Saints Nation: Predicting the 53 Man Roster (AGAIN)

With new information and passing weeks comes new predictions. I’m making some changes to my 53 man roster. Here goes:

QB (3) Drew Brees, Patrick Ramsey, Chase Daniel – I’m still thinking the same thing, the Saints don’t want to risk losing Daniel, but they feel like Ramsey is the more reliable #2 at this point. They decide to keep three.

HB (3) Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Chris Ivory – The Saints go with just three backs for now, knowing they can probably re-sign Ladell Betts later if they need him

FB (1) Heath Evans – They think about Zak Keasey but they need the roster spot elsewhere.

WR (6) Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Courtney Roby, Adrian Arrington – Arrington’s performance in preseason makes him too good to pass up despite his struggles on special teams.

TE (3) Jeremy Shockey, David Thomas, Tory Humphrey – Jimmy Graham goes to IR and is shelved for 2010.

T (4) Jermon Bushrod, Jon Stinchcomb, Charles Brown, Zach Strief – No surprises here

G (3) Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, Terrence Metcalf – No huge surprises here either

C (2) Jonathan Goodwin, Matt Tennant – The Saints decide they like the young Tennant better than Nick Leckey.

E (4)Will Smith, Alex Brown, Jeff Charleston, Jimmy Wilkerson – Bobby McCray is shown the door, yet again, and Junior Galette lands on the practice squad.

DT (4) Sedrick Ellis, Remi Ayodele, Anthony Hargrove, Kendrick Clancy – Pressley and Woods are both shown the door, though they go on the practice squad if they clear waivers.

OLB (4) Scott Shanle, Jonathan Casillas, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Stanley Arnoux – Arnoux could lose his spot to special teams ace Asiodu if he doesn’t get healthy fast

MLB (2) Jonathan Vilma, Marvin Mitchell

CB (5) Jabari Greer, Tracy Porter, Randall Gay, Patrick Robinson, Leigh Torrence – Reggie Jones goes to the practice squad.

S (6) Roman Harper, Malcolm Jenkins, Darren Sharper, Chip Vaughn, Chris Reis, Usama Young – the Saints keep Reis, Vaughn and Young in an effort to fix special teams. Prioleau is gone due to injury.

ST (3) Garrett Hartley, Thomas Morstead, Jason Kyle – no shocks here.

Cuts: C Nick Leckey, CB Reggie Jones (PS), DE Junior Galette (PS), DE Bobby McCray, DT Jay Ross, DT DeMario Pressley, DT Al Woods (PS), FB Zak Keasey (PS), FB Jason McKie,  G Brandon Carter (PS), G Na’Shan Goddard, T Jermey Parnell (PS), QB Sean Canfield, LB K.C. Asiodu (PS), LB Harry Coleman, LB Anthony Waters, LB Clint Ingram, RB Ladell Betts, RB DeShawn Wynn, S Pierson Prioleau, TE Tyler Lorenzen, TE Jimmy Graham (IR), WR Montez Billings (PS), WR Andy Tanner

Of these cuts, I think the toughest will be Al Woods, because he’s a 4th round draft pick, and Bobby McCray, for obvious reasons. It’s not impossible the Saints fabricate some phantom injury for Al Woods and place in on injured reserve so they can hang on to him. Regarding Clint Ingram, I think he’s destined to start the season on the physically unable to perform list which would leave him a window to contribute on the Saints after week 6, but he won’t count against a roster spot until then.

There’s still lots of questions marks, though. The Saints could easily keep McCray and drop one of their defensive backs, like say Chris Reis. They could also opt to go with 4 backs, keeping Ladell Betts, which would be at the detriment of maybe Adrian Arrington, Chip Vaughn, Usama Young or Leigh Torrence. As you can see there’s a lot of guys still on the bubble at this point.