Every year there are training camp surprises. This pre-camp post will set forth the baseline — that is, what might happen if everything goes according to form. This way, when some youngster shines, or when someone gets hurt or traded or cut, we’ll be able to assess the impact on the roster, project the winners and losers, and analyze the implications for team strength and depth. So from this early date, here’s what might be called the conventional wisdom.
QB
Starter: Charlie Frye
Backups: Ken Dorsey or veteran FA (e.g. Vinnie Testaverde), Derek Anderson
Practice squad: Darrell Hackney
Cut: Lang Campbell, Dorsey (if veteran is signed)
RB/FB
Starters: Reuben Droughns, Terrelle Smith
Backups: Jerome Harrison, William Green, Lawrence Vickers
Practice squad: Chris Barclay
Cut: Corey McIntyre, Lee Suggs, Jason Wright
TE
Starter: Kellen Winslow
Backups: Steve Heiden, Darnell Dinkens
Cut: John Owens, Paul Irons
OL
Starters: Kevin Shaffer, Joe Andruzzi, LeCharles Bentley, Cosey Coleman, Ryan Tucker
Backups: Nat Dorsey, Bob Hallen, Isaac Sowells, one more T (most likely Jon Dunn, Kirk Chambers, or Pete McMahon)
Practice squad: Walter Stith, Dunn and/or McMahon
Cut: Dave Yovanovits (unless a starting G/C is injured), Ben Brielmaier, Atlas Herrion, Rob Smith, possibly Chambers
WR
Starters: Joe Jurevicius, Dennis Northcutt
Backups: Travis Wilson, Josh Cribbs, Frisman Jackson
PUP list: Braylon Edwards
Practice squad: Steve Sanders
Cut: Brandon Rideau, Carlton Brewster, Brent Little, Kendrick Mosley
DL
Starters: Orpheus Roye, Ted Washington, Alvin McKinley
Backups: Nick Eason, Simon Fraser, Ethan Kelley, Babatunde Oshinowo
Practice squad: J’vonne Parker
Cut: Darrell Campbell, Andrew Hoffman, Ja’Waren Blair
OLB
Starters: Willie McGinest, Matt Stewart
Backups: Kamerion Wimbley, David McMillan
Cut: Nick Speegle, Jermial Ashley
ILB
Starters: Andra Davis, Chaun Thompson
Backups: D’Qwell Jackson, Leon Williams, Mason Unck
Cut: Kenny Kern, Justin Kurpeikis, Clifton Smith
CB
Starters: Gary Baxter, Leigh Bodden
Backups: Daylon McCutcheon; two of these three: Pete Hunter, Antonio Perkins, Chris Thompson
IR: DeMario Minter
Practice squad: Blake Farris or Andrew Pace
Cut: Willie Hughley; Jereme Perry; James Thornton; Farris or Pace; Hunter, Perkins, or Thompson
S
Starters: Brian Russell, Brodney Pool
Backups: Sean Jones; Shawn Mayer or Justin Hamilton
Practice squad: possibly Hamilton
Cut: possibly Mayer
Specialists
K Phil Dawson
P Dave Zastudil
LS Ryan Pontbriand
Cut: Jeff Chandler, Kyle Basler.
This is not what I’m predicting or necessarily hoping for; it’s just a starting point for discussion, so have at it. Please though, whatever suggestions you make ought to keep the roster at 53. For example, you might (and I almost did) say that Speegle won’t be cut, but then someone like Unck will have to go. My other closest call was Green versus Suggs. If Suggs stays healthy and plays to form, he probably ought to beat out Green, who is in the last year of his contract anyway.
In any case, the competition throughout training camp promises to be the most extensive and high-level in at least a decade.
