Half-way through the preseason, it's time to re-evaluate my 53-man roster projection from before the start of training camp. There will be one final roster projection posted shortly after the fourth preseason game. The changes made to this list from the first version are denoted at the bottom of the post.
| Pos |
Final Roster |
Players Cut |
| QB |
Jake Delhomme
Seneca Wallace
Colt McCoy
|
Brett Ratliff
|
| RB |
Jerome Harrison
Montario Hardesty
James Davis
|
Chris Jennings
|
| FB |
Lawrence Vickers
Peyton Hillis
|
|
| WR |
Mohamed Massaquoi
Brian Robiskie
Chansi Stuckey
Joshua Cribbs
|
Bobby Engram
Carlton Mitchell*
Syndric Steptoe
Jake Allen
Johnathan Haggerty (Injured Reserve)
Taurus Johnson
|
| TE |
Ben Watson
Evan Moore
Robert Royal
Alex Smith
|
Joel Gamble
|
| OL |
Joe Thomas
Eric Steinbach
Alex Mack
Floyd Womack
Tony Pashos
Shawn Lauvao
Billy Yates
Scott Kooistra
John St. Clair |
Paul Fanaika
Pat Murray*
Joel Reinders*
Casey Bender
John Malecki |
| DL |
Shaun Rogers
Ahtyba Rubin
Robaire Smith
Kenyon Coleman
Brian Schaefering
Derreck Robinson
|
Clifton Geathers*
Titus Adams
Kwaku Danso (Injured Reserve)
Swanson Miller
Brian Sanford
Travis Ivey
C.J. Mosley (PUP to start season)
|
| LB |
David Bowens
D'Qwell Jackson
Scott Fujita
Matt Roth
Chris Gocong
Kaluka Maiava
Marcus Benard
Jason Trusnik
Blake Costanzo
|
Titus Brown*
Eric Barton
David Veikune*
|
| S |
Abram Elam
T.J. Ward
Larry Asante
Mike Adams
Nick Sorensen
Raymond Ventrone |
|
| CB |
Eric Wright
Sheldon Brown
Joe Haden
Brandon McDonald
|
Gerard Lawson
DeAngelo Smith
Chris Roberson
Chris Chancellor
John Bowie
Coye Francies (PUP to start season)
|
| ST |
Ryan Pontbriand
Phil Dawson
Reggie Hodges
|
Dave Zastudil (Injured Reserve)
|
|
Summary of the Changes from Last Time
- There is only one small change on offense: instead of going with a fifth receiver (Bobby Engram), I'm going with four tight ends, which means that Robert Royal is now on the left side. Royal has been actively involved in camp and seems to be getting reps ahead of Alex Smith. If we use Evan Moore split wide at times, it might be benficial to carry four tight ends instead of a receiver who won't be used.
- Defensively, there are a lot of changes, so I'll go by position.
- Defensive Line: I initially had seven defensive linemen, but I've reduced that to six. I'm projecting that C.J. Mosley will stay on the PUP to begin the season, and that Clifton Geathers will be put on the practice squad if possible. It seems like Derreck Robinson has been getting a fair amount of reps in the preseason and making the most noise of the second stringers, so he takes Geathers' spot. If Shaun Rogers misses a week or two, the team will need a guy like Robinson temporarily.
- Linebacker: Out is David Veikune, and in is Jason Trusnik. These two could swap again depending on how Veikune looks over the next two weeks, but I just can't see us having a guy like him on the bench for a second straight season. At least with Trusnik, Mangini has a guy who has experience spot starting. I thought about Eric Barton over Trusnik, but left Barton on the "cut" side.
- Safety: I can't pass up his special teams play, so Ray Ventrone is on the roster now after originally being cut. Another small factor to consider is that Ventrone has WR experience; he could fill in if the Browns are desperate for a fifth wideout in a game. I don't want to cut Larry Asante, but he hasn't made any headlines lately. For now, he's still on the roster.
- Cornerback: I moved Brandon McDonald back to the active roster and swapped him with Coye Francies, who I now think will start the year on the PUP.
- Lastly, on special teams, Reggie Hodges switches spot with the injured Dave Zastudil.
Feel free to leave any comments! For some reason I think I'm forgetting a player's name who should be on the "cut" side. If you think of a name you don't see listed, let me know.
