Demovsky Projection of 53 Man Roster

[Pugger]

I don't. Evans will be 34 before the start of the season, and I expect will not be the elite player he has been for most of his career. In fact, I won't be shocked if his performance falls of a cliff like Jeff Saturday's did. It happens. On the other hand, I won't be surprised if he puts together another solid, but unspectacular year and plays all 16 games. Either way, signing him was a good move. If Lang can stay relatively healthy, I expect he will still be one of the best guards in the league. Evans was even better, but that was a few years ago. I am hoping for nothing more than solid, reliable play from him.

Sitton and Lang were an usual pair of guards, both among the very best in the league. The Packers were fortunate to have them. Unfortunately, both had building histories with injuries. For a number of years, they managed to be available for games, but practiced very little even as relatively young players. It continued last year for Sitton in Chicago and for Lang in GB. Neither practiced much for many weeks, but last year each also missed three games entirely and played little in several others. I won't be surprised if either or both miss even more games this year. Sitton is attempting to compensate for chronic back problems by losing weight, and has had recurring leg problems. Lang has a chronic hip issue and may not be ready for camp because of surgeries on his hip and foot that he broke twice last year. Two years ago he had significant injuries to both shoulders, had surgery on one and was rumored to have had surgery on both. His foot problems have been recurring.

Evans has had some recent injury issues, too, but managed to play all 16 and reportedly very well in 2016. A $200k bet on his health and performance makes a lot more sense than a nearly $20M bet on Lang's.

Saturday was 37 when he started games for us in 2012. Evans is 3 years younger. I don't think he'll fall off a cliff like Saturday did.

[Patler]

Saturday was 37 when he started games for us in 2012. Evans is 3 years younger. I don't think he'll fall off a cliff like Saturday did.

True, but for some reason guards don't hang around as long. I researched it and posted about it a while back here or elsewhere, perhaps even when Sitton was cut. Looking back several years there weren't even many guards over 30 who played a lot, and there were just a handful at 33. I don't think there was a single one 35 or older other than in a backup role. For centers, there was always a few 35/36 still hanging around and playing. There were more older tackles, too. I wondered if it might be because by and large tackles and centers had more athletic players.

[Pugger]

True, but for some reason guards don't hang around as long. I researched it and posted about it a while back here or elsewhere, perhaps even when Sitton was cut. Looking back several years there weren't even many guards over 30 who played a lot, and there were just a handful at 33. I don't think there was a single one 35 or older other than in a backup role. For centers, there was always a few 35/36 still hanging around and playing. There were more older tackles, too. I wondered if it might be because by and large tackles and centers had more athletic players.

I don't know if this means much but J. Evans was in with the other starters on the O line at RG at practice yesterday.

[Joemailman]

Saturday was 37 when he started games for us in 2012. Evans is 3 years younger. I don't think he'll fall off a cliff like Saturday did.

True, but for some reason guards don't hang around as long. I researched it and posted about it a while back here or elsewhere, perhaps even when Sitton was cut. Looking back several years there weren't even many guards over 30 who played a lot, and there were just a handful at 33. I don't think there was a single one 35 or older other than in a backup role. For centers, there was always a few 35/36 still hanging around and playing. There were more older tackles, too. I wondered if it might be because by and large tackles and centers had more athletic players.

Just 1 person's opinion but...

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports...amp/540727001/

When the Packers signed 37-year-old Jeff Saturday to start at center in 2012, there were signs early in camp he’d hit the wall. By season’s end, he no longer was the starter. No such red flags so far with six-time Pro Bowler Jahri Evans, who turns 34 later this month and is replacing T.J. Lang at right guard. Evans has been a crafty run blocker and fine in pass protection, though he had two false start penalties Saturday night.

[pbmax]

Evans was a better pass blocker. Lang a better run blocker. And Lang wasn't in Sitton's class as a run blocker. Will be interesting to see what Evans has left in pass pro, where I am hopeful, and in run blocking, where I am worried.

[texaspackerbacker]

Saturday was undersized too, as I recall - a throwback to when Centers could get away with being smaller than other O Linemen. Evans was called on to pass block for New Orleans a lot more than to run block. I'm hopeful being big and athletic, that he can run block better than he previously showed. And of course, the mobility of Rodgers compared to a lot less for Brees ought to help his pass blocking even if he slips a little bit with age.

[run pMc]

The Evans singing was hypothetically a very good move. You have a proven stopgap until the young guys sort themselves out. Amichia, Patrick, Murphy, or one of the UDFA's could all be the starting RG by end of season. For now, they have someone who shouldn't get Rodgers killed in week 1. The money made a lot of sense too. Lang was a very good player, but Detroit overpaid him on a contract he might not play to the end given his age, injury history.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to overpay aging veterans, and it's not a good idea to put a huge chunk of your salary cap into the OL. Bahktiari was a much better signing...younger, getting better, and a premium position. Lane Taylor isn't Josh Sitton, but he played well enough to save GB a lot of dough and nobody really noticed much dropoff. They're banking on that happening again, and Evans is the backup plan.

Plus, the draft allegedly wasn't great for O-linemen.

