Predicting the Inactives

[Mr. Scot]

With the unusual (for John Fox) roster configuration that we have now, it might be a little tougher to predict who'll not be part of the active 45 on Sunday.

Still, it can make for interesting speculation.

So here's my take, starting with the more obvious choices:

QB Tony Pike - obviously

RB Tyrell Sutton - tough call between him and Mike Goodson normally, but he's nursing an injury

WR David Gettis - likely a regular here unless someone ahead of him gets hurt

DT Andre Neblett - same story as Gettis

SLB Eric Norwood - ditto

Now this is where it starts to get tricky. You have to make room for a second kicker, and the team only kept eight offensive linemen on roster. In the past, they've tended to keep nine and activate eight. Likewise, they've only kept eight defensive backs, and some of the reserves at DB and linebacker are key special teamers.

So who are the last three?

T Jeff Otah - any other week, it'd be G Tim Duckworth, but Otah's injury makes this week an anomaly (at least I hope it is)

DT Nick Hayden - congrats on making the 53 man roster again, but not this one

WR Armanti Edwards - this last call is the toughest, but I think the remaining reserves will be needed

The announcement of the actual 45 has often had some surprising choices. And an injury can, of course, change everything. For now though, this is how I see it.

Biggest question: If you do choose to activate Edwards, then who do you sit?

[Kettle]

3 definite per Gantt's tweet

daringantt

Panthers injury report: Otah, Sutton, LB Senn out vs. Giants. Brayton probable.

[KillerKat]

only 3 DTs?

[Mr. Scot]

Senn likely opens the way for Edwards to be active. That's a blow to the special teams, though.

Another interesting thought, via Steve Reed:

JARRETT UNSURE: The Panthers have to make a decision on Sunday on whether to start rookie Brandon LaFell or Dwayne Jarrett against the New York Giants. Jarrett offered no insight into who’ll get the start, although given the team's youth movement it would hardly be a surprise if the Panthers went with LaFell, their third-round pick out of LSU.

"I can’t worry about that," Jarrett said. "I just have to go out there and do what I’m supposed to be doing and do whatever helps the team win. Other than that I can’t control who starts. Everybody wants that chance and opportunity, but you still have to go out there and play ball."

(link)

So if Jordan Senn gets healthy for next week, could the team decide that Jarrett and LaFell are essentially the same player while Edwards is different, thus leading to a decision to deactivate one of them in order to keep Armanti active?

[KillerKat]

Why not just activate both?

[Mr. Scot]

Why not just activate both?

Numbers.

You have to deactivate eight (third QB and seven others). We're light in a couple of spots, heavy in others, and you have to factor special teams play in too.

I'm not the biggest fan of the inactive rule, but I understand the logic behind it.

[KillerKat]

Well if DJ gets deactivated, its time to cut his ass.

[jayflip]

Mr Scot you always make the most insightful posts and they are a pleasure to read, and the comments others post on them aren't asinine and full of funny pictures, and I appreciate that too. Keep em coming Mr Scot!!! And thanks.

[Swarly]

Armanti shouldn't be activated, at least not yet. These games count and while it's understandable he's going to take some time to develop, we flat out can't afford any special teams mistakes he might make.

[Double34Trouble28]

I agree, if Jarrett needs to be deactivated on game day at this point then just cut him loose. I don't think that will be the case though.

[Raskle]

I'm ok with AE being inactive all year if need be, if it means he is soaking in all the info from practice and refining his newly reacquired skillset of being a WR. If we deactivate Jarrett and I were to choose, I'd put Gettis in there to get him some live gametime experience.

I don't see how they could justify making Jarrett inactive though, since they bothered keeping him on the roster. So, not sure this would happen, but if it does, that's how I'd play it out.

As for Senn coming back, would he oust a different linebacker? Are his ST skills enough to displace Williams or Harris from the active roster?

[The Saltman]

Senn likely opens the way for Edwards to be active. That's a blow to the special teams, though.

Another interesting thought, via Steve Reed:

(link)

So if Jordan Senn gets healthy for next week, could the team decide that Jarrett and LaFell are essentially the same player while Edwards is different, thus leading to a decision to deactivate one of them in order to keep Armanti active?

looks like SMF's bet is still on!!

[DickolausJ]

With Jarrett and LaFelle being similiar players someone is going to have to win that #2 job atleast by the end of the season.

I just don't see us keeping six receivers for next season and Gettis and Edwards have a lot of upside. Dwayne is going to have to solidly beat out LaFelle if he is to be a Panther in 2011. I don't see it happening.

[ThPantherFan]

Mr Scot you always make the most insightful posts and they are a pleasure to read, and the comments others post on them aren't asinine and full of funny pictures, and I appreciate that too. Keep em coming Mr Scot!!! And thanks.

You do know that Mr. Scott is Scott Fowler in disguise? I'm not trying to start anything, but just saying I heard it from a friend of a reliable source that ate at the dinner near the newspaper office where they overheard it from the janitor after he had cleaned the mens room.