New England Patriots: Final 53-Man Roster Projection, Version 2

Darius Butler leaped into the air, arms flailing like he was trying desperately to stay afloat. In a way, he was. He wasn't sunk the moment Maurice Price caught a 34-yard bomb over him, but he may be on his last gasp effort to make it to shore.

And by shore, I mean the 53-man roster.

It's never one play or a couple of plays that buys or denies a player their shot at the roster. Let's take a look at how training camp and the preseason has gone thus far for all the players on the 90-man roster, and try to put our signature Bill Belichick visor on to cut it down to 53 guys for the start of the 2011 season.

This is part 2 of a weekly segment leading up to the regular season. For your convenience, here is part 1. Changes from the previous projection are noted in bold font.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz. 

Quarterback

Tom Brady
Brian Hoyer
Ryan Mallett

No changes here. Ryan Mallett got the second-team reps over Brian Hoyer, but that was more of a tactical move to get Hoyer ready for what will be his signature situation: coming in cold off the bench.

I still think Hoyer is closer to the second coming of Matt Cassel than the heir apparent to Tom Brady, but I digress. 

There's absolutely no way the Patriots can sneak Mallett onto the practice squad, even if they might like to. His interception was partly his own fault, but his target wasn't ready for the throw, and he probably didn't understand that he was the hot read on a blitz. When the Bucs sent the house, it was doomed from the start.

Running Back

BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Danny Woodhead
Stevan Ridley
Shane Vereen
(Dropped Kevin Faulk)

The Patriots have been a running back by committee since before it became ultra-popular to form a stable of backs. The faces have changed, but the idea remains the same: A large group of backs that cover a wide variety of skill sets is better than one ultra-talented back that ultimately ends up injured and leaves you without a backfield.

Woodhead and Green-Ellis had breakout seasons last year and look primed for more after strong performances Thursday against the Buccaneers.

Ridley has exceeded expecations in this early stage of the preseason and threatens to take away some of Green-Ellis' red zone carries. Vereen needs to get back on the practice field, but he could just as easily be a "red shirt" similar to Taylor Price last year. 

Notable absence: Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris

Faulk has still yet to practice and could easily start the season on the PUP list. It would allow time for an injury to take place that would open up a roster spot for him. The Patriots really need him to be around the young backs at this early stage in their career, though, in sort of the Alge Crumpler role from last year as a mentor to the two rookies. 

Although Morris carved out a niche for himself as a fullback in the offense last year, there just isn't enough space for him to make the roster. 

Tight End

Rob Gronkowski
Aaron Hernandez
Will Yeatman
(Dropped Lee Smith)

The top two spots are a lock to go to Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. With monster seasons last year and strong training camp and preseason performances, why not?

The third spot is where it gets a little tricky. Lee Smith lost the reps at the third tight end spot to Will Yeatman, who has had a strong training camp up to this point. Yeatman seems to be a far more NFL ready blocking tight end than Smith, who doesn't play up to his size. At the same time, Smith is a much more experienced pass catcher.

That third tight end will be more of a blocker, and their ability to catch passes will be more of a bonus than a requisite. Just ask Alge Crumpler, whose role is essentially being filled by one of these two rookies.

There's still a good chance Smith makes it to the practice squad, giving him a year to bulk up and solidify his technique as a blocker.

Wide Receiver

Wes Welker
Deion Branch
Chad Ochocinco
Julian Edelman
Taylor Price
Matthew Slater

No changes here. There's not a lot to gripe about with this group of pass-catchers, and the Patriots have a good deal of versatility with their receivers whether they send out two, three or more receivers.

Edelman and Price were becoming question marks, as both were injured and have been held out of practice for over a week, including Thursday's game. Both have returned to the field, though, and will hopefully continue to earn their spots on the roster.

Nobody needed to have a good camp as badly as Matthew Slater, and he's doing it. He had two catches for 30 yards late in the preseason onslaught of the Bucs, and his special teams contributions continue. The point of contention will likely be Slater and this guy...

Notable absence: Brandon Tate

With an injury that has kept him off the field for much of training camp, Tate has seen his role handed over to guys like Price, as the Patriots seemingly try to afford him every opportunity to make the roster. 

Offensive Linemen

Matt Light
Nate Solder
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Dan Connolly
Sebastian Vollmer
Rich Ohrnberger
Steve Maneri
Ryan Wendell

My wish was granted, and a cut has opened up a roster spot for Steve Maneri, who fills the roster spot vacated by Mark LeVoir. Maneri played solid at left tackle early on in camp and also had a very solid game against the Buccaneers playing at right tackle in the second half. His flexibility between the tackle spots makes him a valuable back-up option.

Wendell's experience was always a plus for him, with 15 games last year and two starts. With Kevin Faulk likely to start the season on the PUP, it opens up a roster spot to carry an extra offensive linemen, where the Patriots can use all the depth they can get.

