I'm at an internet cafe in Thailand, checking in to see what kind of deal the Chargers pulled off to bundle up some draft picks and low and behold, the Chargers stayed at 27 and got an excellent player. Who would have thought?
The thing I like about AJ Smith is that he doesn't make draft day trades for the sake of trading. If the there is a good deal to be made, he'll jump on it. But the team is also just as content to stay put and select the best player left on the board, and this year it was Arizona Cornerback Antonie Cason.
While I have been very vocal about the need to add additional defensive linemen, I have also had defensive back and offensive tackle among my top three biggest needs for the team; with a staggering eight offensive tackles selected between picks 1 through 26, all the offensive linemen with first round grades were gone by the time the Chargers time on the clock began.
First round Defensive tackle prospects were also not numerous and while Kentwan Balmer, Trevor Laws, and Philip Merling were available, I was not very high on any of those three and questioned their fit with the San Diego Chargers.
Running back is also a big need for the Chargers but again, a significant number of top prospects were off the board and the value simply wasn't there for a guy like Matt Forte or Ray Rice at pick 27.
As for safeties, everyone in the draft was still on the board but the Chargers obviously like the idea of Paul Oliver moving to safety and drafting a first round safety like Kenny Phillips would have caused a bit of a log jam, especially because you are counting on him to contribute right away and there simply wasn't room on the roster for him to do so.
So this brings us back to the cornerbacks and the draft class was deep with them, which was a big bonus for the Bolts. Brandon Flowers was a guy who many were projecting the Chargers were going to draft but I was honestly sceptical about his pro prospect potential. He is pretty undersized for the position and while he dominated at the collegiate level, there were some potential red flags concerning his character. Flowers eventually went off the board just a handful of picks later to the Kansas City Chiefs, so it'll be interesting to see how the careers of Flowers and Cason blossom in the AFC West.
Cason has something the Chargers love in a prospect: production. The guy simply lit it up at the college level. A four year starter with a ton of interceptions, ridiculously good character, and Southern California roots. I watched Cason's interviews at the Combine and was blown away with how eloquent he is. The guy speaks like a man who is 41, not 21. Antonie was first team All-American, and is also the 2007 Jim Thorpe award winner which basically means he was the best defensive back in the nation last year.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the addition of Cason into the backfield and his presence as the third corner will make it extremely difficult for teams to throw the ball on the Chargers. While I admit that I didn't hype Cason to the Chargers much on this blog, he was certainly a guy who I filed away in the back of my head as someone who would look surprisingly good in Bolts.
As for the Chargers, it looks like they'll continue the trend of selecting linemen late in the draft...is anyone surprised?
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Antoine Cason A Great Pick For The Chargers
Final Mock Draft
Well it finally here, After months of waiting, months spend reading various scouting reports, watching any YouTube video that can be found, and any newspaper article that we can found, The big day is finally here. Before the draft starts, I will take one last shot at a mock draft.
1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long - Offensive Tackle - Michigan
2. St Louis Rams - Glen Dorsey - Defensive Tackle - LSU
I know that Defensive End is a much bigger need considering that the rams top two defensive ends combined for 5.5 sacks last year, but this a situation where the rams will have to remain true to their board and take the top defensive player in the draft and team him with last years #1, Adam Carriker to form one of the top tackle duos in the NFL.
3. -TRADE- New York Jets - Darren McFadden - Running Back - Arkansas
The Jets know that in order to get their man, they would have to move ahead of the Raiders, and with the Falcons top choice of the board, they agree to swap picks. While McFadden might not have the success of Adrian Peterson last year, he is a a very similar back, and would be going to a team with a pretty good offensive line, and would get a chance to become one of the biggest stars in the NFL by playing in NY.
4. Oakland Raiders - Vernon Gholston - Defensive End - Ohio State
With top choice Darren McFadden off the board, the raiders move on to their biggest need and select pass on Howie Long's son Chris, to select the physical freak from Ohio St. to play opposite Derrick Burrgess.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Long - Defensive End - Virginia
Jared Allen is now a Viking, and to replace him, the Chiefs the best possible replacement for him in a player who has long had been considered the top player in the draft
6. Atlanta Falcons (from NYJ) - Sedrick Ellis - Defensive Tackle - USC
Im sure many people would expect this to be Quarterback Matt Ryan, but if you look at the teams that new GM Thomas Dimitroff (New England), and new coach Mike Smith (Jacksonville) are coming from, you could see that both teams were built around a strong interior defensive line and with Dorsey being the top player on their board, i think they are going to try and follow the same pattern in Atlanta.
7. New England - Leodis McKelvin - Corner Back - Troy
Its almost impossible to find a need on this team, but with the departure of Asante Samuel, the Patriots are able to take the top corner available to replace him.
John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron's dream comes true with the top player on their board is still available at #8 and can now replace the departed Steve McNair.
