SSJ's Early 53 Man Roster Prediction

[SouthStndJunkie]

Here is an early stab at the 53 man roster. Last year we kept 9 offensive lineman on the roster, which is a rarity.

Not sure of the practice squad eligibility of a few guys and that will make a difference as well.

QBs(2)

1: Jay Cutler
2: Patrick Ramsey

RBs/FBs (5)

3: Travis Henry
4: Mike Bell
5: Cecil Sapp
6: Kyle Johnson
7: Andre Hall (should be PS eligible if we cut him though)

TEs (5)

8: Daniel Graham
9: Tony Scheffler
10: Nate Jackson
11: Stephen Alexander
12: Mike Leach (long snapper)

WRs (6) ----Rod Smith to the PUP

13: Javon Walker
14: Brandon Marshall
15: Domenik Hixon
16: Brandon Stokley
17: Brian Clark
18: Quincy Morgan (Slight nod over Kircus because he is #1 kick returner)

OL(9)

19: Matt Lepsis
20: Ben Hamilton
21: Tom Nalen
22: Chris Kuper
23: Montrae Holland
24: Erik Pears
25: Adam Meadows
26: Ryan Harris
27: Chris Myers (Tough call between Myers and Eslinger. Don't be surprised if one ends up on IR with an 'injury' I give the nod to Myers due to his versatility)

DL(9)

28: Ebenezer Ekuban
29: John Engelberger
30: Jarvis Moss
31: Elvis Dumervil
32: Tim Crowder
33: Sam Adams
34: Gerard Warren
35: Jimmy Kennedy
36: Marcus Thomas

LBs (6) (This is the one position in which the Broncos may make a move to acquire someone-----I would like Chaun Thompson of the Browns, who may get cut/traded.)

37: DJ Williams
38: Ian Gold
39: Louis Green
40: DD Lewis
41: Nate Webster
42: Cameron Vaughn (I am hoping he proves himself in the preseason)

DBs (9)

43: Champ Bailey
44: Dre Bly
45: Dominique Foxworth
46: Karl Paymah
47: Jeff Shoate
48: John Lynch
49: Nick Ferguson
50: Hamzah Abdullah
51: Curome Cox

ST (2)

52: Todd Sauerbrun
53: Jason Elam

Practice Squad Possibilities:

Darrell Hackney
Selvin Young
Roderick Rogers
Steven Harris


Tough Cuts (A few of these guys could end up on injured reserve to stash them)

Steve Cargile
Demetrin Veal
Alvin McKinley
Greg Eslinger
Kenard Lang
Paul Smith

[Drek]

Pretty solid, the changes I'd expect though, starting from the top:

RB - Smith will make the squad, we've brought him in to help special teams where we desperately need veterans. Hall or Bell will lose their spot to him since Sapp has moved to HB, I'm guessing Hall who goes to the PS.

TE - I think carrying 5 TEs might be a 50/50 proposition at this point. Graham's versatility changes the way we staff the position. In previous years we had to carry a pass catching TE and a blocking TE for different starting downs, he can fill both roles. I'm betting Alexander is either cut or traded before the start of the regular season.
WR - I think a lot of people are jumping the gun on Rod going to the PUP. He's still got a lot of time before the regular season starts. I think you have the rest of it pretty well pegged though, I think its either Morgan or Kircus on the bubble, depending on Smith's health to make it.

OL - I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Meadows gets cut. With Kuper and Myers both seeings snaps at OT recently it looks like the writting is on the wall. Wouldn't surprise me if his roster spot hinges on Eslinger making it through to the PS. I think that is likely, but if not I'd be surprised if we didn't pull Greg back and let Meadows walk.

LB - I wouldn't be surprised if we went with only five LBs. D.D. Lewis and Webster can both backup at MLB as well as play SAM and I don't think Vaughn has done nearly enough to keep himself from another PS assignment. Why go with only five? Thats leads me to...

