The Softer Side Of A.J. Smith: Kris Dielman's Retirement

The Chargers may not have Kris Dielman in their locker room as a player when the 2012 season begins, but there’s no doubt he is still a huge part of the team. Even those believed to be devoid of any real emotions on the business side of the team were invested in Dielman more as a man than as a player.

Bolts’ General Manager A.J. Smith is often times characterized as a curmudgeon lacking true feelings for any given player. Those misconceptions can be put to bed after his inspired words about Dielman following the nine-year pro’s retirement last week.

Never one to dole out compliments unless they are well-deserved, Smith said: “Kris Dielman is one of my all-time favorite, favorite players. And it’s a short list.” Chargers’ fans have to agree with Smith that Dielman’s presence on the roster for nearly a decade really aided in this team’s reemergence as a viable contender in the AFC.

While gushing certainly isn’t something Smith has been known for in the past, his overwhelming connection with Dielman allowed him to let his guard down (forgive the pun) in this case. In his interview with U-T San Diego, Smith gave a candid and lengthy explanation of just why Dielman earned the status as one of the GM’s all-time favorite players.

According to Smith: “It’s more than him being a great player. It has to do with his sincerity, his old-fashioned roots, (his) blue collar, his sense of humor, his loyalty. His greatest trait – and he’s got a million of them — is he has absolutely no tolerance at all for malcontents around him, left or right. I relate to that.

“It comes out in him. It’s in his eyes and his body language. He can’t take it. Others may be more tolerant or more forgiving. (With) Dielman, if you’re a malcontent, he’s watching. ‘I see that. Stay over there. Teammate or not, if you want to get with the program, I’ll embrace you.’ If you want to do your thing, he’s basically saying you’ll get your ass run out of here shortly.”

“His presence on a plane, in a locker room, his game-day preparation -- when you look at him, you know he’s in a game-day mode (or) practice mode,” Smith said. “He’s got a little bit of a smile after a victory, just a sick little grin. There are so many things about this guy that I love.”

Smith’s lovefest for Dielman is clearly warranted as he opened many holes for LaDainian Tomlinson during his record-setting season in 2006 and continued his great play beyond those years. Dielman’s four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2007-2010 were the height of his career and during his time with the Bolts he was known as their enforcer. His gritty on-field attitude allowed him to assert himself as the man to be reckoned with should any upheaval present itself.

This warm and loving side of Smith is something that fans in San Diego are unfamiliar with for the most part. His outward heartless and unbending attitude portrays a man with much less sensitivity than the man talking about Dielman in this interview.

Most fans around the league know Smith as a GM with very little in the emotion department and plenty of spite when it comes to negotiations. The GM himself knows these perceptions are out there as he said: “When you say he is cold and callous in a business, I have no problem with that. I’ve got a job to do, none of this fuzzy-fuzzy stuff. But yeah, there’s another side. Yeah, there’s another side to me. Absolutely.”

That other side, no matter how odd it may seem to fans familiar with his uncensored negotiating tongue, is something great to see on the softer side of football. Off of the field these are just real people with real lives and real emotions for one another that do come out at times without a filter.

His final words regarding the retirement of Dielman were in classic Smith style melding both his masked negotiator side with his emotional human counterpart. The GM said: “He knows how I feel. I don’t have any proof of it, but I think he knows that I think he’s special and one of my all-time favorite players. Even though I’ve never told him.”

Dielman was honored as one of the 50 best Chargers to ever play when those accolades were handed out for the franchise’s 50th anniversary. His legacy with the Bolts will continue on for years to come and his presence on the field will be impossible to replace.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think in seeing the comments offered by GM Smith about Dielman and his career with the Bolts? Do you think it is possible to replace the All-Pro guard’s talents on the field or will the team struggle at that position in the near future? Does it surprise you to read GM Smith’s open words offered about Dielman or is his persona given a bad rap unjustly? Dielman was honored as one of the 50 best Bolts of all-time, but in your opinion, is he the best guard the team has ever had? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Chargers 2012 Draft: Be The GM

Draft day prognosticating is a favorite past time of most NFL football followers, and Chargers fans are no exception. The difficult thing about predicting what a particular team might do on draft day is that's it's nearly impossible to predict what the preceding 17 teams (in the case of the Chargers) will do first. Who the Chargers select at #18 in the first round is largely dependent on who is available when their time on the clock rolls around.