9 - Cincinnati Bengals - Rashard Mendenhall - Running Back - Illinois
With Chad Johnson demanding his way out of Cincinnati, and Chris Henry already out, i expect this to become more of a run first offense and Rudi Johnson is getting older and was banged up quite a bit last year. Mendenhall is a much more complete back than Johnson and would be a guy that could keep defenses honest with his deep speed.
10 - New Orleans Saints - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Corner Back - Tennessee State
I see this coming down to DRC and Keith Rivers, but think the much bigger need is at corner where Jason David was a free agent bust last year and needs to be replaced.
11 - Buffalo Bills - Derrick Harvey - Defensive End - Florida
The Bills solidified the interior of their defensive line with the addition of Marcus Stroud, and already have one very good end in Aaron Schobel, but need to find a guy on the other side to replace Chris Kelsey. I think a big WR would be a bigger need, but think that the value isnt there.
12 - Denver Broncos - Chris Williams - Offensive Tackle - Vanderbilt
For a long time, the broncos were getting by with a marginal offensive line that played in scheme that took full advantage of their abilities, but the time has come to add some top talent to the line to help open holes for their running backs and give Jay Cutler time to find the open man, and they find that talent in Jay Cutlers college left tackle.
13 - Carolina Panthers - Brandon Albert - Guard/Tackle - Virginia
The Panthers need to find compliments to their great bookend tackles, and find that in the fast rising Brandon Albert. Albert should be able to come in and start from day one, and be one of the better Guards in the NFL.
14 - Chicago Bears - Ryan Clady - Offensive Line - Boise St.
The Bears have Major needs along the offensive line, and Clady at this point would be a steal. A solid offensive line should give Rex Grossman and Cedric Benson a chance to prove themselves this year.
15 - Detroit Lions - Jared Mayo - Inside Linebacker - Tennessee
Coach Rod Marinelli is trying to install the Tampa 2 defense in Detroit, and in order to really run it, he is going to need to find that great middle linebacker and Mayo is the best fit for the Tampa 2 defense in this years draft
16 - Arizona Cardinals - Jonathan Stewart - Running Back - Oregon
It seems like the cardinals have been trying to find a running back for a decade now. Having gone through Micheal Pittman, Marcel Shipp, Emmitt Smith, JJ Arrington and Edgerrin James in the past 10 years, its now time to find that long term stud RB.
17 - Kansas City Chiefs - Jeff Otah - Offensive Tackle - Pittsburgh
The chiefs need to find atleast a couple starting linemen this year, and start here in the first round with Otah.
18 - Houston Texans - Mike Jenkins - Corner Back - South Florida
With all the elite offensive tackles off the board, the texans move to their next biggest need and try to fill the hole left by Danta Robinson's injury, who could be out most if not all of next year.
19 - Philadelphia Eagles - Devin Thomas - Wide Receiver - Michigan St.
The Eagles have been trying to find some play makers for Donovan McNabb and have been unsuccessful. The last time McNabb had a top flight WR to go to, he got the team into the super bowl. Now while a rookie WR might not be the missing piece right away, i think he could be the long term answer.
20 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antoine Cason - Corner Back - Arizona St.
The Bucs corners are getting up there in age and they need to start finding replacements. Personally, I cant believe how much Cason has fallen in the past year, and for the life of me, i cant figure out why. He has all the tools to be a great corner and has had a very productive college career. Could be a steal this late
21 - Washington Redskins - Kenny Phillips - Safety - Miami
The redskins proved last year how much they value the safety position, and thought they would have the best S combo in the NFL for the next decade, but after the tragic passing of All-Pro FS Sean Taylor, the redskins find themselve with a giant hole next to Laron Landry, so they go back to Miami and replace Taylor with the man who replaced him at Miami, Kenny Phillips
22 - Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones - Running Back - Arkansas
I think this pick might make too much sense for it to actually happen, but Felix Jones would be the perfect compliment to Marion Barber and would add some much needed speed to the cowboys offense.
23 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherilus - Offensive Tackle - Boston College
Gosder Cherilus is exactly what a Pittsburgh Steeler offensive linemen should be. Big, Physical, Nasty and is a team leader. I cant picture him not going here if hes available
24 - Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed - Wide Receiver - Texas
The Titans need to find Vince Young some real pass catchers. They already added Alge Crumpler, but they need to find a big target on the outside, and they dont come much bigger than the the 6'4, 220lbs Texas WR. He should be able to make a more immediate impact than many other young WR since he will get a chance to start right away, and already has chemistry with QB Vince Young.
25 - Seattle Seahawks - Chad Henne - Quarterback - Michigan
This might seem like a big surprise, but in reality it shouldn't be. This is a very complete, talented team without many holes, and is a team that could wait and develop a young quarterback and Chad Henne is the perfect fit for Jim Mora offense, and Matt Hasselbeck is going to be 33 years old come opening day
26 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Kentwan Balmer - Defensive Tackle - North Carolina
After trading away Marcus Stroud, this team needs to find a guy to play next to John Henderson and Balmer has the potential to be an upgrade over Stroud and should be able to win a starting spot early on.
