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State of the Cats: Predicting the Final 53 Post Preaseason Week 3 Ed

Week three of four of the preseason is in the books and we are guaranteed a .500 record for the preseason regardless of how the final game Thurs Night versus the Steelers works out.

All In All it has been a decent preseason , albeit disrupted by injuries to C. Johnson, Star, Short, K. Benjamin, S. Hill, F. Alexander, R. Kalil. Still I like our team and the direction we are heading towards. Kalil, Star, Short, & C. Johnson should be ready to go week one versus the Jaguars which is all I am worried about like so many.

On to the predictions - roster cuts looming in the coming weeks.

Offense: (x26)

QB: (x3)

Newton, Anderson, Webb

Nothing has changed here, solid group and Webb has impressed me all preseason something I didn't think would occur however I am glad it has.

HB: (x4)

J. Stewart, F. Whittaker, Artis-Payne, Wegher

Todman still does not pop to me and for a guy where special teams is suppose to be his calling card he really hasn't done much. Granted he has run okay against second and third string defenses but he is a veteran and that is nothing to really be super excited nor proud of. B. Wegher helps take the sting out of losing Gaffney a year or so ago to the Patriots.

FB: (x2)

Tolbert, L. Ward

Lee Ward back on the final 53, after seeing him get R. Brockel's reps and the fact that B. Williams is back to serve as the number three TE one has to wonder if Brockel is as safe as some of us originally once thought he was. Ward reminds us all of Brad Hoover and we have been pulling for this kid since day one. For me he has earned it I just hope the coaching staff agrees. I was on the fence when I put him on the practice squad last week however I just love his game and I want to keep him so I did. Plus it would be nice to have an in house replacement ready to roll when 2016 preseason rolls around b/c Tolbert is a UFA in 2016 and that always draws the question of said player being resigned.

TE: (x3)

Olsen, Dickson, Williams

Brandon Williams returns and the coaching staff is super excited. Williams if healthy gets the final reserve TE spot instead of R. Brockel. Brockel also had limited reps last night as a FB as well losing out to Lee Ward. Could this be the end of the Brockel experiment in the Carolinas ?? Perhaps it maybe that time...

WR: (x6)

Funchess, Boykin, Ginn Jr, Cotchery, Brown, Bersin ,

Cotchery really looked decent last night and C. Brown was a mess dropping everything in sight but he is still at worst a deep threat like Ginn Jr so he stays without a doubt. Bersin has had a strong preseason as well with a nice catch last night coming across the middle . Funchess we haven't seen a lot from but without K. Benjamin for the year the second round pick is going to have to figure it out quickly to take the pressure off of G. Olsen who is going to be blanketed by double and triple teams most of the season without K. Benjamin. Still the group of WR's could use an upgrade for the year so if their is someone out their , G-Man will be shopping especially after the final roster cutdowns but if not look for J. Boykin to start opposite Funchess at some point and it seems very unlikely that G-Man will add any other WR's unless more injuries arise b/c you cannot replace K.Benjamin we just have to adjust our gameplan/coaching for the year and move forward until he returns next season.

OT: (x4)

Oher, Remmers, D. Williams, N. Chandler

Chandler looks to have hit his wall as a OT and cannot take the pounding I swear we should just move him back to OG full time and stop this experiment with him playing OT. He is clearly not a LT but he is still better then T. Hills or Foucault neither of which I would keep on the final at this point. Plus the only reason T. Hills was brought in along with Wallace was b/c J. Martin retired before the beginning of the preseason an neither have done anything earth shattering at this point to warrant a spot.

OG: (x3)

Norwell, Turner, Scott, Chandler (reserve LG)

Nothing has really changed here either. Amini remains the issue again but Rick Henry has had a decent camp so anything is possible. If I had to choose between Amini versus Henry I am going with Amini . Henry is simply a journeyman OG with injury question marks of his own just ask KC Chiefs fans from last season. For now Amini could start the year on the PUP list and be taken off later in the season. This saves us from IR Amini & saves us a roster spot as well. I would only carry x3 OG's b/c Chandler can play both guard spots & OT as well . If injuries arise you can always find OG's much easier then other positions on your roster.

PUP List: Amini Silatolu

C: (x1)

Kalil

Only one true center on the final 53 this season. Folkerts looked bad even before he twisted his ankle last night coupled that with the fact that Remmers & C. Scott & J. McCray have all been able to take their turn as the reserve center throughout preseason an our Oline continues to look strong aka it doesn't look good for Folkerts making the team this season.

Defense: (x24)

DT: (x5)

Star, Short, Cole, Edwards, K. Love

K. Love has really turned up his game and if at the end of the season he continues his good play then he could be the in house replacement to the aging but still effective Colin Cole at the reserve NT spot. D. Edwards looked great last night as well. Solid core of five great DT's here.

DE: (x4)

Ealy, Addison, C. Johnson, W. Horton

R. Cox has also come back down to earth after a strong showing early in training camp. It happens every year we get super excited about a training camp warrior like a R. Cox but honestly he needs to go to the practice squad for a season to work on his run stopping ability. Horton & Addison are good enough reserves to get by and Kaly looked great last night as the starter opposite what will be C. Johnson's spot.

OLB: (x4)

T. Davis, Thompson, Klein, Glanton

Trusnik still does nothing to excite me and I am keeping the best 53 players as I see it . Klein may not be the best to some of you but he can play all three LB spots and special teams making keeping an aging veteran like Trusnik not necessary. K. Reddick has had a down camp this season to and seems to be an easy cut at this point.


MLB: (x2)

Kuechly, Mayo

Mayo is a decent talent and Kuechly is a beast. Love this pairing at MLB now & for the future.

CB: (x5)

J. Norman, C. Tillman, Benwikere, M. White, T. Williams

T. Williams is playing better and almost could have had a nice big time special teams hit last night. The guy has speed and that cannot be taught. Other then that the group is unchanged from last week. White regressed some in the Patriots game last night but is a solid reserve CB .

S: (x4)

Harper, Coleman, Boston, C. Jones

Again no new surprises here. Panther's coaches love Coleman and he had an INT last night. Coleman - FS, Harper- SS personally I don't know what our plan is now with Tre Boston maybe moving him to SS after this season when Harper's contract is up ? Maybe even during the season ? Of course Coleman can play both spots but he is clearly more comfortable and bette of playing the FS position in our defensive scheme.

Specialists: (x3)

Gano, Nortman, Jansen

Unchanged and awesome trio of special teams aces.

Practice Squad (x8)

D. Foucault- OT

M. Lucas- TE

D. Marlowe- FS

T. Redden - DT

R. Cox - DE

D. Byrd- WR

J. McCray - OG

C. Byndom - CB

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