Projecting The Roster
September 1st, 2017
In or out?
OK, the regular season is upon us. The awful preseason came to an end last night. Teams must cut to a 53-man roster by Saturday at 4 p.m.
Some Bucs cuts could come as early as today.
Jenna Laine of ESPN took out her microscope and believes she has the 53-man roster the Bucs could select based on who was on the team last night.
(The Bucs could — and Joe would bet will — add to the roster from other teams’ cuts. More than 1,000 players will be released in the coming hours).
There really aren’t any surprises by Laine except when it comes to running backs and receivers. Laine believes Peyton Barber edges out Jeremy McNichols for a final running back slot.
The lone way Joe can see McNichols getting a roster spot is his special teams play. Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter has made it clear during training camp that bubble players must excel at special teams if they want to make the team. Koetter might even select a bubble player for his special teams play alone.
Late in training camp, while scolding McNichols for his subpar play on offense, Koetter praised McNichols for his special teams play. And then came that awkward moment last night.
Laine also suggests the misplaced Calgary Stampeder, Donteea Dye, will once again make the roster, this time to the determent of Josh Huff, the Vero Beach Ramada Inn lounge singer Freddie Martino and Bernard Reedy.
Additionally, Laine has Riley Bullough on the outside looking in.
Joe has already written that Reedy appears to be a lock since he’s done everything the Bucs have asked and can return punts solidly. Dirk Koetter noted after last night’s game that he had two strong punt returners, referring to Reedy and Adam Humphries, who injured his hip six days ago.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:06 am
DD and reedy both make the team imo
September 1st, 2017 at 9:22 am
After good special teams and last nights TD catch, Speedy Reedy is in. McNichols might make the team until Doug gets back or we find someone on waivers…
September 1st, 2017 at 9:23 am
I was surprised to see she thinks Caleb Benenoch won’t make the team. I guess I thought he was in their long term plans as a project.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:26 am
Just Glad preseason is over and we escaped pretty healthy.
Jason hasn’t made any trades and it will be interesting to see him surf through the waiver wire over the next few days.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:35 am
Good Morning Football just labeled Kwon as the top breakout player this year and just said the Bucs have the best 3 LBs with Kwon, David, and Beckwith….nice to get some love!
September 1st, 2017 at 9:49 am
Jenna knows football mang, agree with all of it except for Reedy and McNichols. I think Huff is the better call for the 5th and McSnoopy showed very strong between the tackles running which is very uncharacteristic of him, he’s got some wiggle too. I said all along that he’s only got 1 gear but so does The Hamster. They need to find a way to keep McSnoopy around.
September 1st, 2017 at 9:57 am
I think it’s safe the put McNichols on the PS especially if they do it week 4. He has shown the NFL world he is a slow playbook learner. What team can afford to put him on their active roster?
As far as Bullough goes coach Smith all but said on HK that he doesn’t have the mobility and speed in coverage to be a NFL MLB. Maybe that’s just in the Bucs scheme but that’s all I needed to hear to know it’s unlikely he makes the cut.
September 1st, 2017 at 10:01 am
I think they might have to go with 4 WRs for time being…other positions are deeper and can’t let people go > TE/FB, RB for example
September 1st, 2017 at 10:04 am
Jenna nailed it … with one exception. No need to carry Martin on the 53-man roster yet since he’s suspended, and carrying only 8 OLinemen on the roster is playing with fire. Gut feel is that Benenoch will make the team, at least until Martin returns. Still have a feeling the Bucs will pick up 2-3 players after the cut-downs (a CB, a DE & an OLineman come to mind).
September 1st, 2017 at 10:07 am
@Defense Rules yes this! Gonna see a lot of surprises after cut down. I think a QB might be scooped up as well.
September 1st, 2017 at 10:08 am
No way we can go with 4 WR. Hump is already banged up and DJax misses at least 2 games a season.
