I've been wanting to get to this all day. I didn't go back and re watch any of our preseason games. I probably should have but I went off my first look plus what I've read from multiple "sources." Guys in red should not feel too comfortable as they could be out if a better option arrives or they get caught in a numbers game: QB - 3 1. Ryan Tannehill 2. Matt Moore 3. David Garrard This is a little bit against the grain. But I do think this is ultimately Ireland's call whether Garrard stays or goes and we save $. If Ireland is on the hot seat (and I think he is), I see keeping Garrard as an option to bring him back at some point this season to win some games. Certainly not what I want. I want to see Tannehill develop every week and progress as a young gun. But this is a win now league and as I've said before, if you start the season 0 and 4, I can see a then healthy Garrard coming back to get a couple of wins to take some pressure off. And then getting hurt again. I think Devlin goes to the PS RB - 5 1. Reggie Bush 2. Daniel Thomas 3. Steve Slaton 4. Lamar Miller 5. Jorvorskie Lane I think we keep Slaton at this point. Lane is a beast. TE - 4 1. Anthony Fasano 2. Charles Clay 3. Michael Egnew 4. Jeron Mastrud Mastrud is safe... for now WR - 5 1. Davone Bess 2. Brian Hartline 3. Clyde Gates 4. Marlon Moore 5. Rishard Matthews Neither Moore nor Gates should feel very safe. Hartline makes it without having played a snap in preseason. Not a reflection on him, believe me... more a reflection of how the other receivers didn't step up to the plate. There's a reason that Sherman said in his presser today that Bess was the only one that had made it. He said there a couple others as well but he wants them to sweat it out. Interesting comments. I get the feeling he was talking about Hartline. I'd like to see Fuller and Hogan on the PS OL - 9 1. Jake Long 2. Richie Incognito 3. Mike Pouncey 4. John Jerry 5. Jonathan Martin 6. Lydon Murtha 7. Nate Garner 8. Josh Samuda 9. Artis Hicks This is actually harder than the receivers, not because of the talent level but rather the injuries. Hicks and Murtha have been out. There's some talk that Murtha could be headed to the IR, nothing substantiated. They are hopeful that Hicks will be back and have not named a starter yet at RG. I have to mention that I like Will Yeatman a lot and hope he has some practice squad eligibility left. But he could be included if Murtha goes to IR. I've gone with the nine listed. Feel pretty comfortable about Jerry/Samuda/Garner DL - 9 1. Cameron Wake 2. Randy Starks 3. Paul Solar Eye 4. Jared Odrick 5. Kheeston Randall 6. Olivier Vernon 7. Tony McDaniel 8. Derrick Shelby 9. Jamaal Westerman Should be noted that McDaniel is making a lot of money for a backup and has been injured. Could find himself on the IR or like Murtha / Garrard waived / injured with an injury settlement. Color me surprised that we've got 3 rookies infiltrating our defensive line group LB - 6 1. Kevin Burnett 2. Koa Misi 3. Karlos Dansby 4. Austin Spitler 5. Jason Trusnik 6. Gary Guyton Nice bounce back game last night for the backups here. I've even got Guyton making the team. DB - 9 1. Sean Smith 2. Vontae Davis 3. Richard Marshall 4. Nolan Carroll 5. Reshad Jones 6. Chris Clemons 7. Tyrone Culver 8. Jimmy Wilson 9. Vincent Agnew Agnew is probably the first guy cut if we go waiver wire hunting, which I know we will. K/P/LS - 3 1. Dan Carpenter 2. Brandon Fields 3. John Denney the same three as uuuuuge. We didn't keep Thigpen as our returner... I can see us going Miller as KR and Gates/Matthews as PR Conclusions First, I put the over under on Stitches correcting something I've posted here at 8 minutes. I'm really hoping I didn't forget anyone as I went mostly off memory. Second, these cuts do sometimes come down to salary. We can't have someone making a ton of money and being a backup. Culver/McDaniels fall into that category for me. The UDFA surprises, Lane, Shelby and Samuda have impressed the hell out of me, I hope they all make it. Hard Knocks is going to be tough to watch even though we know what is coming. It's something we've never seen and I'm frankly not looking forward to it. Anyway, I don't think this will change much between now and after the final preseason game. The thing that we don't know is how many guys will come in from the waiver wire. I think there'll be at least four. I thought about adding a practice squad prediction list... but I'll just reiterate the guys I'd like to see there: 1. Chris Hogan 2. Jeff Fuller 3. Will Yeatman 4. Cameron Collins 5. maybe Les Brown 6. maybe Thigpen here?
