Demovsky Projection of 53 Man Roster

[Patler]

It still makes no sense to me to let Lang walk if they put Evans in there since they wanted to develop a younger player. Evans is good, but being in a new system takes a bit away from him. He is a downgrade from Lang.

Evans - $2.25M one year contract, $200,000 guaranteed.
Lang - $28.5M three year contract, $19,000,000 guaranteed.

It's not difficult to understand why they let Lang walk, or why they are willing to give Evans a shot, especially when you consider that Evans has been more durable throughout his career.

[texaspackerbacker]

I thoroughly expect Evans to play better than Lang would have - even if the money had been equal, which obviously it is not.

[Patler]

I thoroughly expect Evans to play better than Lang would have - even if the money had been equal, which obviously it is not.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[run pMc]

Is there some problem with DeAngelo Yancey?

Early hype was on Dupre, and Yancey supposedly had a case of the dropsies. The competition at several positions (WR, RB, CB) looks to be very interesting this year. Some good players won't make it and wind up playing for the 49ers.

[Zool]

Early hype was on Dupre, and Yancey supposedly had a case of the dropsies. The competition at several positions (WR, RB, CB) looks to be very interesting this year. Some good players won't make it and wind up playing for the 49ers.

The 49ers will have to get in line behind the Vikings for Packer cuts.

[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.