Annual Predict the Final Roster Thread: 2010 Version

Anyone who thinks Devin Thomas is going to be the #2 or #3 WR against the Cowboys is high on drugs.

I'm floating over the clouds. I'll go Moss, Galloway, Thomas, with Galloway starting only because it's big game under the lights and he's an experienced vet but nice the skins offense gets into it's groove Armstrong will come right in.

And I take my chances with Banks on the practice squad. He won't be the last little speedster to come along

I think Austin makes it as the #4, Thomas may make it as the #5 and Banks is a practice squader at best. Thomas is not consistent. Sometimes he makes a nice block or catch, but he counters that with those wtf moments in which you wonder what the hell he's doing. Banks is even more inconsistent than Thomas though, as his inconsistency involves putting the ball on the ground.

24 offensive players
QB: McNabb, Grossman, Beck
RB: Portis, Parker, Williams
FB: Sellers
WR: Moss, Galloway, Armstrong, Austin, Thomas
TE: Cooley, Davis, Paulsen
OL: T. Williams, Dock, Rabach, Hicks, Brown, Heyer, Lichensteiger, Capers, Montgomery

26 defensive players
DE: Carriker, Daniels, Holliday, Golston, Jarmon
NT: Kemoeatu, Haynesworth
OLB: Orakpo, Alexander, Wilson, A. Carter
ILB: Fletch, Rocky, Riley, Henson
CB: Hall, Rogers, Barnes, Tryon, Buchanon, Robinson
SS: Horton, Doughty, T. Carter, Landry
FS: Moore

Special Teams(3)
Gano
Bidwell
Sundberg

Here's mine:

Offense: 26
QB [3]: McNabb, Grossman, Beck
RB [4]: Portis, Johnson, Torain K.Williams [Just don't think Parker played his way onto the team and Torain/Williams can be developmental/ST
FB [1]: Sellers
WR [5]: Moss, Galloway, Armstrong, Thomas, Austin. Banks to the Practice Squad [Love the little guy, but count me as one who thinks his fumblitis is his doom]
TE [3]: Davis, Cooley, Paulsen [Couple of nice catches, plus couple of penalities/drops by Vickers]
OL [10]: Williams, Brown, Dockery, Rabach, Hicks, Heyer, Capers, Lichtensteiger, Rinehart, Cook.

Defense: 24
DL [7]: Haynesworth, Kemo, Carriker, Daniels, Jarmon, Golston, Holliday
OLB [4]: Alexander, Orakpo, Carter, Wilson,
ILB [5]: Rocky, Fletcher, Blades, Riley, Henson [hopefully]
CB [4]: Rogers, Hall, Buchanon, Tryon, Barnes
S [4]: Moore, Doughty, Landry, Carter

Special Teamers 3
K: Gano
P: Bidwell
LS: Sundberg

If Henson goes on IR then we keep Horton.

Other than being the most talented guy we have that is.

Look he has the best combo of speed and size on the team. He isn't a drop machine despite the revisionism that is going on here. The knock on him has always been just focusing and going about his job in a pro manner. Honestly the only WR I keep over him is Moss. The guy deserves one more chance to make it work in a real offense with real coaches. Just based on his potential we'd be morons to cut him.

So far 2 years of potential hasn't meant dick on the field. I really, really, really hope he turns out to be a decent pro, but based on what we've seen so far, I don't know how we can expect that.

I'm floating over the clouds. I'll go Moss, Galloway, Thomas, with Galloway starting only because it's big game under the lights and he's an experienced vet but nice the skins offense gets into it's groove Armstrong will come right in.

And I take my chances with Banks on the practice squad. He won't be the last little speedster to come along

If Galloway stays, he won't be around long. Unless we somehow bring in a real stud, i think Moss and Thomas will be our starting wideouts by week 4, with Moss moving to the slot when Armstrong comes in on 3 receiver sets.

banks has put the ball on the ground more times than he's done anything significant with it. add to that his ridiculously small size and its hard to make a case for his presence on the team. a guy his size isnt going to last more than one or two years in the league, especially if he's constantly getting leveled on punt returns. if banks had run 2 returns for TDs in the preseason, had consistently yielded returns of 25+ yards while not putting the ball on the ground once, could contribute to offense, and the team had no other viable return options, i could see us keeping him on the team. but he's clearly not worth a space on the 53 man roster, let alone a spot as one of the 45 eligible to play on gamedays. personally, i wouldnt even waste a practice squad spot on him.Well, ultimately, Shanahan still has to cut him. Certainly, he started as a long shot to make the roster, and probably is still something of a long shot. I don't know what he's actually planning to do with Brandon Banks on this team, but the cut down is 24 hours away. If you think the decision to cut him has already been made, well, I don't think that's the case.

Someone is going to get cut though, so that's probably Banks until further notice. Again, I've broken down the roster, and I don't think there's a lot of reason to keep both Banks and Thomas (they might, if the receivers on the waiver wire are unimpressive). And I think the decision just has most to do with what they think Banks can be on this team than anything Thomas is/can be.

I'm floating over the clouds. I'll go Moss, Galloway, Thomas, with Galloway starting only because it's big game under the lights and he's an experienced vet but nice the skins offense gets into it's groove Armstrong will come right in.

And I take my chances with Banks on the practice squad. He won't be the last little speedster to come alongPuff, puff, pass. I'm with you on this one.

If Galloway stays, he won't be around long. Unless we somehow bring in a real stud, i think Moss and Thomas will be our starting wideouts by week 4, with Moss moving to the slot when Armstrong comes in on 3 receiver sets.

In this scenario why not just leave Armstrong in the slot? I think he may be perfect for it.

Route running matters more to a WR because it makes up 80-90% of why they get separation. Chad Ochocinco certainly knows about it, and I'm not about to question his expertise.
Physical gifts are is nice, but not having the right "instincts" and body control is why Devin is going to be mediocre or just "good depth" instead of a great WR.

Route running is also in important is because your QB has trust the WR will run the correct route. Speed is not always the most important in running routes its coming out of your breaks that make sepration which means quickness is also very important.

And we can't knock Galloway...they have him reeled in by design. This off-season has been about figuring out if Thomas can ever be good (nothing has shown that he can't) and deciding whether either Banks or Austin have potential. At the end of the day I don't think it is debatable that Thomas has been one of our best 5 WRs. Who has been better? Moss, Armstrong....then who? Not Banks for sure..maybe Austin..maybe not.

Look people we know Moss is money during the season but he has to have another WR to take the pressure off him. I say Thomas or even Armstrong maybe that WR. Galloway will not be much of a impact this season but he will make some plays. I also like Terrence Austins ability to get open and run after the catch ability. Remember he ran punts and kicks back at UCLA. Austin is quick out of his breaks. We have to give our young guys a chance to play they have youth and athletic ability over Galloway. Mile Austin played on the Cowboys when TO and Roy Williams were the focal point but look now he got his chance to play and now he is their #1 WR. Sometimes we most let a young WR get his chance to play. Galloway needs to be released give me Thomas, Moss , Austin, Armstrong and Banks. Youth, Speed and Athletic abiltiy will make plays for us.