53 Man Roster Prediction

[PurpleMustReign]

I thought Sherels did ok last year when he played CB. We could certainly do worse than him... Like Chris Cook...

[Pseudo Everything]

Personally, I feel fine with Cox Robinson and Price as the primary back-ups to Rhodes and Munnerlyn. That being said, if a surprising cut occurs and the player cut offers more upside, then by all means, I will support the team's decision.

We'll be in the nickel around 50% of the time so one (or more) of Robinson-Cox-Price will be getting a lot of playing time. I'm okay with Robinson (as long as he's not in the slot) but after that it gets a little dicey. Would like to improve our depth at CB but there's lots of teams that are in the same boat.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I was wrong about Derek Cox. I had actually failed to mention in my earlier post about Shaun Prater. It is worth noting that Prater was drafted in round five by Cincinnati while Zimmer was the defensive coordinator.

[Pseudo Everything]

OP upated

Changes:

-Chase Ford looks like he's coming off the PUP soon, but I still have Reisner making it.
-Looks like I was wrong about Derek Cox. Didn't even make the cut to 75. Shaun Prater takes his spot.
-Tom Johnson looks to have a role on this team. I put him back on at the expense Priefer favorite Larry Dean. Stephen should not be exposed to waivers, he's been great, so I have them going 5 deep at DT like Frazier used to.
-I still have him on the team, but I have to wonder if the play of those 2 has made long time Viking and Spielman favorite Fred Evans expendable.
-Robert Blanton came back and was getting reps with the first team. I guess he's safe after all despite Zimmer being upset with him for being injured. He takes Exum's spot.
-Exum goes to the PS, Robert Steeples, who was cut today, is removed.

Mistral Raymond, who I never had making it in any edition, was waived/injured today. He'll got to IR if/when he clears, but his time with the VIkings is most likely done.

Agree with you on Tom Johnson. Carrying 5 DTs seems like a possibility.

On the OL I don't think there's much chance of Jeff Baca making the final cut. He didn't play at all against the Chiefs and has been running with the 3s behind Yankey and Ducasse.

I was surprised to see Austin Wentworth playing ahead of Richardson against the Chiefs. He subbed for Loadholt in the first half and then was with the 2s at LT in the 3rd quarter. Looks like they decided to give him the opportunity to prove he could be the swing tackle. I don't think he did anything to separate himself from Richardson who to me moves a lot better in space. Still think Richardson makes the cut ahead of Wentworth for the swing tackle spot.

Wonder if Chase Ford has enough time to prove he's healthy. If so we could possibly carry 4 TEs. I know the prior coaching staff was high on Ford. Too bad he's not PS eligible.

[J. Kapp 11]

Agree with you on Tom Johnson. Carrying 5 DTs seems like a possibility.

On the OL I don't think there's much chance of Jeff Baca making the final cut. He didn't play at all against the Chiefs and has been running with the 3s behind Yankey and Ducasse.

I was surprised to see Austin Wentworth playing ahead of Richardson against the Chiefs. He subbed for Loadholt in the first half and then was with the 2s at LT in the 3rd quarter. Looks like they decided to give him the opportunity to prove he could be the swing tackle. I don't think he did anything to separate himself from Richardson who to me moves a lot better in space. Still think Richardson makes the cut ahead of Wentworth for the swing tackle spot.

Wonder if Chase Ford has enough time to prove he's healthy. If so we could possibly carry 4 TEs. I know the prior coaching staff was high on Ford. Too bad he's not PS eligible.

Wentworth was a statue on the strip-sack-safety. I'm not sure he even got a hand on his man.

[DK Sweets]

I'm not going to pretend that I'm an expert O-Line evaluator, but I know Tiny didn't cause me to notice him for the wrong reasons but Wentworth DID. That said, Kalil got trounced on a couple plays, so I can't say Wentworth isn't better than Tiny...it's just not very encouraging to see him get dominated.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

In regards to Andrew Wentworth: he was badl. He wasn't Kevin Murphy bad, but ####, he was bad. If Loadholt or Kalil were to go down, yikes. The good thing is we have Antonio Richardson.

[VikingsBoss]

QB (3)
Cassel
Bridgewater
Ponder

RB (4)
Peterson
McKinnon
Asiata
Felton

WR (6)
Jennings
Patterson
Wright
Thielen
Smith
Simpson

TE (3)
Rudolph
Ellison
Ford

OL (8)
Kalil
Johnson
Sullivan
Fusco
Loadholt
Yankey
Richardson
Berger

DL (8)
Robison
Joseph
Floyd
Griffen
Crichton
Wootton
Stephen
Johnson

LB (6)
Greenway
Brinkley
Barr
Mauti
Cole
Hodges

CB (5)
Rhodes
Munnerlyn
Robinson
Sherels
Price

S (6)
Smith
Coleman
Blanton
Sendejo
Exum
Sanford

ST(3)
Walsh
Locke
Loeffler

I am well aware that this only adds up to 52, the things is, I don't know who else may make the team...my number one guess would be Larry Dean, because of his special teams ability, my number two guess would be Shaun Prater, for the same reason. It also has Jerome Simpson, which means somebody makes the roster for 3 weeks, at least...my guesses for that spot would be Jeff Baca or Vlad Ducasse.
I think Exum makes the 53 man because he played CB at VaTech, so he can add depth at two positions while playing special teams. I would guess he is the most likely one of my picks to NOT make the roster, I just think that the Vikings will err on the side of youth as often as possible.
I have Johnson making the team over Evans simply because Johnson has actually made a few plays in the preseason, and Fred Evans is Fred Evans. I mean, what is the point of keeping this guy on your roster? Johnson is a year younger, and has been more productive over the course of his career.
The wildcard would be somebody's backup QB getting injured on Thursday, like Derek Anderson getting concussed for the Panthers (I am not wishing ill on anybody, just saying), that Ponder more valuable to someone else than he is to us, and allows more flexibility for the rest of the roster. We shall see.

