53-man roster prediction

[Cyric]

They did this on the Packer board, so I'm shamelessly stealing it.

Here's what I think it should look like, if I were Matt Millen:

Quarterback (3)
Joey Harrington
Mike McMahon
Rick Mirer

Running Back (5)
Kevin Jones
Artose Pinner
Shawn Bryson
Corey Schlesinger
Paul Smith

(Avon Cobourne to PS)

Wide Receiver (6)
Charles Rogers
Roy Williams
Tai Streets
Az-Zahir Hakim
Reggie Swinton

Tight End (2)
Stephen Alexander
Casey Fitzsimmons
Stephen Trejo

Offensive Line (8)
Jeff Backus
Damien Woody
Dominic Raiola
David Loverne
Stockar McDougle
Matt Joyce
Kelly Butler
Tyrone Hopson

(Dave Pearson to PS)

Defensive Line (9)
Robert Porcher
James Hall
Kalimba Edwards
Jared DeVries
Shaun Rogers
Dan Wilkinson
Colin Cole
Marcus Bell
Cory Redding

(Andrew Shull to PS)

Linebackers (8)
Boss Bailey
James Davis
Teddy Lehman
Donte' Curry
Earl Holmes
Wali Rainer
Alex Lewis
Jody Littleton (as long-snapper)

Cornerbacks (6)
Dre' Bly
Fernando Bryant
Chris Cash
Andre' Goodman
Keith Smith
Chris Kern

(Jeff Sanchez to PS if eligible)

Safeties (4)
Brock Marion
Brian Walker
Terrence Holt
Bracey Walker

Kickers (2)
Jason Hanson
Nick Harris

[Edited to remove David Kircus and add Stephen Trejo. I've been convinced that Circus Kircus isn't gonna make it. Drummond's still out in my book.]

[GodofMike]

David Kircus won't make the team.

[Cyric]

Obviously I made a few tough decisions in that 53-man roster.

I had Cole and Bell beat out Kelvin Pritchett for the backup DT spots. I honestly think both guys have shown enough to stick on the roster. While Kelvin's a great guy and quality backup, he's a 14-year vet, while these guys might be around for more than a year or two.

I axed Eddie Drummond, which I think the Lions really will do. Swinton is more explosive and can actually cut the mustard as a receiver.

I kept Kircus as the #6 receiver because I think he'll be gone to another active roster (Arizona?) if the Lions cut him. no way he'll stick on our PS. Since I blew out Eddie, I kept Circus Kircus over third-TE John Owens.

Littleton beats out Banta for the long-snapper job.

I kept Chris Kern over Rod Babers because Kern's looked good and hungry - Babers hasn't - and he can play safety or corner and contribute on ST. To me, he's a clear keeper.

Can Boss start the season on PUP? I don't think so, since it was a camp injury. If he could, my 54th man is Stephen Trejo, who I'd keep as a special teamer. I realize that the O-line depth is thin with only three backups, which is why I'd load my PS with as many eligible guys as possible (Ben Johnson, Victor Rogers, Pearson).

Any thoughts?

[GodofMike]

Eddie Drummond Will be our PR and the 5th or 6th wideout.

[Cyric]

David Kircus won't make the team.
See below. I think he will if Drummond gets cut and the Lions go with two TEs.

It all depends on if the Lions go 6-WR/2-TE or 5-WR/3-TE. If the latter, I think they keep Trejo over Owens and try to get Kircus on the PS.

I honestly think Kircus is going to get picked up by somebody, and that's why I'd keep him over Drummond/Owens/whoever. He's raw, but we couldn't stash him on the PS.

Trust me, I'm not a Kircus lover. I like his game if he can get a year of seasoning under his belt. He could be a Jeff Chadwick/Don Beebe kind of guy.

[Cyric]

Eddie Drummond Will be our PR and the 5th or 6th wideout.
Nope.

Look at it, man. Swinton has totally outplayed him as a return man and a receiver. Drummond's missed time with injuries the past two seasons and can't do a damned thing as a receiver in the offensive sets. I don't think Mooch will keep a guy solely as a return man IF he feels he has other options.

It boils down to who Mooch likes better: Kircus or Drummond. I think Swinton has nailed the #5 receiver spot, and now Drummond - normally considered a lock - is staring at possibly getting cut.

[GodofMike]

Nope.

Look at it, man. Swinton has totally outplayed him as a return man and a receiver. Drummond's missed time with injuries the past two seasons and can't do a damned thing as a receiver in the offensive sets. I don't think Mooch will keep a guy solely as a return man IF he feels he has other options.

It boils down to who Mooch likes better: Kircus or Drummond. I think Swinton has nailed the #5 receiver spot, and now Drummond - normally considered a lock - is staring at possibly getting cut.

Mooch likes Drummond he will make the team. Also I would take Kircus over Drummond but I think Drummond makes the team.

