To me, the longshots who are making some noise so far: -Chad Bumphis -Lee Robinson -Jonas Grey All 3 have paths to the roster: -Bumphis as the #5 Wr -Lee Robinson over Spitler or maybe Trusnik -Grey over Daniel Thomas I'd toss in Rodriquez, but I'm not 100% that we will even carry a pure FB this year. Would love to see Robinson make the team, think having a pipeline into the CFL is just smart GMing, and we've missed on Browner and Freeman that last couple of years, we need to get our CFL mojo back imo.
I'm not a fan of his game tbh, thought he'd be more explosive. McNutt has a shot, as Byroan pointed out so does Davis.
You would have to think Bumphis now has an inside track to make the 53. I was impressed with Rodriguez, who I assumed was little more than camp fodder. I think Gilleslee and Gray both made an early case for consideration to supplant Daniel Thomas, but both will need to continue to show up in the preseason to earn a look at how they do against starters. Egnew I thought was a goner, but he earned a little respect last night. Right now, I'd say the obvious choice is Bumphis.
I thought Yeatman looked better as the third team LT than Thomas did though I am not sure of the caliber of player he was blocking.
I'll toss in Tracy Robertson, #89 on the DL. He played a lot last night and got looks at the 1 technique and 3 technique spots, and maybe even some at 5 technique. I think he needs to add some more strength and muscle to him (and maybe a year on the practice squad), but Vaughn Martin struck me as just another guy out there, at least last night. Robertson, while he took his knocks to be sure, had a handful of good snaps.
3 QB: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Pat Devlin 4 RB: Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Jonas Gray 1 FB: Charles Clay 3 TE: Dustin Keller, Dion Sims, Michael Egnew 5 WR: Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Rishard Matthews, Chad Bumphis 8 OL: Mike Pouncey, Richie Incognito, Tyson Clabo, Josh Samuda, Jon Martin, Dallas Thomas, Nate Garner, John Jerry 5 DT: Paul Soliai, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, Kheeston Randall, Vaughn Martin 4 DE: Cameron Wake, Dion Jordan, Olivier Vernon, Derrick Shelby 7 LB: Dannell Ellerbe, Phil Wheeler, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik, Austin Spitler, Lee Robinson, Jelani Jenkins 5 DC: Brent Grimes, Richard Marshall, Dimitri Patterson, Will Davis, Jamar Taylor 4 DS: Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons, Kelcie McCray, Jimmy Wilson 4 ST: Brandon Fields, John Denney, Marcus Thigpen, Caleb Sturgis On Deck: FB Jorvorskie Lane, WR Marvin McNutt, OG Lance Louis, DE Tristan Okpalaugo, S Don Jones, S Jordan Kovacs The guys in bold would be the answer to the question posed in the thread.
The fact that Kelcie McCray, an undrafted FA last year put on IR August 26th last year, isn't considered a "longshot" is either a testament to his quality play or lack of depth at safety. I'd like to think it's the former, but I fear it's the latter.
Tracy Robertson I think is a guy who has gone hugely under the radar. He's a bit of a developmental prospect, but he's jumped out at the scrimmage, in camp, and last night as well. He's also very much in competition with guys who seem to be assumed to make the roster in Vaughn Martin and Kheeston Randall, getting rotational snap with both guys.
I think that in the end they're training a lot of these tight ends to do the same things that our fullbacks Lane and Rodriguez do. And actually I believe Charles Clay had a really stand out block in that capacity last night. I think they're going to prefer his versatility. I actually wonder if we're going to see Clay ever carry the ball at some point on a fullback dive. People forget but at Tulsa he was primarily a fullback and had 179 career carries for 911 yards and 10 TDs.
I think 9 deep on the OL is not unusual for a 4-3, especially when some of those guys like Vernon and Jordan are going to be used a little in space.
100% in agreement with your 53, although Carpenter had a solid night. As for my answer to the OP, Bumphis (loved him) and Sturgis.
I think he makes it too, his overall game is better than advertised. I just wish he'd be more aggressive, but then I could say that about a LOT of players last night.
The thing with Carpenter, if Sturgis is even remotely close in the competition, then I think the team goes with Sturgis. The financial consideration/cap just make it so. I guess you're saying that, too, so, yeah, I agree, Sturgis, although I don't think he's a long shot. Right now, after Matthews (at WR # 4), I think Bumphis has to be pretty close to the 5th WR. I'm still wishy-washy on Jonas Gray. Need to see more.
Ya he's certainly got cap casualty written all over him. I just hate what it could set-up...Carp going to another team and beating us last minute with a 60 yarder.
If Jimmy Wilson makes the team and Nolan Carroll is cut I'll eat my hat. Wilson is a missed tackle machine, and that's IF, he even gets close enough for it to be called a missed tackle. His coverage is mediocre to bad as well. I hated his signing and I thought he should have been done last year. If they want a S/CB it should be Carroll.
Me too. I'd like to see Yeatman get some reps as 1st team LT and see how he does against the other team's starters. I think he has better feet and functional strength than Martin or Thomas.
Before I clicked on the thread and had just read the title, those three were the exact players that came to my mind.
No complaints at all with that projection. It's seems reasonable. The only one I'd be disappointed with losing is Lance Louis. I'm also not thrilled with Spitler making the roster. I'd switch one for the other, but I doubt that works (position numbers and STs wise).
I'm not thrilled with it either. Nor would I be thrilled with going in with Charles Clay as the only fullback. But as you say, position numbers and special teams and stuff like that come into play. As things stand I'm not sure how realistic it is to have only 8 offensive linemen. Maybe Austin Spitler could be subbed out for Lance Louis after all. Wouldn't surprise me if one way or another Chad Bumphis is the team's slot receiver before the year is done.
I couldn't see the whole route tree but I was surprised at how crisp Davis' slant routes were run. Much better than I had anticipated