@ conclusions I'd actually have the same team (as of now), except Quinten Lawrence as the 5th cb instead of Agnew, I'd have Pruitt making it over Matthews, and I'd think Naanee would make it (unless Hartline was healthy for week 1). I just can't see only 4 healthy WRs in the lineup for week 1. I'd honestly probably cut Garner (if Hicks is healthy) to make room for the 6th WR. Edit: I only mention Naanee because I expect him to be on the 53, he wouldn't be on mine.
I don't know man, I think they like the flexibility his blocking offers. And supposedly he's been much better this camp in the receiving aspect. I personally wouldn't shed a tear if we cut him though.
Looks good to me. It wouldn't surprise me if they keep Slaton but I hope they don't. I just don't see the benefit of keeping a guy with 0 upside like Slaton. The wheels fell off and there's no gas in the tank. Plus, if a team has multiple injuries at the RB position it's the easiest position in the game to find a warm body on waivers to plug in. WR on the other hand is much tougher, and given the tough evaluations to be made there I think the Dolphins are better served by keeping an extra WR or even some other position than a guy like Slaton.
I'd swap Mastrud for Pruitt (if I had to guess the 53 man roster) as well as the Lawrence for Agnew suggestion made by Stitches. Looks good though, Paul.
Not saying Slaton will make it, but I think he's earned a spot. He may not have upside, but he's looked good in his opportunities IMO (running and receiving), and played well on STs.
"paul solar eye"... lol. Nice list- I don't necessarily agree with the entire 53 but I do for the most part. Well done.
I disagree. Slaton has played well this preseason... arguably better than DT in my opinion. He also has shown he isn't a total liability in pass protection. He deserves a spot if it were up to me.
You need Mastrud if Fasano goes down. Clay and Egnew are great mismatch opportunities in the passing game but haven't shown any indication they can block at this level.
I don't know much about Mastrud other than he isn't a receiving threat. I guess it would make a lot of sense to keep him for his blocking abilities though.
Also, Thigpen intrigues me as a returner. Not sure if he'll make it on that alone, but he also has shown some pop in the slot on offense.
Thigpen hasn't done much as a returner for me (especially PR). I like Matthews back there more. I'd even prefer Gates back there to Thigpen just based off what he did last year.
I thought Gates was underwhelming last year, but he was also a rookie. If he makes the team (likely) I think he'll get his chances as well. Punt returner is a whole new ballgame though. I know Bess is reliable, but I'd like to see some electricity.
nine minutes I think we're keeping Garner because he can play every position on the OL and Sherman mentioned him by name as guys he liked in his PC today.
What is it that you and Stitches have seen or heard on Lawrence? I have Agnew as my first bubble guy so convince me on Lawrence and I'll go with it
Just keep Matt Moore and Tanny...Cut Mastrud and just put an extra lineman out there if your just going to waste a roster spot on a one dimensional TE.
good job paul. i think we will keep one more wr. i think slaton will be sent packing and naanee or pruit will make the team, until we pick up another wr (edit: or 2) then they will be gone.
Glad you clarified the Naanee selection for you there. You know how I feel about him. I now understand why some media sources listed him the worse starting wr in the league last year. You noticed Carolina wasted no time sending him out the door at the end of the season.