27 - San Diego Chargers - Brandon Flowers - Corner Back - Virginia Tech
As has been said many times, this might be the most talented roster in the NFL and has no glaring needs, but with the departure of Drayton Florence, the team needs to find a another corner to keep up with the high powered offenses they will play in the playoffs, especially if Paul Oliver is indeed moving to Safety. I, as im sure the chargers front office, was hoping an elite offensive tackle would fall, but since none are around, I think AJ Smith will go after the top corner available. I was opposed to Flowers at first, but the more i watch him, the more it seems like he has AJ Smith written all over him. I know AJ usually goes after the big, fast, prototypical players, but he also love his players to be productive, and physical, and both of those words describe Flowers. I dont think I have seen a more physical corner in the past 6-7 years, and that includes our very own Quentin Jammer.
28 -TRADE - Miami Dolphins - Joe Flacco - Quarterback - Delaware
I dont think the dolphins can sit and wait for a Quarterback since Henne is already off the board, and so Parcells makes a call to his old buddy Jerry Jones and gets back into the first round and takes his next choice before the falcons could use some of their 2nd and 3rd rounders to move up.
29 - San Francisco 49ers - Dan Connor - Linebacker - Penn St.
Can you imagine a ILB core of Patrick Willis and Dan Connor for the next decade?
30 - Green Bay Packers - Aqib Talib - Corner Back - Kansas
Al harris and Charles Woodson are both getting up there in age and the packers are also needing a quality 3rd corner, so Talib can be the 3rd corner for a couple years and then take over.
31 - New England Patriots - FORFEITED FOR CHEATING!
32 - New York Giants - Charles Godfrey - Corner Back/Safety - Iowa
This might be a bit of a reach, but Godfrey is a guy who can fill in at corner and Safety, both needs of the Giants, and has the physical talent to become a top flight corner with the proper coaching.
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Chargers Claim Casey Bramlet off of waivers
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LT to play in preseason?
Well as the ususal routine goes, LT does not play in preseason games. Why? because The Chargers do not want to risk thier star running back to a possible injury before the start of the regular season. We all know this, most would probably agree with it.
However, one person who might not agree with it, is LT. According to profootballtalk.com, Tomlinson says he might want to play in at least one exhibition game. Working with running backs coach Ollie Wilson, LT says that Wilson has urged him to consider whether or not skipping out on preseason games causes him to get off to slow starts in regular season games.
LT says that his knee is about 90 percent right now, and that he will be ready for the start of training camp in July.
Usually i would be against risking an injury to LT before the start of the season, but, i think if we let him play one or two series in the last two preseon games i think it would help him out, and get him off to a better start.
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The Falcons....A possible trade partner on draft day?
So as we all know the Chargers can go a number of different ways with their first round pick of the draft. One of those many possibilities is a trade. A possible rumor that has been circling around on sdboltreport.com is that the Chargers could make a deal to trade out of the first round with the Atlanta Falcons in order to extra selections.
The Falcons have three 2nd round picks and two 3rd round picks. If the Chargers were able to gain one pick from each of those rounds for our 1st round selection, it would definatley bridge the gap from round one to round five. Having a second, third, two fifths a sixth and a seventh round draft choice, i would consider us to be in pretty good shape. Subscribe in a reader
Buddy Nix Sheds Some Light On The Draft
A quick post before I leave for Thailand...some quotes from Chargers Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel Buddy Nix. Nix is AJ Smith's right-hand man and is responsible for college scouting. In a recent interview on local station MightyXX, Buddy had shared some insight on the draft:
On deep positions in the draft:
You know, I think offensive linemen. I think offensive tackles especially are deep. I think corners; we've got some depth at corner. And it looked like running back was going to be a little bit slighted but then the Juniors come out and now running back looks pretty strong. And you got a lot of receivers, maybe not a marquee guy but a really deep draft in receivers that will have a chance.
Does 'depth' mean you can find potential starters in rounds 4 and later?
Yea that, and guys that can make your team. I don't think it necessarily has to be starters, especially with us. It kind of (comes down to) what you've got on your team that determines whether or not they can be starters. But 'depth' to me is players that can come in and contribute; help you win, help your team get better.
Is Darren Sproles a situational guy or a backup running back?
I think he's a situation guy. And he proved last year his worth by far as a returner and as a change of pace guy. Coach Turner really used him to his potential I thought, and probably will be able to do that again. Yea, I think he's a situation guy.
Do you replace Michael Turner with similar-type of runner, or are you simply looking for a quality backup?
I think you're looking for a guy who can be a backup running back. A change of pace guy; you'd kind of like to give them something different. A big back, somebody that was a pounder late in the game or late in the first half. But it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. If its a guy that's similar to the one you got, and he's good enough to come in and contribute, then you've helped your team.
On Michael Turner's value and talent:
You know we got Michael Turner in the fifth round, and if you're looking for a fifth rounder that's as good as he is, then...you know, I don't believe lightning strikes twice in the same place, so it'd be pretty hard to find that.
On the possibility of trading down and acquiring more draft picks:
You know, you just never know. It takes two to trade. Just because you want to trade down, doesn't mean you can. It takes somebody else wanting to move up. I know this; I know what my job is, and our job as personnel people is to be prepared. If (AJ Smith) walks in with ten minutes to go or fifteen minutes to go and says we got the next pick, and if that's in the second round we've got to be ready, and not be scrambling around and giving a blank look like 'where do we go from here?' so we've got to be ready like we got a pick every round.
There are a few things I take away from this interview; One thing that seems to be a common thread is that the Chargers front office feels strongly that there is a strong group of offensive tackles in this draft, and they've reiterated that it isn't necessarily top heavy. They've intimated that the depth is multiple rounds deep. Does that mean that there is less of a need to jump on a tackle in the first round if they can get a good player later?
I find it interesting that they continue to praise Darren Sproles' return ability, but it seems they obviously will be looking to draft a backup running back. While the need for a running back is obvious, I personally feel the Chargers could upgrade their return game. I think Sproles is a good player, but I think the Chargers could get someone for competition and we already know they've met with guys with great return skills like Eddie Royal.
And as for finding that backup running back, it would seem likely that they take a back on day one if the right one is there. Nix mentioned that finding a guy with Michael Turner's skill just doesn't happen all that often by waiting until round 5. I could easily see the Chargers drafting a running back before the draft and offensive lineman, simply due to the value.
Anyways, I've got to run some last minute errands before I fly out of the country, so this will be my last post for a while. Peace!
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Desperate Denver?
Okay, i know that this blog is all about the news on the Chargers. However, i just had to ask this question, becuase it has been something that has been on my mind and i'd like your guys opinion too, if you have them.
So do tyou think that that the recent acquistions of WR Sammie Parker and WR Darrell Jackson for the Denver Broncos is big deal? Or is this just Denver trying desperatley to gain an upper hand in the AFC west? One part of me thinks this sounds desperate. Denver picking up two now mediocre recivers when Denver is already deep in that position sound desperate to me. Personally i don't think Sammie Parker is going to be problem let alone start for the Broncos. Although, Darrell Jackson who was once a number one reciever in Seattle could be a possible threat. he didn't have much good play in San Francisco but, he does bring veteran experiance to a team and could turn his numbers around with a better team. But maybe i'm reading too much into it.
Anyways what do you guys think about this? Subscribe in a reader
Stephen Cooper Suspended for 4 games
New Charger Fan Temporarily in Charge/2008 Schedule
Hey everyone, well while Robert is going off to Thailand until May 7th I've volunteered to continue giving you guys updates on the Chargers while he is gone.
First off let me introduce myself; My name is Jake, and I'm about as big of a Chargers fan as you will ever meet. I think I have a very interesting opinion regarding the status of our team, but don't worry; I'm not one sided on anything. I understand we all have our own opinions and am open to hearing every one of them. If you guys would like your thoughts on anything regarding the Chargers, please feel free!
Anyways, as some of you may know the schedule for this upcoming season came out this afternoon, and it looks like it's one of our easiest schedules in the last five years. Judging by our opponents, I believe there is no reason why we shouldn't be at least a 13-3 team.
Games I'm looking forward to:
Week 6- New England(Now they are on our turf this season)
Week 8-New Orleans in London(Go against Drew Brees and let's see how we do with the overseas jet lag)
Week 12-Indianapolis (Always a good game and will they still have problems beating us?)
Week 13-Atlanta (How will our defense react to "The Burner" on the other side?)
Week 17-Denver (There just isn't anything better then getting Denver at home for the final game of the season.)
If you guys have any other thoughts let me know what you think.
Read: San Diego Chargers 2008 NFL Regular Season Schedule Subscribe in a reader
Leaving For Thailand...
The time has come for a vacation. Yes, I know that with the draft coming up it's not the best time to take a vacation if you are a die-hard Chargers fan. But if I don't escape now, I might never have another chance.
I'm heading off to beautiful Thailand for 3 weeks where I plan to take my Muay Thai training up to another level. I'm taking my laptop and I'll try to update the site as I can, but internet access is no guarantee. I hope I can find some Wi-Fi hotspots here and there and check the latest NFL Draft news, but if anyone is interested in holding down the fort here at BoltHype, drop me a line: robzepeda[at]gmail[dot]com
Yodsanklai Fairtex, one of my favorite Thai fighters:.jpg)
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Dominance In The AFC West A Product Of The Draft
Bill Williamson has a nice piece over at ESPN.com where he breaks down the current balance of power in the AFC West and why the draft has been the primary reason the Chargers remain at the top of the heap.
"San Diego, player per player, is probably as good as anybody in the National Football League and is probably one of the top-five teams," said Denver coach Mike Shanahan, whose team was outscored 64-6 in two games against the Chargers last season. "Personnel-wise, I would say they're right at the top, No. 1. That's saying a lot."