[Cyric]

Mooch likes Drummond he will make the team. Also I would take Kircus over Drummond but I think Drummond makes the team.
I don't think it's that cut and dried. I think Kircus hurt himself with poor ST play on Thursday, but is redeemed as a pet project of the team.

I seriously, truly, honestly believe that Drummond has to sweat this one out, because just like Kircus provides nothing on ST, he provides nothing on offense.

I'm not gonna beat the Kircus bandwagon anymore. He probably won't make it, but I still say Drummond won't, because there's one guy that Mooch likes a lot, too: Stephen Trejo. He could fill the third TE spot, fill in at FB if needed, and be a demon on ST.

It'd leave us with only one return man on kickoffs unless we find a spot for a guy like Cobourne (more likely than Kircus but still hard to justify).

Drummond just sucks. There. I said it.

[GodofMike]

I don't think it's that cut and dried. I think Kircus hurt himself with poor ST play on Thursday, but is redeemed as a pet project of the team.

I seriously, truly, honestly believe that Drummond has to sweat this one out, because just like Kircus provides nothing on ST, he provides nothing on offense.

I'm not gonna beat the Kircus bandwagon anymore. He probably won't make it, but I still say Drummond won't, because there's one guy that Mooch likes a lot, too: Stephen Trejo. He could fill the third TE spot, fill in at FB if needed, and be a demon on ST.

It'd leave us with only one return man on kickoffs unless we find a spot for a guy like Cobourne (more likely than Kircus but still hard to justify).

Drummond just sucks. There. I said it.
Drummond dose not suck he's not a every good player LOL.
Well who ever Mooch picks Drummond Kircus or someone else I'll be ok with the pick.

[Cyric]

Drummond dose not suck he's not a every good player LOL.
Well who ever Mooch picks Drummond Kircus or someone else I'll be ok with the pick.
Yeah, it's a tough decision, but I'm sure it'll work out best for the team.

Who do you think we should pick up for practice squad? Any ideas?

[GodofMike]

Yeah, it's a tough decision, but I'm sure it'll work out best for the team.

Who do you think we should pick up for practice squad? Any ideas?
I like Shull Dave Pearson and Kern to be on the PS.

Avon Cobourne might make the team but if he dose not make the time I would like him to be put on the PS to.

[Newton82]

I just don't agree with you on this one Cyric. I think Drummond is basically a lock to make the team. You said that Swinton is better because he can contribute on offense as well, but I thought he looked like crap in the final preseason game at WR. I also think Drummond is much more explosive than Swinton as a return man. The only problem I have with Drummond is that fact that he is injury-prone, but who isn't on this team. Anyway, I guess those are my two cents. By the way, they expanded the practice squad this year...you can have eight or nine now instead of five.

[Cyric]

I just don't agree with you on this one Cyric. I think Drummond is basically a lock to make the team. You said that Swinton is better because he can contribute on offense as well, but I thought he looked like crap in the final preseason game at WR. I also think Drummond is much more explosive than Swinton as a return man. The only problem I have with Drummond is that fact that he is injury-prone, but who isn't on this team. Anyway, I guess those are my two cents. By the way, they expanded the practice squad this year...you can have eight or nine now instead of five.
Well, when I talk about Swinton vs. Drummond, I'm speaking relatively. Swinton looked fine last year when forced into the lineup. Drummond always looks like he's never played WR before.

Being injury prone is a huge strike against a guy who only plays ST and is in a high-risk spot. Swinton's just better than Drummond in consistency (at least on returns), explosiveness, and overall contribution to the team.

yeah, we disagree. We'll see what the coaches think. I'm pretty well convinced that Kircus making this team is a pipe dream, but I would (obviously) not be surprised if Drummond goes bye-bye.

[KinjaKahn]

Good analysis, but I can't see keeping Kircus over Drummond. Especially when Kircus can still go to practice squad.

[Cyric]

Good analysis, but I can't see keeping Kircus over Drummond. Especially when Kircus can still go to practice squad.
Yeah, I agree. I now think Trejo gets the spot as a TE/FB/ST hybrid, and Kircus goes to the PS or some other team's active roster.

I honestly think Drummond is a dead duck, but I seem to be in the minority here.

And I'm wrong on one so far - Colin Cole got whacked, which I really should have expected. I still think Bell beats out Pritchett though. And Kern makes it.

[GodofMike]

Yeah, I agree. I now think Trejo gets the spot as a TE/FB/ST hybrid, and Kircus goes to the PS or some other team's active roster.

I honestly think Drummond is a dead duck, but I seem to be in the minority here.

And I'm wrong on one so far - Colin Cole got whacked, which I really should have expected. I still think Bell beats out Pritchett though. And Kern makes it.

I think Both Bell and the old man Pritchett both will be on the team.

I was hopeing Cole would bet out Pritchett so we could get someone younger in there. Oh well as long we put Cole on the PS i'am fine with what Mooch is doing.