Most intriguing remaining camp battles

[Cuttinedge]

If clausell is 64 cut his azz now dude is worse than speedbump

I got to believe there’s a better backup sitting on a couch somewhere 

[KB_fan]

14 minutes ago, Cuttinedge said:

If clausell is 64 cut his azz now dude is worse than speedbump

I got to believe there’s a better backup sitting on a couch somewhere 

Clausell is 76.

64 is guard Dorian Johnson, a Guard they wanted to evaluate at Tackle.

[Proudiddy]

I'd have to look at the numbers breakdown, but I feel like we're gonna keep 6 CBs and I don't see us letting go of Hall, Obada, or Haynes as backup DEs.

Corner is a tough call...  i wasnt sure Elder was on the roster from what we've heard in camp, as he seemed inconsistent, but I loved him in college...  but, then the games happened and all he's done is make plays.  So, i think he's a lock...  I think that last outside CB spot is gonna come down to STs.  Who is the best gunner/coverage guy out of Seymour, Doss, and Gunter?  I feel like Seymour has the edge because Ron prefers familiarity.

As far as RB, man...  I just feel like CAP is what he is and won't be much more.  Barner looks great and offers that versatility that the other guys don't...  then again, IIRC, Hood has had some looks as a lead blocker I think and many scouts felt that's where he projected in the NFL.  I think Hood is a promising powerback and showed some flash as a receiver in that first game too.  So, it comes down to Barner and Hood, but i think Barner gets the edge because Hood can be stashed on the PS.

If people have watched each snap closely, and not just ball watching, you'll see Hall has quietly been VERY impressive all preseason thus far.  He is consistently beating his man amd getting pressure...  including with the 2s on Friday night.  Obada looked amazing as well, and both getting snaps ahead of Cox is telling.  I think they are locks, and Haynes will be kept too.  Also, worth noting that we experimented with lining up Hall and Obada at DT too...  i think that was so we could see if we would be comfortable with having to keep one over an interior guy.

[top dawg]

I understand the 25-25-3 concept, but Ron is going to be pushing for keeping the best out of the 50, so don't think for a minute that that's set in stone. It's just GM-speak.

[KB_fan]

4 hours ago, Proudiddy said:

I'd have to look at the numbers breakdown, but I feel like we're gonna keep 6 CBs and I don't see us letting go of Hall, Obada, or Haynes as backup DEs.

Well said (your whole post is great).

Numbers are going to be SUCH a b#tch this year given those injuries to Williams and Silatolu and the fact that they have to start on the 53 in order to be eligible for short-term IR. 

I can't see us keeping all 3 of Haynes, Hall and Obada on the initial 53. Sadly one is going to be exposed to waivers. I'd assume it's Obada... And if it is him, the interesting thing will be do we use the exemption, locking him on the PS, or give up our 11th man option by keeping him eligible for later promotion to the 53.

CB is tough. I can see a case for 6 but again numbers are tight. For now though, I do think we'll try for 6, especially if we want to rotate guys and given high injuries at this position.

That would mean only 4 safeties meaning a choice among Jones / Southward / D Cox for #4.

RB3: CAP's YPC is pretty dreadful so far. (1.8 I believe) Barner's is amazing. (10.1). I'm thinking Barner has the edge.

Numbers:

QB 2

RB 3

FB 1

TE 3

WR 6

Oline 10 (8 healthy + Williams & Silatolu)

Offense: 25

DE 5

DT 4

LB 6 

CB 6

S 4

Defense: 25

The wiggle room: keeping only 5 WRs or only 5 CBs,  frees up spots at other positions. Keeping only 9 total Oline instead of 10 also frees up a space, but without putting Williams or Silatolu on season-ending IR that's hard to do. Do you take the risk of only 7 healthy OL on the initial 53 (5 starters plus Larsen and Sirles, presumably), exposing Mahon to waivers? I can't see it.

[KB_fan]

14 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I understand the 25-25-3 concept, but Ron is going to be pushing for keeping the best out of the 50, so don't think for a minute that that's set in stone. It's just GM-speak.

Oh I totally agree with you, and an uneven split is very possible.  I'd say the question of whether we keep 6 WR will be the deciding point. Poor Byrd. Really on the hot seat. And I don't think he is PS-eligible, but I could be wrong.

