Roster Predicition / Roster cuts

[twylyght]

I have yet to see a comprehensive list, so I thought I'd add this one. If there is one, fuggit, I'm doing one anyway. I got the player listing from the website and thought I simply go down the line by position to see where the battles lie for who is playing for a roster spot:

Center

IN

Ryan Kalil No competition

Cornerback

IN

Chris Gamble

Richard Marshall

Captain Munnerlyn

BUBBLE

RJ Stanford

CJ Wilson

Brian Witherspoon

Defensive End

IN

Tyler Brayton

Everett Brown

Greg Hardy

Charles Johnson

BUBBLE

Eric Moore

Hilee Taylor

Defensive Tackle

IN

Tank Tyler

Louis Leonard

Ed Johnson

BUBBLE

Derek Landri

Nick Hayden

Corey Irvin

FullBack

IN

Tony Fiametta

Rashawn Jackson

Guard

IN

Travell Wharton

BUBBLE

Mackenzy Benadeau

Duke Robinson

Kickers

IN

John Kasay

Jason Baker

BUBBLE

Todd Carter

LineBacker

IN

Eric Norwood

James Anderson

Jon Beason

Dan Connor

JJ Jansen No competition for Long Snapper

BUBBLE

Jamar Williams

QuarterBack

IN

Matt Moore

Jimmy Clausen

BUBBLE

Hunter Cantwell

Tony Pike

Running Back

IN

Mike Goodson I deliberated on this one, but I think he is D'Los scheduled replacement

Jonathan Stewart

DeAngelo Williams

BUBBLE

Tyrell Sutton

Safety

IN

Charles Godfrey

Sherrod Martin

BUBBLE

Aaron Francisco

Marcus Hudson

Jordan Pugh

Tackle

IN

Jordan Gross

Jeff Otah

Geoff Schwartz

BUBBLE

Rob Petitti

Tight End

IN

Gary Barnidge

Jeff King

Dante Rosario

Wide Receiver

IN

Steve Smith

Brandon LaFell High draft pick. Can't stash on practice squad

Armanti Edwards See above

BUBBLE

David Gettis

Trent Guy

Dwayne Jarrett

Charly Martin

Kenneth Moore

Wallace Wright

For those keeping count, that shows 37 slots showing as locks with 25 other guys fighting for the remaining 16 roster spots. Before you go presuming that this is an easy set of cuts, allow my thoughts on the matter (which won't matter in a few days anway):

The first major competition comes to CB. With three locks, we have three guys fighting for what I believe is only room for one spot. Right now, of the bubble guys, I think Brian Witherspoon may have gained an edge over CJ Wilson with this past game. I don't see the rookie Stanford having much of a hope outside of being stashed on the practic squad.

Next up is DE. With what looks to be four OUTSTANDING locks, Eric Moore looks to being the only one truly making a case for making roster room for an extra. He is a 5th year guy, so practic squad is out of the question.

At DT, we have 3 guys that have shown to be the solid core guys we will need for the year. The three bubble guys here have at least 1 position that they are shooting to fill if not 2. I can't see the coaching staff justifying a 6th spot for a DT. Mr Landri has continued to make a case for himself the last two games. The other two of these guys are listed as 2nd year vets. This last game may prove to be the biggest competition outside of WR for roster spots. If nothing else, we probably keep 4 DTs and stash the younger two on the practic squad (though I don't know if Hayden is eligible under current NFL rules).

We will likely keep all 3 Guards though Duke Robinson is trying to play himself out of town.

Todd Carter is probably a lock, but if there is a numbers crunch, we will likely have to cut someone we don't want to cut as a result. The same holds true for the QBs Cantwell and Pike. I can see us stashing Pike on the Practic Squad, but the roster spot might prove to be too valuable on decision day to keep 3 QBs on the 53 man roster.

At LB, my first inclination was to assume that Jamar Williams was a lock. he likely still is, but he may end up being a massive surprise on cut day if it comes down to a numbers game.

At RB, it pains me to say it, but Tyrell Sutton is playing for his job. I am rooting like hell for him, but again, the numbers game is killing us. An extra kicker and a 3rd QB just might end up being his demise for this team.

Safety poses another interesting position battle. Depending on how the coaching staff wants to go, there are 1 or 2 spots up for grabs for the 3 bubble guys. Of the three, Jordan Pugh has shown the most potential while Francisco is counting on being a special teams ace. Hudson has gained some ground with his last outing. The only happy ending I see for all three guys is for Pugh to end up on the PS while the other two make it. However, again, the number crunch is coming up fast and Francisco and Hudson will have the option of playing themselves in or out this Thursday.

At Tackle, if Rob Petiti gets in it is a numbers thing to have bodies on the line. Schwartz might get the nod to fully replace him, but I doubt it.

Last but not east is the almight WR battle. The coaching staff may get away with putting Wright on IR, but I don't see how they can slip Guy on there with a hamstring injury. I expect Guy to see the practic squad. Martin and Gettis are likely bound for the practic squad as well, but it is not a guarantee for either.

This leave Jarrett and Moore. THAT decision rest on A LOT of different factors. Does the coaching staff want a backup for Steve Smith in case he gets injured again? Do they think Armanti can become that guy with time over the course of the season? These answers will most affect the decision to keep or let Moore go. As for Jarrett, the questions are is he good enough for a possession receiver to keep the chains moving? Is LaFell good enough to fill that role or does he need more time to develop?

