a certain scene last week in hopes of putting it in my sig-- couldn't find the one i wanted though. . . . one of my all-time favorite flicks!

[D.J.55]

heres what i think

QB:
jake plummer
jay cutler

RB:
ron dayne
tatum bell
cedric cobbs

FB:
kyle johnson
cecil sapp

WR:
rod smith
javon walker
todd devoe
brandon marshall
domenik hixon
darius watts

TE:
stephen alexander
tony scheffler
mike leach

OT:
matt lepsis
george foster
cornell green

OG:
ben hamilton
cooper carlisle
chris kuper

C:
tom nalen
greg eslinger

DT:
gerard warren
mike myers
demetrin veal

DE:
courtney brown
ebenezer ekuban
kenard lang
elvis dumervil
john engelberger
corey jackson

LB:
al wilson
d.j. williams
ian gold
nate webster
louis green
patrick chukwurah
keith burns

CB:
champ bailey
darrent williams
domonique foxworth
karl paymah
willie middlebrooks
jeff shoate

S:
john lynch
nick ferguson
sam brandon
curome cox
hamza abdullah

K/P:
jason elam
todd sauerbrun


pratice squad:
antwaun rogers
cameron vaughn
mike bell
tyler everett
bradlee van pelt
3 orthers from other teams cut players

[bjoli198]

I think:

QB:
Plummer
Cutler

HB:
Ron Dayne
Tatum Bell
Cecil Sapp

FB:
Kyle Johnson
Rashon Powers-Neal

TE:
Stephen Alexander
Tony Scheffler
Nate Jackson
Mike Leach

WR:
Rod Smith
Javon Walker
(Ashley Lelie)
David Terrell
Brandon Marshall
Darius Watts

LT:
Matt Lepsis
Cornell Green

LG:
Ben Hamilton
Taylor Whitley

C:
Tom Nalen
Greg Eslinger

RG:
Chris Myers
Dwayne Carswell

RT:
Cooper Carlisle
George Foster

DT:
Gerard warren
Mike myers
Demetrin Veal
Elvis Dumervil

DE:
Courtney Brown
Ebenezer Ekuban
John Engelberger
Kenard Lang
Corey Jackson

OLB:
Ian Gold
DJ Williams
Nate Webster
Patrick Chuckwurah

MLB:
Al Wilson
Keith Burns

CB:
Champ Bailey
Darrent Williams
Domonique Foxworth
Roc Alexander
Willie Middlebrooks
Karl Paymath

S:
John Lynch
Nick Ferguson
Sam Brandon

P:
Jason Elam
Todd Sauerbrun

[White Dragon]

This is just my guess at the moment. I'll provide some explination as well...

-QB-
Jake Plummer
Bradlee Van Pelt
Jay Cutler

-RB-
Ron Dayne
Tatum Bell
Cedric Cobbs

-FB-
Kyle Johnson
Cecil Sapp

-WR-
Rod Smith
Javon Walker
Darius Watts
David Terrell
Brandon Marshall
Domenik Hixon

-TE-
Stephen Alexander
Tony Scheffler
Mike Leach

-T-
Matt Lepsis
George Foster
Cornell Green

-G-
Cooper Carlisle
Ben Hamilton
Dwayne Carswell
PJ Alexander

-C-
Tom Nalen
Greg Eslinger

-DE-
Courtney Brown
Kenard Lang
Ebenezer Ekuban
Corey Jackson
John Engelberger

-DT-
Gerard Warren
Michael Myers
Elvis Dumervil
Demetrin Veal

-LB-
Al Wilson
Ian Gold
DJ Williams
Keith Burns
Nate Webster
Patrick Chukwurah

-CB-
Champ Bailey
Darrent Williams
Domonique Foxworth
Karl Paymah

-S-
John Lynch
Nick Ferguson
Sam Brandon
Curome Cox
Hamza Abdullah

-P/K-
Jason Elam
Todd Sauerbrun
Paul Ernster

-----------------------
-Practice Squad-
RB Mike Bell
S Tyler Everett
OL Chris Kuper
OL Chris Myers
T Erik Pears
CB Jeff Shoate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QB: Van Pelt is kept on the roster because he knows the system better than Cutler at this point, and it appears as though is accuracy has improved. (This all based on pre-camp information)

