Patriots and building roster depth

June, 21, 2012
6/21/12
5:00
AM ET
By Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com
In a piece now posted on CBSSports.com, Pat Kirwan writes on the importance of building roster depth and identifies 10 areas where it can be most critical. The first category, for example, is a backup quarterback who could go 2-2 if he had to take over for a month.

In addition to backup quarterback, Kirwan looks at 13 other players at various positions that would initially be backups but could emerge if called upon. Teams that are closest to having that would have the best depth.

With that criteria set, Kirwan picks five teams he believes fall into that category, and the Patriots are No. 1.
"The biggest question in Foxboro will always be what if Tom Brady goes down with an injury? It happened once before and Matt Cassel answered the bell," Kirwan writes. "Teams around the league tell me Brian Hoyer and backup Ryan Mallett could keep this team running for a month."

Kirwan also believes the Patriots did a masterful job addressing depth in other areas this offseason.

To read his piece, CLICK HERE.

Mike Reiss

Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com
  • Covered Patriots since 1997
  • Blogging on Pats since 2004
  • Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009

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Reiss
Mike Reiss

Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter (@MikeReiss).

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Mike Rodak

Mike Rodak began covering the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com in July 2010. A native of Grafton, Mass., Mike attended Providence College. Follow him on Twitter (@mikerodak)

Yates
Field Yates

Field Yates begins his contributions to ESPNBoston.com in 2012 after having written for a number of football-related sites around the web. Field began his professional career after college with the Kansas City Chiefs, working in both the scouting and coaching departments of the franchise before redirecting his focus to a career in media. He also interned for four summers in the coaching and scouting departments with the Patriots. Follow him on Twitter (@FieldYates).

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