Roster cuts don’t have to be made until 6 p.m. Saturday. But let’s have a little fun in the meantime.
Let’s take a look at my best guess as to how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 53-man roster will shape up:
Quarterbacks (3): Josh Freeman, Mike Glennon and Dan Orlovsky
Analysis: A rough outing by Glennon in the preseason finale might have convinced the Bucs it’s best to keep Orlovsky around.
Running backs and fullbacks (5): Doug Martin, Brian Leonard, Mike James, Peyton Hillis and Erik Lorig
Analysis: Hillis is very much on the bubble. The fact he doesn't play special teams could hurt him. But he also could stick around because he has the size to be a backup for Lorig at fullback and could be a valuable short-yardage rusher.
Tight ends (3): Luke Stocker, Tom Crabtree and Nate Byham
Analysis: The Bucs may have to keep Danny Noble if Crabtree’s ankle injury is going to keep him out for an extended period.
Wide receivers (5): Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, Kevin Ogletree, Tiquan Underwood and Eric Page
Analysis: Page has emerged as the return man and that should earn him the final roster spot.
Offensive line (9): Davin Joseph, Carl Nicks, Donald Penn, Demar Dotson, Jeremy Zuttah, Gabe Carimi, Ted Larsen, Jamon Meredith and Cody Wallace
Analysis: The Bucs could carry an extra lineman if it looks like Nicks will be out for an extended period.
Defensive line (10): Gerald McCoy, Akeem Spence, Adrian Clayborn, Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Da’Quan Bowers, Gary Gibson, Trevor Scott, William Gholston, Steven Means and Derek Landri
Analysis: The last few spots are very competitive and the Bucs could look to bring in a defensive tackle from the waiver wire.
Linebackers (6): Lavonte David, Mason Foster, Dekoda Watson, Jonathan Casillas, Adam Hayward and Najee Goode
This position is pretty clear-cut unless the Bucs bring in someone off waivers.
Defensive backs (9): Darrelle Revis, Johnthan Banks, Dashon Goldson, Mark Barron, Leonard Johnson, Danny Gorrer, Michael Adams, Rashaan Melvin and Ahmad Black.
Analysis: Melvin is very much on the bubble.
Specialists (3): Michael Koenen, Andrew Economos and Rian Lindell.
Analysis: Kicker Lawrence Tynes still is recovering from a staph infection and could end up on injured reserve.