[VikingPaul73]

When is the next cut?

[VikingPaul73]

Saturday.

They still have to make another move today since they're still at 76 players.

Thanks. I imagine there will be some surprises on this one (both making the team and getting cut)

[Pseudo Everything]

Guys not expected to play against the Titans (from the Strib):
Sitting out because of injuries are LBs Anthony Barr (ankle), Mike Mauti (foot), Gerald Hodges (knee) and Brandon Watts (leg); WR Rodney Smith (neck); DBs Jamarca Sanford (quad) and Jabari Price (arm/shoulder); NT Linval Joseph (calf); and OT Phil Loadholt (ankle).

Tough deal for bubble guys like Watts and Smith. Sounds like Price might be close to being a lock for the roster based on Zimmer's recent comments.

I'll be looking at the Wentworth vs Richardson battle. One of these guys might make the final cut but I don't think our swing tackle is on the roster right now.

[Funkytown]

ESPN - NFL upholds three-game suspension for Vikings WR Jerome Simpson due to drunken driving arrest - source

[Pseudo Everything]

One revised attempt at the final 53:

QB (3)
Cassel
Bridgewater
Ponder

RB (4)
Peterson
Asiata
McKinnon
Banyard

Last night Steve Hutchinson (in the booth) was talking about the transition to a man blocking scheme and thought there was a role for a FB. The question seems to be if there is enough of a role in Norv’s offense to justify a roster spot for a guy like Felton who is limited in what he can do (aside from block). We used very few 2 back sets in preseason. Norv (like most other OCs in the league) seems more interest in spreading the field than going back to his days in San Diego when he had Lo Neal as the battering ram for Landanian Tomlinson. Think Banyard probably played himself on the roster with this performance against the Titans scrubs, but he’s still PS eligible.

WR (5)
Jennings
Patterson
Wright
Thielen
Smith

Decision to make when Simpson's three game suspension is up. Think we'll keep him and try to slide Smith to the PS.

TE (3)
Rudolph
Ellison
Ford

Riesner had a good camp but I don’t see room for him now that Ford is healthy even though Fors is probably still a few weeks away from being up to speed on everything. Ford’s upside is too high and he’s not PS eligible.

OL (8)
Kalil
Johnson
Sullivan
Fusco
Loadholt
Berger
Yankey
Ducasse

Wentworth and Richardson did nothing to justify a roster spot as the swing tackle; both look like PS players to me. Last night Ducasse got time at RT and Yankey got time at LT. That looks like the plan for the swing tackle. If Kalil goes down, Johnson to LT and Yankey to LG. If Loadholt goes down, Ducasse in at RT. We’ll probably look to sign a veteran OT or claim a young guy off waivers to fill the swing tackle role, in which case Ducasse probably gets whacked.

DL (9)
Robison
Griffen
Crichton
Wootton
Joseph
Floyd
Evans
Johnson
Stephen

Usually don’t carry 5 DTs. Would we expose Stephen to waivers?

LB (7)
Greenway
Brinkley
Barr
Cole
Hodges
Mauti
Dean

Originally thought Watts would make the roster but he’s been injured and hasn’t seen the field the last two preseason games. Looks like the PS for him. We’re sort of banged up with Barr (ankle) Hodges (knee) and Mauti (foot) so Larry Dean survives another year, ugh.

CB (6)
Rhodes
Munnerlyn
Robinson
Sherels
Price
Prater

Think Price is almost a lock and wouldn’t be surprised if he sees some significant playing time this year (assuming he can get healthy soon). Prater made a late push and given Zimmer’s comment about looking at him at S down the road makes it seem likely that he gets the last spot at CB for now. We have a pretty big drop off in the talent level after Rhodes and Munnerlyn.

S (5)
Smith
Crocker
Blanton
Coleman
Sendejo

Did Crocker show that he still has enough in the tank for another year in the NFL? I assume so. Sendejo or Sanford for the last spot. Sanford doesn’t seem like a good fit for Zimmer’s scheme and those quad injuries can linger. The Sanford Era might be over. Giving Sendejo the nod because he’s slightly better than Sanford on STs.

Don't think we would carry more than 11 DBs on the final 53.

ST(3)
Walsh
Locke
Loeffler

[Funkytown]

Wonder when the NFL will have its decision on Simpson’s appeal?

I just answered that for ya, as you were posting.

[Crax]

Did Cox show that he still has enough in the tank for another year in the NFL? I assume so.

Cox was already cut