Projecting the 49ers 53-man roster #1
by David Fucillo on Jun 6, 2008 10:00 AM PDT
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintWe're a week into OTAs, with almost 3 months until the regular season gets under way. Fortunately for us that leaves all sorts of time to assess and reassess and reassess again the 49ers 53-man roster. For this first run-through I've got a projected 53-man roster followed by some bubble guys. I haven't determined who's eligible for the practice squad versus who is out of eligibility, so that will be considered at a later time. Additionally, some of the offensive lineman may not be 100% accurate in the position I have them listed under. For example, Chilo Rachal could be a guard or could be a tackle, so I've just got him as a guard for now. Also, Justin Smith has spent a whole lot of time at outside linebacker, but we'll stick him at defensive end for now. This is a matter of just getting the names down.
Offense
QB (3): Alex Smith, Shaun Hill, J.T. O'Sullivan
RB (3): Frank Gore, DeShaun Foster, Michael Robinson
FB (1): Moran Norris
WR (6): Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, Jason Hill, Josh Morgan
TE (3): Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Billy Bajema
LT (2): Joe Staley, Damane Duckett
LG (2): Adam Snyder, Tony Wragge
C (2): Eric Heitmann, Cody Wallace
RG (2): David Baas, Chilo Rachal
RT (1): Jonas Jennings
Defense
DE (4): Isaac Sopoaga, Justin Smith, Kentwan Balmer, Ray McDonald
DT (2): Aubrayo Franklin, Ronald Fields
OLB (3): Manny Lawson, Tully Banta-Cain, Parys Haralson
ILB (5): Patrick Willis, Jeff Ulbrich, Dontarrious Thomas, Brandon Moore, Larry Grant
CB (6): Nate Clements, Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer, Tarell Brown, Donald Strickland, Reggie Smith
FS (2): Mark Roman, Dashon Goldson
SS (2): Michael Lewis, Keith Lewis
Special Teams
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
KR/PR: Allen Rossum
The Bubble
It was amazing how quickly I ran out of roster spots when going through this exercise. One point of note: if the 49ers do sign Barry Sims, he and Damane Duckett will do battle for one of those roster spots. Nolan mentioned how lucky they were to have 9 offensive lineman and with one of those two, they'd be at 9. Some guys I haven't fit in include my boy Jay Moore, Zak Keasey, Thomas Clayton, Roderick Green, Marcus Hudson, Melvin Oliver, Atiyyah Ellison and Joe Cohen. Some of them are practice squad eligible, but there are also some potential openings on the 53-man roster. Josh Morgan and Larry Grant are two rookies who could conceivably not make the 53-man roster, either ending up on the practice squad or just being cut. I think Grant has a better shot of making the team, although I am curious if Mike Martz would want more than 5 wide receivers for his offense. I held out Keasey as the full back is not exactly a major role in the Martz offense and there are greater needs to keep around.
I'm going to put together a first attempt at a projected practice squad at some point in the near future. In the meantime, I'm sure there are plenty of opinions out there that would differ from mine on the 2008 53-man roster. Injuries and off-field issues could very well change some of these projections, but for a first draft, I think I've hit the high points. If you think I'm mistaken on certain players, I'd love to hear why you think that. For references, check out the ESPN Depth Chart and the team site roster list. I look forward to vehement disagreement.
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Nice
It seems like your first draft could very well be a fairly accurate depiction of what will actually happen. As you mention, though, Larry Grant could conceivably end up the practice squad, and I’m pretty sure that’s where he’s going to end up. If pressed to, I think the 49ers would choose a fourth OLB, rather than a fifth ILB. Jay Moore or Roderick Green would likely make the roster over Grant.
Another player who may not be a lock for the roster is Moran Norris. There’s really no telling, right now, what Martz is going to do with the offense. If I recall, he never really used a true fullback before. I think it’s possible that Norris gets cut in favor of keeping a fourth HB (considering Robinson or Bajema could probably play fullback in a pinch). Clayton may be ready to show he can play at this level, so the team may want to give him a chance.
I don't know what Martz is going to want
but I would keep only 4 or 5 WRs on the 53 man roster, with one on the practice squad. 5 wide sets are rarely used in the NFL, and with 5 healthy, we could still run a 5 wide set. Or, to trim down, we could go with 4 WR on the 53 man roster and run a 5 wide set with VD if we wanted to run a 5 wide set.
There isn’t enough versatility in the skill sets of our WRs to justify 6 WR on the roster. If we could show different looks by bringing out our 6’6” guy vs our 5’9” guy I might feel differently, but every WR we have is 6’0” to 6’3”, and 200-220lbs. I know Bruce is listed at 188 but I have a hard time believing that. Regardless, there isn’t enough difference in their playing styles to justify 6. I say 5 + 1 on the practice squad.
Practice Squad
The problem with that is the limitations on who can be on the practice squad. The only WR on the roster that is practice squad eligible (not for sure, but I’m pretty sure) is the rookie Josh Morgan. I guess it’s possible he gets sent there (along with at least one of the UDFAs they signed).
If one of the WRs give up a spot (i.e. practice squad), it’s possible the 49ers use that extra spot for the 4th HB (so they don’t have to cut Norris) OR use it on Marcus Hudson, as he’s showing some ability to contribute (but was left off Fooch’s 53-man).
roster
So with some of those thoughts some possible changes would be:
- Jay Moore/Roderick Green replaces Larry Grant (now on practice squad)
- Marcus Hudson/Thomas Clayton replaces Josh Morgan (now on practice squad)
I guess they could go no fullbacks, but I would be pretty surprised by that. Norris seems like a Nolan guy. But with Martz running the offense, who knows.
Good point by Rufio though on going with 5 receivers at most. If the 49ers rolled 5 receivers I’d imagine we’d see a lot of Vernon Davis anyways and Delanie Walker and Billy Bajema are capable tight ends if Davis split out in smaller sets.
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by David Fucillo on Jun 6, 2008 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Changes
I could live with those changes. If the 49ers are afraid some other team is going to swoop in and take Grant and they really like him, they would probably cut one of Ulbrich, B.Moore, or Thomas. I just really don’t see them keeping four ILB.
53 man roster
I have a feeling Jay Moore is going to surprise people. He might even start. Conceivably, though not likely Martz could keep four tight ends, including J.J. Finley (good hands and size). D,J, Parker also could fit.
All together the 2008 Fortyniners look good, at least on paper. Depth on the offensive line is the biggest weakness.
I think Gore and Foster will be very busy men.
4 tight ends?
Do you really think it’s possible they keep 4 tight ends? They’ve got their “star” tight end in Davis, their blocking tight end in Bajema and the fan sleeper in Walker. I have to say I’d be stunned if they kept a 4th tight end (although doesn’t Brian Jennings qualify technically as a tight end?)
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by David Fucillo on Jun 6, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions
i hope
melvin oliver can make his way on to the squad somehow. maybe if smith is really going to be playing a lot of OLB?
Roster
Still way to early to tell. A lot of the players on the bubble were injured last year and we really don’t know that much about them. May the best man win!
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