:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35982682/20140610_jla_aw3_091.jpg.0.jpg)
With training camp about to begin, it's time for another guess at what the Detroit Lions' 53-man roster will look like when the final cuts are made next month. My picks to make the team are bolded and underlined:
|
QB Matthew Stafford QB Dan Orlovsky QB Kellen Moore QB James Franklin RB Reggie Bush RB Joique Bell RB Theo Riddick RB Mikel Leshoure RB Montell Owens RB Steven Miller RB George Winn FB Jed Collins FB Chad Abram WR Calvin Johnson WR Golden Tate WR Ryan Broyles WR Kris Durham WR Jeremy Ross WR TJ Jones WR Kevin Ogletree WR Corey Fuller WR Pat Edwards WR Cody Wilson WR Andrew Peacock WR Reese Wiggins |
TE Eric Ebron TE Brandon Pettigrew TE Joseph Fauria TE Jordan Thompson TE Jacob Maxwell OT Riley Reiff OT LaAdrian Waddle OT Corey Hilliard OT Cornelius Lucas OT Michael Williams OT A.J. Dalton OG Rob Sims OG Larry Warford OG Rodney Austin OG Garrett Reynolds OG Alex Bullard OG Bryce Quigley C Dominic Raiola C Travis Swanson C Darren Keyton |
DE Ziggy Ansah DE Jason Jones DE Devin Taylor DE Darryl Tapp DE Larry Webster DE George Johnson DE Kalonji Kashama DT Ndamukong Suh DT Nick Fairley DT C.J. Mosley DT Caraun Reid DT Andre Fluellen DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen DT Xavier Proctor DT Greg Hickman LB DeAndre Levy LB Stephen Tulloch LB Kyle Van Noy LB Ashlee Palmer LB Tahir Whitehead LB Travis Lewis LB Cory Greenwood LB Julian Stanford LB Brandon Hepburn LB Justin Jackson |
CB Darius Slay CB Rashean Mathis CB Bill Bentley CB Chris Greenwood CB Nevin Lawson CB Cassius Vaughn CB Jonte Green CB Aaron Hester CB Mohammed Seisay S Glover Quin S James Ihedigbo S Don Carey S DeJon Gomes S Isa Abdul-Quddus S Jerome Couplin K Nate Freese K Giorgio Tavecchio P Sam Martin P Drew Butler LS Don Muhlbach |
(You can see last month's 53-man roster prediction here.)
On offense, I'm sticking with two quarterbacks, four running backs and one fullback. I could definitely see Montell Owens making the team over an extra linebacker or safety if it's simply based on the best special teams contributor, but I just think the Lions would get more value out of extra depth on defense. They are pretty stacked at running back, and they don't really need an extra fullback. They also don't really need a third quarterback as long as everyone stays healthy.
At wide receiver, I went with Kris Durham instead of Kevin Ogletree in this 53-man roster prediction. I just have a feeling that Durham will manage to stick around as either the Lions' No. 3 or No. 4 wide receiver. The hope would be that TJ Jones emerges to take one of those spots, but with him opening camp on the PUP list, that seems unlikely.
I didn't make any changes at the other offensive positions, and the defense and special teams are essentially the same as last time. The only real difference is I don't have Chris Houston opening the season on the PUP list since he's no longer even on the team. Aside from that, my predictions for the defense and special teams are unchanged.
Once practice begins and preseason games take place, predicting the 53-man roster will get a lot easier. Position battles will become clearer, and players will emerge as being worthy of a spot on the active roster. For now, there are still a lot of question marks, but what does your 53-man roster look like going into training camp?