Projected 53 man opening day roster as of Aug 28, 2011

by thunderbird1245 on Aug 27, 2011 2:25 PM EDT

Last night's preseason game against Green Bay answered some roster questions, but failed to answer some others. One detail little talked about this week with the Colts signing of Kerry Collins is that as of now, the Colts will almost surely carry 3 quarterbacks instead of just 2 as has been their custom. If you only carry 2 quarterbacks, there simply is too much risk at this time with the questions about Manning's health, and with the age and lack of conditioning/mobility that Kerry Collins has as his primary backup. Somebody that would have made our 53 man roster will now be out on the street.

With that being said, after the jump I am presenting my projected 53 man roster for opening day at Houston, with a few other ideas I have about some moves I think could help us.

I think this is our 53 man roster for week 1:

QB: (3) Manning, Collins, Painter

RB (4) Addai, Brown, Carter, James

WR (5) Wayne, Garcon, Collie, Gonzalez, Gilreath

TE (4) Clark, Tamme, Eldridge, Snow

OL (9) Linkenbach, Costanzo, Reitz, Saturday, Diem, Pollak, Ijalana, Devan, McClendon

DL (10) Freeney, Harris, Hughes, Johnson, Mathis, Nevis, Brayton, Moala, Foster, Matthews

LB (7) Angerer, Brackett, Conner, Sims, Wheeler, Moten, Glenn

DB (9) Bethea, Bullitt, Caldwell, Lacey, Lefeged, Powers, Thomas, Tryon, Rucker

K(2) McAfee, Viniateri

Other predictions or thoughts:

-I think we re-sign Kelvin Hayden, but only after game 1 is completed to keep his salary from being guaranteed.

-I think we put Blair White on the PUP list

-I think we should try and use Donald Brown as a kick off returner, to see if that is a role he can play to help us and to get the ball in his hands more. I think he has good straight line speed and would be good back there, plus it lets us use our roster a little differently if we so choose.

-One of the reasons I suggest we use Brown as a kick off returner is so we can create more of a role for Carter in the backfield, as I like his powerful running style, and I think he can be more than just a short yardage back. I think we will need to run the football 30 times or more in week one, and I'd like to see Addai with about 20 carries, and Carter get the rest, with maybe a dose of Brown/James depending on the situation. But mainly, I want Addai and Carter to get 30 carries at least between them.

-I think the decision of keeping Ricardo Matthews over Jamal Anderson was the toughest call for me. I can easily see me being wrong about that. I could also see them both making it and us cutting a linebacker like Glenn, who I kept for now just as a special team guy.

-Making a late trade of a spare defensive lineman for help in the secondary makes sense to me. Philadelphia is one team with a plethora of defensive backs that may force them to release a good player in their backfield, maybe we could try and move a defensive lineman like Chick or Anderson/ Matthews to them for a DB. They might prefer making a trade for a player or later draft pick in 2012 than just having to outight release someone, as I am sure other teams would as well. Joselio Hansen is a pretty good DB who may be dealt by Philadelphia, according to SI.com.

-I'd like to see us figure out a way to keep John Chick, but I couldn't find a way to do it. One way you could do it is to gamble and only keep 3 running backs in favor of keeping an extra defensive lineman. In my mind however Chick is the roster casuality of keeping 3 QB's.

Ok everyone, this was my first post since joining Stampedeblue....tell me where you think I am right or wrong.

Tbird

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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I think Glenn is the odd man out at LB. You need another T, although I hope we pick one up when teams start cutting down. I’m not entirely convinced Eldridge won’t start the season on the PUP and we carry another TE. I’m not thrilled with the DBs you listed. Rucker looks to be a PS guy and Caldwell seems to be the probably choice by default over an unimpressive group. Not thrilled with Brown and Hughes taking up space, but it’s doubtfull they get cut.

by strandedincarolina on Aug 27, 2011 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

Looks Good

Except I think that Glenn will be cut or PSed and either Kirkpatrick or Toudouze will take over. And I think Chris Brooks will overtake Gilreath, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Taj Smith gets the spot. And I think it’s possible that Cornelius Brown will be PSed or Rucker will be PSed and Brown gets the 53 roster spot.

by KBUnitz on Aug 27, 2011 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

There's no reason for Brooks or Smith to overtake Gilreath

They’ve both shown nothing spectacular, and the Colts do not really need either as a 5th WR. Gilreath is just as good a receiver, but he has been fielding punts very well and has had some decent punt returns.