I see Griffin going IR and potentially returning. We will get creative with some of our banged up players but 5-6 WR are a must right now
September 1st, 2017 at 10:08 am
3 Qbs – Winston, Fitz. Griffin
4 RBs – Quizz, Sims, Barber, JMac (Martin back after week 3 = decision time)
5 WRs – M. Evans, DJax, Godwin, Humphries, ? (Dye, Huff, Reedy,Wilson, Martino)
5 TEs – Brate, Howard, Stocker, Auclair, Cross
9 OL – D. Smith, Pamphile, Marpet, Sweezy, Dotson, E. Smith, Hawley, Wester, Benenoch
9 DL – Ayers, McCoy, Baker, Gholston, McDonald, Spence, Siliga, Russell, Abdesmad (Jac Smith – IR/PUP w/ designation to return)
5 LBers – LD, Kwon, Beckwith, Bond, Glanton
6 CBs – Grimes, VH3, Elliot, R. Smith, McClain, Robinson
4 Safeties – Tandy, Conte, Wilcox, J. Evans
P – Anger
K – Folk
LS – DePaola or Sanborn
September 1st, 2017 at 10:10 am
Her DL is already wrong as Rotoworld is reporting George Johnson was cut
September 1st, 2017 at 10:21 am
One thing I am not sold on based on Licht’s comments are Ryan Griffin. He spoke of keeping him for next season. Like he might get IR’d for this season. At any case, my 53:
QB (3) Winston, Fitz, Griffin
RB (4) Rodgers, Sims, Barber, McNichols (Martin will be taking a spot come week 4)
WR (5) Evans, Jackson, Godwin, Humphreys, Reedy
OL (9) D. Smith, Pamphile, Marpet, Sweezy, Dotson, E. Smith, J. Hawley, Wester, Benenoch
TE (5) Howard, Brate, Stocker, Auclair, Cross
DL (8) GMC, Baker, Stevie T, Spence, Gholston, McDonald, Ayers, Russell
LB (6) LVD, Kwon, Beckwith, Glanton, Bond, Lynch
CB (6) Grimes, VHIII, Smith, McClain, Elliot, Robinson
S (4) Tandy, Conte, Wilcox, Evans
K (1) Folk
P (1) Anger
LS (1) Sanborn
September 1st, 2017 at 11:12 am
Abdesmad is gone already? I would have kept him!!
September 1st, 2017 at 11:34 am
tnew, agree with your take on the roster except that Siliga will beat out Stevie T, and McNichols won’t make the team (I think Koetter’s comments prior to last night’s game gave that away). What we do with the extra spot is anyone’s guess right now (still think we’ll add 2-3 from other teams … CB, DE & Olineman still come to mind). Griff will make the cutdown to 53 so he can avoid the waiver wire, but will probably go on IR designated to return shortly thereafter IMO.
September 1st, 2017 at 11:39 am
I agree DD and Reedy will probably make it but Mcnichols may be out. Hanbrough looked better than McNichols in the games I’ve watched.
September 1st, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Waterboy says:
“Hanbrough looked better than McNichols in the games I’ve watched”
Agreed – but which has more potential upside 2-3 years down the road? That’s the only way to view this situation. As well as which is more likely to clear waivers and make it to the practice squad after initial cut downs?
September 1st, 2017 at 12:26 pm
I think McNichols makes the opening 53 along with Benenoch. I don’t see any way we cut Caleb. McNichols could go on the PS. I think he would be safe there. Giving him another playbook to learn at this point would be cruel and inhumane.
September 1st, 2017 at 12:32 pm
A team who needs special team help that liked McNichols for a later 5th or 6th or 7th round pick might sign him and let him play special teams. Bucs should probably keep him a while even though it appears he hasn’t worked real hard on the play book. Sending him a message by cutting him may mean he gets the message and contributes to some other team.
September 1st, 2017 at 12:43 pm
It wouldn’t shock me for McNichols to get cut. It would shock me to keep Hansborough. I just think they have the preseason invested in him. He will be around until week 3, then it will be to the practice squad. Then he will be picked up 2-3 time by the team we are playing the next week.
His value is extra insurance until Martin returns. If he stays on the practice squad, then he will have another shot in 2018 training camp.