DB - I think we find a way to get Cargile on the team. He's a solid backup safety, very good on special teams, and he can even play LB in a pinch. Thats too much versatility to not get on the team.

We always have a few surprise cuts though, my guess on who they might be:
The Uncuttable Nate Jackson in favor of keeping Alexander.

Kyle Johnson, saving roster space and letting Smith take his spot with Sapp as the backup FB.

Louis Green, useful depth at LB but Cargile can fill in at ROLB if needed, only happens if they really want to find a way to keep Vaughn on the active roster.

Curome Cox, solid player but Hamza and Cargile are both making a serious push to knock him down the depth chart to 5th safety. Thats a hard spot to be in and still make the roster.

[SouthStndJunkie]

I agree about Cargile....the team will try and find a way to keep him around.

I can also see Vaughn and Hall going back to the practice squad like you indicated.

We still have 4 preseason games to play, so I am sure this will change somewhat.

[anthonypacino]

I don't think we will carry as many TE's this season, Nate Jackson's time is up, either that or he still has those naked pics of somebody high up and will make the team again. Also Mike Leach IMO will get the axe soon, won't he soon be under NFLPA rule making the vet minimum? That's too much to pay for a snapper, didn't one of SoCal's ST reports state that one of the young lineman were snapping instead of Leach? I think Rod will be IR'd to make room on the roster for another WR if they can prove themselves during the pre-season games.

[SouthStndJunkie]

I don't think we will carry as many TE's this season, Nate Jackson's time is up, either that or he still has those naked pics of somebody high up and will make the team again. Also Mike Leach IMO will get the axe soon, won't he soon be under NFLPA rule making the vet minimum? That's too much to pay for a snapper, didn't one of SoCal's ST reports state that one of the young lineman were snapping instead of Leach? I think Rod will be IR'd to make room on the roster for another WR if they can prove themselves during the pre-season games.

Rod will probably be put on the PUP and not IR....that will give him a chance to return after 6 games instead of being out for the year.

As for Nate Jackson......going into camp I figured he was a goner, but by all accounts he has been a stud thus far and we all know Shanny loves the guy.

[anthonypacino]

Rod will probably be put on the PUP and not IR....that will give him a chance to return after 6 games instead of being out for the year.

As for Nate Jackson......going into camp I figured he was a goner, but by all accounts he has been a stud thus far and we all know Shanny loves the guy.

Yeah, it's possible about Rod. I think Shanny will re-evaluate his status right before the final cut date. IMO Rod is more than likely done, it saddens me but that type of injury and his age is just the way it happens, he is still one of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue.

Shanny has stated that he will keep Rod around but IMO he kinda has to just for morale. In the short off season this team has lost 3 locker room leaders, Jake Plummer, Al Wilson and Keith Burns. Burns is still there but it's different than actually being on the grass with the guys. If they simply cut Rod it would have a serious effect on the team but on the flip side in this day and age they can't just let remain if he isn't producing, Shanny has cut other Bronco legends and fan favs without batting a eye. With Rod on IR he can still be in the locker room and on the sideline to be that voice they need, and it won't cost us a roster spot, then next season he can either take a coaching postion with the team or retire on his own terms.

[Drek]

I don't think we will carry as many TE's this season, Nate Jackson's time is up, either that or he still has those naked pics of somebody high up and will make the team again. Also Mike Leach IMO will get the axe soon, won't he soon be under NFLPA rule making the vet minimum? That's too much to pay for a snapper, didn't one of SoCal's ST reports state that one of the young lineman were snapping instead of Leach? I think Rod will be IR'd to make room on the roster for another WR if they can prove themselves during the pre-season games.

Kuper, Myers, and Scheffler have all long snapped before, I believe the first two practiced it some this summer. I wouldn't take that as an indictment against Leach though, he's been as reliable a long snapper as there is in the league and he's always does a good job on coverage, which very few long snappers can say. The vet minimum isn't close to high enough for it to make a football decision.

Jackson is supposed to have been very good in camp, I think he's more likely to make it than Alexander who is an unremarkable player in every way at this point.

