FanPost

Top 5 Bubble Players

I saw this done on another SBNation blog and I'm blatantly ripping it off here. Forgive me if this has already been done.

Going into training camp, what 5 players are the most in danger of losing their spots, not including this year's draft picks or UDFAs. So guys who were on the roster when last season ended.

In no particular order, my five go:

Carlton Mitchell - drafted to be the "speed" guy in our receiving corps, he's given very little production in the playing time he's been allowed. We drafted another track star receiver this year in Travis Benjamin, so Mitchell needs to show up huge early in training camp or I can see him getting cut in the first roster cutdown.

Alex Smith - Smith's been kept around to help with the blocking along our shaky offensive line. With Brad Smelley able to do that AND catch the ball, plus the drafting of Mitchell Schwartz, Smith shouldn't even bother unpacking when he gets to Berea. He'll be out the door quick.

Seneca Wallace - Normally, you'd keep a veteran who knows the offense around, but assuming Weeden's the starter, Colt McCoy is younger, cheaper, and more than capable of filling that role. Thaddeus Lewis is a pet project holdover from Shurmur's days in St. Louis, so I think his teacher's pet status makes Seneca the odd man out.

Montario Hardesty - Trent Richardson is expected to get an Adrian Peterson style role in the offense, meaning the guy spelling him needs to more of a third down back (good blocker, good pass catcher). Brandon Jackson's been a 3rd down back his whole career and works in that role better than Hardesty does.

John Greco - He's a comparatively expensive backup and we're about to have to drop some serious coin to keep Alex Mack in town (he's going into his fourth season; typically when contract talks start coming up).

Guys who should be trouble, but aren't.

Oniel Cousins - He's awful, but he's also the only true backup tackle on the roster and he'll be kept around for insurance.

Scott Paxson - Investing two draft picks on DTs shows a lack of confidence in our DL depth inside, but Phil Taylor's injury keeps Paxson on the team.

Kaluka Maiava - Aside from one game against the Steelers a couple of seasons back, he hasn't looked that great. Personally, I thought he was a huge weak spot when Fujita got hurt last season. Fujita's pending suspension keeps him safe for now, unless Emmanuel Acho and James Michael-Johnson show they can play that position.

This is a fan-created post. Dawgs By Nature assumes no responsibility for the content listed.