Read: Draft hits and misses have shaped AFC West hierarchy
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New Quotes From AJ Regarding The Draft
The guys at Mighty1090 got a chance to chat with Chargers GM AJ Smith and asked him a variety of questions. I typed up some of Smith's more interesting responses:
On Paul Oliver as a Cornerback or Safety:
Well we drafted him as a corner/safety. Good football player, let it unfold. The coaches will take that under consideration and they’re thinking about it right now. Where does he actually get penciled in? Probably penciled in as a safety if we’re talking about a paper exercise on a depth chart. Could be a nickel guy. Maybe we have injuries and he fills in at corner. He’s a versatile player but I’ll let the coaches handle what they think about that.
On approaching the draft with such a limited number of picks:
We are going to prepare, gameplan, and execute as if we had a full compliment of draft picks. But we don’t. But the reason we do that is because it makes football sense.
On the depth of certain positions in this draft:
I always hate to participate in these things and tell you what I think of the depth (at the various positions), but I’ve always said every draft is a good draft whether you have eleven picks or five picks. I will jump in and say where it’s deep; in particular, (offensive) tackles. If you need one, or a backup, very deep through the first three or four rounds. An awful lot of quality players that I’ve seen out there. No question about that.
On upcoming player contracts:
All we have is the players on this team right now, with the season coming up. What happens after that…you know…Chargers whether they have six year contracts, one year, three years; you’re a Charger one year at a time. And our team is being built for this season. Whatever happens during the course of that season or after that season we’ll huddle up as and organization and find out how want to proceed in ’09. So everyone else who has the opinion, and is slotting in who’s going to be here and not here, and who we’re going to draft and who’s probably going to be left go in September… I let everyone do that, and when we make changes, we announce it.
Something else I found interesting was that Smith is pretty high on Darren Sproles, which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise considering he drafted him. Smith said he was “pleased with him” and that Sproles had a “terrific year.” He qualified those statements by saying Sproles’ role on offense and special teams is ultimately a coaching decision.
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Video Of My Favorite First Round Prospects
Patrick Lee - Cornerback - 6'0" 200lbs
Dre Moore - Defensive Tackle - 6'4" 305lbs
Felix Jones - Running Back - 6'0" 205lbs
Gosder Cherilus - Offensive Tackle - 6'6" 315lbs Subscribe in a reader
Chargers Take Kenny Phillips In SBNation Mock
The SBNation guys are doing their annual bloggers mock over at MockingTheDraft and were kind enough to ask me to represent the Chargers.
Here is my pick:
With the 27th overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the San Diego Chargers have selected Miami safety Kenny Phillips. Our guest Chargers GM, Rob Zepeda of Bolt Hype, made the Phillips pick and kindly joins us to explain why Phillips is a perfect fit in San Diego:
This is a scenario that the Chargers would love to be in come draft day. Everything is available to them; Some good Defensive Backs are still on the board in Reggie Smith, Dajaun Morgan, Brandon Flowers, and Kenny Phillips. A couple of excellent tackles are there with Cherilus and Otah. And of course there's some nice D-Line help with Kentwan Balmer and Dre Moore available.
If the Chargers in this scenario were to pass on offensive tackle in round 1, then it is pretty likely that Jeff Otah and Gosder Cherilus fall to round 2. Factor in guys like Sam Baker and Carl Nicks, and all of a sudden the Chargers have a good reason to trade back into the second round and get an elite tackle with tremendous value. The Packers and Giants, picking at 30 and 31, are both considering defensive backs in the first round so you have to think that they would consider Reggie Smith, Brandon Flowers, or Kenny Phillips as legit first rounders. The Cowboys at pick number 28 are all be guaranteed to take running back Felix Jones. So in terms of value, Jones would be a great pick at 27. As for the defensive linemen, if the Chargers pass on Kentwan Balmer and Dre Moore, those two would almost certainly slip to round 2. While either player would be a good fit for the Bolts, neither is a sure-fire first rounder and both could easily slip to round 2.
If we go back to the 2006 draft, the Chargers were in dire need of a left tackle and had a couple of top prospects to choose from at pick 19. But the best player on their board was Antonio Cromartie. And by waiting to take a tackle in round 2, they allowed Marcus McNeil to fall into their laps. The SBNation 2008 Mock draft puts the Chargers in a familiar situation where the team can take the best avaialble player on their board. With Super Bowl expectations at an all-time high, the Chargers need a guy who can help the team win now. They need a guy who can be a part of the long-term, but also contribute immediately in some way. That narrows the prospects to Felix Jones, Kenny Phillips, Reggie Smith, Brandon Flowers, and Kentwan Balmer.
In this instance, based on need, value, current depth, and overall upside, I think the Chargers take Kenny Phillips, Safety - Miami. The Miami connection is one that shouldn't be underestimated considering that former first round Hurricanes who are now in the NFL have by and large been very sucessful making the transition. Also, those former 'Canes keep tabs on each other and push each other to be the best they can be. I think Phillips has tremendous upside and by pairing with Eric Weddle, those two would create one of the best safety tandems for years to come. We saw the Chargers' coaching staff use Weddle extensively in his rookie year, and although Phillips might not earn a starting job right away, he'll certainly see many snaps on defense.
Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:
My analysis can be summed up nicely by borrowing from Rob Zepeda's write up: "In this instance, based on need, value, current depth, and overall upside...". The Chargers badly need a safety who can make plays in the secondary, and a player who will eliminate half of the field in coverage. With their star corners Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer, the Chargers are building one of the best young secondaries in football.
San Diego is without a 2nd round pick thanks to Chris Chambers, but they are a smart team and can draft for need at OT and DE later in the lottery.
Grade: A :: Kenny Phillips Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining: 1. LB Dan Connor, 2. LB Jerod Mayo, 3. QB Joe Flacco, 4. RB Felix Jones, 5. Kentwan Balmer
That's all she wrote for today, folks. We've only got four more first-round picks to make, so we'll have the first round wrapped up Friday morning. For now, we'll leave you with the Dallas Cowboys on the clock for the second time this round. Blogging the Boys will once again be making the pick.
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BoltHype Picking For Chargers For 103.3 FM ESPN
EDIT: They didn't end up calling me so I got to helplessly listen to "Charles" pick Brandon Flowers with the 27th overall pick...
Just a heads up:
I'm picking for the Chargers today for the ESPN affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area 103.3 FM.
Tune in here:
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espn1033/story?id=listenlive
Here is how it all went down:
The mock order:
1. Dolphins - Chris Long
2. Atlanta - Matt Ryan
3. Raiders - Darren McFadden
4. Chiefs - Jake Long
5. Jets - Vernon Gholston
6. Patriots - Leodis McKelvin
7. Ravens - Glenn Dorsey
8. Bengals - Sedrick Ellis
9. Saints - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
10. Rams - Ryan Clady (Rams dropped down to the tenth pick on purpose)
11. Bills - Devin Thomas
12. Broncos - Brandon Albert
13. Panthers - Jeff Otah
14. Bears - Brian Brohm
15. Lions - Rashard Mendenhall
16. Cardinals - Jonathan Stewart
17. Vikings - Derrick Harvey
18. Texans - Aqib Talib
19. Eagles - Chris Williams
20. Bucs - Mike Jenkins
21. Redskins - Calais Campbell
22. Cowboys - Felix Jones
23. Steelers - Keith Rivers
24. Titans - Desean Jackson
25. Seahawks - Kentwan Balmer
26. Jaguars - Phillip Merling
27. Chargers - Brandon Flowers (wasn't me. Charles picked him...who's Charles??)
28. Cowboys - Justin King
29. 49ers - Malcolm Kelly
30. Packers - Kenny Phillips
31. Giants - Jerod Mayo Subscribe in a reader
Reggie Smith and Malcolm Kelly Run SLOW
Early word out of the workout featuring the two former Sooners is that Reggie Smith ran in the 4.6 range and Malcolm Kelly ran in the 4.7s. This will surely effect their draft stock as now Smith is firmly a safety prospect instead of a possible cornerback and Kelly can no longer be considered a top 2 wide receiver prospect. Scouts don't based their rankings exclusively on how fast a guy runs a forty yard dash but to say that those times don't mean much is just being naive. Subscribe in a reader
For Fans Of Grade A Beef
This post is for all you guys out there who want some Grade-A beef in the trenches; I present to you Demario Pressley. This former Wolpacker is built like a Mack truck at 6'3" 301lbs. I think he has the type of thick, squatly frame to nicely project to nose tackle in a 3-4 down the road.
NC State in recent years has become somewhat of a D-line factory, sending guys like Mario Williams, Tank Tyler, John McCargo, and Manny Lawson (who has since shifted out to OLB) into the NFL. Read what Mr. Pressley had to say at the Combine and try not to come away impressed...it'll be hard:
"I think I took something small from each of those guys," Pressley said. "From Tank I took note of his power. From Johnny Mac it was his quickness and from Mario his speed and his technique. His technique as a defensive lineman was insane."
What have you been up to today?
"Just some meetings and I took the Wonderlic."
What was the Wonderlic like?
"It was pretty good. I had never taken the Wonderlic until today. I think I did all right."
What was the strangest question on the test?
"There was nothing really strange. It (the test) had questions like, 'Say if you are (working) at a Wal-Mart and you have employees. You pay off the base (salary) of the day and you need $12,000 the first day, $16,000 tomorrow and $20,000 the day after that, then what's the average?"
So it's a lot of math questions?
"I few of them. I hit probably about four hard ones."
You've had some injury issues. How do you feel right now?
"I feel good now. It was only this season and the only real issue was my right knee. I had that meniscus trim (that's what it sounds like on the tape). I feel fine now."
Are you going to do everything this week?
"yes sir."
What did you do to get in shape for the combine?