If Brooks/Smith take the spot over Gilreath it would be another huge mistake by the coaching staff. Taj Smith is terrible. He’s only useful on special teams. I do agree that I don’t think Glenn makes the squad, as I don’t think it makes sense to carry 7 healthy linebackers. Glenn offers nothing different from what Moten, Wheeler, and Conner offer.

I hope against all hope that Glenn’s roster spot goes to John Chick, who has been by far the 3rd best DE on the team all preseason long.

by LeftNutForAStarCenter on Aug 28, 2011 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Not bad

but I think Mike Newton makes the roster over David Caldwell, he has shown us that he has a knack for the ball and is a pretty solid tackler and supports the run better, Caldwell on the other hand hasn’t been as impressive and takes horrible angles to the ball carrier and has trouble wrapping up on his tackling.

I think we might resign Hayden if an injury was to occur in the secondary

Colts fan since Tony Dungy's 48th Birthday.

Free will is an illusion, but pragmatically, the illusion of self (ego), choice, freedom, consciousness, are all necessary for the game or struggle to move. No struggle, no universe.

I am the most die-hard Colts fan in the city and state of New Orleans, Louisiana

by ColtsFan504 on Aug 27, 2011 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

very good analysis

but you forgot one guy – jamie richard – backup center. He played the whole second half vs the packers. Make it a total of 10 on the OL, probably subtract one linebacker or D line guy.

by coltsgolfbeer on Aug 27, 2011 10:24 PM EDT reply actions

**jamey richard

by coltsgolfbeer on Aug 27, 2011 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

not going to happen

You do not need to field 2 full lines in a real NFL game. Pollak is the actual backup for Saturday, not Richard. When Orlovsky first took the field, the first line O-line remained on the field, with the exception of Jeff Saturday who got the early rest. Mike Pollak was the one who replaced Saturday, until the rest of the first team o-line sat down. Only then did Pollak move to RG. Pollak was also the first backup for Ryan Diem at RG, when Diem missed a few snaps due to a minor arm injury.

Richard should and hopefully will be cut.

by LeftNutForAStarCenter on Aug 28, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I see a very simple way to keep Chick

Do not retain Cody Glenn. Glenn offers nothing to this team except special teams play. All the linebackers on this team have pretty good track records in terms of health, and it’s highly unlikely that a 7th linebacker is required on the roster. I think the emergence of Moten all but seals Glenn’s fate as a PS squad player for this year.

Chick needs to be retained. He’s been the only DE not named Freeney or Mathis who has been able to generate any kind of reliable pass rush, even seeing some action against the first team packers o-line last game. He dominated Chad Clifton much like Freeney did. If John Chick is beaten out for a roster spot by the likes of a superfluous Cody Glenn or Jerry Hughes, then the Colts FO and coaching staff are even worse than I could have ever feared.

by LeftNutForAStarCenter on Aug 28, 2011 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

My reasoning about Jamey Richard and John Chick

LeftNutForAStarCenter (great screen name by the way) states my reasoning perfectly above. While Pollak isn’t my favorite player by any stretch, I think he has been hurt in his career by playing totally out of position….Pollak is a true center, and in my view will be a decent NFL starter at that position someday. He is our true backup for Saturday at that spot, and has enough flexibility to be moved around some and not totally kill us.

Richard could always be re-signed later if an injury occurs….I doubt very much there will be a huge market for him if he is out of football for a week or two. I just think Pollak is a better center than he is, and he is younger if I am not mistaken as well.

As far as Chick is concerned, I have no problem if we figure out a way to keep him….I think he is an NFL caliber player who would make someone else’s roster if we let him go. In the end of the day I left him off for Glenn simply due to Glenn being able to contribute as a special teams player on both kickoff and punt coverage, whereas I doubt Chick has the speed to be able to contribute in those areas. Plus Chick plays a position where we have 2 of our best players ahead of him in Freeney and Mathis respectfully.

Alot can still change in the course of the next few days of course…injuries, other teams cuts, possible trades, etc.

Time will tell if I am correct on my assumptions or not. I think there are still quite a few position battles that arent completely finished yet.

Tbird

by thunderbird1245 on Aug 28, 2011 12:22 AM EDT reply actions