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The Setup:
According to nfl,com, rosters
have to be cut down to 75 players (from 90) by Aug. 30 and 53
players by Sept. 3. Which means we'll have 3 days from the SD game
to cut 15 players and 2 days after the Denver game (on Sept. 1) to
cut 22 more. So first and foremost, the SD preseason game will be
all about survival - i.e. not being one of those 15 guys. Second
(but related to the first) will be cleaning up some of the sloppy
play we saw in GB (most notably penalties, blown assignments, poor
passing decisions and dropped passes).
And (easy to get lost in the
static) will be the effort by second and third-echelon players to
move up the depth chart. (Usually, Game #3 is where your starters
get to see action into the 3Q. The fourth preseason game is where
you save your starters and spend most of the game taking a long hard
look at who will/won't be among the 22 players who'll be cut). What I'll be looking for:
On Offense:
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On the 15-man bubble (8): Jeffcoat, Nichols,
Curry-Chapman, S Skelton, Young, Vermiglio, Speredon, Mensik.
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A few things to consider when evaluating
bubble players - (1) desirability of keeping certain players
longer than otherwise in order to preserve position-depth.
Example: Under normal circumstances, a case could be made for
putting Max Hall on the bubble, but both he and Skelton are
gimpy and you'd like to have more than just Kolb and Bartel
around to handle QB practice chores and eventually make the
final roster. So , most likely, both Skelton and Hall should be
safe (regardless of whether we add another veteran QB like
Coyle). (2) giving young, athletic back as much time as possible
to prove they can win a final roster spot. (You don't want to
prematurely cut a promising FA like Isaiah Williams). (3) giving
veterans benefit of the doubt (because, especially this lockout
season, experience counts). Which means you keep an Obiozor or a
Talley around as long as you can. (4) respecting tough roster
battles (i.e. Maui'a, Ali and Sherman are all competing at a
high level for only one or two FB spots. They're going to need
as much time as possible for things to sort out).
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Continued improved chemistry between Kolb and
his receivers (Ditto Bartel).
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Zero false-start calls by Levi.
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Whether Alfonso Smith, Housler & Sampson will
continue to play at a high level and prove last week wasn't a
fluke.
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Could be make or break for Steve Williams.
(One great play per game won't cut it. Playing at a consistently
high level is what we all are looking for).
On Defense:
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On the 15-man bubble (11): Lumpkin, Navarre,
Lemmens, Gatewood, K Smith, Sharpe, Turner, M Green, Nnabuife,
Irvin, J Campbell
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Will Jefferson, Carter and Schofield
"repeat?"
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Time for Peterson to emerge from the shadows.
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Also waiting for Sturdivant and Acbo to flash
something. (Hey! It's the 3rd preseason game. If not
now...when)?
On Special Teams:
Wrapping Things Up
Game #3 is traditionally the preseason test of what we've
got as a FB team. No difference this year, but much more important
this time around will be the decisions to keep or let go of
personnel (based on 1/4 the time the FO and coaches normally have to
work with).
Bottom line - No injuries. Guys who need to step
it up (& you know who you are), it's crunch time!
And that's a wrap!
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