This is the first year where a few of these bubble guys I would actually be mad if we let go.
Roger Dorn - August 25, 2010
Which ones?
Chris Pokorny - August 25, 2010
I’ll let you know when they get cut.
Roger Dorn - August 25, 2010
I am guessing:
Out- Alex Smith, Derrick Robinson, and Blake Costanzo
In- Carlton Mitchell, Clifton Gaethers, and Brett Ratliff
Chris Jennings and Jake Allen getting Mitchell’s and Gaether’s practice squad spots.
I just think that they keep McCoy on the active roster to make sure no one picks him up off the practice squad. I could see Mitchell seeing some plays with the Wallace/Cribbs packages, with end arounds.
OSUMoneyball - August 25, 2010
If Costanzo gets cut ahead of Sorenson, I’ll eat my hat.
golanbatrac - August 25, 2010
agreed. if you get full, i’ll eat what’s left of it. costanzo>sorenson.
Dawg Nuts - August 25, 2010
Fedora or baseball cap?
BrownDawg1409 - August 26, 2010
stovepipe hat, i’m hungry.
Dawg Nuts - August 27, 2010
I think if Mitchell is on the active roster we’ve made a mistake.
notthatnoise - August 25, 2010
also agree with this, he’s just dropping too many balls. he should just start planning for his modeling career (see his website).
Dawg Nuts - August 25, 2010
Could he become a BE impersonator? I’m sure he could probably pull in a couple of twinkies and a few bottles of YooHoo a year with that gig. Crappy pun intended.
Villeslgr - August 25, 2010
he better work on whining and blaming others for all of his woes if he wants to be a convincing braylon impersonator. it isn’t easy being that hateful.
Dawg Nuts - August 27, 2010
Sorenson for Veikune.
Lawson for Robinson.
Reinders for Royal or Smith.
golanbatrac - August 25, 2010
Cutting Sorenson in favor of Veikune was actually what I was going to suggest. I’m still in favor of letting Veikune develop if he can be the player Mangini envisioned when he was drafted.
I really don’t see the value in keeping Lawson since he’s on the roster as a back-up return man and Haden’s shown the ability to return kicks as well.
BrownDawg1409 - August 25, 2010
I would rather have him on the roster than Sorenson. At least, he has the potential to be able to play a position outside of ST.
bross09 - August 25, 2010
Great, when Haden gets hurt returning kicks we can bring back Lawson to return kicks and maybe play corner too. Haden has no business on ST
HenryDawg - August 26, 2010 via mobile
I am in this camp.
If a guy isn’t all world as a kick returner, then I would never play a starter as a kick returner.
Bernie19Kosar - August 26, 2010
This. And it wouldn’t hurt to carry 5 CBs…
bross09 - August 26, 2010
They are clearly not worried about Haden getting hurt. He is playing a lot this preseason. I think Steptoe has gotten more work on returns though.
rufio - August 27, 2010
steptoe has got to be on the outside looking in right now. I think they are playing him a lot to give him a chance to show something because they are desperate to find some WR talent. But the way he has played he just isn’t the answer.
jaws. - August 27, 2010
I thought he was cut 2 years ago.
rufio - August 28, 2010
I can get behind this. The only reason I think lawson will be cut is the DUI. I mean, obviously he could get cut for other reasons, but I think he’s our best backup returner and even with adams, I don’t feel comfortable with only 4 CBs on the roster.
bross09 - August 25, 2010
agreed, sorensen better not even see the field, veikune still has an upside…
DawgPound_4Life - August 26, 2010
4 WR and 4 TE?
no way. more like 5-6 WR and 2-3 TE
Manoovi - August 25, 2010
Normally I would agree, but I feel that the identity of this squad is going to be on the ground. Moreover, to echo Chris, Evan Moore possesses the agility and speed to split out wide and gives us flexibility.
Les Fleurs Du Mal - August 25, 2010
Evan Moore may give us the flexibility to potentially carry 1 less WR…but this is no reason to carry a 4th TE.
I can’t imagine we would activate 4 TEs for any game this season.
Bumblyjack - August 25, 2010
Let’s say December 12 in Buffalo, raining sleet on a muddy field? I can see them activate 4 RBs/FBs, 3 WRs, 4 TEs.
