Stab at the Roster

[Wraith]

Now that the offseason is essentially completed (barring some ridiculousness with JaMarcus Russell), I though I might take a stab at the 53 man roster.

QB: C. Palmer, O'Sullivan, J. Palmer (3)

RB: Benson, Scott (KR), Leonard (3)

FB: Vakapuna (1)

TE: Gresham, Kelly, Coffman (3)

WR: Ochocinco, A. Bryant, M. Jones, Shipley (PR), Caldwell (5)

OT: Whitworth, A. Smith (G), Collins, Roland (4)

OG: Williams, Mathis, Hudson, Livings (4)

C: Cook, Luigs (G) (2)

K: Nugent (1)

DE: Odom (DT), Geathers, Fanene (DT), Dunlap, M. Johnson (OLB) (5)

DT: Peko, T. Johnson, Atkins (3-4 DE), Sims (4)

OLB: Maualuga, B. Johnson, Rivers, Jeanty (4)

MLB: D. Jones, Muckelroy (2)

S: Wilson, Williams, Crocker, Ndukwe, Hebert (5)

CB: J. Joseph, Hall, A. Jones, Trent, Ghee (5)

P: Huber (1)

LS: Windt (1)

PS: Briscoe (WR), Stephens (G/C), Miles (S), Nelson (S), MacDonald (DT, 3-4DE)

Sims could be gone in which case they could keep both Caldwell and Crosby or Briscoe, the DE's rotating into DT gives them some flexibility at DT. Hebert could be gone as could A. Jones or even Ndukwe. Hodge and Jeanty are in a fight for the last LBer roster spot. If Russell signs then he would replace O'Sullivan. This is a very difficult roster to break into and so I really doubt any of the CFAs will make the 53 man roster except maybe Windt at LS. No real holes on this team except for maybe Kicker, lets hope Nugent can get his act together.

[TJJackson]

I cant conceive of any scenario except where he is injured where our star PR does not make the team

If he's healthy, he's a lock

[Wraith]

Cosby?

Ok so who do you take off, do you cut Caldwell? do you cut some other position and keep 6 WRs? I would love to see Cosby make this team but do you cut Sims or our special teams captain Hebert? Do you cut Coffman and only carry 2 TEs? not likely. This team is stacked and unfortunately Cosby offers very little except Punt Returns and Shipley was a great Punt Returner at Texas after Cosby graduated, with two PRs for touchdowns last year (although a 5.4 average and 34 fair catches aren't great and Cosby averaged 11.7 yards per punt return for his career at Texas).

[Trevor]

I cant conceive of any scenario except where he is injured where our star PR does not make the team

If he's healthy, he's a lock

if pacman gets back to his 06 form,.. He's our returner... Which lets matt jones get a WR spot... We'll see, seems like a good roster...

[BengalPimp]

I cant conceive of any scenario except where he is injured where our star PR does not make the team

If he's healthy, he's a lock

if pacman gets back to his 06 form,.. He's our returner... Which lets matt jones get a WR spot... We'll see, seems like a good roster...

Problem is, that was 4 years ago. His '08 form was terrible. He averaged 4..5 yds per return. He had 21 returns and fumbled twice, which is about right for his career as he fumbles about 10.7 % of the time (84 career returns, 9 fumbles).

On the other side, Cosby averaged 11.9 yds per return, including 4 of over 20 yds, and 2 of 40+, and while he also had 2 fumbles last year, that came on about twice as many (40) returns.

Basically Adam Jones has fumbled on roughly 11% of his career punt returns. I think they need to find a spot for Cosby. Field position is key, and Cosby is a potential home-run threat anytime he touches the ball. Even if he doesn't score, that 11.9 yards makes a big difference.

[HairOnFire]

All griping and second guessing aside....

That's not only the roster of a playoff team, but....a Super Bowl contender.

Yeah, I said it.

[Sea Ray]

I definitely think 6 WRs make this team

[ArmyBengal]

Cosby?

Ok so who do you take off, do you cut Caldwell? do you cut some other position and keep 6 WRs? I would love to see Cosby make this team but do you cut Sims or our special teams captain Hebert? Do you cut Coffman and only carry 2 TEs? not likely. This team is stacked and unfortunately Cosby offers very little except Punt Returns and Shipley was a great Punt Returner at Texas after Cosby graduated, with two PRs for touchdowns last year (although a 5.4 average and 34 fair catches aren't great and Cosby averaged 11.7 yards per punt return for his career at Texas).

Easy, they carried 6 WR's last year with one being inactive. The question as I stated in another thread is, who's the inactive ??

Call it Caldwell, because Cosby is making this team. Write it down...

[TJJackson]

Cosby offers very little except Punt Returns and Shipley was a great Punt Returner at Texas after Cosby graduated, with two PRs for touchdowns last year

Cosby - proven star NFL punt returner

Shipley - proven star NCAA punt returner

for 10 points, pick the word in each line that represents the key difference

(oh, and the "very little except" is highly inaccurate. For example, go re-watch the KR for TD against Pittsburgh by my man Bernard, see if you can spot Quan)

if pacman gets back to his 06 form,.. He's our returner

Cosby - proven star NFL punt returner in 2009

Jones - proven star NFL punt returner in 2006

for 10 points, pick the word in each line that represents the key difference

[Trevor]

Cosby offers very little except Punt Returns and Shipley was a great Punt Returner at Texas after Cosby graduated, with two PRs for touchdowns last year

Cosby - proven star NFL punt returner

Shipley proven star NCAA punt returner

for 10 points, pick the word in each line that represents the key difference

(oh, and the "very little" is inaccurate. Go watch the KR for TD against Pittsburgh by my man Bernard, see if you can spot Quan)

if pacman gets back to his 06 form,.. He's our returner

Cosby - proven star NFL punt returner in 2009

Jones - proven star NFL punt returner in 2006

for 10 points, pick the word in each line that represents the key difference

lmao,.. welp, thats why we have 5 preseason games...

