Predicting the Chargers 53

The Chargers need to cut the roster on September 1st which will leave only 75 guys to battle it out for the coveted 53 spots. After the Chargers first two pre-season games the picture was fuzzy at best, which was reflected in my first 53 roster prediction that had question marks on it.  Today there are no question marks. I have loaded the Chargers roster with a lot of rookies and cut some veterans

Notables not on the roster:Jacoby JonesAustin PettisNick NovakDonald Brown

The Chargers offense looks set. I am still projecting this to be one of the top offenses in the league. The biggest surprise is probably Tyrell Williams.  The kid has the size and speed to be a really good WR but is still raw at this stage.  He he has played real well on special teams coverage, which is something you need out of that 6th WR spot and that is why he makes the roster. Plus Jones and Pettis have been lackluster in the pre-season.

I’m still not sure who will get that eighth lineman spot but for the moment Sirles occupies that spot.

On defense Mitch Unrein makes the Chargers D-Line unit.  Dzunbar gets added to the ILB unit, he has shown flashes of quality play at linebacker, but has played really well on special teams, which is why he will make the team. Ryan Mueller fills out that last OLB spot.

And I have the Chargers going with Lambo over Novak, purely for the reason of kickoffs. The Chargers can’t continually give opposing return men opportunities to return the ball and shorten the field.

I am still projecting this to be one of the top offenses in the league.

Offensive lineKing DunlapOrlando FranklinChris WattJoe BarksdaleDJ FlukerTrevor RobinsonChris HairstonJeremiah Sirles

Running BacksMelvin GordonDanny WoodheadBranden Oliver

August 24, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Javontee Herndon (8) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Wide ReceiverStevie JohnsonKeenan AllenMalcom FloydDontrelle InmanJavontee HerndonTyrell Williams

Tight EndsAntonio GatesLadarius GreenDavid JohnsonJohn Phillips

QuarterbackPhillip RiversKellen Clemens

Defensive LineCorey LiugetKendall ReyesSean LissemoreRicardo MathewsRyan CarrethersDarius PhilonMitch Unrein

Outside LinebackerMelvin IngramJeremiah AttaochuCordarro LawKyle EmanuelRyan Mueller

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Inside LinebackersDonald ButlerManti TeoKavell ConnerDenzel PerrymanNick Dzunbar

Aug 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers cornerback Craig Mager (29) against the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

CornerbacksBrandon FlowersJason VerrettStevie WilliamsChris DavisPatrick RobinsonCraig Mager

SafetyEric WeddleJimmy WilsonDarrell StuckyJahleel Addae

KickerJosh Lambo

PunterMike Scifres

Long SnapperMike Windt