Preseason Predictions: Gameday 45

by ERL on Jul 1, 2009 4:56 PM EDT

We know that each week, the 45 players that dress can vary depending on match ups. Lets pretend we don't know who our opponent is. This is my best guess before camp opens in a month.

QB: Jake Delhomme, Josh McCown

HB: DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Mike Goodson

FB: Brad Hoover, Tony Fiametta

WR: Steve Smth, Mushin Muhammad, Dewayne Jarrett, Ryne Robinson

TE: Jeff King, Donte Rosario

OL: Jordan Gross, Travelle Wharton, Ryan Kalil, Kedrick Vincent, Jeff Otah, Duke Robinson, Geoff Schwartz

DE: Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson, Tyler Brayton, Everette Brown

DT: Maake Kemoaatu, Damione Lewis, Corvey Irvin

OLB: Thomas Davis, Nail Diggs, Landon Johnson, James Anderson

MLB: Jon Beason, Dan Connor

CB: Chris Gamble, Richard Marshall, Sherrod Martin, CJ Wilson

FS: Charles Godfrey, Nate Salley

SS: Chris Harris, Quinton Teal

K: Jon Kasay, Rhys Lloyd

P: Jason Baker

LS: JJ Jensen

Analysis

There are no real surprises here. If you are looking for holes in my prediction, start with the FB position. Do you need 2 active Fullbacks? No. But Fiametta is the kind of player Fox loves. He will be an asset on special teams. Ryne Robinson edges out Jason Carter because he did it as a rookie two years ago. Once you've logged snaps for Fox, getting beaten out becomes virtually impossible (see Nail Diggs). Gary Barnidge looses out on a spot because Fiametta's special team capabilities. MacKenzy Barnedeau has a real chance to dress most weeks because he is the only other player that will make the 53 man roster that can play center, but since there are two guards and only one center, Robinson has a greater chance of dressing every week. Schwartz may lose his uniform to Barnedeau on game days if Ryan Kalil becomes injury prone.

Only three D tackles? Well, Tyler Brayton will kick inside on passing downs while Maake waddles off the field (only to waddle back on after Ken Lucas gives up a 3rd and 12), wait.... The addition of Everette Brown leaves Hilee Taylor on the practice squad. The Linebackers are fairly set, unless Mortty Ivy impresses enough on special teams to edge out the fourth safety, Quinton Teal. Who would you take off this list and who is their replacement?

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Comments

Who are your theoretical inactives?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 1, 2009 5:36 PM EDT reply actions

I like most of this...

Although I don’t see Teal getting a regular jersey and I do see Barnidge and Bernadeau active. We almost always activate three TEs (even when Barnidge wasn’t doing anything on offense) and eight OLs. Plus we need a backup center with a jersey.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 1, 2009 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Michael,
In hindsight I believe that Barnedeau will dress 16 games. Perhaps at the expense of a 4th safety. However, last year we would sometimes dress only 7 OL. I recall Gross and Kalil being injured in the same game, and one more injury would have resulted in Jeff King playing Tackle. If we dress only 7, it may depend on who has more versatility between Schwartz and Robinson. IMO Robinson would have a slight edge assuming he could play some RT. We are hearing that Barnidge is progressing nicely. It would make sense to dress the 3rd TE, but then you have to assume that we dress just Hoover, and not Fiametta. Who do you like more?

My inactives would be Cadogan, Favorite, Carter (assuming he is practice squad eligible), Hilee, Moore (emergency QB), Scirrotto, Captain (edges out Wesley in the last round of cuts), and Teal (giving Barnadeau the nod). Mortty Ivy, mentioned above, I think has a decent shot at making the 53.

by ERL on Jul 1, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Carter has no PS eligibility.

You lose it when you go on IR. Hilee Taylor has used his up, too, having been on the active roster all year last year. I don’t see Scirotto making the team, or Ivy. Don’t know who would fit over Scirotto, but Heygood’s got more upside than Ivy.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Scirotto, Diggs

It seemed like Indy always had player like Scirotto in the defensive backfield when Meeks was there…slowish but intelligent, a hitter. Yes, he is a dark-horse for sure. But generally the DC will get to handpick a guy or two.

As for your question below, its not so much who has been on the roster that has not been able to beat out Diggs, but more the fact that we’ve been complacent, never truly pushing him in camp. You can say Landon Johnson, sure, but if he were to start, Davis would have to go back to the Sam, as Johnson is more of a Will. Watch, Dan Connor will not really be given an opportunity to beat out Diggs this year. If you are getting reps with the 2’s in practice its hard to look like a starter. Plus Fox will want to ease him in after his knee injury as not to jeopardize his career.

I guess Diggs is the best SAM we have. I’m just surprised that he has held down that spot since what, 2004? He has little upside except he is a beast on special teams.

by ERL on Jul 2, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

'06, actually...

OLBs ’04 and ’05 were Witherspoon in both years on one side and Fields, then Short on the other side.

I understand your concerns that he isn’t really a gamechanger, but then again, if you’ve got a couple of those in Beason and Davis, maybe reliability and steady play is what you’re looking for to round out the unit, and he certainly always knows what he’s doing and is in the right place.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions