Who's on the bubble?

SaintFanInATLHELL · 08-25-2023, 09:24 AM

I keep forgetting with the wacky preseason format that cutdown day to 53 is this upcoming Tuesday. Obviously the team has locks for the 53 and locks to be released. But who's on the bubble? Which players can make the 53 with a good performance on Sunday or lose their chance with a poor performance?

SFIAH

K Major · 08-25-2023, 09:47 AM

Trequan Smith ... Kirkwood has been getting high praise from coaches & Smith hasn't practiced in weeks.
Jonathan Abram ... Ugo looks better (specifically special teams).
Niko Lalos
Smoke Monday ... (needs more reps)

K Major · 08-25-2023, 11:22 AM

With the addition of Jaylon Smith, I think Zach Baun could be considered a "bubble" player as well.

AsylumGuido · 08-25-2023, 11:34 AM

Lutz may be on the bubble.

SmashMouth and MarchingOn like this.

MatthewT · 08-25-2023, 12:14 PM

I think there is a better than average chance both Lutz and Grupe are carried into the season with the hopes of trading one. At least for the opening week, probably not into the 2nd week.

Rugby Saint II · 08-26-2023, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by MatthewT

I think there is a better than average chance both Lutz and Grupe are carried into the season with the hopes of trading one. At least for the opening week, probably not into the 2nd week.

I don't know about that. That would mean we have to cut another good player to make room for them on the roster. As it is, we are searching hard to find spots for a couple of bubble players.

BakoSaint · 08-26-2023, 01:20 PM

I think we should focus on upside not just dependability. In this league if you don't have Patrick Maholmes you need to be great not just good to win. I get that some of these guys like Graham, Smith, Kirkwood, etc could be good dependable role players and possibly could be the #1 receiver in Kansas City and win a ring there. But, I would personally prefer to keep younger players like Perry, Davis, Lalos, etc who are still young enough that they have a potential to develop into more. I definitely don't want to keep two kickers. I would rather not keep Peat or Winston but Loomis looks at dead cap as a public shame so he will keep dead end players to hide it. Shaheed has been a great receiver for us and we could have lost him last year due to player roulette with the practice squad. There could also be similar talents other teams cut due to excessive loyalty to long time backups and bust draft picks. I hope we go for some upside. When other players see the guys who hustle in camp make the team not the ones who punched their time card and made tenure on seniority, they will hustle too.

I also think that if we did cut or practice squad guys like Graham, Smith, Kirkwood, Peat, or Winston, it is no lock that they would be signed elsewhere, and they would probably still be only a phone call away if we had an injury and needed them back.

leilung · 08-26-2023, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

Trequan Smith ... Kirkwood has been getting high praise from coaches & Smith hasn't practiced in weeks.
Jonathan Abram ... Ugo looks better (specifically special teams).
Niko Lalos
Smoke Monday ... (needs more reps)

I'm kinda liking what I see from Lalos, but I need to see more...

AsylumGuido · 08-27-2023, 08:44 AM

Definitely something to remember here.

SmashMouth · 08-27-2023, 10:14 AM

Cap situations may play in the decisions.

08-25-2023, 09:47 AM	#2
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,053 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Who's on the bubble? Trequan Smith ... Kirkwood has been getting high praise from coaches & Smith hasn't practiced in weeks. Jonathan Abram ... Ugo looks better (specifically special teams). Niko Lalos Smoke Monday ... (needs more reps) SaintFanInATLHELL likes this.

08-25-2023, 11:22 AM	#3
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,053 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Who's on the bubble? With the addition of Jaylon Smith, I think Zach Baun could be considered a "bubble" player as well. leilung, Rugby Saint II and MarchingOn like this.

08-25-2023, 11:34 AM	#4
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,394	Re: Who's on the bubble? Lutz may be on the bubble. Twitter SmashMouth and MarchingOn like this.

08-25-2023, 12:14 PM	#5
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,705	Re: Who's on the bubble? I think there is a better than average chance both Lutz and Grupe are carried into the season with the hopes of trading one. At least for the opening week, probably not into the 2nd week.

08-26-2023, 12:57 PM	#6
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 23,739	Re: Who's on the bubble? Originally Posted by MatthewT I think there is a better than average chance both Lutz and Grupe are carried into the season with the hopes of trading one. At least for the opening week, probably not into the 2nd week. I don't know about that. That would mean we have to cut another good player to make room for them on the roster. As it is, we are searching hard to find spots for a couple of bubble players. SmashMouth likes this.

08-25-2023, 09:24 AM	#1
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	Who's on the bubble? I keep forgetting with the wacky preseason format that cutdown day to 53 is this upcoming Tuesday. Obviously the team has locks for the 53 and locks to be released. But who's on the bubble? Which players can make the 53 with a good performance on Sunday or lose their chance with a poor performance? SFIAH

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08-26-2023, 01:20 PM	#7
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 1,759	Re: Who's on the bubble? I think we should focus on upside not just dependability. In this league if you don't have Patrick Maholmes you need to be great not just good to win. I get that some of these guys like Graham, Smith, Kirkwood, etc could be good dependable role players and possibly could be the #1 receiver in Kansas City and win a ring there. But, I would personally prefer to keep younger players like Perry, Davis, Lalos, etc who are still young enough that they have a potential to develop into more. I definitely don't want to keep two kickers. I would rather not keep Peat or Winston but Loomis looks at dead cap as a public shame so he will keep dead end players to hide it. Shaheed has been a great receiver for us and we could have lost him last year due to player roulette with the practice squad. There could also be similar talents other teams cut due to excessive loyalty to long time backups and bust draft picks. I hope we go for some upside. When other players see the guys who hustle in camp make the team not the ones who punched their time card and made tenure on seniority, they will hustle too. I also think that if we did cut or practice squad guys like Graham, Smith, Kirkwood, Peat, or Winston, it is no lock that they would be signed elsewhere, and they would probably still be only a phone call away if we had an injury and needed them back.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 1,759

08-26-2023, 03:49 PM	#8
leilung Booty Bandit Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Wastelands that are NJ Posts: 1,157	Re: Who's on the bubble? Originally Posted by K Major Trequan Smith ... Kirkwood has been getting high praise from coaches & Smith hasn't practiced in weeks. Jonathan Abram ... Ugo looks better (specifically special teams). Niko Lalos Smoke Monday ... (needs more reps) I'm kinda liking what I see from Lalos, but I need to see more... SmashMouth, Rugby Saint II and Boston Saint like this.

08-27-2023, 08:44 AM	#9
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,394	Re: Who's on the bubble? Definitely something to remember here. Twitter

08-27-2023, 10:14 AM	#10
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,017 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Who's on the bubble? Cap situations may play in the decisions. Rugby Saint II likes this.