My Guess at the 53 Man...

So does Coleman. Leggett is a ???. Move Ugoh to OG. Hanson is in based on his camp. Add OC Dan Gerberry

see them keep 4 DTs, 5 corners and 6 wideouts. That means fluellen gone, Vasher or Leggett gone, WR Ballard makes the team and Matt Clapp (opens holes and can pass block) makes the team and maybe felton gone. In the end its all on there camps.

will be on the 53 man because of his coverage skills and special teams play over Hogue. Plus, Hogue can be moved to the practice squad.

and then they keep either Stovall or Ballard as the 5th WR (to give them some size at WR outside of Calvin). And yes, Barbie Carpenter should definitely make the team. As far as which players they’d replace, it’s hard to say (maybe Flu, Hogue, Ekejiuba, Ugoh or Hilliard). I do give Leggett a good shot to make the team (in addition to the other 5 CBs) for his ability to back-up at cornerback AND safety, in addition to the special teams value

Personally I prefer it but everything I’m reading is saying it’s Hanson’s job to lose and he’s kicking great…

Those seem to happen every year. Like last year when we cut Cohen and kept Flu

I’ve never been a huge fan of Harris.

but I understand the reason, and if we are having a hard time getting under the cap, he may be the main cap casualty. Good job!

A couple tough decisions in Carpenter and Phillips (but he’s still eligible for practice squad right!?). Hope the roster looks like this in a few weeks.

I’ll take Carpenter over Mo Leggs or Vasher.

Hanson v. Rayner is tough, I’m intruiged by the idea ob Ballard, and a FB other than Felton would be nice. But really all I’d for sure change is add Carpenter and drop a CB.

Practice squad. Carpenter will make the team

But something tells me that if we keep Felton it will be as a RB, and not as a FB, because we want a “true” FB there who is a beast at lead blocking. I see Clapp or Dial getting it and the other guy landing on the practice squad. I think Mikel Leshoure is capable of doing anything Felton did for us (short yardage, clock management) but much better and more versatile.

At WR, I could see us cutting Davis and having a guy like Michael Moore or possibly Maurice Stovall being our no.5 since they would add height. This is a tough call, as they may value Rashied Davis’ value on s/t’s and as a no.4/5 guy and overlook his size since we could have CJ, Pettigrew, and Scheffler in goal line looks. My gut tells me it may come down to Derrick Williams and Rashied Davis for a spot and Moore/Stovall for the other spot.

At LB, Carpenter is a lock to make the team and get a lot of looks in passing situations/as primary back up at OLB.

Besides that, I think Hanson for sure has the job. Before I went to training camp, I was on the Rayner bandwagon 100%. Seeing Hanson nail 50 yard FG’s, ones that could’ve made it from 55+, restored my faith in him. He is still a beast, and the only way he isn’t our guy is if gets hurt in camp again or the Lions are too afraid to lose Rayner, as he has a good ten+ years left, Hanson, not so much.

And some said they hope that Donahue replaces Harris, and this will not happen. At the same camp, Donahue looked like half the punter Harris is, and he failed with directional kicks as well as distance. Harris consistently booted his punts in the 45 yard range with good hang time and Donahue had ok hangtime, but distance wise we’re talking 30-35 yards tops. Harris is in the top ten as far as average and top 20 for punts inside the 20 for 2010. He also makes very few mistakes, which ultimately means he doesn’t hurt the team. Harris will be back, and hopefully has another good season.

Great list but

Change Wendling to Randy Phillips. Wendling is ST only. Phillips has showed some good flashes at saftey

I’m not sure Felton dosen’t get cut for Clapp or Dial

Not sure I agree with only 3 RBs either

I am sure Carpenter will make the team somewere. Might get Isaiahs spot

Naturally there are some things I would have done differently, but they are all on the fringes of the team and that makes them highly subjective.

It’s gonna be a tough cut period.

QB seems right, I don’t see us carrying 4 QB’s unless Stafford gets injured again.

RB I can buy into what you have.