[pbmax]

Lombardi Live 53 man roster projection. http://lombardiave.com/2017/07/24/gr...53-man-roster/

Offense (24 players)

Quarterback (2)
Starter – Aaron Rodgers
Reserve – Brett Hundley
Cut – Joe Callahan
Practice Squad – Tysom Hill

Running Back (3)
Starter – Ty Montgomery
Reserves – Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones
Cut – Devante Mays, William Stanback
Practice Squad – Khalif Phillips

Fullback (1)
Starter – Aaron Ripkowski
Cut – Joe Kerridge

Wide Receiver (6)
Starters – Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb
Reserves – Malachi Dupre, Trevor Davis, DeAngelo Yancey
Cut – Jeff Janis, Montay Crockett, Max McCaffrey, Colby Pearson
*Suspended – Geronimo Allison
Practice Squad – Michael Clark

Tight End (3)
Starter – Michael Bennett
Reserves – Lance Kendricks, Richard Rodgers
Cut – Aaron Peck
Practice Squad – Beau Sandland

Offensive Line (9)
Starters – David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, Jahri Evans, Bryan Bulaga
Reserves – Jason Spriggs, Don Barclay, Kyle Murphy, Kofi Amichia
Cut – Geoff Gray, Lucas Patrick, Justin McCray, Robert Leff, Thomas Evans
Practice Squad – Adam Pankey

[pbmax]

Defense (26 players)

Defensive Line (5)
Starters – Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Ricky Jean Francois
Reserves – Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams
Cut – Letroy Guion, Brian Price, Christian Ringo, Izaah Lunsford

Outside Linebacker (6)
Starters – Clay Matthews, Nick Perry
Reserves – Kyler Fackrell, Vince Biegel, Jayrone Elliott, Justin Gilbert
Practice Squad – Jonathan Calvin

Inside Linebacker (4)
Starters – Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez
Reserves – Joe Thomas, Jordan Tripp
Cut – Derrick Matthews, Cody Heiman, David Talley, Josh Letuligasenoa

Cornerback (6)
Starters – Davon House, Kevin King, Damarious Randall
Reserves – Quentin Rollins, LaDarius Gunter, Lenzy Pipkins
Cut – Dmitri Goodson, Josh Hawkins, Deangelo Brown, Daquan Holmes, Raysean Pringle
Practice Squad – Herb Waters

Safety (5)
Starters – Morgan Burnett, Haha Clinton-Dix
Reserves – Josh Jones, Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans
Cut – Aaron Taylor, Jermaine Whitehead


Special Teams

Specialists (3)
Kicker – Mason Crosby
Punter – Justin Pogel
Long Snapper – Derek Hart

[Zool]

I doubt they keep a 4th ILB first day. I would replace Tripp with Waters. Not sure Waters would make it to the practice squad.

[pbmax]

I doubt they keep a 4th ILB first day. I would replace Tripp with Waters. Not sure Waters would make it to the practice squad.

Unless he looks like Shields out there, Pipkins would be ideal for PS. But Tripp probably makes it as well.

Also not sure 3 young WRs make the roster ahead of Janis unless one of them proves to be a ST coverage demon.

[Zool]

Unless he looks like Shields out there, Pipkins would be ideal for PS. But Tripp probably makes it as well.

Also not sure 3 young WRs make the roster ahead of Janis unless one of them proves to be a ST coverage demon.

Well we can all hope Janice doesn't make the roster again. Might be wishful thinking but dammit, that's all we have right now.

[mraynrand]

McCaffrey makes the team only. if he's been ingesting the proprietary family PED cocktail. Or praying to the god of skinny punks.

[Joemailman]

If Goodson's knee is sound, he might make it based on ST play. Don't see Tripp making it. Josh Jones is the 4th ILB.

[texaspackerbacker]

I also think that's too many LBs - both Inside and Outside. I'd keep 3 and 5 instead of 4 and 6.

I don't know what the fascination is that people have with Lenzy Pipkins, but I see a total of 9 DBs, which means 1 spot for him, Hawkins, Waters, Goodson, and a 5th Safety. My guess would be Hawkins for that spot.

With that savings of 4 on the D, I'd keep 3 QBs, 5 RBs + 1 FB, and 7 WRs.

And I don't think I even need to say it, but for all the detractors of Jeff Janis, I see him as one of the seven with probably Davis getting cut when Allison is done with his suspension.

I guess that leaves one spot unfilled. There's plenty of quality to take care of that. Also, we can probably expect a few injuries to be a factor.

BTW, we can wish we had Justin Gilbert, but I assume the roster spot above was Reggie hahahaha.

[pbmax]

I also think that's too many LBs - both Inside and Outside. I'd keep 3 and 5 instead of 4 and 6.

I don't know what the fascination is that people have with Lenzy Pipkins, but I see a total of 9 DBs, which means 1 spot for him, Hawkins, Waters, Goodson, and a 5th Safety. My guess would be Hawkins for that spot.

With that savings of 4 on the D, I'd keep 3 QBs, 5 RBs + 1 FB, and 7 WRs.

And I don't think I even need to say it, but for all the detractors of Jeff Janis, I see him as one of the seven with probably Davis getting cut when Allison is done with his suspension.

I guess that leaves one spot unfilled. There's plenty of quality to take care of that. Also, we can probably expect a few injuries to be a factor.

BTW, we can wish we had Justin Gilbert, but I assume the roster spot above was Reggie hahahaha.

No way they go with fewer than 6 OLBs unless there are injuries. There are always 2 of them on the field and 4 of them need to play special teams.

[hoosier]

Same for Michael Bennett, though Martellus ain't bad.

[smuggler]

Is Justin Gilbert still in the league? He was widely regarded as a colossal bust.

[hoosier]

With Jones and Barnett expected to play in the box as safety/lb hybrids I would expect them to keep just three real ILBs: Ryan, Martinez and Thomas.

[mraynrand]

Is Justin Gilbert still in the league? He was widely regarded as a colossal bust.

Ya just awful. I think he went from Cleveland to pittsburgh if you can believe it. Great physical tools. Apparently horrible work ethic.