I dnt think we were gonna pass up on starks.. i think we kinda figured out a while ago that long as our oline not getting killed like falee did vs colts, we can get by since we have lamar
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2025 Offseason Thread
- Thread starter Dom McRaven
- Start date
redrum52
Hall of Famer
I respect your lack of concern for spelling his name
The "what I'm hearing" 53 after a really good conversation with my guy...
QB (2): Jackson, Rush
RB (4): Henry, Hill, Mitchell, Ali
FB (1): Ricard
WR (6): Flowers, Bateman, Hopkins, Walker, Wallace, Wester
TE (2): Andrews, Kolar
OL (9): Stanley, Vorhees, Linderbaum, Faalele, Rosengarten, Noteboom, Cleveland, Bullock, Vinson
DL (5): Madubuike, Jones, Washington, Peebles, Jenkins
OLB (6): Van Noy, Oweh, Robinson, Green, Isaac, Ojabo
ILB (4): Smith, Simpson, Buchanan, Hummel
CB (6): Humphrey, Wiggins, Alexander, Awuzie, Tampa, Armour-Davis
S (5): Hamilton, Starks, Kane, Brade, Lowery
ST (3): Loop, Stout, Moore
Getting the big one out of the way... Likely may go on IR. They're much more concerned with him being available late in the season vs. rushing to get him back and not having him at his best when they need him most. This is far from settled and was told this is probably the most 50/50 decision of them all. If they feel the need for another TE, they'd probably stack a couple of the PS and use elevations. There would be some roster shenanigans here if they do opt to go the IR route obviously.
The biggest remaining competition is on the DL:
- they think Jenkins has fit in well and value having a veteran like him around
- they may or may not have already worked something with Urban to where he sticks but doesn't occupy a 53 man spot
- they like Ravenell but the numbers may just not be in his favor
- Okoye is the biggest question mark. They feel like he probably needs another year of mental development before he's ready to take meaningful snaps, but the on field play says what it says.
OL seems largely settled with Bullock winning the last job unless he implodes. They like all of Samac, Dalcourt, Dellinger, and Lichtenhan and would like to keep them on the PS. Seems like they're content waiving them all as of now in hopes that the worst case scenario is losing 1 and getting 3 of 4 back.
Outside of the names mentioned above, Higgins seems to be the only other guy with some real fight for a 53 man spot but he's on the outside looking in. He started real slow this camp and just really started coming on. May be too little too late, but we know some in game performances can still win jobs this time of year.
If Likely shows some progress next week and they opt to keep him on the 53, it seems Ojabo, Ali, and Brade (in no order) have the most tenuous holds on their spots. And they could also opt to keep 10 OL and/or 6 DL which puts one of these names at risk too.
QB (2): Jackson, Rush
RB (4): Henry, Hill, Mitchell, Ali
FB (1): Ricard
WR (6): Flowers, Bateman, Hopkins, Walker, Wallace, Wester
TE (2): Andrews, Kolar
OL (9): Stanley, Vorhees, Linderbaum, Faalele, Rosengarten, Noteboom, Cleveland, Bullock, Vinson
DL (5): Madubuike, Jones, Washington, Peebles, Jenkins
OLB (6): Van Noy, Oweh, Robinson, Green, Isaac, Ojabo
ILB (4): Smith, Simpson, Buchanan, Hummel
CB (6): Humphrey, Wiggins, Alexander, Awuzie, Tampa, Armour-Davis
S (5): Hamilton, Starks, Kane, Brade, Lowery
ST (3): Loop, Stout, Moore
Getting the big one out of the way... Likely may go on IR. They're much more concerned with him being available late in the season vs. rushing to get him back and not having him at his best when they need him most. This is far from settled and was told this is probably the most 50/50 decision of them all. If they feel the need for another TE, they'd probably stack a couple of the PS and use elevations. There would be some roster shenanigans here if they do opt to go the IR route obviously.
The biggest remaining competition is on the DL:
- they think Jenkins has fit in well and value having a veteran like him around
- they may or may not have already worked something with Urban to where he sticks but doesn't occupy a 53 man spot
- they like Ravenell but the numbers may just not be in his favor
- Okoye is the biggest question mark. They feel like he probably needs another year of mental development before he's ready to take meaningful snaps, but the on field play says what it says.
OL seems largely settled with Bullock winning the last job unless he implodes. They like all of Samac, Dalcourt, Dellinger, and Lichtenhan and would like to keep them on the PS. Seems like they're content waiving them all as of now in hopes that the worst case scenario is losing 1 and getting 3 of 4 back.
