I never do roster predictions. For whatever reason, I’ve never found them particuarly interesting. Still, I know many of you love to do it, and I get why people think it’s fun. Westside Rob wrote me with his last night, and it struck me as a nice effort. I don’t necessarily agree with every player evaluation (I think Wheeler is going to break out this year), but probably 85% of the roster is basically set already. Here’s his best guess as to the final 53:
QB (2 spots with 1 on PS) |
|||
| 1 |
18 | Manning | I think this guy has a shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7 | Painter | Probably won’t be displaced this year |
| RB (4 spots per usual) | |||
| 3 | 29 | Addai | Oesher’s right Addai is the most underrated player on the team |
| 4 | 31 | Brown | Not likely to push ahead of Addai until he can pass block |
| 5 | 32 | Hart | A solid #3 RB but not a world beater |
| 6 | 45 | Moore | Right now his running and KR gives him the edge |
| TE | |||
| 7 | 44 | Clark | Another strong year for Dallas but not as great as last year |
| 8 | 81 | Eldridge | So far he’s been the most impressive rookie |
| 9 | 84 | Tamme | Won’t see a lot of snaps if Clark is healthy |
| 10 | 46 | Cloherty | A tough call as he’d probably be safe on the PS |
| WR (I think solid 4 allows them to only carry 5 WRs) | |||
| 11 | 87 | Wayne | His production won’t drop in a contract year |
| 12 | 11 | Gonzalez | Should bounce back for a nice year |
| 13 | 17 | Collie | Looks likely to maintain or improve on a solid rookie season |
| 14 | 85 | Garcon | Most likely to regress of the top 4 but I still think he’ll be solid |
| 15 | 10 | Smith | Taj needs to show consistency but most promising of the 3 possibles (White, Giguere) |
| OL | |||
| 16 | 63 | Saturday | He’s stil the OL MVP |
| 17 | 71 | Diem | I still can’t imagine he’s got many years left but he’s looked solid in preseason |
| 18 | 74 | Johnson | Who would have thought we’d be desperate for him to return to staring LT |
| 19 | 67 | Ugoh | He’s still a big disappointment (not a bust) but his versaility will keep him on the roster for a while |
| 20 | 66 | Devan | Not sure if he’ll start but he won’t go from starter to off the roster |
| 21 | 73 | Thomas | Showing some promise so he’s probably in |
| 22 | 65 | McClendon | He’s been too hurt to know for sure but they’ll give him a year at least |
| 23 | 62 | Richard | He seems to have regressed but he’ll make it |
| 24 | 78 | Pollack | Another disappointment but he’ll make the roster |
| DE (Some decent players are going to get cut) | |||
| 25 | 93 | Freeney | He still makes the defense work |
| 26 | 98 | Mathis | Not as good without Freeney but still elite |
| 27 | 99 | Johnson | Continues to show improvement |
| 28 | 90 | Muir | Probably the best DT on the team |
| 29 | 95 | Moala | Definitely improved from 09′ won’t start yet but a solid backup |
| 30 | 68 | Foster | Solid flexible DL |
| 31 | 92 | Hughes | I’m concerned but he’ll make the roster for sure |
| 32 | 91 | Matthews | Shown enough signs to keep around |
| 33 | 94 | Baldwin | Has shown he can get to the QB |
| 34 | 97 | Chick | Pass rush is valued overall so I think he makes it |
| LB | |||
| 35 | 58 | Brackett | After Freeney Brackett is the next most important defender |
| 36 | 55 | Session | Key to the run defense |
| 37 | 50 | Wheeler | Not sure he holds his starting spot much longer |
| 38 | 51 | Angerer | Got to like what we’ve seen from him so far |
| 39 | 53 | Conner | Has also looked decent so far |
| 40 | 59 | Humber | Solid player and decent STs player |
| DB | |||
| 41 | 21 | Sanders | It would be nice to see a full season from 21 |
| 42 | 41 | Bethea | Ironman of the Colt’s secondary |
| 43 | 26 | Hayden | Great DB for Colt’s defensive style |
| 44 | 25 | Powers | Showed PB potential last year but needs to stay on field |
| 45 | 27 | Lacey | Solid number 3 CB looks improved from 2009 |
| 46 | 33 | Bullitt | Looks like he’ll play some LB in the Nickel package to get him on the field more |
| 47 | 20 | Thomas | Do they IR him or keep him on active roster? |
| 48 | 34 | Lambert | Has made plays in both preseason games |
| 49 | 37 | King | Probably get’s the last spot for the DB’s |
| ST | |||
| 50 |
1 | McAfee | Could deliver a ProBowl caliber year |
| 51 | 4 | Vinateri | Could be his last year wearing the horseshoe |
| 52 | 48 | Snow | Probably still holds this spot but Tamme capability would offer Colts option to use his spot for others |
| 53 | 12 | James | I’m thinking they keep him but I’m probalby wrong about this |
| Close Calls | |||
| 96 | Dawson | Get’s caught in a numbers game | |
| 75 | King | A tough call but probably can be kept on the PS | |
| 47 | Robinson | Just not consistent enough | |
| 46 | Cloherty | A tough call but probably can be kept on the PS | |
| 52 | Glenn | It’s between him and Humber | |
| 72 | Linkenbach | Most servicable of the backup OT’s but PS bound | |
| 38 | Newton | If Thomas get’s IR’d Newton probably makes it |
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