But I know what you’re saying, looks like once you carry 4 TEs on the 53 (which they did last season), it forces you to only carry 4 WRs, or cut Davis. But regardless, as the roster currently stands, Davis/5th WR/4th TE aint gonna get activated on game days anyways.
opchee - August 25, 2010
costanzo and barton… he’s played on the first team every game this preseason
tytryon biggums - August 25, 2010
I dunno y, but I really like this Allen kid as a receiver. He is tall and I think he can be a quality receiver for us this year. I’d much rather have him instead of 4 TE’s
kjc - August 25, 2010
So according to the rotoworld wire we project McCoy as a longterm backup? I didn’t even realize people made projections for that as a goal for their draft picks.
However, I guess that means, we might be looking at Wallace as our future starter or most likely we plan to draft someone in the first round next year.
It seems odd we would make it know already that we don’t have a long-term starter in our most recent draft pick. I would think that would ruin any leverage we might be working with next year in the draft. I also wonder if this projection was made before we drafted McCoy or after?
More likely this is probably just an obvious Plain Dealer, we have no idea what we are talking about but hey we have a source so we’re going with it, report.
I don’t know, just made me wonder about our full plan at QB, as I assume we aren’t looking at Delhomme to be our starter for the next 5-10 years.
Villeslgr - August 25, 2010
Nevermind, I obviously should have read the article first, because no where in it, unless i missed it, does it mention that we project McCoy to be a long-term back up.
Villeslgr - August 25, 2010
Veikune and Geathers will definitely not make it through waivers.
SpecialBrownie - August 25, 2010
I don’t think Veikune would, but I still put an asterisk by his name to indicate that I’d put him on the practice squad if he did slip through. I still think Geathers could slip through.
Chris Pokorny - August 25, 2010
yeah. I mean, he’s a physical specimen, but i can’t see a team putting him on their 53 man just b/c of that.
bross09 - August 25, 2010
Lawson for Smith-don’t see 4 TEs
Geathers for Robinson-don’t see them wanting to risk him getting picked up on waivers
Drexel Dawg - August 25, 2010
Lawson-Waived
Drexel Dawg - August 31, 2010
In my final projection, I’ll take a harder look at something I didn’t consider much on these first two projections — which players will consistently be on the inactive list every week? Because if Derreck Robinson would be on that list, there’s no need to cut Geathers. I need to be confident that a guy like Robinson would be on the active 45-man roster more times than not.
Chris Pokorny - August 25, 2010
I mostly agree…however I can’t see us carrying 4 TEs or 6 Safeties so i think Sorenson and smith will go.
bross09 - August 25, 2010
I think Alex Smith’s spot is in bigtime jeopardy. Not only does 4TE sound a little weird, Smith just hasn’t done anything.
I also think we keep one less OL. They are working Steinbach at LT in the case of our worst nightmare. We have Womack, Pashos, St. Clair who could all play RT in an injury situation. Those three plus Lauvao could probably play either guard spot. If Mangini and co think Lauvao can play center in the event of our other worst nightmare, that’s a ton of positional versatility on the line.
The guys I would expect to see us keep in place of either of those two would be 1. Ratliff and 2. Jennings or a 5th WR.
Even though we will probably keep Ventrone as a key ST player and Mike Adams plays CB sometimes, I can’t see us going with 6 safeties. I am really hoping we cut Sorensen.
As for Veikune, I really thought his roster spot was in jeopardy, but they had him lined up all over in the game last week. He was at ILB, OLB, DE, I think I even saw him at DT. This bodes well for him, and I still don’t know if we know the whole story with his injury(?) Add all this to the fact that the holdovers from last year have a lot invested in him and I would be a little surprised if we let him go, but not entirely surprised.
rufio - August 26, 2010
I’m okay with cutting Sorensen if only because I think he was responsible for Pontbriand’s only “bad” snap of his career.
rebuilding year - August 26, 2010
I agree. I see smith and sorensen being gone.
bross09 - August 26, 2010
I don’t necessarily see it happening, just I just want it to.
rufio - August 26, 2010
that may be the case for me. I want them to be gone, but I have a bad feeling sorensen stays. However, if push comes to shove, I have a feeling they may pick ventrone and only take 5 Safeties.