Outside of the names mentioned above, Higgins seems to be the only other guy with some real fight for a 53 man spot but he's on the outside looking in. He started real slow this camp and just really started coming on. May be too little too late, but we know some in game performances can still win jobs this time of year.
If Likely shows some progress next week and they opt to keep him on the 53, it seems Ojabo, Ali, and Brade (in no order) have the most tenuous holds on their spots. And they could also opt to keep 10 OL and/or 6 DL which puts one of these names at risk too.
ravenslord
Ravens Ring of Honor
I like Higgins . When we stash him on the practice squad,which seems likely ,is he gone?
I doubt it. People get up in arms every year about how X guy is never going to pass through waivers and they do and sit on the PS all year without a sniff of outside interest.
Baltimorican
Pro Bowler
And even when we do lose him we never hear from him again 9/10.
Exactly. They subscribe to the idea that if a guy can't make a 53, he's probably not going to be some star at any point in their career. They think they can develop guys into back end of the roster types if they can stay in house, but the ones that go away and excel are few and far between.
ravenslord
Ravens Ring of Honor
Well Higgins is showing flashes that I can't ignore.
you would say Brade's spot is more tenuous than Lowery's? that's interesting
makes sense to take that volume approach to OL 10 - that's an inactive spot anyway and if they've got 3-4 guys they like, you're basically guaranteed to keep at least 1 on the P/S
how much and in what order we see the LBs and DBs enter will dictate a ton tonight - but moreso the special teams will
otherwise none of this is really that surprising - it's basically what we both already had anyway
dude didnt even enter the game until the 2nd half of preseason 1 - he's not getting picked up by anyone
Much like Bullock, the more I hear about Lowery, the more it comes out how much they like what he’s done. He’s made plays in practice and apparently he’s picked up the defense like it’s nothing. They love his IQ. They think they found another Ar’Darius type of guy.
I personally haven’t seen it, but hey, it’s only 1 game for us. As you alluded to, seeing him get some ST snaps would solidify where he’s at in my own personal rankings.
And just generally speaking, it sounds like Brade started strong and then kind of fizzled out over the summer. Nothing egregiously bad but just a guy kind of stuff. It seems like they’re viewing him as more of a STer that can play S at this point instead of the inverse. That still has some value to them of course, but just hasn’t really done much of note in totality.
They like what Kwenkeu (although he’s not healthy currently) and Martin have done too, so I don’t think they’re pressed on Higgins by himself right now. Not saying he’s out of the race but he’s not done enough to say he’s a must keep quite yet. Will be curious to see if he gets some front line ST run tonight, because that’s how a guy like Higgins is actually going to make it.
notably kwenkeu entered first and didnt stay on the field long (albeit could just be a veteran vs rookie thing too)
special teams is obviously the key to those last few spots
I've got RB4 vs OL10 vs DL6 vs EDGE6 vs LB5 vs DB11 for 2 spots
RB4 is Ali
OL10 could be Samac, Dalcourt or Dellinger
DL6 is Brent Urban (but if he's got a underhand PS deal then it's Okoye or Ravenell - how those 2 do tonight will be be a big bellweather of how much they'll factor into this initial 53 decision)
EDGE6 is Ojabo (potentially Isaac, either way this is probably pretty much locked now anyway)
LB5 could be Kwenkeu, Martin or Higgins
DB11 is whichever one of Lowery or Brade isn't DB10
right now I've got Ali and Ojabo
if Likely's really opening the season on I/R then for me it's probably DB11
Doing some special teams analysis in terms of usage and entries:
The starting units of each kind:
Kickoff Return:
Kirkwood, Kolar, Simpson, Buchanan, Kane, Brade, Hummel, Wallace, JAD, Ali, Mitchell
Kickoff Coverage:
JAD, Wallace, Isaac, Hummel, Ali, Kwenkeu, Buchanan, Kane, Kirkwood, Tampa, Loop
2nd Kickoff: Keyon Martin, Cunningham, Hamm, Hummel, Miller, Kwenkeu, Brade, Kane, Kirkwood, Tampa, Loop
Punt Return:
Mitchell, Kwenkeu, Ojabo, Hummel, Buchanan, Wallace, Starks, Tampa, JAD, Kane, Wester
On the Punt return TD (2nd punt), Ali replaced Mitchell, Isaac replaced Ojabo, Kirkwood replaced Wallace (key blocks from Starks, Buchanan, JAD, Tampa and Hummel
Punt Coverage:
Igbinosun, Hummel, Isaac, Moore, Simpson, Brade, Buchanan, Tampa, Walker (Gunner), Miller (Gunner), Stout