[SouthStndJunkie]

They can put him (Rod) on the PUP list and then put him on IR if they have to after that. Shanny will give him the chance to return and if he can't then he will go on IR.

You don't count against the roster on the PUP list until it is time to come off the list to the active roster.

[anthonypacino]

They can put him (Rod) on the PUP list and then put him on IR if they have to after that. Shanny will give him the chance to return and if he can't then he will go on IR.

You don't count against the roster on the PUP list until it is time to come off the list to the active roster.
I see, thanks for the heads up! I'm sure that is what Shanny will do then.

[anthonypacino]

Kuper, Myers, and Scheffler have all long snapped before, I believe the first two practiced it some this summer. I wouldn't take that as an indictment against Leach though, he's been as reliable a long snapper as there is in the league and he's always does a good job on coverage, which very few long snappers can say. The vet minimum isn't close to high enough for it to make a football decision.

Jackson is supposed to have been very good in camp, I think he's more likely to make it than Alexander who is an unremarkable player in every way at this point.

I agree about Leach, I just thought that it would be a business choice rather than a playing choice. IMO Jackson and Alexander would both be gone, Jackson has had a great camp, but I always remember him having good camps, but never doing it in the season, kinda like Watts. I think FB is a mess, this team hasn't had a pounder since HoGriff left. And our run game has suffered because of it (I know the run game is still good but not like it was) I think that's why we see so many one back sets or having to put a TE in to lead on short yardage. Owen Schmitt from WVU could solve that next year.

[SoCalBronco]

Tough Cuts (A few of these guys could end up on injured reserve to stash them)

Steve Cargile
Demetrin Veal
Alvin McKinley
Greg Eslinger
Kenard Lang
Paul Smith

I don't think we can get away with putting Greg on the fake IR two years in a row, we gotta at least spread it around a little bit. There's probably an unwritten rule about that.

Paul Smith is always a tough one for me when I put together a final 53. He's supposed to be a special teams ace, but some circumstantial evidence suggests that they dont care for him at all as an actual FB: Troy Fleming got reps ahead of him at FB and now they have been working M.Bell at FB a little lately according to Khan. They'll probably be a big argument about him in the coaches meetings. O'Brien may have to really make an impassioned plea to save him.

[Rock Chalk]

Yeah, it's possible about Rod. I think Shanny will re-evaluate his status right before the final cut date. IMO Rod is more than likely done, it saddens me but that type of injury and his age is just the way it happens, he is still one of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue.

Shanny has stated that he will keep Rod around but IMO he kinda has to just for morale. In the short off season this team has lost 3 locker room leaders, Jake Plummer, Al Wilson and Keith Burns. Burns is still there but it's different than actually being on the grass with the guys. If they simply cut Rod it would have a serious effect on the team but on the flip side in this day and age they can't just let remain if he isn't producing, Shanny has cut other Bronco legends and fan favs without batting a eye. With Rod on IR he can still be in the locker room and on the sideline to be that voice they need, and it won't cost us a roster spot, then next season he can either take a coaching postion with the team or retire on his own terms.


Well, I look at Rod's situation much like I do with TD's situation.

Shanny probably knew TD was never going to make it back after that first year of trying to come back. Yet he stayed with the team for two more years before finally leaving.

I think Shanny will give Rod the same leeway. Somehow he will keep a spot for Rod, this year AND next if Rod wants to come back.

[serious hops]

When's the first cutdown?

[Paladin]

Tuesday, isn't it?

[Killericon]

5 Tight Ends? No way.

[SouthStndJunkie]

5 Tight Ends? No way.

We carried 5 last year (Stephen Alexander, Nate Jackson, Mike Leach, Chad Mustard, Tony Scheffler).

One of them is the long snapper.

Unless someone else takes over as long snapper, you may see 5 again.

[SouthStndJunkie]

When's the first cutdown?

Aug. 28 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

Sept. 1 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

[serious hops]

Aug. 28 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.