To help put the 18th pick in context, we bring you the 2012 edition of "Be The GM" for the Chargers draft. Over the next 8 weeks leading up to the NFL draft we will use different mock drafts to provide us with scenarios for picks 1-17, then ask you to determine who the Chargers should select at #18. After making your choice for the Chargers' first round pick, feel free to throw out any interesting trade scenarios as well.

Our first 2012 draft scenario comes from Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com. Walt's site is a personal favorite of mine for draft day analysis and he puts a lot of thought into his mock draft, which is updated frequently.

Here are the first 17 picks; check them out and then Be The GM by leaving your Chargers selection in the comments below!

1. Colts: Andrew Luck/QB
2. Browns: Robert Griffin/QB (trade)
3. Vikings: Matt Khalil/OT
4. Rams: Justin Blackmon/WR (trade)
5. Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne/CB
6. Redskins: Riley Reiff/OT
7. Jaguars: Melvin Ingram/DE
8. Dolphins: Quinton Coples/DE
9. Panthers: Dontari Poe/DT
10. Bills: Courtney Upshaw/DE
11. Chiefs: Jonathan Martin/OT
12. Seahawks: Luke Kuechly/ILB
13. Cardinals: David DeCastro/OG
14. Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins/CB
15. Eagles: Michael Floyd/WR
16. Jets: Trent Richardson/RB
17. Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick/CB
18. Chargers: ???

I have been steady in my desire to see an impact player selected with the Chargers' first round pick. The best defensive players on the board include DE/OLB Nick Perry (Walt's pick for the Chargers at #18), DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus, ILB Dont'a Hightower, and S Mark Barron.

Even with their obvious defensive needs, recent events could have the Chargers going offense. OT Mike Adams and OG Cordy Glenn could both fill big holes on the offensive line.

In this scenario I have the Chargers sticking to their pre-draft inclination to fix the defense. With the 18th pick in this 2012 NFL Draft I would select Whitney Mercilus. He is athletic enough to fill the OLB position in a 3-4 and has enough size to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage.

That's my pick- what's yours? Sound off in the comments section now and Be The GM!

Follow me on Twitter: @JSWilliams75

Chargers Free Agency 2012: Who's In, Who's Out?

With the NFL Scouting Combine now in the rearview mirror, Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith must shift his attention to the free agent market and a number of key Bolts that will not be back with the team in 2012. Just as a refresher, here are the players expected to be wearing different uniforms next season for one reason or another.

Vincent Jackson, WR --- There will be plenty of teams willing to pay him in the area of $10 million a year in a long-term contract so the likelihood of him remaining in San Diego is miniscule. The team still maintains the fact that the franchise tag is a viable option, but don’t expect it to be used this time around.

Kris Dielman, OG --- His retirement really doesn’t come as a surprise, but it still sets the Bolts back. For Dielman’s sake, hopefully he has a healthy life after football following his scary concussion incident this past season.

Marcus McNeill, OT --- Scheduled to make $10 million in 2012, the team is expected to cut him loose before his March 16 roster bonus kicks in. Due to lingering injury concerns with his neck, it’s hard to blame the Bolts for cutting ties with a damaged player set to earn that much money.

Luis Castillo, DE --- He is as good as gone at this point saving the team nearly $5 million against the cap in 2012. Still he was a solid starter for more than half a decade and this move will put a lot of pressure on Corey Liuget to step up as a full-time starter in year two.

Nick Hardwick, C ---- He will hit the free agent market and could be allowed to walk by the team in favor of the younger Colin Baxter. There is (however) mutual interest to keep Hardwick in San Diego which is a positive sign.

Jared Gaither, OT --- This becomes priority number one with McNeill on his way out. Protecting quarterback Philip Rivers’ blindside has to top the list for GM Smith when it comes to offseason objectives.

