22 Bubble players fighting for final 10 spots

[panther4life]

There are 22 players I consider fighting for the final 10 spots.  Let's start with 43 roster locks and then take a look at those fighting to make it on.

Offense (20)

• QB Cam
• RB CMC, Anderson
• FB Armah
• TE Olsen, Thomas
• WR Funchess,Smith,Moore,Wright, Samuel
• Tackle, Kalil,Williams,Moton, Sirles,Claussell
• Center Kalil, Larsen
• Guard, Turner, Van Roten

Defense 20 (TD won't count while suspended)

• DE, Peppers,Addison,Horton,Haynes,
• DT Short,Poe, Love, Butler
• LB, Luke, Shaq, TD, Carter,Mayo, 
• CB, Bradberry, Jackson, Captain, Corn
• S, Adams, Searcy, Gaulden, Jones

Specialist 3

• Gano
• Palardy
• Jansen

Thats 43 total and leaving 10 spots to fill. 

Most likely 22 candidates to take those spots: (my picks in bold). Very interested to hear some other takes on this, so please share what you got.

QB

1. Heinicke
2. Gilbert

-Rivera said they both deserve to make the roster. Gilberts never made it to an active roster yet, so I think we can safely keep him on the PS.

TE.

1. Manhertz
2. Vander Laan

WR. 

1. Byrd

-We have been bit enough by the injury bug, that Im not shy about going 6 deep at WR. We've done it in years past with less talent. Plus if we cut him, it will be for depth at another position not because he isn't one of the most talented 53.

O-LINE

1. Amini
2. Mahon
3. Bisnowaty
4. Johnson
5. Friend
6. Hearn

-11 offensive lineman would be 2 heavier than years past, but we currently have 4 that are injured to some degree. Bisnowaty makes by default since he could play RT if another injury occurs.

RB.

1. Cap
2. Barner

- Not exactly pounding the table for either of these guys, but Barner may have more upside, plus adds the special teams value.

DE

1. Cox 
2. Hall
3. Moore
4. Obada

- This position I am still torn on. Obada can go to the exclusive ps and we can bring him into the mix next year. Moore has shown the position flexibility to play inside and out.  This is an amendment from my original post where I had Hall beating out Cox. However I can't ignore the coaching staffs preference towards Cox as shown in the preseason and I don't think Hall has shown us much to miss him

LB

1. Jacobs
2. Norris

- Initially I only kept Norris here but hate the choices left at corner, so I shaved that down to 1 and went with 2 here.

CB.

1. Doss
2. Seymour
3. Gunter

- At the end of the day, I Think we can keep 6 deep at all but one of these positions; CB,LB,AND WR.  I feel the 6th guy at the other positions deserve it over Seymour. Yes it leaves us a bit thin at Corner but a talent on par with Seymour or Gunter is only a late round pick away from easily being traded for in a pinch. 

edit: I kept Cox over Hall at the DE spot

[ImfromClayton]

I agree with you almost entirely. Thanks for putting in the work to type it out. 

 

This is is the best roster we’ve had in years. Having draft picks on the bubble is such a good thing. 

 

We we are gonna have to cut a 53 man NFL caliber player at RB, WR, DE and LB. I feel really good about where we are right now. 

[KB_fan]

Nice post.

I agree with your 43 locks.

 

Here's my take on the 10 additional spots:

QB2:  Heinicke.  It wasn't planned, but he gets BIG UPSIDE from how he jumped in the game suddenly to take those 4 snaps when Cam was out injured.  Kept a big drive moving seamlessly.  Calm, cool, collected.  Doesn't hurt that he can run.  May be helpful given the iffy nature of our Oline.  Some plays WILL break down.

RB3:  Barner.  Has special teams value.  Hood to PS.

WR6:  Byrd  He's our best returner and also has value in the passing game.  Ron talked post-game last night as if Byrd is a sure thing.  He talked about all 6 top WR and the plays they're making.  If anything Byrd perhaps is safer now than Smith as Smith's cap hit *could* make him a casualty if things get dire due to injuries (Oline, or secondary), though I'm NOT advocating we cut Smith.

DE 5:  Bryan Cox  Here's one where I disagree.  I think Cox is now almost a certain lock.  He had a huge game last night and Ron spoke glowingly of him and in terms that made it sound as if he and Haynes are locks.  Hall & Obada to PS if there's space.

LB5 & LB6  Jacobs & Norris:   Again, I agree.  (Counting TD for now as LB7 since he's not going to start on the 53)  Presumably one of these will be cut when TD returns, or perhaps by then OL will have stabilized, meaning there's room for 7 LBs.  We've carried 7 LBs before.   I think we'll IR Andre Smith or try to stash him on PS.