bross09 - August 26, 2010
Alright, you´ve tempted mooncamping into his yearly yay and nay list. But for reasons of being politically correct, I will only issue the Yay-list:
QB:
1. Colt McCoy
2. Brett Ratliff
FB:
1. Peyton Hillis
2. Lawrence Vickers
TB:
1. Montario Hardesty
2. James Davis
FL:
1. Bobby Engram
2. Chansi Stuckey
WO:
1. Mohamad Massaquoi
2. Carlton Mitchell
3. Jake Allen
TE:
1. Evan Moore
2. Alex Smith
3. Ben Watson
4. Robert Royal
LOT:
1. Joe Thomas
2. Tony Pashos
LOG:
1. John Malecki
2. Billy Yates
C:
1. Eric Steinbach
2. Paul Fanaika
ROG:
1. Shaun Lauvao
ROT:
1. Scott Kooistra
2. Floyd Womack
3-4 NG:
1. Shaun Rogers
2. Robaire Smith
-These two would have a spot in the 4-3 too.
3-4 DT:
1. Ahtyba Rubin
2. Matt Roth
3. Jason Trusnik
4. Brian Schaefering
4-3 DT:
1. Titus Adams
2. Derreck Robinson
4-3 DE:
1. Brian Sanford
2. Swanson Miller
3-4 ROLB:
1. David Vaikune…also 4-3 MLB
3-4 LOLB:
1. Kaluka Maiava…also 4-3 OLB
2. Blake Costanzo
3-4 RILB:
1. Eric Barton
3-4 LILB:
1. D´Quell Jackson…also 4-3 OLB
monster LB (situational):
1. Scott Fujita
2. Chris Gocong
FS:
1. Eric Wright
2. T.J. Ward
3. Chris Chancellor
SS:
1. Abe Elam
2. Joe Haden
3. John Bowie
CB:
Vacant
PR/KR:
Josh Cribbs
K:
Phil Dawson
P:
Reggie Hodges
So, if I counted right, that´s 50:
Please reacquire:
OLB Eryk Anders
ILB Daniel Howard
ILB Jon Dempsey
OLB Jeff Smart
OG Brennan McFadden
OG Deverin Geralds
mooncamping - August 26, 2010
Am I the only one who’d actually like to see Moony’s stratedgy in some sort of simulation mode just to see how it goes?
BrownDawg1409 - August 26, 2010
Here ya go.
Bernie19Kosar - August 26, 2010
Funny.
Drexel Dawg - August 26, 2010
Did you forget Alex Mack at nose guard, or is he on the “Nay” list?
Chris Pokorny - August 26, 2010
That was my first thought too. How did he forget his favorite NG?
Onyx Lightning - August 26, 2010 via mobile
I think in an earlier post he switched his positioning of Mack.
Villeslgr - August 26, 2010
Oh God, what a foible! Of course Alex Mack is the number one LOG ahead of John Malecki. Let´s see who must I drop off the roster to make it to 56 then? I suppose it would be one of the linebackers, but not Vaikune and Maiava, for a glaring omission in the sporty/versatile linebacker category.
mooncamping - August 28, 2010
You know that refering to yourself in the 3rd person is not cool….Now about your Yay List, do you even…….BSOD……._
Ok i’m better.
MkBrwn - August 26, 2010
MIDAS disagrees with your assessment of third person usage.
RelapsingDawgCatcher - August 26, 2010
That´s just a bunch of strung up pseudo-smart phrases, mooncamping denounces this approach.
mooncamping - August 30, 2010
If you’re going to go after mooncamping you better get your weight up.
Villeslgr - August 30, 2010
I was hoping this would be in fanpost form to be honest, but this will do. Looking forward to giving it a good runover.
Roger Dorn - August 26, 2010
Final 53
I think we need more than 4 wr’s, no guarantee we beat the waivers and sign guys to practice squad. Eric Barton should stay too… McDonald… he can’t tackle….
DawgPound_4Life - August 26, 2010
I think Alex Smith gets cut.
I think Geathers stays.
As for a crazy idea, Billy Yates get cut and Gerald Lawson makes the team.