Mike Tolbert, RB --- It seems that he too will be allowed to leave in a similar manner to Darren Sproles two years ago. Although he is not as dynamic as Sproles, losing him should not be underestimated and his ability to break the plain in goal line situations is invaluable.

Dante Hughes, CB --- He is a foregone conclusion to be released due to the $1 million cap hit he carries. Although he wasn’t a key contributor, the move will leave the team awfully thin in the secondary

Now that we know what the team is looking at as far as departures and must-sign players, it’s time to assess the greatest needs for the Bolts moving forward. But after a list of players that long, it seems like it would be easier to define what the Chargers don't need rather than list out their deficiencies.

Although the Bolts aren’t losing any pass rushers to free agency, that is probably because they don’t have any to lose. The need to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks ranks highly on the wish-list for this offseason and it is likely that the team will address that shortcoming via the NFL Draft. Free agency is a possibility, but don’t expect the Bolts to make a serious run at Mario Williams who is the biggest name available in the pass rushing department.

Aside from the clear need for a pass rush, depth seems to be the most pressing issue facing the team in 2012. If all of the aforementioned players leave, the club will be woefully shorthanded along the offensive line, at wide receiver, on the defensive front, and in the secondary. Finding some high-quality, economical depth at each of those areas will be a real focal point for management.

GM Smith’s philosophy of building through the draft has been quite successful during his tenure with the club as the team has finished at or above .500 in all eight of his seasons as the Executive Vice President and GM. Still there is no denying the recent decline having missed the postseason for two consecutive years and having an apparent lack of depth across the board. Free agency will have to play a large role in rebuilding this Bolts team if they hope to turn around these recent misfortunes.

Now it’s your turn to weigh-in! Which player do you believe will be the team’s biggest loss this offseason? Is/are there any particular player(s) you think the club should focus its resources on rather than letting them enter free agency? What area(s) of need do you believe would be best filled in free agency with a proven commodity? Will this be the year that the team signs some big fish from the free agency pond or will it be business as usual once again? Please fill up the comments section below with your input!

Whitney Mercilus Linked To The Chargers

It’s been tough to gauge just which direction the Chargers will be looking in the first round of April’s NFL Draft, but the picture may be gaining some clarity. Fans have been clamoring for a top notch pass rusher since the choice of Larry English in 2009 that has yet to pan out for the Bolts. Finally it seems that management agrees with the consensus of the fan base and will look to address the team’s woeful lack of quarterback pressure on the defensive side of the football.

There are plenty of options for a 3-4 team looking to land that next hybrid outside linebacker in this year’s draft class, but the Bolts may be keen on one player in particular. Most pointed to Alabama product Courtney Upshaw as the leader in the clubhouse to be the pick in San Diego should he be on the board when the team selects, but it seems a fast rising prospect may have overtaken him for that status.

Former Illinois pass rusher Whitney Mercilus has been dubbed by many scouts coming into this pre-draft process as a one-year wonder, but the Illini defender is doing his best to shake that label. Mercilus tallied 16 sacks last season which is quite an impressive number at any level let alone in college with five less regular season games than the pro level. As he explained to NBC Sports: “There’s no fluke to it, 16 is 16. There’s no way you can just fall onto a sack.”

With the statistics to prove that he is a top level prospect, Mercilus decided to forgo his senior season with Illinois and enter the NFL Draft. That decision is proving to be a wise move especially after the numbers that he posted at the NFL Scouting Combine.

An unofficial 4.63 time in the 40-yard dash was later amended to an official 4.68 time, but is still quite impressive. What should wow scouts even more is his split time which is what really makes the difference when lining up at the line of scrimmage needing short bursts to make an impact. His 10-yard split time of just 1.57 seconds showed true explosion while his 32-inch vertical leap and 118-inch broad jump further illustrated that athleticism.

When reporters asked about his athletic ability, Mercilus said: “I come off the line — I have a good first step. I’m able to come off the line pretty quickly. Definitely I’m able to wear out players, too. I have a never-ending motor, and I’m able to keep going until the fourth quarter until somebody is dog tired and just take advantage of them.”

