Only 53 men can make the make the Cleveland Browns final roster, meaning a lot of players will be fighting for their jobs when training camp starts tomorrow. The first major batch of cuts aren't due for awhile, but this is a thread where you can go on record as listing who you believe will make the team's final roster and practice squad.
Here is my first official roster projection for the 2009-2010 NFL season (there will probably be 1-2 more roster projections throughout training camp, reflecting how players are performing in training camp and the preseason):
| Pos |
Final Roster |
Players Cut |
| QB |
Brady Quinn
Derek Anderson
Brett Ratliff
|
Richard Bartel
|
| RB |
Jamal Lewis
Jerome Harrison
James Davis |
Noah Herron |
| FB |
Lawrence Vickers
Charles Ali |
|
| WR |
Braylon Edwards
Brian Robiskie
Mike Furrey
Mohamed Massaquoi
Joshua Cribbs
|
David Patten
Syndric Steptoe
Paul Hubbard
Lance Leggett*
Jordan Norwood* |
| TE |
Robert Royal
Martin Rucker
Steve Heiden
|
John Madsen
Aaron Walker
|
| OL |
Joe Thomas
Eric Steinbach
Alex Mack
Floyd Womack
Ryan Tucker
Rex Hadnot
John St. Clair
George Foster
|
Hank Fraley
Isaac Sowells
Dustin Fry
Kurt Quarterman*
Branndon Braxton |
| DL |
Corey Williams
Shaun Rogers
Kenyon Coleman
Robaire Smith
Shaun Smith
C.J. Mosley
Ahtyba Rubin
|
Louis Leonard
Melila Purcell
Santonio Thomas
Adam Hoppel
|
| LB |
Kamerion Wimbley
D'Qwell Jackson
Eric Barton
Alex Hall
David Bowens
Leon Williams
David Veikune
Kaluka Maiava
Blake Costanzo
|
Beau Bell*
Bo Ruud
Titus Brown
Phillip Hunt
Marcus Benard
|
| S |
Brodney Pool
Abram Elam
Mike Adams
Nick Sorensen |
Hamza Abdullah
Bret Lockett |
| CB |
Eric Wright
Brandon McDonald
Roderick Hood
Corey Ivy
Hank Poteat
Coye Francies
|
Gerard Lawson
Don Carey*
|
| ST |
Ryan Pontbriand
Phil Dawson
Dave Zastudil |
|
|
The above list contains 53 players that I kept, and 27 players that I cut. I placed five people (represented by an asterisk [*]) on the practice squad. League rules allow for eight players to be on the practice squad, so at the moment my projection is that we'd sign three players from a different team after they've cleared waivers.
WR Donte Stallworth is on the suspension list, and therefore not listed.
Every year, I fill in each player's name either on the "roster" side or the "cut" side, without tallying whether or not I have surpassed the 53-player limit. Then, I count up the left side, and if I am over 53 players, I weigh my options and decide who the "tough" cuts are. This year, my initial count came to 55 players, meaning I had to cut two players I initially wanted. Those players were Beau Bell and Hank Fraley:
General Roster Projection Notes
- Beau Bell: It should be Bell vs. Maiava in training camp, with Maiava being the slight favorite since he was drafted by Mangini. The Browns have other players who can play both inside and outside linebacker such as David Bowens and Leon Williams; keeping both Bell and Maiava on the final roster might not be advantageous. I think Bell is still eligible for the practice squad too, which is where I put him.
- Hank Fraley: This is a similar situation, where Rex Hadnot can double as a guard and a center. Fraley can also play guard, but appeared to be on the downside of his career last season. This would be a tougher cut in the sense that Fraley is a veteran and a potential locker room leader.
- Defensive Line: Instead of Bell or Fraley, the Browns could also take out one of Shaun Smith or C.J. Mosley. Smith has the potential to be a decent backup still, so we'll see how his attitude is in training camp. Mosley comes over from the Jets, but I don't think he has a spot locked up. Also, Louis Leonard could be substituted for Smith if Smith's attitude is poor.
- Young Cornerbacks: Depending on Francies' status, he could be swapped with Don Carey. I don't see us keeping both players on the final roster though; one can go on the practice squad.
- Charles Ali: Although a good fullback, will Mangini think the Browns need two fullbacks? If Ali isn't kept, the Browns may go for Noah Herron instead as a fourth running back/backup fullback.
- Offensive Line: I think there's a good chance either Dustin Fry or Kurt Quarterman will take the place of one of the veteran linemen (St. Clair or Foster).
- Special Teams: Both Blake Costanzo and Nick Sorensen are assisted by their special teams experience.
- Parker Douglass: If you're wondering where the backup kicker is, he was just waived after Brian Robiskie signed. It's surprising that we don't have any backup kickers/punters in camp.
Feel free to share your roster projections here, or some changes you would make to mine. Remember to come back tomorrow as training camp begins!
Marlon Davis?
BradyQuinnisBeast - July 31, 2009
He “quit the team”, or something to that effect, when Massaquoi was signed.
Chris Pokorny - July 31, 2009
He quit? or was he just waived
BradyQuinnisBeast - July 31, 2009
QB
1. Quinn
2. Anderson
3. Ratliff
HB
4. Lewis
5. Jerome "the Ghost" Harrison
6. Davis
FB
7. Vickers
8. Ali
WR
9. Braylon
10. Robiskie
11. Massaquoi
12. Furrey
13. Patten
14. Cribbs
TE
15. Rucker
16. Heiden
17. Royal
OL
18. Thomas
19. Steinbach
20. Mack
21. Tucker
22. Womack
23. St. Clair
24. Foster
25. Hadnot
DL
26. Shaun Rogers
27. Corey Williams
28. Robaire Smith
29. Kenyon Coleman
30. CJ Mosley
31. Athya Rubin
LB
32. Wimbley
33. Jackson
34. Barton
35. Bowens
36. Veikune
37. Hall
38. Maiava
39. Bell
40. Leon Williams
41. Costanzo
CB
42. Wright
43. McDonald
44. Hood
45. Poteat
46. Francies
S
47. Pool
48. Elam
49. Adams
50. Sorensen
ST
51. Pontbriand
52. Dawson
53. Zastudil
Practice Squad:
1. Don Carey
2. Bo Ruud
3. Jordan Norwood
4. Dustin Fry
5. Brett Lockett
6. Titus Brown
I think that spots 7 and 8 will be taken up by players waived by other teams, hopefully at least one DE.
Just a thought, I think if we dont keep Ali, we could just put Bell as the backup FB instead of keeping Herron. Bell has the size of a FB
BradyQuinnisBeast - July 31, 2009
and yes that was copied and pasted from rufio and then I made a couple changes
BradyQuinnisBeast - July 31, 2009
I can’t see us keeping 2 FB again. I don’t see Ali as being that much better than Vickers as a lead blocker—the only area in which Ali has the edge. Vickers is a better runner, receiver, an equally good ST player, IMO.
If it’s about ST, I’d rather keep a young LB or DB.
Also, if Carey or Francies can even think about playing FS and are good on special teams, I think we can cut Sorensen. If he’s on the field on defense, we are probably screwed anyway.
rufio - July 31, 2009
I’d like to see Bell make the team, although it’d obviously be best if he earns his way on to it
APV - July 31, 2009
I agree with you
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 1, 2009
I’ve always liked Leon Williams. Not sure how he fits on this team right now, especially with the two newly drafted linebackers, but I think he still has a place on the team./
gahnki - July 31, 2009
Adam Hoppel will turn heads....if he gets the chance
He was a quiet, but great player at Cincy over the years and I think the Browns have a true diamond in the rough. He can play both sides of the d-line and maybe even some limited duty at nose (listed at 307, up a bit from college).
Injuries are almost certain for the Browns and I suspect to see Hoppel a lot during the preseason and practice squad and hopefully a callup or even on the roster by midseason.
We have a lot of depth on this team, but key experience is lacking. Hopefully we get gel enough quickly to learn how to pull out tough games.
Brownsfan4life - August 1, 2009
307 is too small to play NT
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 1, 2009
Might I suggest a different approach. Why not list the 22 starters on offense and defense and their immediate back-ups. That´s 44. Then add the 9 you most want to keep. Then 8 more who intrigue you, for the practice squad. And if there are any left tell them to twist their ankles, so we can retain them on injured reserve.