Defense, Stevie T and Siliga were a coin flip for me. They are pretty interchangeable.
I can see a situation that one of our DB’s gets cut for another one floating around. DE’s that get released at this point typically are not a help. Every team has one shot at a Micheal Bennett. We already had ours.
September 1st, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Okay, here’s my totally inept shot at predicting the roster. This is my finalized prediction:
Quarterback: Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick
Left Tackle: Donovan Smith, Leonard Wester
Left Guard: Kevin Pamphile, Joe Hawley (Swing
Center: Ali Marpet, Joe Hawley (Swing)
Right Guard: J.R. Sweezy, Evan Smith
Right Tackle: Demar Dotson, Caleb Benenoch
Wide Reciever 1: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin
Wide Reciever 2: DeSean Jackson, Freddie Martino (or Josh Huff)
Wide Reciever 3: Adam Humphries, Donteea Dye
Tight End 1: Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, Luke Stocker, Alan Cross
Running Back: Jacquizz Rodgers, Charles Sims, Peyton Barber, Antony Auclair
(FB/TE)
(25)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Left Defensive End: Robert Ayers, Noah Spence
Right Defensive End: William Gholston, Channing Ward, (And a currently unsigned
pass rusher)
Left Defensive Tackle: Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald
Right Defensive Tackle: Chris Baker, Sealver Siliga, (And a currently unsigned
DT)
Strongside Linebacker: Devante Bond, Kendell Beckwith
Middle Linebacker: Kwon Alexander, Riley Bullough
Weakside Linebacker: Lavonte David, Cameron Lynch
Cornerback: Brent Grimes, Javien Elliott, Josh Robinson
Cornerback: Vernon Hargreaves, Robert McClain
Safety: Chris Conte, Justin Evans (swing with CB)
Safety: Keith Tandy, J.J. Wilcox
(25)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Punter: Bryan Anger
Kicker: Nick Folk
Long Snapper: Garrison Sanborn
(3)
Punt Returner: Adam Humphries
Kick Returner: Josh Huff or Justin Evans
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Total: 53
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Suspended: Doug Martin (Until Game 4)
Injured Reserve: Justin Trattou (DE), Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (DT), Davante Lambert
(DT)
Physically Unable to Perform: Jacquies Smith (DE)
Practice Squad:
Quarterback: Sefo Liufau
Wide Reciever: Derel Walker
Running Back: Jeremy McNichols
September 1st, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Hey Joes-
How about if DD makes an NFL roster for the 3rd year in a row, we show him the respect of being an NFL caliber player and stopped referring to him as a “misplaced Stampeder”?
September 1st, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Why does everyone think they’re keeping five TEs?
I would think Eau Claire or cross is out and Dye Jr makes the team.
I guess that depends on special teams
September 1st, 2017 at 5:00 pm
The reason they might keep 5 TE’s is to help improve the run blocking, which was subpar last year.
September 1st, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Bonzai – You think we are cutting Ryan Smith???? He’s the #1 backup at outside CB…
You think we are keeping 6 LBers – and Glanton isn’t one of them?? After last night??? No chance. More likely we only keep 5 LBers – If so, Joe Dirt and Lynch both gone and hopefully headed to PS.
We are keeping 4 true RBs in Martin’s absence (HBs)
Auclair is the 4th TE – Cross is the 5th and will serve as FB along w/ Stocker.
I’d be surprised to see 6 WRs on the 53 since we are keeping 5 TEs. But whether its 5 or 6, congrats for at least not trying to stick Walker on the 53 as you’ve maintained all off season.
Unless Ryan Griffin goes on IR – he will be the 3rd QB and take up a spot on the 53 all year again. But apparently you think we are just dumping him. (Despite the fact that we just extended his contract) – LOL
September 1st, 2017 at 9:58 pm
My feeling is that Bobo Wilson showed enough to return kicks and catch passes last night that they could carry six WRs. Based on carrying the best 53 players McNichols and Justin Evans should both be cut, but it won’t happen to try and protect Licht’s reputation. Licht needs to pick up a DE and a backup versatile OL off the waiver line.