FG Defence:
Kone (I/R), Kane, JAD, Green, Peebles, Penning, Buchanan, Isaac, Simpson, Starks, Tampa
FG Protection:
Mitchell-Paden, Penning, Noteboom, Faalele, Moore, Vorhees, Cleveland, RR, Kolar, Stout, Loop
Some of these guys are top special teamers from last year: Kane, Kolar, Wallace, Simpson, Brade
We have key snaps to replace from Chris Board, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch - buchanan and hummel look like they'll pick up a bunch of that slack
And other key special teamers who aren't accounted for because they were rested in preseason 1: Tavius Robinson
If I were to put my detective hat on... Brade might not be a lock but if he isn't on the roster they lose even more snaps to replace from last year's special teams units, Kwenkeu might have the real best chance for LB5, Kirkwood has a real shot at the 53 (or at least being elevated on gamedays)
maybe it's a rookie thing but no sign of Lowery, Higgins, Chandler Martin in those early special teams units
will be big for their chances if we spot any of them early on tonight
The starting units of each kind:
Kickoff Return:
Kirkwood, Kolar, Simpson, Buchanan, Kane, Brade, Hummel, Wallace, JAD, Ali, Mitchell
Kickoff Coverage:
JAD, Wallace, Isaac, Hummel, Ali, Kwenkeu, Buchanan, Kane, Kirkwood, Tampa, Loop
2nd Kickoff: Keyon Martin, Cunningham, Hamm, Hummel, Miller, Kwenkeu, Brade, Kane, Kirkwood, Tampa, Loop
Punt Return:
Mitchell, Kwenkeu, Ojabo, Hummel, Buchanan, Wallace, Starks, Tampa, JAD, Kane, Wester
On the Punt return TD (2nd punt), Ali replaced Mitchell, Isaac replaced Ojabo, Kirkwood replaced Wallace (key blocks from Starks, Buchanan, JAD, Tampa and Hummel
Punt Coverage:
Igbinosun, Hummel, Isaac, Moore, Simpson, Brade, Buchanan, Tampa, Walker (Gunner), Miller (Gunner), Stout
FG Defence:
Kone (I/R), Kane, JAD, Green, Peebles, Penning, Buchanan, Isaac, Simpson, Starks, Tampa
FG Protection:
Mitchell-Paden, Penning, Noteboom, Faalele, Moore, Vorhees, Cleveland, RR, Kolar, Stout, Loop
Some of these guys are top special teamers from last year: Kane, Kolar, Wallace, Simpson, Brade
We have key snaps to replace from Chris Board, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch - buchanan and hummel look like they'll pick up a bunch of that slack
And other key special teamers who aren't accounted for because they were rested in preseason 1: Tavius Robinson
If I were to put my detective hat on... Brade might not be a lock but if he isn't on the roster they lose even more snaps to replace from last year's special teams units, Kwenkeu might have the real best chance for LB5, Kirkwood has a real shot at the 53 (or at least being elevated on gamedays)
maybe it's a rookie thing but no sign of Lowery, Higgins, Chandler Martin in those early special teams units
will be big for their chances if we spot any of them early on tonight
That’s pretty much where it’s at. There’s 2 or 3 spots open for a multitude of different guys regardless of position. May end up that they keep the guys the fear losing the most and they’ll figure out the rest later.
And in conjunction with this, what 5 sit?
OL9 (Vinson), DL5 (Peebles), and OLB5 (Isaac most likely) are probably 3 shoe-ins to be on the inactive list week to week.
Leaves you with Wallace, Walker, Kolar, Robinson (maybe graduated from ST duties)/Green/Isaac, Simpson, Buchanan, Hummel, Armour-Davis, Tampa, Kane, and maybe Brade looking like your core coverage unit guys on paper. So you have the bodies already.
At that point, you may opt for the non-STers since you have 2 more to sit anyways. If the need arises, we know they're not afraid to go to the PS for elevations, which is how guys like Hollman and Kwenkeu got any game time at all last year.
my guess is despite the camp reports, tez is gonna ride the inactives
we'll see but i dont see him being an effective enough gunner really (let alone ahead of Tylan Wallace or JAD) to get himself activated (and other guys offer more value on other ST units too)
my guess for 5 IAs on a weekly basis assuming no injuries: Vinson, Peebles, Isaac/Ojabo, Walker, Mitchell/Ali
which is why i've landed on 6 OLBs after that first preseason game, they all have way too much talent to offer to just give up on and clearly both isaac and ojabo are above replacement level
and with their pedigree, more likely someone will actually claim those guys
whereas the random late day 3/udfa guys who are mostly playing in the 2nd halves of preseason games are not going to get claimed, and if they do... honestly who cares...
you want your name to spelt correctly, you need to play well.