Sept. 1 - Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.

Thanks!

[lostknight]

RBs/FBs (5)
7: Andre Hall (should be PS eligible if we cut him though)


Not sure about Andre Hall. My guess is that he goes onto PS. He has speed, but seems inconsistent.


WRs (6) ----Rod Smith to the PUP
13: Javon Walker
14: Brandon Marshall
15: Domenik Hixon
16: Brandon Stokley
17: Brian Clark
18: Quincy Morgan (Slight nod over Kircus because he is #1 kick returner)


I don't think that both Hixon and Morgan make the team. The jury is still out on Kircus, but if he continues to have a spring training he had, and makes a few nice grabs in pre-season games, he makes the team. Given Stokley's spring training, he comes in above Hixon as well. The sense I get is that Hixon has disappointed thus far in training, but we have 4 games to put the pressure on.


43: Champ Bailey
44: Dre Bly
45: Dominique Foxworth
46: Karl Paymah
47: Jeff Shoate
48: John Lynch
49: Nick Ferguson
50: Hamzah Abdullah
51: Curome Cox


I must have seen Paymah on a off day. He was getting beaten by everyone on Saturday. Not sure on Shoate as well.


ST (2)
52: Todd Sauerbrun
53: Jason Elam


I think you may see the Broncos carry one additional player here then normal. Pace looked good on Friday. Not sure about Ernster, but the Bronco's handout listed him as P/K. It may be worth it for a backup.


Darrell Hackney
Selvin Young
Roderick Rogers
Steven Harris


Still a lot of preseason to go, but I think at this point da boss is going to fell pretty good about Henry, Bell, Cobbs as his RB core, with Andre Hall in the squad? By all accounts it has been hall that has surprised, not young.

[lostknight]

Pretty solid, the changes I'd expect though, starting from the top:

TE - I think carrying 5 TEs might be a 50/50 proposition at this point. Graham's versatility changes the way we staff the position. In previous years we had to carry a pass catching TE and a blocking TE for different starting downs, he can fill both roles. I'm betting Alexander is either cut or traded before the start of the regular season.


Broncos indicated last season that they do not plan on doing that.


WR - I think a lot of people are jumping the gun on Rod going to the PUP. He's still got a lot of time before the regular season starts. I think you have the rest of it pretty well pegged though, I think its either Morgan or Kircus on the bubble, depending on Smith's health to make it.

I don't have a lot of faith that he is going to make the start of the season.

[elsid13]

I don't think we will carry as many TE's this season, Nate Jackson's time is up, either that or he still has those naked pics of somebody high up and will make the team again. Also Mike Leach IMO will get the axe soon, won't he soon be under NFLPA rule making the vet minimum? That's too much to pay for a snapper, didn't one of SoCal's ST reports state that one of the young lineman were snapping instead of Leach? I think Rod will be IR'd to make room on the roster for another WR if they can prove themselves during the pre-season games.

I think you are strongly underestimated Leach value. He long snap and is plays on all the ST. I doubt he gets cut

[cutthemdown]

I want to see the pre-season games before I make a roster prediction. I am a little suprised though none of you have Troy Fleming making the team. I like him better then P.Smith and Kyle Johnson.

[That One Guy]

I don't care what you guys say, I'm still on the Lang bandwagon. He'll pull through in the preseason... I have faith.

[Odysseus]

I don't care what you guys say, I'm still on the Lang bandwagon. He'll pull through in the preseason... I have faith.

I really wish that I could have seen training camp this year. I bet there was a lot of interesting competition goiing on the DL. I wish Lang all the best wherever he ends up.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I don't think we can get away with putting Greg on the fake IR two years in a row, we gotta at least spread it around a little bit. There's probably an unwritten rule about that.
.

Come on SoCal. You know Eslinger can't make the 53 man squad this year. You could probably beat him in arm wrestling. ;D

[TallyBronco]

When you think about cuts, you've got to consider (1) deactivation on game day, (2) players that will fall through waivers to the practice squad, and (3) players who won't get picked up by other teams.