Clearly this young man has all of the physical tools to be successful at the next level and the Chargers could be the team to give him that opportunity. Many scouts can’t help but compare Mercilus’ tale to that of the New York Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul. Mercilus is the son of Haitian immigrants still learning the game of football and quite raw in many respects, but his ability to get to the quarterback shares some obvious similarities to Pierre-Paul.

When asked about his progression as a player, he said: “I just was able to put everything together. I was still learning the game as a redshirt sophomore and redshirt freshman. Just last year, studying myself more and seeing what I do best, I just put it all together for last season, and I broke out last season. It was just due to hard work. That's all I have to credit it to. It just didn't happen. I made it happen. I was still learning the game. I was young. I was a raw talent. I would show flashes in games at times and I was finally able to just put it all together.”

For a young player to understand both his strengths and weaknesses at this stage of his career says a great deal about Mercilus’ maturity level as well. That is a trait which probably comes from his upbringing as he detailed saying: “My parents are Haitian immigrants. I can't give you a dateline on when they came here or anything like that. They worked for everything. They broke their backs for a number of years just to put food on the table for me and my brother and my sister and they instilled those values in us to just work hard and never give up on anything in life. Just keep pushing forward and you can do great things. And it definitely happened.”

Work ethic is a question of character and it is quite apparent that Mercilus has the desire to make the most of any opportunity he is given. Landing a player with this kind of desire and athletic skill set would be a tremendous move for the Bolts as they attempt to restore the fear factor in their defense for 2012.

Now it’s your turn! Do you expect the Chargers to focus on pass rush in the first round or will they be more inclined to address other needs early on? Is Mercilus’ one-year wonder success story at Illinois something to be concerned about or something to get fans excited? Does the athleticism that Mercilus has shown at Combine translate to success in the NFL in your opinion or not? Do you believe there are striking similarities between Mercilus and Pierre-Paul or are the circumstances merely coincidental? Should Mercilus be at the top of the Bolts wish-list heading into the draft or do you see them going in another direction? Please fill up the comments section below with your thoughts!

Chargers In The News: Jackson, Jackson, Jackson

The story coming out of the Chargers’ compound regarding soon-to-be free agent Vincent Jackson continues to affirm that the Chargers want to bring back their Pro Bowl wide receiver, but only at their price. Reportedly, that price does not include the franchise tag option of somewhere around $13.7 million for a one-year contract. While the Chargers are sticking to that story, one has to wonder if they are telling the truth.

Is there a good chance that the Chargers open the wallet a little wider than they had hoped to retain #83? Signing a top player to a deal outside of the team’s preconceived comfort zone is not entirely unheard of. Prior to the 2008 season the Chargers’ signed guard Kris Dielman to a contract worth more than what the team had initially valued the player at just to keep him from leaving the team for greener (as in the color of money) pastures in Seattle. A last minute increase from the Chargers’ “final” offer brought Dielman back to the team. Could negotiations with Jackson follow a similar path?

Jackson is not loved by the front office the way that Dielman was, but regardless, his value to the team has never been in question. Jason La Canfora from NFL.com predicts that whether the Chargers and Jackson agree to a multi-year contract or not, VJ will be wearing blue and gold next season. Due to a number of factors which include a lack of wide receiver depth and an aging Antonio Gates, La Canfora predicts that if the Chargers and Jackson have not agreed to a deal by March 5, with a number of potential suitors lining up in wait, the team will have no choice but to place another franchise tag on Jackson and hope that they can continue working toward a deal better for all parties involved. As wide receivers are pulled off of the open market by competing clubs using their own franchise tag options, a list that reportedly will include Dwayne Bowe in Kansas City and Wes Welker in New England if deals cannot be struck before the March 5 franchise tag deadline, the Chargers have to be thinking that keeping Jackson is the easiest solution to their rebuilding efforts this offseason.

I tend to agree with La Canfora. The Chargers wide receivers are at their best with Jackson streaking down the sideline, and in the end will do what needs to be done to retain him. The bigger question may now be, will Jackson bother negotiating a team-friendlier deal if he is franchise tagged again?

