Cleveland Browns 53-Man Roster Projection (Version 1)

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 15, 2008 8:23 PM EDT in General News

Only 53 men can make the make the Cleveland Browns final roster, meaning a lot of players are fighting for their jobs on a daily basis. Here is my first official roster projection for the 2008-2009 NFL season:

Pos	Final Roster	Players Cut
QB	Derek Anderson Brady Quinn Ken Dorsey
RB	Jamal Lewis Jason Wright Jerome Harrison	Travis Thomas* Austin Scott
FB	Lawrence Vickers Charles Ali	Kolomona Kapuini
WR	Braylon Edwards Donte Stallworth Travis Wilson Steve Sanders Syndric Steptoe	Paul Hubbard* Kevin Kasper Efrem Hill Lance Leggett
TE	Kellen Winslow Steve Heiden Martin Rucker Darnell Dinkins	Brad Cieslak*
OL	Joe Thomas Eric Steinbach Hank Fraley Rex Hadnot Kevin Shaffer Ryan Tucker Seth McKinney Lennie Friedman Isaac Sowells	James Lee* Marvin Philip Nate Bennett Derek Morse Jonathan Palmer
DL	Corey Williams Shaun Rogers Robaire Smith Shaun Smith Louis Leonard	Ahtyba Rubin* Chase Pittman Melila Purcell Brian Schaefering
LB	Kamerion Wimbley Andra Davis D'Qwell Jackson Willie McGinest Antwan Peek Leon Williams Kris Griffin Shantee Orr Beau Bell Alex Hall	David McMillan Chase Ortiz*
S	Sean Jones Brodney Pool Mike Adams Nick Sorensen	Travis Key Brandon Mitchell
CB	Eric Wright Brandon McDonald Terry Cousin Jereme Perry	A.J. Davis Mil'von James* Damon Jenkins Gerard Lawson
ST	Joshua Cribbs Ryan Pontbriand Phil Dawson Dave Zastudil	Jason Reda

The above list contains 53 players that I kept, and 27 players that I cut. I placed seven 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 one person from a different team after they've cleared waivers.

Here is a list of people who did not appear on the roster due to injuries:

CB Daven Holly (Injured Reserve)
WR Joe Jurevicius (Physically Unable to Perform List)
DE Christian Mohr (International Practice Squad Exemption)

General Roster Projection Notes

David McMillan: By far, this was the toughest cut to make, especially since I projected him to win the outside linebacker void left by Antwan Peek. Here's the problem though: I think Peek will be back by Week 1. Willie McGinest can handle the extra load for a week or two while Peek gets into starting rhythm again.

In the end, I think the whole competition between McMillan, Shantee Orr, and Alex Hall will be rendered moot. At ten linebackers already, someone had to go, and I chose the guy who has never been placed in the spotlight by the coaching staff.
Darnell Dinkins: Had Rucker not gotten injured, I would've given the axe to DInkins. WIth Rucker out for at least two three-four regular season game (projection), we need a third tight end and an extra special teams player readily available.
Wide Receiver: I decided to put Joshua Cribbs down in the special teams section. Kevin Kasper can't make this team being injured the whole time, and Joe Jurevicius will probably be back Week 7 at the soonest. After Travis Wilson, we definitely need one other receiver. Because Rucker is out for awhile, I went with two weapons in Steve Sanders and Syndric Steptoe, because both men have really risen to the occasion. I'd expect only one of those two to be active on gameday though.
Louis Leonard: The fifth defensive line spot should come down to Leonard and Ahtyba Rubin. I think Rubin will easily slip to the practice squad, where the Browns would probably be more comfortable using him.
Thin at Cornerback: I went thin at the cornerback position, with only four players. There's no use in carrying dead weight just to say "we have five cornerbacks". On top of that, Mike Adams can double as a cornerback. If Travis Key really shines over the next few weeks, I wonder if he could be a surprise "make" of the team. The cornerback position could definitely be revised to add Davis, James, Dawson, or Jenkins in my next projection though.
Share Your Thoughts: As always, please share your thoughts on my roster projection. I have an idea as to what some of the complaints could be, but I'll wait for someone to mention them before arguing my point.

