Josh Sitton: 2015 Packers Player Report Card

Josh Sitton

  • Age: 29
  • Ht./Wt: 6'3", 318lbs
  • College: Central Florida
  • NFL Experience: 8 years

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Expectations coming into the season:  The Packers best offensive lineman was expected to continue his Pro-Bowl level of play and be the rock the Packers' offense can count on to always win one-on-one battles. Sitton is one of the best in the league at not allowing inside pressures/sacks on the QB. Sitton rarely misses games, in fact, he has only missed two since becoming the starter in 2009.

Player’s highlights/low-lights:  Sitton was the only member of the offensive line to start every game and only missed 8 snaps out of 1148 during the season. His best game was probably against Dallas, as the entire offensive line probably played their best game, with the Packers gaining 230 yds on the ground. On the season, Sitton allowed a total of six sacks, the most since allowing four in 2009, his first year as a starter. In fairness, two of those came when McCarthy made that ill-advised decision to have him play left tackle in the Division-deciding regular season loss against the Vikings.

Level of Expectations met:  Sitton continued his string of consecutive starts, showing up for work every game despite dealing with a nagging back injury for most of the season. While he had a good enough season to place him in the top-ten of NFL guards, it was nowhere near his best. 

Grade: B-

Player’s contributions to team success:  Sitton has been the Packers' best lineman for years now, and is essential to their success. He didn't keep Rodgers as "clean" as normal, but continued to be an important factor in the run game. It wasn't the best of years for the offensive line, and Sitton shares in that. Sitton was flagged for a career-high eight penalties.

Grade: B

Player’s contributions in the playoffs:  Sitton was solid against Washington, as was the entire offensive line in what was a fairly "easy" game for them. Against the Cardinals, Sitton drew perhaps the toughest assignment, having to line up against Calais Campbell for the majority of plays. Sitton had a very, very strong game, marred only by two penalties.

Grade: A

Intangibles/misc:  Sitton gets the "good soldier" award, for agreeing to play left tackle against the Vikings and Everson Griffen. Sitton battled a sore back all season, was very limited in practice because of it and still started every game.

Grade: B

 

Overall Grade:  B

 

 

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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther.  Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP

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Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Packer_Pete's picture

February 05, 2016 at 10:46 am

Sitton played at UCF, not Georgia Tech. The Packers only noticed him since they wanted to scout Kevin Smith.

I like Sitton. But he is starting to show signs of aging. I think he has another couple of years in him, but I think it is best if the Packers slowly but surely find a replacement...

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 05, 2016 at 10:58 am

Yeah I agree on Sitton. He has been pretty beat up the last couple of years.

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JerseyAl's picture

February 05, 2016 at 12:02 pm

Yep. copy and paste error, but should have caught that. corrected - thanks.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 05, 2016 at 11:39 am

Sitton is still easily our best lineman. Lang is 2nd, but by a noticeable margin (Lang gave up more pressures and had more bad runs per snap than Sitton). I should add that Sitton's 10 penalties last season tied Bakh for the lead, and was over double his yearly average. The increased penalties might in part have something to do with Linsley's regression and Bakh's own struggles, but only in part.

Sitton's age and injuries are a concern. Not averse to re-signing a near elite OL if it can be structured so the out years have little or no guaranteed money. Note that Sitton agreed to that with this current contract: he is under contract this year but has no guaranteed money left, and thus can be cut with no dead money being generated.

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JerseyAl's picture

February 05, 2016 at 12:04 pm

Sitton has easily been the Packers best lineman for awhile now, but he wasn't this year. How much his bad back played into that, we won't know, but Lang (who battled multiple injuries) was more reliable and consistent this year.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 05, 2016 at 01:24 pm

Yeah, I went back and forth between Sitton and Lang due to the penalties, mostly. I wouldn't (and didn't) give you the thumbs down for disagreeing with me.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 05, 2016 at 11:53 am

Great player for the last several years. But I am very confident that next year will be his last in Green Bay. TT just so rarely keeps anyone ever the age of 30, and a bad back makes Sitton almost surely gone.

Time to find a replacement in this years draft. I would not be one bit surprised to see a OG taken in the first 2 days of the draft.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 05, 2016 at 01:21 pm

I would be shocked to see a Guard taken on Day 1.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 05, 2016 at 01:25 pm

but not on day 2.

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Evan's picture

February 05, 2016 at 01:37 pm

But it'll probably be an OT to move inside.

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Razer's picture

February 05, 2016 at 12:59 pm

Sitton is the poster warrior for this O-line. He shows up to work more than any other man in the trenches. A true pro. I don't want to see the Packers give up on him but we do need to get the next guard ready. Between him and Lang, we are close to needing someone to step in. I am not sure that Lane Taylor, Josh Walker or Don Barlcay moves us ahead.

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Bearmeat's picture

February 05, 2016 at 04:16 pm

None of the above.

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Rossonero's picture

February 06, 2016 at 01:48 am

I know Sitton can't play forever, but an off season of rest should do wonders for his back. He's the best Guard we've had since three time Pro Bowler Marco Rivera. Rivera eventually went into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2011.

I don't know the details on Sitton's back injury, but if it's muscular then he could play into his 30s. If it's related to his discs, then that would end his career much quicker. Based on personal experience with herniated discs, they are terribly painful. While Sitton is a warrior, they may have to let him walk if his back is still bothering him in 2016.

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Rossonero's picture

February 06, 2016 at 01:49 am

If worse comes to worse, then JC Tretter should be ready to play Guard.

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Since'61's picture

February 06, 2016 at 08:25 am

Even in an off season Sitton remains our best OL. Lang may have been slightly better in 2015 but I would still take Sitton over the long term. It would be great to see Sitton make it through a season healthy but that's probably unlikely as he moves into his 30s. Time to begin grooming his backup/replacement whoever that may be. I hope he stays beyond 2016 but injuries may be a factor in whether he is resigned. Thanks, Since '61

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