From Starting WR’s To Backup RB’s

A recent Chargers Mailbag update from San Diego Union Tribune beat writer Kevin Acee mentioned Cadillac Williams as a potential veteran backup running back option for San Diego. Not that backup running back is the most pressing need on the team, but with Mike Tolbert and Jacob Hester hitting the free agent market, this could end up being an important offseason acquisition. Williams is an interesting thought, but is Cadillac the best fit? Other names who might look even better in lightning bolts this season include:

Kevin Smith: Smith went from 1st round pick to jobless in just a few years, but found a bit of a rebirth after rejoining the Lions last season.

Ronnie Brown: A former standout in the wildcat formation, Brown has great hands that were underutilized after a season in Philadelphia. Brown has 3rd down back written all over him.

Steve Slaton: The one-year wonder has failed to live up to the hype created early in his career. He is a talented back rushing and receiving, but costly fumbles eventually led to his benching. On second thought, additional fumbling is the last thing this team needs.

LaDainian Tomlinson: It’s never gonna happen, not with the size of the chips AJ Smith keeps on his shoulder. But would it really be that bad of an idea, bringing back a fan favorite more accepting of a backup role in a familiar offense?

AJ Opens Up?

AJ Smith recently spoke with ESPN’s Bill Williamson at the scouting combine in Indianapolis and revealed some of the deepest, darkest, most surprising secrets you will ever hear coming from the usually tight-lipped GM.

Just kidding.

Smith told ESPN absolutely nothing that we didn’t already know, including tidbits like the defense needs to get better, and the offensive line, with the possibility of a lot of turnover ahead, is of great concern. He wouldn’t get specific about prospects he liked in the draft or who he might target in free agency, but many of the same names continue to be thrown around, starting with Robert Mathis to help with the pass rush.

Speaking of the draft, with the football world dissecting future draft picks at the combine, most draft predictions for the Chargers first round pick have been consistently inconsistent. South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram has been a popular pick for the Chargers recently, as was Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw before him. More and more, draft prognosticators have branched out from the obvious outside linebacker choices and moved in the direction of other positions of need, including wide receivers like Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Baylor’s Kendall Wright, and lineman like Stanford’s Jonathan Martin and Mike Adams from Ohio State. I can’t see a bigger need than a dominant pass rusher, but if history tells me anything it’s that AJ Smith and I rarely agree on these things.

Got a favorite free agent pickup or draft choice for the Chargers? Sound off below!

Follow me on Twitter: @JSWilliams75

Follow BOLTHYPE on Twitter: @BOLTHYPE

Chargers Draft 2012: Offseason Central - 7 Round Mock Draft

Move over Mel Kiper, The combine is almost here! For most Charger fans, it's the middle of a long, cold Chargers off-season.  For draft junkies, it is a time to further explore the talent of the 2012 class.  BOLTHYPE has released Mock Drafts Version 1.0 (see below).  To accompany the mock drafts there is also an off season podcast we are releasing that discusses a variety of off season issues and explains each of the mock drafts in detail. We want to see your mocks. Do you agree with our picks?  Special thanks to our draft experts Mychal Edelman, Andrew Simmons, Josh Bretow, and Guest "Podcastee" Tim Easton. 

The BOLTHYPE Podcast - Episode 9 (46:14)

Download the MP3

Mychal Edelman's Mocks 1.0
@mychaledelman

Mock A

Round 1		Melvin Ingram OLB South Carolina
Round 2		Markelle Martin S Oklahoma State
Round 3		Ryan Miller OT/OG Colorado
Round 4		Doug Martin RB Boise State
Round 5		Joe Adams WR/KR Arkansas
Round 6		Ladarius Green TE Lousianna-Lafayette
Round 7		Johnathon Bostic ILB Florida

 Mock B

Round 1		Vontez Burfict ILB Arizona State
Round 2		LaMichael James RB Oregon
Round 3		Shane Skov OLB Stanford
Round 4		Javon Kriner WR Arizona
Round 5		Josh Chichester TE Louisville
Round 6		Jacory Harris QB Miami
Round 7		Josh Oglesby OL Wisconsin

Josh Bretow Mock 1.0
@joshbretow

Round 1		Melvin Ingram OLB South Carolina
Round 2		Mike Adams OT Ohio State
Round 3		Brandon Taylor S LSU
Round 4		Orson Charles TE Georgia
Round 5		Lonnie Edwards OG Texas Tech
Round 6		Chris Rainey RB/KR Florida
Round 7		Cameron Chism CB Maryland

Is GM A.J. Smith Going To Spend Big Money In Free Agency?

