This can be a deciding factor for who makes the team and who doesn't. I'm just going to get this out of the way. Stafford Megatron dominate. All first teamers looked good and ready for the season. Going to talk about the backups. As I go trhough I'm going to go through and basically do the medium. Then guys like Logan, Edwards, and Moore aren't fighting for a spot against their roster spot, but against each other.
QB
Stafford and Hill locks
Hill looked like a top backup qb.
Kellen Moore - I've had him out all preseason long. He's looking like a good potential backup qb. I'm on the fence right now. Leshoure, Edwards, and Stovall all dropped a pass that hurt him. I'm on the border right now.
2/53
RB
Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith are the locks here. Best is going to start on the PUP.
Right now I have only Keiland Williams in. This means I have Logan and Bell out. I don't see any value in Logan right now. I would actually keep Bell before Logan.
5/53
WR
CJ, Young, Broyles, Burleson are locks
I think Stovall is in. Edwards will be heading towards the practice squad unless someone else claims him.
10/53
OL
Backus, Reiff, Sims, Railoa, Peterman, Cherilus are locks
I would think HIlliard would be a lock too, but how many tackles can you carry. I think Fox has been too good too cut. Well I think you also have to look at the future. Hilliards a great backup and Fox is definitely looking like a great backup as well and those are hard to come by.
I also think you keep Gandy and Gerberry. We've just had to many injuries not to take them.
20/53
TE
Chef, Pettigrew Heller locks
very easy
23/53
Now most special teams players and more backups play on defense so 23/53 on offense could really be about it on the offensive side.
DE
Avril, KVB, and Young are locks
Jackson is pretty much a lock so I have him in. I have Lewis in as he'll be able to contribute on special teams. I really want to put Everette Brown in that he is probably the next guy in.
28/53
DT
Williams, Suh, Hill, Fairley are locks
Fluellen is tough for me to not have in. I think he actually stays. If the Cunningham really wants to move Suh and Fairley outside they are going to need more DTs. I know there were some incorrect reporting that the DEs would move and play inside but that is unrealistic. Most teams get out of the huddle fast and the Lions saw the Raven sugar huddle which is barely anything. Offenses will be up at the ball with plenty of time to audible that is just a fact. You're not switching the DEs and the DTs to catch someone off surprise. The tackle is going to see Suh in front of him. The reason to move Suh and Fairley around is because they have the athleticism to play DE not because Avril and KVB can play inside because they can't. I have Fluellen in.
33/53
LB
Levy, Durant, Tulloch, Hogue, Palmer, Whitehead, Lewis are locks
These are the guys that play special teams and you need them as backup as well. It seems like a lot of locks, but I would just be too shocked and I would think it would be a stupid move. Messina deserves to stay. I'm just really on the border so for now I have him out. Hopefully nobody claims him.
40/53
CB
Houston, Smith, Bentley, Lacey are locks
I just think with injuries and the pass happy league you keep 2 more CBs. Barnes should be counted in that minimum. Honestly none of the other CBs are worth keeping. I like Green because of his potential. He's looked good and then terrible. A lot like Smith. I think the Lions will pickup another CB that gets cut by someone else I believe. Right now I have Green in. I'm considering Barnes as a safety.
45/53
S
Spivey, Delmas, Coleman, Wendling, Barnes are locks
Silva has looked good and should be tough to cut. I have him out even though he has looked good on special teams, but for every play he makes he gets hurt.
50/53
Special Teams
Hanson and Muhlbach are locks
those two put us at 52/53 and we still need a punter. I honestly thought I was harsh enough that there would be extra spots at the end of this. I guess this goes to show you can't have a guy just to catch the ball and knee the ball or fair catch it. I think you could easily see Logan out and Fluellen in. I was probably a little harsh on that sentence about kneeing the ball. Special teams are underrated. Everyone says that so how can they be. They are because you don't put out your best players. Logan didn't and hasn't looked good enough for a roster spot starting from last year. Field position can decide games and field position is greatly influenced on special teams. A 10 yard farther punt makes a huge difference. If a team continuously punts 10 yards farther can win that field position and be in much better shape.
I do think the final roster spot is between Moore, Logan, and Fluellen even though we have 1 spot left and two punters. So, back to Donahue and Graham. To me it's a no brainer even though I have a strong dislike for Iowa players. It's Donahue, I like his hang time and his distance and his ability to angle punts. I prefer punters who punt the ball sideways when it lands inside the 20, but Donahue has shown consistently he can angle it out of bounce and those balls that aren't caught will roll down and get more distance. Kicking it at an angle out of bounce really helps the coverage team. Special teamers deserve some praise I don't know what happened the last two weeks compared to the first two weeks, but completely different.
53/53
No comments:
Post a Comment