Don´t ask for mine, you would be shocked who is starting.
Only this much, Quinn, Anderson and Edwards are gone because of Karma Coma.
So Ratliff can run it, till help arrives. Why not Favre as a player-coach?
My two halfback spots and two fullback spots are filled with, you guessed it, fullbacks who can run the ball, none of which are here, yet. I suggest Owen Schmitt, Kyle Eckel, Nate Ilaoa and Byron Storer.
Joshua Cribbs can stay, if he´s willing to play as my Freakish Flanker. I´ve heard rumors the Bills aren´t that kean on Marshawn Lynch anymore, that´s the type I´m looking for as a scary short to medium range passing threat, and beast on sweeps and reverses.
I prefer classic receivers, so you might have guessed who is thus proportioned, Massaquoi and Furrey. Jurevicious and Thrash are out there.
A tall one like Sam Hurd or Arman Shields would also be tempting.
My tackles are Thomas and Tucker. They are scrappy work horses.
My guards are Foster and Fry. They are naturally proportioned guards, 6´2 max, they are roly poly, strong, stable and can pull and run block.
My center is Fraley. My center snaps the ball, and that´s all.
I have sporty linebackers, so I only have three so far:
Bo Ruud, Kaluka Maiava and Phillip Hunt. Vaikune ain´t bad for now.
The Dawgs on d-line are awesome, of the bunch I like:
Rogers, Rubin and Hoppel. Smith, Smith and Williams are the other Dawgs.
There is only one option for strong safety, Abram Elam. Mike Adams for emergency only.
I count four possibilities for free safety:
Hank Poteat, Coye Francies, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, take your pick, my Ryan Clark type has not yet arrived.
my cornerbacks you list as safeties:
Hamza Abdullah and Brodney Pool. They are tall and aren´t pushovers in run defense.
So in other words, I´m not enabled to make the list I suggested, because I´m too finicky.
Nice chance for a recap, though.
mooncamping - August 1, 2009
Oh forgot the tightends. That would be Madsen and Walker. Bubba Franks is tempting.
mooncamping - August 1, 2009
So you only want 3 linebackers for a 3-4 defense?
And you said your center hikes the ball and thats all, but he has to do something after the play. Is he just going to stand there?
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 1, 2009
Funny that you mention that; this is something I considered doing, but did not. I might try it in my next roster projection, just for kicks, and then refine anything out of the ordinary to my liking.
The problem with your post is that this is supposed to be what you believe Eric Mangini and the Browns will actually do. Instead, your giving your personal wishlist, when at this point it’s not even possible to attain some of the players you are asking for.
If Mangini came to you and said “I have 80 players listed here, and these are the only guys I can choose from. We need 2-3 QBs, 3-4 RBs, 1-2 FBs, 5-6 WRs, etc…(total adds up to 53), who do you think I, Eric Mangini, will pick?” That’s what we’re looking for in this post.
Chris Pokorny - August 2, 2009
Thanks for giving us the lineup anyway. And yes, I’m shocked.
skipkirk - August 1, 2009
Thanks for the post Chris. I pretty much see the final roster the same way.
Brownie's Year - August 1, 2009
You cut Patten?
That’s crazy because he is the veteran leadership for the wide receivers.
theW0LF - August 2, 2009
I almost always set my wide receiver cap at 5 receivers; I just don’t see the need to carry a sixth. Edwards, Robiskie, and Massaquoi should be 100% locks, and Cribbs, barring a holdout, should make the team. It really comes down to Furrey vs. Patten then, and while Patten can be the “veteran player-coach”, I’d rather have a player who I feel is more productive in the slot (Furrey).
Chris Pokorny - August 2, 2009
I don’t think it’s out of the question that Mangini keeps 6 WR. Especially if we can cut a fullback. We have a very versatile OL, where only one or two of the guys can only play one position, so we might be able to make a numbers crunch there, too.
I am interested to see if any of the players Kokinis/Mangini brought in will be cut, though.
rufio - August 2, 2009
I think that among the former Jets, Mosley has the best chance of being cut (not counting if there was a practice squad player with minimal time on the Jets).
Chris Pokorny - August 2, 2009
No way Mosley gets cut before Noah Herron
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 3, 2009
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