Then of course, we haven't even considered the prospect of bring in someone that has been cut from another team. Depending on who that is, and what skillset they bring to the table will go towards making this decision as well. Lastly, again, is the numbers game.

For those still keeping score, we HAVE to cut 9 of those 25 bubble guys. If we keep Carter for special kickoffs and Pike/Cantwell for a 3rd QB, we have 14 positions left for grabs. If that is the case, then I see some iteration of the following panning out:

DT Derek Landri

DT Nick Hayden

CB Brian Witherspoon

CB CJWilson

DE Eric Moore

G Mackenzy Benadeau

G Duke Robinson

LB Jamar Williams

RB Tyrell Sutton

S Jordan Pugh

S Marcus Hudson

T Rob Petiti

WR Dwayne Jarrett

WR Kenneth Moore

Practice Squad

RJ Stanford

Tony Pike

David Gettis

Trent Guy

Josh Vaughn

[Woodie]

People need to just accept the fact that there is NO WAY that Jarrett gets cut. He will be the #2 WR on opening day.

I'm not so sure. I think at this point, it's a 50/50 proposition. The biggest thing Jarrett has going for him is that he is a veteran that knows the offense. However, I think he needed to clearly distance himself from the other receivers to lock in his spot on the team, and he hasn't. I don't think he's been bad, but probably shown himself to be a #3 at best. And since LaFell has been about the same, and brings much of the same skillset that Jarrett does, but with more speed, I could easily see the team going with the rookie.

IMO, I think one of the biggest factors will be how the team views some of the young guys. Forget what we fans think, if Fox & co. see a lot of promise and and really like Gettis and/or Guy, I could see them keep either one or both (particularly if they are not confident they will make it through waivers to get them on the PS). It will also depend on what they do with Moore and if they go with 5 or 6 WR's (I think they go 6 since it is such a questionable position for us). If Moore is cut, then Jarrett's chances increase, but would still be far from a lock.

At this point, I think it's pretty obvious that Smith, LaFell, Edwards, and Wright (for ST, if no other reason), so, at best, we have Guy, Gettis, Jarrett, and Moore fighting for two spots, and possibly only one.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I think everyone of those guys would be claimed off of our practice squad.

I think Guy goes to IR and we find a way to hold on to Stanford and Gettis. Pike probably will get put on the practice squad, from which he'll be claimed pretty quickly. Not sure about Vaughan.

[weyco2000]

By that logic, Jeff King has one catch for 6 yards - looks like he's out too.

Jeff King is a TE and not the #1 option in the passing game (while Smitty is out) I'm just wondering why you keep him, because his production says he's gone. I think Panther fan's have hoped and prayed he would be the replacement for Moose, but it hasn't panned out.

[Dpantherman]

Dwayne Jarrett is not getting cut

[invisible38833]

This is going to be Coach Fox and GM Hurney's toughest final cut in their tenure here. But here goes my position by position analysis:

QB: Moore, Claussen, Cantwell. Try to sneak Pike on Practice squad, but probably gone.

RB: Williams, Stewart, Goodsen, Sutton. Fiammetta. No questions

TE: King, Rosario, Barnidge. No questions

OL: Gross, Wharton, Kalil, Bernadeau, Otah, Schwartz, Robinson, Davis, Williams (you could change the last two for two other inactive guys)

WR: Smitty, Someone not on the roster, Lafell, Edwards, Guy. Now if Wright does not go on IR, then he will make it and Guy will not. Gettis will hopefully go on the practice squad. Moore and Jarrett will be cut and another WR will be signed I hope. If not, Jarrett makes the team.

Special Teams: Kasay, Baker, Jensen (LS) and Carter. (ouch that second kicker need hurts the game day roster)

DE: Breaton, Johnson, Brown, Hardy, Moore

DT: Johnson, Leonard, Tyler, Landri

I believe that Irvin, Hayden and Taylor are gone. Remember, Johnson and Breaton can play DT in passing situations too!

LB: Beason, Conner, Anderson, Williams, Norwood, and Ivy or Harris or Culbertson(really who cares about the sixth spot)

CB: Marshall, Gamble, Captain, Stanford, Witherspoon. Goodbye CJ

S: Godfrey, Martin, Pugh, Hudson. I am waivering on Francisco or Witherspoon, but if ABS can't get healthy he will have to leave.

That folks is 53. Inactives on game day will be even tougher:

Cantwell, last LB, at least one CB, Two OL, Sutton or Goodson, 3rd QB and there will need to be one more. THat is where the extra kicker is a killer on game day. I guess it will Armanti. That would be 8 guys inactive on game day. There is a lot to think about here. What do you think?

[Dpantherman]

**http://www.carolinahuddle.com/forum/carolina-panthers/42404-official-cuts-thread.html**

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/forum/carolina-panthers/42454-the-who-makes-it-speculation-thread.html

[Dpantherman]

and we have as sticky thread for this already

[Guild]

Dwayne Jarrett is not getting cut

Yeah he is.

[Dpantherman]

If DJ gets cut Ill be sure to put "Kral was Right" under my name for the entire season

[CharlotteBeer.com]

What about Beaux Berry?

[Dpantherman]

what do you want?!

[Guild]

If DJ gets cut Ill be sure to put "Kral was Right" under my name for the entire season

I won't hold you to that.

Honestly I'm uncertain about it. I think one could make a good case either way. We'll see what the team thinks soon enough though.

[Dpantherman]

lol....I wouldn't bet money on it. I just think they are going to ride this horse for one more season