Welcome to part 3.1 of my series looking at the potential starters and roster spots available.  Part 3.0 was dedicated entirely to Defense and parts 1 and 2 are still available to.  They look at the situation on the roster straight after the draft and after OTAs.  I'm hoping to have version 4.0 out before the first official depth chart.

The offensive roster is much easier than the defensive one to put together.  On the surface, there's much less competition and more areas where the leaders and starters are clear.  I'm subtitling this one - The "Can't We Get Centers with Names That Are Easy to Spell" post.

Quarterback

The Safe Picks - All three QBs will be on the final roster.  I toyed with the idea of putting Tom Brandstater on the Practise Squad but I don't see him clearing waivers.

Kyle Orton
Chris Simms
Tom Brandstater

The competition - Thankfully the QB competition is over and isn't going to drag on into the first week of camp.  Having a front runner and a key guy is important.  There can't have been many teams who have posted winning season who have started camp with a QB controversy.

The Surprise - Brandstater could hit the Practise Squad but its unlikely.  There seems to be enough roster spots to go around.  So the only surprise will come from how well Brandtater plays in the pre-season.  It'll be very reassuring to see all three of them completing passes and handing the ball off with no hiccups or problems.  A good showing in a couple of games from Brandstater could see him in line for a bigger role next season.

Running Backs

The Safe Picks - I jumped out of my chair, partly with shock and partly with excitement, when Knowshon Moreno was picked.  I can't wait to see him carrying the ball.  I can't wait to see him catching a pass.  I can't remember the last time I was this excited over a first round pick.  Knowshon and Peyton Hillis are going to be so popular this year.  0-16, 4-12, 8-8, 12-4, 16-0 it won't matter these guys are going to be great and - depending on your outlook - are going to make a bad football team mediocre, a mediocre football team good or a good football team into a contender.

Knowshon Moreno
Peyton Hillis

The competition - A common theme running through the off-season has been the number of healthy running backs needed for an entire season.  While this lessens the competition around spots because it should be easy to get on the roster, there's plenty of competition for what role is available.  The main back-up role seems to be up for grabs although Correll Buckhalter has to be favourite at the moment.

Correll Buckhalter
LaMont Jordan
Ryan Torrain

The surprise - Ryan Torrain.  Torrain could end up as the back up, the kick returner, the change of pace back OR he could be number 5 on the chart, barely dress for a game, get injuired AGAIN, start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List or be completely cut.  I can't say for any certainty that I know what's going to happen but I think he gets a spot.

Tight Ends

The Safe Picks - All three of them are pretty easy to pick.  Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler and Richard Quinn all make the roster and will all see the field at various points in the season.

Daniel Graham
Tony Scheffler
Richard Quinn

The competition - Tony Scheffler vs The System vs Misconceptions.  "Tony Scheffler isn't suited to the New England style of offense" and "Coach McDaniels doesn't use Tight Ends to catch passes" are two of the phrases you're bound to have heard this off-season.  I can't wait to find out if they're true or not.  (I tend towards them not being true)  I can't see how you can have a good pass catching tight end and not use him.  I will be happy if, after the pre-season, Tony has hit one long streak down the field and been hit perfectly in stride by Orton.

The Surprise - Let's talk "ifs".  IF a team like Philly or New York or one of the ones that thinks its a contender was to lose a tight end and IF they offered a conditional pick that could be a 2nd to a 5th for Scheffler and IF it was at the right time then he could be on his way and IF that happens Jeb Putzier could find a roster spot.

Wide Receivers

The Safe Picks - Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall should strike fear into the hearts of other teams.  Couple this with Jabar Gaffney, who seems to be built specifically for this New England style offense and who I think will prove to be the best Free Agent acquisition of the offseason, and you've got 4 recievers who could be productive in any offense with any quaterback.  Anyone who's not excited about seeing these four lining up together isn't paying attention.

Brandon Stokely
Eddie Royal
Brandon Marshall
Jabar Gaffney

The competition - Kenny McKinley is the only draft pick that left me scratching my head.  I just couldn't see why.  I can see why the others made the Broncos better, either now or in the future, but this is one that I just couldn't get my head round.  Still, its rare that you see 5th Round picks dropped before camp so he'll find a spot.  Which leaves one receiver spot open.  Chad Jackson vs Brandon Lloyd for the final spot.  I'm tempted to flip a coin.  I think it will be Jackson because of his history with New England and because I think he offers more as a potential Kick and Punt Returner.

Kenny McKinley
Chad Jackson

The Surprise - There are a few college free agents who may come out of camp with an outside shot at the roster.  I'm particularly interested in hearing anything anyone has seen or knows about David Grimes.  He's a product of Notre Dame, who's coach is?  who used to coach at?  who is responsible for the thinking behind the offense that will be played at where?  I would have thought he was a dead cert for the Practice Squad if he doesn't make the Roster.

Tackles and Guards and Centers

The Safe Picks - All five starters return and are a safe picks to not only be on the roster, to not only start the first game but also to carry on from their successful 2008 and hit 2009 running.

Ryan Clady
Ryan Harris
Chris Kuper
Ben Hamilton
Casey Wiegmann

The Competition - There are three spots behind the starting five and versatility is required by all three.  Brandon Gorrin looks a favourite to be the back-up tackle although there are a lot of college free agents on the roster, and last year's back-upTyler Polumbus.  Which leaves two spots available for Seth Olsen, Kory Lichtensteiger and Blake Schlueter.  I am predicting that Schlueter will hit the Practise Squad - Barrett was a 7th round pick last year and cleared waivers, Greg Eslinger cleared waivers a few years back and made the practise squad - both point towards Schlueter being cut and resigned the next day.

Brandon Gorrin
Seth Olsen
Kory Lichtensteiger

The Surprise - The position of back up tackle to the Ryans is going to be one to watch. Gorrin looks favourite but there's a good chance any of the other contenders could win out.  I expect Tyler Polumbus to push really hard and who knows, maybe he has enough to beat out Gorrin.  Who knows, maybe Lichtensteiger won't even make the roster and Schlueter will be a back up.

The Special Team Players

Brett Kern, Matt Prater, Lonnie Paxton.  What else is there to say?

Offensive Roster is complete

One of the things I like about the starting offensive line-up is that you can probably write it in your sleep.

Marshall, Royal, Hillis, Moreno, Orton
Graham, Harris, Kuper, Wiegmann, Hamilton, Clady

Hope you enjoyed this more indepth look at the offensive roster.  Like I said, I am planning on having another roster break down after the first week of camp which will take on board all the reports from all the outlets along with any footage I can see and bring everything together into a final roster and depth chart.  I'll also look at the trends over the offseason and see who was in and who is now out as well as who has come from nowhere and is now starting!