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Archives for September 2, 2017

Patriots (Initial) 53-Man Roster Posits

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The Patriots finally got down to 53 players on Saturday night, once again reminding us that the “4pm deadline” means little in practice. Still, there were plenty of surprises throughout the day including three trades, from which the Patriots acquired two new players — Cassius Marsh and Phillip Dorsett.

Here’s how my initial depth chart looks like however it’s important to remember that there are very likely more moves coming and some of the low end surprises on the roster might not even be on there very long. This extends even past this weekend and into the season. The Patriots never stop tinkering and trying to improve, whether injuries force their hands or they just feel like they can get better in a certain spot.

 

Let’s break it down…

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Patriots Acquire Seahawks DE Cassius Marsh

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db8ySqPgjRg

The Patriots made a second trade with the Seahawks on Saturday, shipping a fifth- and seventh-round draft pick to them for defensive end and special teams player Cassius Marsh.

This move might not have had the flash of the Phillip Dorsett trade but it might have even more impact on the team. Yes, Marsh has the prerequisite special teams pedigree but he’s also developing into a solid pass rusher on third downs and that’s a role the Pats were obviously light at ever since losing Derek Rivers to a torn ACL.

But what I like most about the early word about Marsh is what an all-out effort and general pain in the ass kind of player he is. Honestly, that’s what I thought the defense most lacked this season without guys like Ninkovich, Long and Sheard. Their inexperience on the edge was obvious and none of those players outside of Dont’a Hightower and Alan Branch strike much fear into opponents. Solid football players of course, but not many in the mold of Mike Vrabel, the kind of guys who made life hell for the offensive players they lined up across.

Marsh seems like he could be that kind of guy. Plug him into special teams and let him get his feet wet, then throw him out there off the edge on obvious passing downs and let him develop. This was a solid and needed move, and one that could pay then most dividends of all the Patriots trades in recent days.

 

Report: Patriots Trade Brissett to Colts for WR Phillip Dorsett

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There always seems to be a shocker over Labor Day weekend and the reported trade of Jacoby Brissett to the Colts for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett sure fits the bill.

There’s a lot to unpack here. First, let’s start with Brissett who just had the best game of his pro career against the Giants on Thursday night. All signs seem clear now that the Patriots intend on keeping Jimmy Garoppolo, perhaps even past this season when his contract expires. Would they cut a promising player like Brissett loose if they planned on letting Garoppolo walk (or franchise-then-trade him) next season? Probably not. Or at the very least they see another two good years from Brady, which of course they do.

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Cutdown Day is Here

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Strap up, today could get interesting as the Patriots must trim their roster down to 53 players by 4pm EST.

Who knows what Bill Belichick has in store for us today. He already traded Justin Coleman to the Seahawks for a seventh round pick, a move that makes plenty of sense because the Seahawks have always liked Coleman, the Patriots had good corner depth, even with Cyrus Jones blowing his knee out, and the lack of low round picks the Pats had, picks which they often need to swing deals.

The Coleman trade was likely just a precursor to bigger head scratchers today. I don’t know if there’ll be something the size of Seymour-to-the-Raiders or Mankins-to-the-Bucs, but there always seems to be at least one move no one really saw coming.

Whether it’s a player going to IR that we had no idea was seriously injured (Shea McClellin? Tony Garcia), a “lock” that gets cut (no stupid prediction here) or a signing of another team’s cut who instantly gets inserted into a significant role (remember Jarrad Page?) something weird will likely happen today.

And we probably won’t even know until well after the 4pm deadline because that’s just how the Patriots roll.

Get ready, it should be a fun Saturday.