WR: Even though Devoe & Adams are the two receivers that play on special teams, I think Terrell will beat them out as a more important reciever, and possibly could play on special teams if needed. Hixon will be kept around because of his threat as a returner as they don't want Darrent to get injured in that role.

TE: I say Jackson is cut because he's injury-prone and hasn't really showed much, and that warrents the "axe" as Carswell can play both TE and on the line. Leach can also fill in at TE if needed.

OL: Alexander, Carswell & Eslinger can play different positions on the line and Kuper would likely make it to the PS. Green is an expierenced tackle and should beat out the rest for the back-up spot.

DL: Brown & Ekuban are the only two versatile DE's that can rush the pass and stop the run, even though Brown is more of a run stopper, he can do both. Dumervil will likely end up playing inside more than outside but can play both obviously. With the new nickel pass rush rotation, Engelberger & Lang are pure pass-rushers and Jackson has potential to be that serious pass-rusher Denver needs.

DB: With Cox being able to play both safety and corner, his versatile and valuable, and has proved his worth last season. Alexander doesn't get much playing time anymore, even when Darrent & Champ were injured, so why would he end up on the final roster? Abdullah is my suprise pick to make the roster because clearly Browner has attitude problems.

ST: With Sauerbrun being suspended for the first four weeks/games, Ernster should end up taking his spot as he's got to be better than Knorr, or else Denver is in big trouble in that department come the start of the season.

[The Hamburgler]

In stead of Cobbs, I think mike bell will make the team.

[D.J.55]

Originally Posted by CB Bronco Fan

In stead of Cobbs, I think mike bell will make the team.

both have shot. wouldn't be surprized if both make it.

[hilife]

Originally Posted by CB Bronco Fan

In stead of Cobbs, I think mike bell will make the team.

Mike Bell will be on the PS

[T8KNOVR]

QB:
jake plummer
jay cutler
bradlee van pelt

RB:
ron dayne
tatum bell
cedric cobbs

FB:
kyle johnson
Rashon-Powers Neal

WR:
rod smith
javon walker
ashley lelie or todd devoe
brandon marshall
domenik hixon
darius watts

TE:
stephen alexander
tony scheffler
mike leach
*nate jackson (if devoe and lelie can't make the roster)*

OT:
matt lepsis
george foster
cornell green

OG:
ben hamilton
cooper carlisle
chris kuper

C:
tom nalen
greg eslinger

DT:
gerard warren
mike myers
demetrin veal

DE:
courtney brown
ebenezer ekuban
kenard lang
elvis dumervil (will play DT as well)
john engelberger
corey jackson

LB:
al wilson
d.j. williams
ian gold
nate webster
louis green
patrick chukwurah
keith burns

CB:
champ bailey
darrent williams
domonique foxworth
karl paymah
willie middlebrooks


S:
john lynch
nick ferguson
sam brandon
curome cox
tyler everett ( I believe he will beat out recovering Jeff Shoate)


K/P:
jason elam
todd sauerbrun (4 week suspension?)

[Dean]

My present opinion of the final roster is pretty close to what Dogfish proposed. The exceptions are David Terrell as a #3 or #4 receiver, only two QBs, and probably not Eslinger on the O-line. Having said that I think that by the weekend there will need to be revised.

I think that a trade for Lelei will occur and whoever we get will most likely take one of those roster spots. Along with that every year someone unexpectedly shines and some high prospect takes a dive. That would, obviously, result in a complete rethinking and reshuffling of who will be kept.

Your list and reasoning with only minor exception looks pretty good for the moment IMHO.