One more note: Almost every time I make my first roster projection, I count how many names are on my list and find out that I had too many people. On my first draft though, I ended up with a perfect 53 people making the team.

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my thoughts

1) I worry that Hubbard won’t slip through waiver to make the practice squad.
2) Is there a possibility that Rucker goes on the PUP list, when do they have to make that decision by?
3) I do think corner is thin and I have also been impressed with the notes on Travis Key, is he a special teamer too?
4) Is 9 a common number of OL to keep because Sowells has NEVER done anything for me?
5) Kasper is a shame but I don’t think he will get picked up right away being hurt so if he recovers and something goes wrong maybe he will be back. Also, we still have 3 preseason games for him to get back and perform.
6) McMillan is a tough cut…

Everything else looks pretty close to what I am thinking…

by bellar on Aug 15, 2008 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t believe Rucker is PUP-eligible because he practiced in camp, but my memory on that rule could be incorrect.

by Fundamentals on Aug 15, 2008 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

You are correct: in order to be on the PUP list, you must be on it BEFORE training camp starts. Otherwise, it’s injured reserve, final roster, or cut.

I think it’s a common misconception that people think players can be tossed on the PUP during the preseason; heck, even I made that same mistake when doing last year’s roster projection.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 15, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

1) I think the Hubbard decision is, more than any other decision, the one where I’d probably have a stubborn view. Because we gave up a draft pick in 2009 to jump up and get him, it’d leave a bitter taste in our mouths to lose him completely. And, Travis Wilson struggled his first two years and has really matured in year No. 3. Back in 2006 though, I wanted Wilson on the Browns’ final roster. In the end, it’s still a third-round pick vs. a sixth-round pick, and more was invested in a third-round pick.

2) See my answer to Fundamentals above.

3) I’m not keen on Key’s special teams experience, but like most other players, I think he’s seen time there in practice already. Something to look at on Sunday.

4) Last year, we kept: Joe Thomas (1), Eric Steinbach (2), Hank Fraley (3), Ryan Tucker (4), Kevin Shaffer (5), Seth McKinney (6), Lennie Friedman (7), Isaac Sowells (8), and Nat Dorsey (9). You can’t just go with eight IMO, because you need at least one backup tackle, one backup guard, one backup center, and one backup who can also help on the SPECIAL TEAMS offensive line (field goals); I believe Friedman does that. I’ll address Sowells later down the comment page w/ Fundamentals.

5) I wholeheartedly agree.

6) Agree too…

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by Chris Pokorny on Aug 15, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I really like your projected roster, but i must disagree with one
thing. I do not think that Steptoe will make the final roster. Keep in
mind that we do have Cribbs. I am not saying that i want him playing a
lot at reciever, but if we were ever that desperate at reciever, i think
the RC will put in cribbs over Steptoe. So, if you sign Steptoe to the
practice squad, you make room to keep David McMillan."

by DaMessenger on Aug 17, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand what you’re saying, however the situation would then create additional oddities.

Ten linebackers is already a lot. With McMillan, we’d have 11 linebackers! With that type of depth, we’d basically be saying that three of our linebackers are special teamers exclusively, which is a lot. It might be better to trim one of those LBers down and add an insurance policy like Steptoe in case Cribbs gets injured.

For that to happen though, I think Steptoe will need to show enough to contribute on special teams tackling/coverage. Probably not going to happen.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 17, 2008 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

After watching a few practices, I’ve got Lee making the team over Sowells. I don’t see much progression from Sowells at all, and Lee looked much, much better. Plus, Lee unseated Sowells at second team LT. The second team RT would already be Ryan Tucker, so if Sowells isn’t better than Lee at LT, he doesn’t make the team in my mind.

