FanPost

A Simple and Logical Prediction

Using the formula and trends, so aptly pointed out by Sean himself on his post http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/7/16/4523892/detroit-lions-53-man-roster-2013, I will give my simple and logical 53 man roster prediction (not including who goes to the practice squad and barring any preseason trades). The way I see it is as follows:

QB (3) - Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill, Kellen Moore

RB (5) - Reggie Bush, Mikel Leshoure, Joique Bell, Montell Owens, Theo Riddick

FB (0) - NONE

WR (5) - Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Ryan Broyles, Mike Thomas, Patrick Edwards

TE (3) - Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, Michael Williams

OT (4) - Riley Reiff, Jason Fox, Corey Hilliard, LaAdrian Waddle

OG (3) - Rob Sims, Larry Warford, Dylan Gandy

C (2) - Dominic Raiola, Leroy Harris

OFFENSIVE TOTAL - 25

DE (5) - Ezekial Ansah, Jason Jones, Israel Idonije, Willie Young, Devin Taylor

DT (3) - Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, C.J. Mosley

LB (7) - Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy, Ashlee Palmer, Tahir Whitehead, Travis Lewis, Carmen Messina, Brandon Hepburn

CB (6) - Chris Houston, Darius Slay, Bill Bentley, Ron Bartell, Jonte Green, Chris Greenwood

S (4) - Glover Quin, Chris Hope, Louis Delmas, Don Carey

DEFENSIVE TOTAL - 25

K - Havard Rugland

P - Sam Martin

LS - Don Muhlbach

SPECIALIST TOTAL - 3

Some difficult choices have to be made in order for this to play out, I know. Some areas are pretty cut and dry, while others are basically a crap shoot at this point. For example, I'd say it is a guaranteed fact that Stafford, Hill, Bush, Leshoure, Bell, CJ, Burleson, Broyles, Pettigrew, Scheffler, Reiff, Fox, Hillard, Sims, Warford, Raiola, Ansah, Jones, Idonije, Suh, Fairley, Tulloch, Levy, Houston, Slay, Bentley, Quin, Delmas, Hope, and Muhlbach WILL make the final 53 man roster. They are all pretty much a lock. That's 30 out of 53, leaving 23 roster spots that are sort of up in the air.

As such, the obvious camp battles to keep an eye on are at QB3, RB4 and RB5, WR4 and WR5, TE3, OT4, OG3, DE4 and DE5, DT3, LB3, LB4, LB5, LB6, and LB7, CB4, CB5, and CB6, S4, K, and P. I left out center because there is no real competition, but rather just a decision whether or not one of the other interior linemen can also play center or if the Lions need to keep a second man dedicated to the position. If they feel that one of the guards can also play center in a pinch, they might just keep 1 center and allow room for an extra player at another position (a 6th WR, 5th OT, 6th RB, 5th safety, or even a true FB). The same follows for the QB3 decision.

Regardless, it should prove to be interesting to see it play out. I think Sam Martin is as close to a lock as you can get without actually being one, and I am personally most interested in Havard Rugland. I don't think David Akers has much (if anything) left in the tank, and if the kid can kick consistently in actual game situations with the pressure on, I think they should keep him. That is the most interesting battle to be had in my opinion, and one I will be watching closely.

Anyway, there it is. This is my guess. What say you?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride Of Detroit or its writers.