Bernie19Kosar - August 26, 2010
I don’t think its that crazy.
a) billy yates looked even worse in pass pro than St. Clair (and wasn’t good clearing holes in the run game)
b) Gerald Lawson can return kicks and is a CB
c) A crazy idea would be having 4 CBs and 6 safeties (even with Mike adams)
bross09 - August 26, 2010
B-Mac
E. Wright
Hank Poteat
Coye Francies
Gerard Lawson
Abram Elam
Brodney Pool
Mike Adams
Nick Sorensen
Ray Ventrone
Mike Furrey
That’s basically how our corners and safeties broke down last year. Lawson and Francies barely even saw the field. Elam, Pool, and Adams played a lot. Sorensen, Ventrone, and Furrey were regularly active.
At corner, we did have Ramzee Robinson for a short period of time, but again, he rarely contributed. It’s a crazy idea though ;)
Chris Pokorny - August 26, 2010
We had a very bad secondary last year. Very bad.
TheDriveStillHurts - August 27, 2010
The coaches like to play their best DBs and they like versatility. They probably liked the combo of Adams/Furrey or Adams/Sorensen better than Lawson/Adams. They will go with the best combination, just like on the OL.
I think they will like Wright, Brown, Haden, Ward, Elam as the first five, and if we can bring Asante or Adams at Safety and Adams or McDonald at corner, I think we’re set. I don’t see us playing 7 DBs at a time. If we do for some reason, Ventrone can play. If someone goes down, we can still go 3 safeties or 4 corners at a time without playing Ventrone.
rufio - August 27, 2010
Barton stays maybe Maiava goes or yates,Jackson with injuries Hmmm will be up to it
rolandfc - August 26, 2010
I don’t see Barton having a chance with back problems and Maiava is a young LB that is serviceable in backup situations.
SpecialBrownie - August 26, 2010
for a second I thought this was rocland.
notthatnoise - August 26, 2010
4 TEs doubt it
I am not sure how the 53-man roster is going to shake out, I guess we will have to see in a couple weeks. I doubt they keep 4 TEs. I hope to God they don’t keep 4 QBs, Ratliff sucks, he should be an easy cut. My friend calls him RatSTIFF, how true. Can anybody tell me if James Davis can play S/Ts-K/R/P/R. Last year, you heard a lot about his speed and his burst so maybe he could be the back-up K/R / P/R. In my opinion, Gerald Lawson stinks. Steptoe does not deserve to be on the roster for the sole purpose of being a back-up specialist. I don’t like Haden being the back-up specialist which brings me back to James Davis. You can always use a 4th RB, not including Hillis at RB, on your 53 man roster with injuries and stuff. I like your thinking about the WRs, I can see them carrying 4 WRs. Don’t forget Senaca Wallace could be used as a WR as well. So in a sense, it will seem like we have 6 WRs with Massaquoi, Robiskie, Cribbs, Stuckey, Moore, and Wallace. I look at that list and I’m sure no opposing DC is going to be afraid of any of those WRs. As a fan outside of Cleveland and I’m sure a lot of fans inside the city of Cleveland, you would probably think we have the worst WRs in the NFL. I think if James Davis can’t play S/Ts, I can see him being cut and maybe put on the practice squad. I would not worry about losing Geathers or Mitchell to waivers. The Browns and specifcally Mangini do a wonderful job of not showcasing any of their young talent. So if a team is willing to pick up either one, it will be solely based on their college results or maybe physique in case of Geathers. Don’t count out the Browns playing the waiver wire, I heard they might find their back-up center that route. Who knows maybe a S/T specialist too.
FreddieC - August 27, 2010
Sorry had a brainfart, Davis would be the 4th RB. The 3 RBs would be Harrison, Hardesty, and Hillis. The Triple-H and then the 4th would be Davis. But like I said Davis would get cut if he can’t play S/Ts.
FreddieC - August 27, 2010
Don’t count out Taurus Johnson making the 53-man roster. Taurus Johnson played S/Ts in college and was a pretty decent returner at South Florida, no clue if he is a good WR, NFL talent WR. Another guy don’t count out is Travis Ivey. He was claimed off waivers from the Dolphins and according to the Plain Dealer, he already is listed #2 behind Rubin.
FreddieC - August 27, 2010
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