I must tell you first that you first must agree with me on the following 3 facts.
1. 35 of the 90 players are locks to make the 53-man roster Aug 31st (see below for the list of 35). Trust me; it’s hard to argue with these 35 being locks.
2. 23 of the 90 are very likely to be practice squad material or released (see below for the list of 23). Sorry to bust their bubbles so early. But who knows, if we are surprised from this group, well, I guess that means something good. Don’t worry if you don’t recognize a few names; that’s probably par for these guys anyway.
3. Assumes the following per-position-group amounts.
QB – 2 RB – 5 Oline – 9 TE – 3 WR – 6 DLINE – 10 LB – 6 DB – 9 ST – 3 = Total 53
Yes, I followed last year’s amounts EXCEPT, well, I added one WR and deducted one D-Linemen. I know, I know. But had to give the WR’s their props.
OK – that leaves 18 spots for 32 players. That means 14 MORE must end up practice squad
material or released by Aug 31st. He He, the math works out!
Now… This 18 spot battle is the beef of this analysis; where the huffing and puffing will really be taking place over the upcoming 10 weeks or so… Let’s give ‘em all our support! After all, they’ll be bustin their *sses off for you and me. Onward and upward towards SB 50 !!!
18 spots for 32 players
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD - Competing for one of 4 spots among 7 players
Safety
Johnson, Jeron - Front Runner
Bailey, Dion UFA
CB/ Safety
Shead, DeShawn
Pinkins, Eric
CB
Jefferson, A.J.
Simon, Tharold
Adams, Phillip
LINEBACKERS - Competing for one of 2 spots among 6 players
LB - Mike
Coyle, Brock UFA
Farwell, Heath - Front Runner
LB - Outside
Morgan, Mike
Toomer, Korey
Pierre-Louis, Kevin
Taylor, Mike UFA '13
DEFENSIVE LINE - Competing for one of 5 spots among 7 players
DE
Schofield, O'Brien - Front Runner
DE/DT
Scruggs, Greg - Front Runner
Marsh, Cassius
DT
Williams, Jesse
Staten, Jimmy
LEO
Jeffcoat, Jackson UFA
Mayowa, Benson
OFFENSIVE LINE - Competing for one of 2 spots among 3 players
T
Bailey, Alvin - Front Runner
Gilliam, Garry UFA
G
Van Roten, Greg
QUARTERBACK - Competing for one spot among 2 players
Jackson, Tarvaris
Pryor, Terrelle
FULLBACK - Competing for one of 2 spots among 3 players
Coleman, Derrick
Small, Kiero
Ware, Spencer
WIDE RECEIVER - Competing for one of 2 spots among 4 players
Rice, Sidney
Lockette, Ricardo
Norwood, Kevin
Matthews, Chris
35 LOCKS
ST - Hauschka, Steven
ST - Gresham, Clint
ST - Ryan, Jon
O-Line - Unger, Max
O-Line - Jeanpierre, Lemuel
O-Line - Carpenter, James
O-Line - Sweezy, J.R.
O-Line - Okung, Russell
O-Line - Bowie, Michael
O-Line - Britt, Justin
QB - Wilson, Russell
RB - Lynch, Marshawn
RB - Turbin, Robert
RB - Michael, Christine
TE - Miller, Zach
TE - McCoy, Anthony
TE - Willson, Luke
WR - Harvin, Percy
WR - Baldwin, Doug
WR - Kearse, Jermaine
WR - Richardson, Paul
D-Line - McDaniel, Tony
D-Line - Avril, Cliff
D-Line - Bennett, Michael
D-Line - Mebane, Brandon
D-Line - Hill, Jordan
LB - Wagner, Bobby
LB - Irvin, Bruce
LB - Wright, K.J.
LB - Smith, Malcolm
DB - Thomas, Earl
DB - Chancellor, Kam
DB - Maxwell, Byron
DB - Sherman, Richard
DB - Lane, Jeremy
23 CURRENTLY DUBBED PRACTICE SQUAD MATERIAL OR TO BE RELEASED
O-Line - Schilling, Stephen
O-Line - Smith, Jared
O-Line - Hauptmann, Caylin
O-Line - Isles, Nate
O-Line - Irwin, Bronson UFA
QB - Daniels, B.J.
QB - Price, Keith UFA
TE - Allen, Rashaun
TE - Helfet, Cooper
TE - Dixon, Chase UFA
WR - Price, Taylor
WR - Walters, Bryan
WR - Bates, Phil
WR - Clark, Arceto
D-Line - Boatright, Kenneth
D-Line - Smith, D'Anthony
D-Line - Brooks, Michael
D-Line - Cherrington , Dewayne
D-Line - Pulu, Andru UFA
LB - Miller, Horace
DB - Parks, Terrance UFA '12
DB - Fenner, Chandler UFA '12
DB - Auguste, Akeem