That's 6 bubble players... 4 more to go.

CB#5  Doss - Agree with you that it's Doss in the lead right now.

OL #10 & #11:  In addition to the 9 you have as locks, I also see us keeping 2 more on the initial Day 1 53 man roster.  For now, Amini probably is one of them if his recovery is fast.  At least he has experience and versatility even if his play leaves a lot to be desired.  OL #11 could be EITHER  Bisnowaty OR Mahon (or more likely, someone we bring in from another team).  A lot may depend on who we think will clear waivers. (Not sure Mahon will.)  Another name is Eatmon who played swing tackle last night. I don't know how he compares to Bisnowaty.  Ultimately we may have to waive Sirles or Amini if we feel we can't keep 11 guys (including 3-4 injured guys) on the line or we find better talent.

 

That leaves room for 1 more player on the 53...

Perhaps it will be at TE3 (Manhertz) as you suggest.  I'm sure we'd LIKE 3 TE on the roster.  But with Armah maybe we will skimp there, especially if Manhertz is not 100%.  If Manhertz starts on the PUP we could bring him back in 6 weeks, giving us a bit more roster flexibility early in the season. (doesn't count towards the 53 OR towards one of our two short-term IR possibilities).  [If we keep Manhertz on the PUP we would need a decent healthy blocking TE on the PS. Depending on Vander Laan's health, it right now would likely be Bayliss.]

But, instead of TE3, we MIGHT want one more player for our secondary.  Possibilities Seymour or Demetrious Cox, depending on how they play next week, and depending what happens with the O line prognosis.  But for now, I'm just not sure there's room.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Great post

I think we keep Bryan Cox instead of Daeshon Hall. Cox has simply played better. 

[joeyxfresco]

2 hours ago, KB_fan said:

Nice post.

I agree with your 43 locks.

 

Here's my take on the 10 additional spots:

QB2:  Heinicke.  It wasn't planned, but he gets BIG UPSIDE from how he jumped in the game suddenly to take those 4 snaps when Cam was out injured.  Kept a big drive moving seamlessly.  Calm, cool, collected.  Doesn't hurt that he can run.  May be helpful given the iffy nature of our Oline.  Some plays WILL break down.

RB3:  Barner.  Has special teams value.  Hood to PS.

WR6:  Byrd  He's our best returner and also has value in the passing game.  Ron talked post-game last night as if Byrd is a sure thing.  He talked about all 6 top WR and the plays they're making.  If anything Byrd perhaps is safer now than Smith as Smith's cap hit *could* make him a casualty if things get dire due to injuries (Oline, or secondary), though I'm NOT advocating we cut Smith.

DE 5:  Bryan Cox  Here's one where I disagree.  I think Cox is now almost a certain lock.  He had a huge game last night and Ron spoke glowingly of him and in terms that made it sound as if he and Haynes are locks.  Hall & Obada to PS if there's space.

LB5 & LB6  Jacobs & Norris:   Again, I agree.  (Counting TD for now as LB7 since he's not going to start on the 53)  Presumably one of these will be cut when TD returns, or perhaps by then OL will have stabilized, meaning there's room for 7 LBs.  We've carried 7 LBs before.   I think we'll IR Andre Smith or try to stash him on PS.

That's 6 bubble players... 4 more to go.

CB#5  Doss - Agree with you that it's Doss in the lead right now.

OL #10 & #11:  In addition to the 9 you have as locks, I also see us keeping 2 more on the initial Day 1 53 man roster.  For now, Amini probably is one of them if his recovery is fast.  At least he has experience and versatility even if his play leaves a lot to be desired.  OL #11 could be EITHER  Bisnowaty OR Mahon (or more likely, someone we bring in from another team).  A lot may depend on who we think will clear waivers. (Not sure Mahon will.)  Another name is Eatmon who played swing tackle last night. I don't know how he compares to Bisnowaty.  Ultimately we may have to waive Sirles or Amini if we feel we can't keep 11 guys (including 3-4 injured guys) on the line or we find better talent.

 

That leaves room for 1 more player on the 53...

Perhaps it will be at TE3 (Manhertz) as you suggest.  I'm sure we'd LIKE 3 TE on the roster.  But with Armah maybe we will skimp there, especially if Manhertz is not 100%.  If Manhertz starts on the PUP we could bring him back in 6 weeks, giving us a bit more roster flexibility early in the season. (doesn't count towards the 53 OR towards one of our two short-term IR possibilities).  [If we keep Manhertz on the PUP we would need a decent healthy blocking TE on the PS. Depending on Vander Laan's health, it right now would likely be Bayliss.]