The Chargers have never been known as a team willing to spend beaucoup bucks on the free agent market, but it seems that those conceptions may be changing. Last offseason San Diego signed 15 free agents including re-signing a few of their own players at a total price tag in excess of $50 million in salary and bonuses for the 2011 league year.

That total was certainly out of the ordinary for the Bolts as the total number of free agents brought in from 2005 through 2010 combined didn’t add up to those signed last year. It might not be a stretch to think that General Manager A.J. Smith may actually spend even more cash this year trying to build a team capable of returning to the postseason.

With $20 million in cap space expected to be available for Smith to both re-sign the team’s own free agents and bring in some new faces from other clubs, this could be another active offseason in San Diego. The Bolts GM seems to be ready for some negotiating as well as he said: “It’s a terrific time to be looking in a number of areas.”

His newfound attitude toward spending the team’s cash on free agents may have been the result of his near dismissal following last year’s disappointing campaign. Smith has been a build through the draft type of GM during his time spent with the Chargers. Sources insist that Smith’s boss (team president Dean Spanos) is fully on board with the idea of building a team via the draft, but some believe that his statements during the announcement of his intentions to bring back both Smith and Head Coach Norv Turner following the 2011 season suggest otherwise.

Of Smith’s philosophies manning the GM position, Spanos said: “We do need to do some things differently in our player personnel selections going forward. Maybe in free agency you’re more proactive.” That definitely sounds like a hint to sign a few more high profile players in free agency rather than relying solely on the draft to replenish the club’s talent pool.

This year will be as good of a year as any to land some instant upgrades at the Bolts’ man positions of need. The Offensive line, outside linebacker, secondary, and wideout spots will all require some serious attention over the coming months. With a cap figure positioned well under the requirement for the upcoming league year coupled with those dire needs, Smith’s outlook on the free agent market may be quickly shifting. The man himself said: “Right now it could be open because of the holes we have and the depth (in the free agent market) at certain positions.”

While the struggles cannot all be pinned on Smith, he is the man in charge of assembling a team best suited to succeed together. His failure to do so with a 9-7 record in 2010 and an 8-8 mark for 2011 suggests that he is falling behind the curve when it comes to building the squad as necessary in the draft. Most pundits believed that management did a fine job of both retaining players and adding new pieces last year, but injuries can’t be predicted.

The aptitude to draft better and create a deeper team can greatly aid in masking the affect that injuries can have on a club however. Smith’s inability to provide the team with options should the projected starters suffer an unforeseen injury is definitely at least in part to blame for the difficulties experienced in 2011.

It’s hard to disagree with Smith when he says: “I like our philosophy and approach. I don’t want to change anything. I want to make better decisions. We need to hit on these players a little better.” It’s also difficult to see him retaining his job should he fail to do just that for the 2012 campaign.

The pressure is on the coaches, the players, and team management this year for a team with the expectations that have been placed on the Chargers during the better part of the past decade. It’s about time the parties involved start living up to those lofty goals before a rebuild from the top down is required to get things headed in the right direction.

Now it’s your turn. Do you think the Bolts allocated their resources correctly heading into last year and what would you do differently to experience success in 2012? Can GM Smith’s draft-first philosophy lead this team to the promised land or will they continue to fall woefully short unless they shell out some real money for key free agents? Do you blame Smith for the team’s struggles dealing with injuries last year or is that just the luck (or unluck) of the draw? Will the immense pressure on the entire organization be a good motivator for the coming year or a detriment to the team’s ultimate success? Have at it! Fill up the comments section below with your thoughts!