I also think a 5th CB makes the team, just to cover the team for injury. I don’t know who it is. My head tells me Davis or James, my gut is telling me Lawson. I think that extra roster spot comes from LB. 10 LBs just seems too high for my comfort. I don’t know who is the odd guy out. I don’t think Hall has much of an impact this year, but I also don’t want to expose him to waivers. I know Griffin was great on STs last year, but perhaps he is the odd guy out.

Also, I just don’t see Steptoe on this team. He looks like an NFL returner, but I’d rather look at somebody else than him at WR.

Finally, my practice squad would be: Rubin, James, Pittman, Morse, Hubbard, and probably Scott over Thomas, but that could easily be a PS-filler guy as well.

by Fundamentals on Aug 15, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

Griffin or Orr

These two seem to be similar player with Orr having a better defensive reputation so he gets the nod if we go with another DB.
I agree Lee seems to be making an impression much quicker than Sowells.
Hall makes this team for sure.
Chris, thanks for the update on the PUP list.
We seem to have it down to Steptoe vs. Hubbard, maybe Kasper. Sowells vs. Lee. And Extra LB (Griffin?) vs. Extra DB (take your pick).

by bellar on Aug 15, 2008 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

No problem.

I’d add one more to the list: Leonard vs. Rubin. It seemed as if Rubin may have had the edge in camp, but Leonard really came on strong in the Jets game, and he has the roster experience from the end of last season.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 16, 2008 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

You may have read this already in my position battles preview over a week ago, but for anyone who hasn’t, I’ll quote my thoughts on why I have Sowells making it over Lee:

Sowells: Still considered a project and former investment (fourth rounder), I do not believe he is practice squad eligible anymore. He’s also had several years, reliable or not, to get familiar with the Browns system at both guard and tackle.

Lee: He was a left guard for two years at South Carolina State before becoming a right tackle in his senior season. He has shown enough athleticism to stick around, but he has the option of going on the practice squad.

We’re thin at tackle behind Joe Thomas and Kevin Shaffer, so if one of them goes down, you need two people ready, not just one. We thought Nat Dorsey had no shot to make the club last season, but he did — and the same should hold true for Sowells this year. And, when Ryan Tucker comes back, our options will expand and we can consider other alternatives.
Link

I don’t doubt what you saw at practice — I believe it 100%, and I’d rather see Lee make the final roster over Sowells at this point. My projection at the moment though of what Crennel will do is another story though.

5th CB / 10th LB thing — I hear you. Definitely something that could be the first thing under revision when I do my second roster projection. Last year, I think we carried 9 linebackers if my count is correct. The difference this year is us drafting two that we’d like to keep and then acquiring Orr in the offseason. If Bell gets IR’ed though, that solves the issue.

Steptoe: Game-situation wise, I agree that I can’t really see him getting in much at all. The big benefit of keeping him around is if the team feels Cribbs will have persistent hamstring issues early on in the season.

Me leaving out a guard on the practice squad (like Morse) is also something that will be under consideration for version two.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 16, 2008 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Something I just thought of a little more clearly that might change my opinion next projection:

-I don’t see any other teams grabbing Steptoe
-Steptoe would probably be inactive on gamedays as an insurance policy.
-Steptoe can easily go on our practice squad.
-Hubbard could be grabbed by another team.

If those statements are true, it’d make sense to instead keep Hubbard safe on the 53-man (inactivate him) and just put Steptoe on the practice squad again (and promote him if Cribbs goes down).

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 16, 2008 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I am hoping Key is able to show something and make the squad over Sorensen who I find to be useless outside of a marginal special teams player

by Roger Dorn on Aug 16, 2008 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

I find it hard to fathom that both Chase Pittman and Melila Purcell will be cut. But then again I haven’t heard much of either, are both not panning out?

by vegasbrown on Aug 16, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions