Reading Between the Cuts
Posted 9/6 by David Dodds, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
The preseason is full of feel good stories, deceptive depth charts, unknown injuries, etc. But then the final roster cuts come and we get a better picture of what might be going on with the teams. This is my interpretation of what these skill position cuts might mean. Listed alphabetically by team.
TE Leonard Pope, Ari - This cut means very little as the Cardinals rarely use their TE. Steven Spach, Ben Patrick and Anthony Becht will hold down the fort.
WR Robert Ferguson, Atl - This reaffirms to me that they plan on using TE Tony Gonzalez a lot in this offense. I doubt we see many 4 WR sets in Atlanta.
WR Justin Harper, Bal - This tells me that Derrick Mason looks as good as ever and they are pleased with Kelley Washington's improvement. This also seems to support they believe that Todd Heap could have a big year. He is WAY undervalued in drafts happening now.
RB Cedric Peerman, Bal - To me this means the team is confident that McGahee is OK. Ray Rice is still the starter, but should he fail the team is comfortable rolling with Willis McGahee this year. I think this cut actually has me wanting to avoid this trio even more now as it looks like all three backs (Rice, McGahee and McClain) will have vital roles in this RBBC. Good luck guessing who to play each week. Had Peerman remained, I would be more apt to think McGahee was not being counted for much elevating Rice's worth. Note: The team did retain Jalen Parmele, but he is a non-factor.
RB Dominic Rhodes, Buf - When your star back is facing a three-game suspension and you still can't make the team there is a BIG reason. And that reason is the outstanding play of Xavier Omon. He and Fred Jackson will carry the workload while Lynch serves his suspension. Rhodes may have seen his last carries in the NFL.
WR David Patten, Cle - This tells me that the rookies are progressing well enough to make a move towards youth starting now. When the losses start to mount, I expect to see Massaquoi and Robiskie a lot more.
WR Isiah Stanbeck, Dal - Not sure this tells us much of anything. He never really was able to make the transition from QB to WR and the team has decided to move on. I still think this team would like to add a wide receiver soon.
Of the Denver RBs, only Darius Walker was cut - This is a prety big red flag for me regarding the health of Knowshon Moreno. If Moreno is healthy, would you really keep Hillis, Buckhalter and Jordan. I am starting to get a very bad feeling about Moreno's worth this year. He is being drafted around 55 overall and that is looking like way too steep a price with the capable backs still rostered by the Broncos.
RB Kregg Lumpkin, GB - The team is satisfied that Ryan Grant is healthy and Deshawn Wynn and Brandon Jackson are solid reserves.
RB Mike Hart, Ind - We all knew he would be cut when the team drafted Brown. Both Addai and Brown are healthy and that's all the Colts will need.
RB Chauncey Washington, Jac - I think this is a big vote of confidence in Rashad Jennings being a capable back up to Jones-Drew. The team would also lean more on Greg Jones should Jones-Drew miss time.
WR Ashley Lelie, KC - I think this is more about Lelie's skills than anything. When Oakland and Kansas City no longer want you, you should sharpen up that resume. This team woefully needs receivers. Bowe should catch a lot of passes simply by default. Mark Bradley and Bobby Engram are both solid value plays on this team that will have to throw.
TE Garrett Mills, Min - This was just a numbers game as the team holds on to better players elsewhere.
TE Alex Smith, NE plus shipping TE David Thomas to New Orleans - I think the Patriots LOVE Chris Baker and know what they have with Ben Watson in reserve. I also think the team just showed their hand a bit more now and will not be using two tight end sets very often. I fully expect this team to line up in 4 wide receiver formations often based on the numbers they kept here. This has the feel of the 2007 offensive production all over again.
New Orleans trading a 7th rounder to New England for David Thomas - This is a huge move for the Saints after losing Billy Miller. I am shocked that they got Thomas so cheaply, but it's clear now that New England was just going to cut him any way.
WR David Tyree, NYG - This is more of a media story in that he was gone the second the team selected Hakeem Nicks in this year's draft. Tyree had his great catch when it counted the most, but he was the weak link in an improving WR corps. I think the real story here could be New York keeping SEVEN receivers, including Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham and Derek Hagan. A run first, defensive minded team with 7 wideouts? Something seems amiss here.
QB Jeff Garcia, Oak - Anyone wonder who calls the shots in Oakland? If there was any question how big of a leash JaMarcus Russell was going to have this year, I think we just got the answer. Garcia still wanted to play football and Al Davis just wanted him to shut up and play should Russell get hurt. Garcia will land somewhere. My guess is New England could use someone with his skills as insurance to Brady.
TE Matt Schobel, Phi - This move flew likely flew under the radar by most, but I think it's one of the biggest. By keeping all of the WRs and dumping a TE when you just have just Celek and Tony Curtis at the position tells me this team is ready to go 4 wide often, unleash Vick all over the field, and use Celek as a workhorse underneath.
RB Lorenzo Booker, Phi - Behind the scenes, the Eagles are giddy with how well LeSean McCoy has learned the offense. The Eagles also have been impressed with Eldra Buckley this preseason. This also instills some confidence to me that the team believes Westbrook will be fine this season.
RB Carey Davis, Pit - Tomlin also used this opportunity to tell everyone that Parker is their back and he will be getting the majority of the carries. Seems to me that the fantasy world wrote off Parker before the team did. Bump up Parker and his TDs now that the vulture is gone.
TE Sean McHugh, Pit - Outside of Mike Martz's gimmick offense, this guy has never looked very good. This was simply a numbers game and Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth are better players.
WRs Mike Hass, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne and Courtney Taylor, Sea - In a word, the team LOVES Deon Butler. This also is a solid vote of confidence that Burleson is back healthy because we know Deion Branch isn't.
WR Jason Hill, SF is NOT cut - If you had any thoughts about Crabtree signing soon, you might want to reconsider here. By holding onto Hill, the team has drawn a line with Crabtree in the sand. Sign our deal or go away.
RB Antonio Pittman, StL - When your lead back is often-injured Steven Jackson, this is a loud repudiation of your skills when you get beat out by Samkon Gado and Ken Darby. I think Pittman has played his last NFL games here.
WR Ronald Curry, StL - His skills have eroded badly these last years. This drop does give me confidence that Donnie Avery will get a lot of targets and that he is completely healed from his early injury.
QB Luke McCown, TB traded to Jacksonville for a Pepsi and a bag of peanuts - The Bucs already lost their Ofensive Coordinator by choosing Leftwich over McCown and they opted not to lose their team over more infighting. I think this is more of a vote of confidence about Josh Freeman's prospects than the Bucs being in love with Leftwich's long windup before throwing the ball.
WR DJ Hackett, Was - He looked awful in this offense while Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas displayed at least some hope at the position. This was mostly a non-move.