Defensive Tackle

Vince Wilfork
Albert Haynesworth
Shaun Ellis
Kyle Love
Myron Pryor
Gerard Warren

No changes here, and my support for Ellis and Haynesworth goes rewarded, as both returned to practice on Saturday for the final public practice at Gillette Stadium.

Once again, the Patriots were exclusively running four-man fronts. Wilfork, Love, Pryor and Warren were in on every defensive snap in the first half, according to ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss. Belichick has been testing out different things with the combinations all preseason, and continues to find ways to create havoc with all of those new toys.

Notable absences: Mike Wright, Ron Brace 

Both Brace and Wright have been out for most of training camp nursing their own injuries. The hope is that both can make it back to camp in time to compete for their jobs, but if not, it could be a tough departure for either or both. 

Ron Brace could still start off on the PUP list. The fact that he hasn't practiced yet saves him a little bit, but he could end up being cut at any point.

Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

Jermaine Cunningham
Eric Moore
Mark Anderson
Andre Carter 
Rob Ninkovich

Again, no changes from my previous projection. Jermaine Cunningham's injury has kept him off the practice field, but his roster spot is sewn up. At this point, it's the roster or nothing. Theoretically, they could put him on IR, but they would just as soon carry him for a week to protect him from other teams.

This is still the best-suited group of defensive ends and outside linebacker hybrids to get the job done as the Patriots switch from a 3-4 to a more standard 4-3. As mentioned in the previous version, the need for a wide variety of talented rush ends allows guys like Mark Anderson to make the roster where he may have previously been considered too much of a specialist, while also allowing a guy like Rob Ninkovich to make the roster for his flexibility between the two fronts. 

Linebacker

Jerod Mayo
Brandon Spikes
Gary Guyton
Dane Fletcher
Tracy White

Man, the Patriots need to get Spikes back from injury as soon as possible. Now, with Dane Fletcher suffering a thumb injury in Thursday's game against the Buccaneers, it looks like the depth at linebacker is slowly dwindling. Who knows when either will be back; hopefully it's sooner than later, but their depth could be tested if not.

Tracy White continues to solidify his role on the special teams units, and though he may be seen as a replaceable part, there's no underestimating the value of special teams leaders. Just ask the San Diego Chargers.

Cornerback

Devin McCourty
Kyle Arrington
Leigh Bodden
Ras-I Dowling
Jonathan Wilhite

With Ras-I Dowling's return to practice on Monday, the rest of the roster spots are all but sewn up. It's now firmly a battle between Wilhite and Butler for the final spot.

Darius Butler played solid on Thursday against the Bucs, and the feeling on this end is that he may be playing himself onto the roster. He's helped out more by his special teams contributions, and it bears mentioning that while Butler had 17 of 31 snaps in the first half, Wilhite only had nine.

Notable absence: Darius Butler

Safety

Brandon Meriweather
Patrick Chung
Sergio Brown
James Sanders

No changes here. Sergio Brown really solidified his role in a three-man safety rotation outlined here by Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston. The Patriots got James Sanders back at practice recently, and the hope is that he can get right up to speed with the rest of the guys. 

His high cap number may make him trade bait, but the depth he adds to this defense at a position of need is of high value and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Notable absence: James Ihedigbo

The Patriots signed Ihedigbo, a free agent safety for the Jets, last Friday. I don't think they brought him on for nothing, though it's entirely possible. He hasn't done anything to wrench the title of special teams ace out of Tracy White's hands. At this point, there just isn't room enough on the roster for both of them, and linebacker is a far more pressing concern in terms of depth with both Spikes and Fletcher injured at this time.

Specialists

K: Stephen Gostkowski
P: Zoltan Mesko
LS: Matt Katula

These three spots are a lock. Katula's botched snap against the Jaguars has been washed away by his solid performance against the Buccaneers, and there's no question of the kicker and punter situations.

Wrap-Up

My chubby for defensive linemen is justified by James Christenson over at NEPatriotsDraft.com, who highlights that the numbers should more closely resemble the overall front seven than any one specific position. I look at the defensive line group this year similarly to linebacker groups in the past. You have your inside guys and outside guys, and some at each spot are flexible enough to play the other. Factor in your guys who specialize in specific situations, and 16 guys in the front seven doesn't look like all too much anymore.

I feel much better about the group of nine offensive linemen, though now that Bill Belichick has openly stated they only carry seven on the game day roster, nine actually seems like a high number. Look for my fickle mind to fluctuate this number as players are cut and as the season approaches.

One guy I'd like to work on the roster that was left off is James Ihedigbo. It came down to a battle between he and Tracy White for the role of defensive player who is more of a special teamer, and I went with White based on his strong past with the Patriots. A cut or two in the coming weeks could open up a spot for the former Jet.