FB ehhhhh not so sure there. Supposedly Felton is in a serious battle with Matt Clapp and honestly I am rooting for Clapp. I don’t care for Felton much after his play me or trade me comment last year.

I could also see Stfan Logan making the roster over Felton if they want to keep him for punt returns. The rule change really hurt his chances though as kick returns are about moot now.

On WR I disagree a bit here. I think Derrick Williams is going to seriously open some eyes this year. I expect him and Titus to battle it out for the 3-4 positions and I am not sure that Davis makes the roster.

I know that Stefan Logan is listed as a WR at times on the roster, but they use him like a RB so I put him with that group.

5th WR IMO is going to be an all out battle and I have no idea who makes it. Stovall and Davis are the likely choices but I would not rule Ballard out.

OT, I am not sure we keep 5 on the actual 53. Personally I expect them to PUP Backus or cut him.

on LB i expect Carpenter to make it and Ekejiuba to be the odd man out.

CB I expect the Lions to PUP Phonz, so you will see someone else get a shot somewhere on the roster, at least until week 6.

S is too hard to read if Phillips or Wendling makes it. A lot depends on if they keep ST gunners in other positions, like if they keep both Davis and Stovall. Then you might see them part ways with Wendling and go with the higher upside and positional value of Phillips.

On the ST kickers and LS I agree, Hanson will retire this year.

It’s nice not to be waiting on New England or Green Bay rejects to fill one or two of the many holes on the roster with mediocre players like previous years. It all feels so much better!!!
Go Lions!!!

QB’s = 3
QB Matthew Stafford
QB Shaun Hill
QB Drew Stanton

RB’s = 3
RB Jahvid Best
RB Mikel Leshoure
RB Aaron Brown

FB’s = 1
FB Matt Clapp

WR’s = 5
WR Calvin Johnson
WR Nate Burleson
WR Titus Young
WR Derrick Williams
WR Stefan Logan

TE’s = 3
TE Brandon Pettigrew
TE Tony Scheffler
TE Will Heller

OT’s = 4
OT Jeff Backus
OT Gosder Cherilus
OT Jason Fox
OT Corey Hilliard
 
OG’s =3
OG Rob Sims
OG Stephen Peterman
OG Donald Thomas

C’s =2
C Dominic Raiola
C Dylan Gandy

DE’s = 4
DE Cliff Avril
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
DE Lawrence Jackson
DE Willie Young

DT’s = 4
DT Ndamukong Suh
DT Corey Williams
DT Sammie Hill
DT Nick Fairley

LB’s = 7
LB Justin Durant
LB Stephen Tulloch
LB DeAndre Levy
LB Bobby Carpenter
LB Ashlee Palmer
LB Isaiah Ekejiuba
LB Doug Hogue

CB’s = 6
CB Chris Houston
CB Eric Wright
CB Alphonso Smith
CB Nathan Vasher
CB Aaron Berry
CB Brandon McDonald

S’s = 5
S Louis Delmas
S Amari Spievey
S Erik Coleman
S Randy Phillips
S John Wendling

ST’s = 3
K Dave Rayner
P Nick Harris
LS Don Muhlbach

Some of my decisions were based the fact we sucked last season with the back 7, and all of the injuries incurred last season, and all of the new faces on the team. We must have extras to start the season to see who fits, and for the possibility of injury.

Some of my decisions were based solely on money:
Cut – Maurice Morris $2.225M
Keep – Aaron Brown $557K

Cut – Jerome Felton $1.206M
Keep – Matt Clapp $382K

Cut – Tony Ugoh $1.507M
Keep – Jason Fox $567K

Cut – Andre Fluellen $1.282M
Keep – Sammie Lee Hill $651K

Cut – Hanson $2.82M
Keep – Rayner $1.282M

*Base Salary, allocation of signing bonus, and roster bonus included for total 2011 salaries

 Lets watch some preseason games first. There may very well be guys we don’t think much of that play their way onto this team and guys who are held in higher esteem who play their way off…it happens every year on every team..