Annual Predict the Final Roster Thread: 2010 Version

And I don't want to downplay Banks fumble issues as "not a big deal". Rather, I don't think his muffs or fumbles cost him a spot on the team, but instead framed the question in the minds of Mike Shanahan and Danny Smith of whether the reward is worth the risk. Because if it's not, Banks doesn't have much value otherwise.

His fumbles are part of the risk/reward.

Risk = his questionable ball handling

Reward = big time speed

If you take away Thomas' pedigree as a 2nd round pick.. would he make the team in your opinion? He hasn't done a thing that would make him a lock in my opinion...

Other than being the most talented guy we have that is.

Look he has the best combo of speed and size on the team. He isn't a drop machine despite the revisionism that is going on here. The knock on him has always been just focusing and going about his job in a pro manner. Honestly the only WR I keep over him is Moss. The guy deserves one more chance to make it work in a real offense with real coaches. Just based on his potential we'd be morons to cut him.

I guess what I'm saying is that even if Banks happened to not fumble in the preseason (just those four games), we'd still have to make the same risk/reward decision we do now. But having him "be himself" all this time shows us exactly what we have if we choose to keep him.

Thomas makes the team, Banks is on the PS.

MS gives DT at least 2 weeks to produce as a #2, with Galloway at the 3.

(That is unless we end up snagging VJ, which is more of a need now than ever.........)

And we can't knock Galloway...they have him reeled in by design. This off-season has been about figuring out if Thomas can ever be good (nothing has shown that he can't) and deciding whether either Banks or Austin have potential. At the end of the day I don't think it is debatable that Thomas has been one of our best 5 WRs. Who has been better? Moss, Armstrong....then who? Not Banks for sure..maybe Austin..maybe not.

And we can't knock Galloway...they have him reeled in by design. This off-season has been about figuring out if Thomas can ever be good (nothing has shown that he can't) and deciding whether either Banks or Austin have potential. At the end of the day I don't think it is debatable that Thomas has been one of our best 5 WRs. Who has been better? Moss, Armstrong....then who? Not Banks for sure..maybe Austin..maybe not.Wouldn't you think that the burden of proof is on Thomas (and everyone but Moss/Galloway) to show that he belongs, not to not show that he doesn't?

If we just kept the five best wide receivers based on one preseason, it would probably be 1. Armstrong, 2. Moss, 3. Austin, 4. Thomas, and 5. Roydell Williams. But with Galloway deeply entrenched in the team's plans, that probably drops Williams off the roster. Which, would also move Thomas to the bubble. Then if you decide "this team needs Brandon Banks" (or Bobby Wade or whatever), then Thomas is gone.

So on merit alone, he makes it and doesn't play all that much. But keep in mind that on merit (from just play this preseason), Galloway doesn't make it, and Banks is really, really close to the bubble. He hasn't shown to be better than Thomas, I don't think. But Thomas has had plenty of chances to flash upside that would make him worth keeping and/or extending, and it just doesn't appear to be there.

Guys without much upside on the bubble are anything but locks.

Anyone who thinks Devin Thomas is going to be the #2 or #3 WR against the Cowboys is high on drugs.

They are completely different types of players, you'd be correct on that, but they would have the same playing time in the same situations on the team, which is why it makes little sense to keep both.

Really, I don't think Thomas has done anything in the preseason to either get himself cut or to make the team. I think this is more about Banks. Does Shanahan want to employ a 5th/6th WR whose primary value is that he's blindingly fast? Or does he push the specialist to the practice squad to take the more complete player, Thomas.

The biggest thing that came from last nights game was that the third option, keeping both and cutting Austin, is not much of a choice. Austin is now at least as much of a lock as Galloway, and probably more. Austin could be our no. 3 WR as soon as next year.


banks has put the ball on the ground more times than he's done anything significant with it. add to that his ridiculously small size and its hard to make a case for his presence on the team. a guy his size isnt going to last more than one or two years in the league, especially if he's constantly getting leveled on punt returns. if banks had run 2 returns for TDs in the preseason, had consistently yielded returns of 25+ yards while not putting the ball on the ground once, could contribute to offense, and the team had no other viable return options, i could see us keeping him on the team. but he's clearly not worth a space on the 53 man roster, let alone a spot as one of the 45 eligible to play on gamedays. personally, i wouldnt even waste a practice squad spot on him.

Other than being the most talented guy we have that is.

Look he has the best combo of speed and size on the team. He isn't a drop machine despite the revisionism that is going on here. The knock on him has always been just focusing and going about his job in a pro manner. Honestly the only WR I keep over him is Moss. The guy deserves one more chance to make it work in a real offense with real coaches. Just based on his potential we'd be morons to cut him.

Route running matters more to a WR because it makes up 80-90% of why they get separation. Chad Ochocinco certainly knows about it, and I'm not about to question his expertise.
Physical gifts are is nice, but not having the right "instincts" and body control is why Devin is going to be mediocre or just "good depth" instead of a great WR.