"I've been training at a place called WBI in Duluth, Ga. I've just been working with the trainers there and a defensive line coach to get ready."
Have you spoken with the Detroit Lions?
"yes sir."
How about the Buccaneers?
"Yes sir."
How did that meeting go with the Bucs?
"It went pretty well. I actually met with them today. The coach was talking to me and he actually taught me some things right there, about my hands and how to lock out and stuff like that."
That was the defensive line coach (Larry Coyer)?
"Yes sir."
N.C. State has had a lot of good defensive linemen the past few years. Has it helped
playing alongside those guys (Mario Williams, John McCargo and Tank Tyler)?
"I think I took something small from each of those guys. From Tank I took note of his power. From Johnny Mac it was his quickness and from Mario his speed and his technique. His technique as a defensive lineman was insane."
Have you stayed in touch with these guys?
"Everyone. Mario is hard to grab. But I have spoken with him in the past month."
When you guys made the coaching transfer from Amato to O'Brien, did
you have the same position coach?
"No, my coach has changed. My coach now is Keith Willis."
How was the transition?
"It was pretty good. There really wasn't that much that changed. Certain technique things were the same."
Have you gotten an idea of where teams are looking at you right now?
"Most teams are looking at me on the inside, but some teams, the teams with the big ends like the Chargers, are looking at me outside. Most teams are looking at me inside."
Is it possible that 3-4 teams are looking at you outside?
"Right, right."
It seems that most of the tackles here like to play the three technique. Not many of
them say they want to play the nose. It's tough to play that nose position, isn't it?
"You're going to hit each play, you're going to hit every down and your job will not get easier. It takes a man to play that position and I enjoy playing it. I can play every snap. I can do it all. I can play the three technique. I can play outside. I would be a big end, but I can play outside. As a nose tackle you have two or three guys on you every down and it gets kind of mean in there.
It's also harder to make plays because you're freeing up things for other players, right?
"You have to deal with that. You have to know that you're playing for the team and that you won't make a lot of plays. You have two or three guys on you every play. You're going to be busting it hard every play. You have to come to the fact that you are playing for the team."
How competitive was practice when you were there with Tyler and Williams and McCargo?
"It was very competitive. We still had on offense players like Jed Paulson and Chris Colmer, who played with the Bucs, and LeRoy Harris. So days got real hectic. Me and Tank were fighting for the other tackle because McCargo had one sewn up. It got real competitive between me and Tank."
Does it encourage you to see how high those guys went in the draft?
"I still watch John today. I still try to take notes watching him, Vince Wilfork, Tommie Harris. I try to get better in the small areas."
Did they help make you a better player?
"Yes, yes, yes. They taught me a lot of things, especially McCargo and Manny (Lawson). He worked with me on my technique. McCargo helped me a lot on my pass rush.
You mentioned Tommie Harris. What would it mean to have the opportunity to play alongside him?
"Playing with a Tommie Harris to me would be like a dream. I model myself after him. I watch him all the time."
Demario Pressley Highlights:
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Hart Gets An Extension And I'm Not Happy About It
Clinton Hart...god bless him. Somehow he convinced the Chargers front office that he deserved a 5 year contract extension. Is there a method to this madness? Was it critical to this team's success to make sure that a 31 year old strong safety who is afraid to hit, slow to diagnose and react to the play, and who's generally mediocre in just about every way, stays in San Diego for 5 more years? I've been very critical of the Chargers revolving door at safety and it looks like aside from Eric Weddle, we won't have stability at the position for the foreseeable future.
For a team that has slowly struggled more and more each year to stop the run, its a bit of a head-scratcher that this deal was done. Lets go back to Week 9 of the 2007 season, where the Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings rushed for over 350 yards on the San Diego Chargers defense:
I hope the team releases the figures in this contract extension because it is clearly evident that Mr. Hart is worth every penny... Subscribe in a reader
2008 Draft Prospects From San Diego
Kevin O'Connell, QB 6'5" 225lbs (Carlsbad, CA - La Costa Canyon High School)
The best Quarterback prospect to come out of San Diego State in recent memory, O'Connell possess impressive physical tools and has some serious upside. He can compete for a backup job early and there is a chance he could eventually start in the NFL.
Marcus Smith, WR 6'1" 220lbs (San Diego, CA - Morse High School)
Raw wide receiver who looks more like a big running back, this former Lobo was a playmaker who played with power. Intriguing guy who will probably be drafted in the fifth round.
Let me know if I missed someone and I'll update the list. Subscribe in a reader
Potentially The Best Safety In The 2008 Draft Class?
Dajuan Morgan
6'0" 205lbs, 4.5 speed - Draft Grade: 2nd-3rd round
There are a couple of former Wolfpackers who would fit in real nicely with the Chargers. The only problem being, is the Chargers lack the second, third, or fourth round picks it'll probably take to get these guys. The first guy I'll talk about is Safety Dajaun Morgan...
