2010 Roster Cutdown, Part 2

Let's talk about starting players.  It's a short conversation this year.

The following men will make the 53-man roster because they started the third game of the preseason as well as either the first or second preseason game:

Starters: Offense
WR 19 M.Williams
LT 70 D.Penn
C 52 J.Faine
RG 75 D.Joseph
RG 76 J.Zuttah
RT 65 J.Trueblood
FB 34 E.Graham
RB 24 C.Williams 

Others on Offense who are certainly going to make the roster:  LG #66 K.Vincent, who displaced the versatile Jeremy Zuttah; QB #5 J.Freeman, recovering from a thumb boo-boo; QB #11 J.Johnson, who has solidified the second quarterback position; TE #82 K.Winslow, last year's leading receiver; TE #86 J.Stevens, who appears to be on the second line behind Winslow.

Starters: Defense LE #94 K.Moore
DT #93 G.McCoy
DT #90 R.Miller
RE #91 S.White
SLB #58 Q.Black
MLB #51 B.Ruud
WLB #54 G.Hayes
LCB #25 A.Talib
RCB #20 R.Barber
SS #26 S.Jones
FS #36 T.Jackson

This will be the opening day defense.  Except for an injury to Talib for Game 1 and Sabby Piscatelly starting Game 1, this unit has been the same throughout the preseason.  Hopefully the early playing time for the same group will lead to early season defensive success.

That is 13 offensive and 11 defensive players, for a total of 24.  Add in Punter #1 B.Bowden and Kicker #10 C. Barth, and you have 26 locks for the opening day roster.  We're almost halfway there already!