[TJJackson]

lmao,.. welp, thats why we have 5 preseason games...

ah yes, the brilliant 'preseason games are just exactly like the regular season games' argument.

oh, and Quincy Wilson just called, and he wants to talk to you about his league leading 217 rushing yards in the 2006 preseason

[Wraith]

I was referring to his capabilities as a WR but you are completely correct about his other special teams contributions and again I would love to see Cosby make this team but only 53 people can be on the team and you have to get rid of someone to add Cosby back in.

[alleycat]

I'm starting to think we are going crazy signing all of these extra players in part because we'll need a lot of grist for the Five-Preseason-Game-Mill. Coach guys through the system in the spring, so the 8 or so you let go for camp can come back in when other scrubs who will never make the team anyway invariable get hurt during those mostly meaningless games.

[TJJackson]

you have to get rid of someone to add Cosby back in.

Cosby won't be "added back in"

He's "in"

As in he's a lock.

Someone else will be "left out"

(as always, barring injuries)

[alleycat]

QB: C. Palmer, O'Sullivan, J. Palmer (2)

RB: Benson, Scott (KR), Leonard (3)

FB: Vakapuna (1)

TE: Gresham, Kelly, Coffman (3)

WR: Ochocinco, A. Bryant, M. Jones, Shipley (PR), Caldwell, Cosby (6)

OT: Whitworth, A. Smith (G), Collins, Roland (4)

OG: Williams, Mathis, Hudson, Livings (4)

C: Cook, Luigs (G) (2)

K: Nugent (1)

DE: Odom (DT), Geathers, Fanene (DT), Dunlap, M. Johnson (OLB) (5)

DT: Peko, T. Johnson, Atkins (3-4 DE), Sims (4)

OLB: Maualuga, B. Johnson, Rivers, Skuta (4)

MLB: D. Jones, Muckelroy, Hodge (3)

S: Wilson, Williams, Crocker, Ndukwe Hebert (4)

CB: J. Joseph, Hall, A. Jones, Trent, Ghee (5)

P: Huber (1)

LS: Windt (1)

PS: Briscoe (WR), Stephens (G/C), Miles (S), Nelson (S), MacDonald (DT, 3-4DE)

I keep hearing rumblings about the coaches loving Skuta. Also, I think Jeanty probably gets PUP'ed anyway. Given that both Hodge and Skuta can also make more meaningful contributions to the actual defense, I'm taking Hebert off. I'm also making the controversial move (yawn) of carrying two quarterbacks. The one area where I'm really still not comfortable, though, is a 1st and 2nd down backup for Ced.

It almost seems like we might be able to make some trades this preseason for future picks or upgrades - especially if we're talking about dumping receivers or DE's.

[Wraith]

Don't you have to carry three QBs on an NFL Roster?

[TJJackson]

Most teams do carry 3, particularly since the third can play even when on the gameday inactive list if the number 1 and 2 both get injured during the course of the game

however

it is not a requirement

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Most teams do carry 3, particularly since the third can play even when on the gameday inactive list if the number 1 and 2 both get injured during the course of the game

however

it is not a requirement

In recent years teams have often either gone with 2, or doubled up the #3 as a Wildcat guy. General notion is if you get to your 3rd QB, you're f*cked anyway.

Or, if the OCNN is to be believed, the Bengals will double up their #3 QB as a DT.

[ArmyBengal]

What don't we understand about carrying 6 WR's like we did last year ??

Hebert is also a special teams BEAST and while he doesn't produce much as a safety, neither do some of the safeties on the roster that don't play teams.

The pseudo surprise cut to me will be Ndukwe.

[Wraith]

It will be interesting. The difference from last year is that we only carried 2 TEs last year and we almost certainly will be carrying 3 this year, not to mention we are deeping at DE, LBer, CB, and S than last year so those cuts are going to be harder.

[Kazkal]

Sims could be gone in which case they could keep both Caldwell and Crosby or Briscoe, the DE's rotating into DT gives them some flexibility at DT.

I think we go 6 WR's but I doubt we cut Sims or any DT I could see us going 9 Linmen (3 guards) though...Outside of that looks fine besides order at a few positions Like Jones being 3rd WR

[Kazkal]

ah yes, the brilliant 'preseason games are just exactly like the regular season games' argument.

Well being special teamers tend to be backups and that their fighting Tooth & Nail to get a job so I don't see the punt game being all that much different then regular season

But IMO Cosby makes it he's to valuable even besides his return skills as pure special teams player which tends be what your 6th WR role.

recent years teams have often either gone with 2, or doubled up the #3 as a Wildcat guy. General notion is if you get to your 3rd QB, you're f*cked anyway.

Well some teams do use wildcard guy as a 3# but plenty of teams keep three true QB's...Though I wouldn't mind only keeping 2 if Carson goes down were screwed anyways...I just think they'll take 3.

[TJJackson]

if OCNN is to be believed

but of course, it isn't.......

[ArmyBengal]

We carried Foschi, Coats, and Coffman at TE until Coffman was put on IR, so I don't think that will matter much.

I think the d-line, WR, and secondary battles will be intense this year.

[cHaD711Johnson]

Sims isn't get cut.. Where did you get the idea that he could even possibly be axed from?