But, instead of TE3, we MIGHT want one more player for our secondary.  Possibilities Seymour or Demetrious Cox, depending on how they play next week, and depending what happens with the O line prognosis.  But for now, I'm just not sure there's room.

I feel like your predictions are a little more accurate

 

I feel like Seymour still makes the team somehow though 

[Black&BlueBubba]

Well done. I think Mahon still makes it due to Hurney’s man crush on him. 

[Cali_Panther]

At least we won’t  have two kickers on the 53 this year.

[MHS831]

My Take

OFFENSE (25­­­­­­­)

Center (2)	Kalil, Larsen
Guard (3)	Turner, Van Roten, Mahon
Tackle (4)	Moton, Kalil, Clauswell,  Sirles
Tight End (3)	Olsen, Thomas, Vander Lean
Running Back (4)	McCaffrey, Anderson, Barner, Armah,
Quarterback (3)	Newton, Heinicke, Gilbert
Wide Receiver (6)	Funchess, Moore, Samuel, Smith, Wright, Byrd
IR (might return):	OT Williams, OG Silatolu
Practice Squad	OT Bisnowaty, RB Hood, TE Reese, C Friend,  WR Frazier
Notable Cuts	TE Manhertz, RB Artis Payne,
Surprise Roster Spots	TE Vander Lean, G Mahon, RB Barner, QB Heinicke

 

DEFENSE (25)

Defensive Tackle (4)	Short, Poe, Love, Butler
Defensive End (6)	Peppers, Addison, Horton, Haynes, Cox Jr., Hall
Linebacker  (6)	Davis, Kuechly, Thompson, Norris, Carter, Mayo
Cornerback (5)	Bradberry, Jackson, Elder, Doss, Munnerlyn
Safety (4)	Searcy, Adams, Gaulden, Jones
IR	CB Cockrell, S Parms
Practice Squad	S Cox, DB A. Carter, CB Luke LB Smith, DT Norton
Notable Cuts	CB Seymour, LB Jacobs
Surprise Roster Spots	CB Doss, DE Cox Jr

[musicman]

Really like this thread. These good discussions/breakdowns give real insight into watch everybody is seeing and believing.

I think they can release Amini and resign him a week or 2 in. I really don't think he will be picked up. Mahon is young and somebody will take a chance on so I think we keep him on the 53. I hope they don't start Williams on the PUP so he can come back sooner the 6 weeks.

Yes to keeping 6 WR's and if anything they may (should) ask Smith to take a cut so we have some $ for any late signings. Samuel needs to be #2 with Funchess.

DE: Cox should make it the way he played and Hall can go the PS.

DB: Doss should make it and I also Like D. Cox at safety. With Adams and Search being older, I think having an extra young guy in the mix is important, but we could always sign somebody after cut down day.

[KB_fan]

24 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

My Take

Just a couple of notes. TD won't be on 53 first 5 weeks due to suspension + bye. So you need another LB to have 6 on roster.  Presumably Jacobs.

The short-term IR guys on the OL have to be on 53 roster for Day 1, THEN they can be sent to IR. So two guys of your 25 on O would need to be cut, clear waivers and then brought back.

[Ace_Aladdin]

17 hours ago, panther4life said:

 

1. Byrd

-We have been bit enough by the injury bug, that Im not shy about going 6 deep at WR. We've done it in years past with less talent. Plus if we cut him, it will be for depth at another position not because he isn't one of the most talented 53.

 

-11 offensive lineman would be 2 heavier than years past, but we currently have 4 that are injured to some degree. Bisnowaty makes by default since he could play RT if another injury occurs.

RB.

1. Cap
2. Barner

 

 

 

lol CAP is gonna be the #2 RB BTW panthers are keeping 4 RBs, 4 TEs & 6 WRs

[Ace_Aladdin]

Armah is your flex TE/FB

[Black&BlueBubba]

17 minutes ago, Ace_Aladdin said:

 

lol CAP is gonna be the #2 RB BTW panthers are keeping 4 RBs, 4 TEs & 6 WRs

Well you got one right.  We are keeping 6 WR’s.  The other two not so much.  

[Ace_Aladdin]

27 minutes ago, Black&BlueBubba said:

Well you got one right.  We are keeping 6 WR’s.  The other two not so much.  

I got all of them right.