(1) Vets like Alexander, McKinley, Morgan, and Lang won't be kept on the roster and then deactivated. They either play or walk. With the exception of Morgan, the other three are locks to be on someone's roster by the start of the season (wouldn't be surprised to see McKinley in Indy).

(2) At this point I can't see any putting Hackney, Parsons, Young, Vaughn, or Hall on their 53-man.

(3) Kircus will still be making subs down the road if we ever get really desperate at WR.

I'm sure the Broncs will be scanning cuts for a back-up OT to supplant Meadows and Harris.

[Prodigal19]

I wouldn't be surprised if we only carried 5 WRs.

Walker
Marshall
Stokley
Hixon
Morgan (or maybe kircus and if rod is back in time then rod instead)

There is no reason to have any more. There are better special teams players than clark and kircus that we can use the 6th roster spot for like Cargile, Smith, or Jackson whom IMO is also a better receiver than clark or hixon.

[Drek]

I agree about Leach, I just thought that it would be a business choice rather than a playing choice. IMO Jackson and Alexander would both be gone, Jackson has had a great camp, but I always remember him having good camps, but never doing it in the season, kinda like Watts. I think FB is a mess, this team hasn't had a pounder since HoGriff left. And our run game has suffered because of it (I know the run game is still good but not like it was) I think that's why we see so many one back sets or having to put a TE in to lead on short yardage. Owen Schmitt from WVU could solve that next year.
The difference with Jackson and Watts is that Nate is constantly a 3rd or 4th TE, so he never sees the field to disappoint. Watts blew up come gameday, Jackson just sits and hangs so all we have to go on is his practices. We aren't going to clean house and go down to 3 TEs including Leach. It'll be 4 or 5, at this point that's probably a toss up as Shanahan has liked to carry 5 TEs but there aren't 5 TEs that make you put them on the roster at this point.

I think we'll be fine at FB though. Kyle Johnson has got to be the most underrated guy on this team. He's a pretty solid blocker, he's a good receiver, and he knows his role. That'll be a heavily reduced role this season though. I'm expecting a lot more 2 TE/1 RB sets, especially since Graham has some H-back experience. He's versatile and the best blocking non-OL we have. He'll play heavily in the running game.

I wouldn't be surprised if we only carried 5 WRs.

Walker
Marshall
Stokley
Hixon
Morgan (or maybe kircus and if rod is back in time then rod instead)

There is no reason to have any more. There are better special teams players than clark and kircus that we can use the 6th roster spot for like Cargile, Smith, or Jackson whom IMO is also a better receiver than clark or hixon.

No reason? We almost always carry 6 WR. Going with 5 puts you in a pretty bad spot if someone gets hurt and we don't really have any interesting young talents at WR in this camp to PS.

This team went out of its way to keep Clark last year when Green Bay tried to pick him up. They then actually put him on the active roster for a few games last year. He does have ST value, he returned kicks and punts for us last year, that'll be very valuable if we don't hang onto Morgan.

At this point I'd say the WR depth chart is:
Walker
Stokley
Marshall
Hixon
Clark
Morgan
Kircus

With Rod as the guy who bumps someone off when he's healthy. Kircus is at the bottom of the pack because despite what the lie detector said he's looking at a messy off-field incident and he just doesn't offer the versatility of the three guys directly above him. Morgan could easily slip below him though as all he's done well in his career is return. Hixon and Clark are versatile, young, and athletic. They team will find a way to keep them. Marshall needs to prove himself to take the #2 job from Stokley.

[dbfan21]

A lot of valid points made. My 2 cents is that Meadows doesn't make the cut and Eslinger gets in. Obviously, Gerard Warren is trade bait, so there will be someone to take his spot...possibly Veal or Burton.

The cut down dates are always so sad for me because there is usually one or two surprises that come out of left field.

I just try to keep in mind that the coaches see these guys day-in and day-out and know how to form this team far better than us.

In Shanny I trust!