The OL situation too will affect things. If only we had 9 healthy linemen...sigh.

[Pup McBarky]

20 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Well said (your whole post is great).

Numbers are going to be SUCH a b#tch this year given those injuries to Williams and Silatolu and the fact that they have to start on the 53 in order to be eligible for short-term IR. 

I can't see us keeping all 3 of Haynes, Hall and Obada on the initial 53. Sadly one is going to be exposed to waivers. I'd assume it's Obada... And if it is him, the interesting thing will be do we use the exemption, locking him on the PS, or give up our 11th man option by keeping him eligible for later promotion to the 53.

CB is tough. I can see a case for 6 but again numbers are tight. For now though, I do think we'll try for 6, especially if we want to rotate guys and given high injuries at this position.

That would mean only 4 safeties meaning a choice among Jones / Southward / D Cox for #4.

RB3: CAP's YPC is pretty dreadful so far. (1.8 I believe) Barner's is amazing. (10.1). I'm thinking Barner has the edge.

Numbers:

QB 2

RB 3

FB 1

TE 3

WR 6

Oline 10 (8 healthy + Williams & Silatolu)

Offense: 25

DE 5

DT 4

LB 6 

CB 6

S 4

Defense: 25

The wiggle room: keeping only 5 WRs or only 5 CBs,  frees up spots at other positions. Keeping only 9 total Oline instead of 10 also frees up a space, but without putting Williams or Silatolu on season-ending IR that's hard to do. Do you take the risk of only 7 healthy OL on the initial 53 (5 starters plus Larsen and Sirles, presumably), exposing Mahon to waivers? I can't see it.

I think we're more likely to keep an extra DE or DT rather than 6 CB. Others have mentioned keeping only 2 TE and I can see that, stashing Vander Laan on the PS and hoping for the best. Of course, were I the GM/HC, I'd want to cut Silatolu (injury settlement) but Ron won't do that. 

[top dawg]

8 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Oh I totally agree with you, and an uneven split is very possible.  I'd say the question of whether we keep 6 WR will be the deciding point. Poor Byrd. Really on the hot seat. And I don't think he is PS-eligible, but I could be wrong.

The OL situation too will affect things. If only we had 9 healthy linemen...sigh.

Yep! The health of the O-line will definitely play a part. 

The early cuts are going to tell a story, but I predict that final cuts will bring weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yes, the Huddle will become Hell, and Hurney will be painted as Satan.

[KB_fan]

Yeah, an injury settlement to Silatolu would help immensely.

You could be right about DE, especially if there's any concern about Pep. We're REALLY keeping him in bubble wrap, much more than last year, so it's hard to know for sure how many reps we're likely to get from him per game.

One other consideration just crossed my mind. In choosing who you risk to waivers, is it better to initially waive guys from your weakest position groups, hoping no one will want them?

Eg: Panthers are considered to have weak DBs and weak WRs, but strong Dline. So maybe any WRs or CBs we waive might clear waivers more easily than any DEs we waive. 

[KB_fan]

3 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Yep! The health of the O-line will definitely play a part. 

The early cuts are going to tell a story, but I predict that final cuts will bring weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yes, the Huddle will become Hell, and Hurney will be painted as Satan.

Only 1 cut from 90 to 53 now. They did away with early cuts last year.

[top dawg]

3 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Only 1 cut from 90 to 53 now. They did away with early cuts last year.

Yeah, I totally forgot about that. I guess that it's better that way.

[top dawg]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if Byrd would even be a waiver wire target. I could be wrong, especially with maybe a couple of WR-needy teams out there, but the only team that I can fathom would pluck the little Byrd from our clutches is the Buffalo Panthers. Now that would be a real possibility. 

[Pup McBarky]

7 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Honestly, I'd be surprised if Byrd would even be a waiver wire target. I could be wrong, especially with maybe a couple of WR-needy teams out there, but the only team that I can fathom would pluck the little Byrd from our clutches is the Buffalo Panthers. Now that would be a real possibility. 

Yep, they'd grab him. If not, the Patriots would snap him up.

[KB_fan]

That 103 yard return TD last year may have raised Byrd's profile a bit. Teams always need speed...