Physical and aggressive, Dajaun Morgan is everything the Chargers would be looking for in a guy who can compete for the starting strong safety job. Clinton Hart is the starter there now by default, but as we know Hart is a guy who lacks aggression and is not a guy who craves contact. Morgan, on the other hand is a guy who loves to mix it up. He can shed blocks and get to the ball carrier and deliver the finishing blow once he arrives.
Morgan also has great range and although he doesn't have the best natural ball skills (drops the occasional interception), he is frequently in position to make a play. He is a competitor and a leader and plays with real passion for the game. I see Morgan as a great fit at strong safety but he is versatile enough to play both spots. With his natural talent and love for the game, Morgan is viewed as a guy who could emerge as the 2008 draft's best safety.
I have said this before, and it deserves reiteration: There is the chance that the Chargers secondary regresses a bit in terms of tackling. Weddle and Jammer are great tacklers, but Cromartie is still looking to improve in that area. We don't yet know who is going to play nickle corner (Paul Oliver?) and Clinton Hart is not a good open field tackler. It's important that the team has a guy who can perform clean-up duties and help be an enforcer.
Dajuan Morgan highlights: Subscribe in a reader
Jammer One Of NFL's Hardest Hitters
Science has proven that Jammer is the hardest hitting cornerbacker in the National Football League. Where are all you #23 haters now??! Subscribe in a reader
Potential First Round Targets For The Chargers
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I've done some studying on how the best teams draft and one of the most important factors the really good teams consider is "How does the player fit our team?"
You'll hear guys like Scott Pioli and Bill Polian talk about their approach is one which focuses on their club. Can the player be effective in our scheme? Do they fit the profile of our team from a character and work ethic standpoint? Can they help us win now, or are they part of the long-term future? How much value do they bring the team? Can they play multiple positions? Are they versatile? Are they smart?
These are questions that the good teams ask, so when you compare draft boards of say, the Houston Texans versus the San Diego Chargers, you'll probably see some very different rankings. The type of defensive linemen that fits a 4-3 wont always be good fits in a 3-4. A cornerback who wont be a good fit in 3-4 man defense might be great playing more zone or cover 2.
Specifically speaking on the San Diego Chargers and their needs on defense, offense, and special teams, these are the players I have identified as potential first round picks for the Bolts:
Defensive Backs
The Bolts need versatile guys who are tough and physical. In a cornerback, they would like to find a guy who can play the slot and who can support the run. In a safety, they would look for guys who are versatile and can play both safety spots. They're looking for a bigger defensive back who can tackle and can play in different packages.
1. DB Leodis McKelvin
2. DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
3. DB Reggie Smith
4. FS Kenny Phillips
5. DB Patrick Lee
6. SS DaJuan Morgan
Defensive Linemen
Nose tackle is a position that needs depth and there is also a need for a defensive end who can play the five technique. They like big, strong, athletic ends who have long arms and can dominate their gap. Guys who can pass rush as well as stop the run are highly coveted by this team.
1. DT Glenn Dorsey
2. DT Sedrick Ellis
3. DE Phillip Merling
4. DT Kentwan Balmer
5. DE Calais Campbell
6. DT Dre Moore
Offensive Linemen
Depth is a concern at tackle and guard so finding a player who can play both spots is very valuable. The Chargers employ a power run game and like guys who are physical and dominant. A finesse blocker wouldn't be a great fit here and the Chargers already have a Pro Bowl left tackle so they would like to find a guy who can play on the right side, but also has the ability to play on the left if need be.
1. OT Jake Long
2. OG Branden Albert
3. OT Jeff Otah
4. OT Gosder Cherilus
Running Back
Ladainian Tomlinson is still in his prime but he has had a ton of carries so far in his NFL career and broke down towards the end of last season. While he is still the catalyst for the offense, depth is certainly a concern with the loss of Michael Turner so the team needs to find a guy who can help Tomlinson carry the load. Turner averaged about 75+ carries a season for the past two years and also helped as a returner. The Chargers need to find someone who can get 5-10 touches a game and be a security blanket if anything catastrophic were to happen to #21.
1. Darren McFadden
2. Jonathan Stewart
3. Rashard Mendenhall
4. Felix Jones
Wide Receiver
The team is very deep at wide receiver and wont likely draft one. However, Desean Jackson is a possibility because of his incredible return skills. The team took Buster Davis last year in the first round but the third receiver spot won't be handed to Davis without him earning it.
1. WR DeSean Jackson Subscribe in a reader
BoltHype Big Board - Top 45 Prospects
Note: This list takes into account players with serious red flags character-wise and those prospects are removed from my board entirely.
1. Chris Long
2. Darren McFadden
3. Jake Long
4. Vernon Gholston
5. Glenn Dorsey
6. Sedrick Ellis
7. Leodis McKelvin
8. Jonathan Stewart
9. Keith Rivers
10. Desean Jackson
11. Derrick Harvey
12. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
13. Matt Ryan
14. Ryan Clady
15. Quentin Groves
16. Brandon Albert
17. Limas Sweed
18. Rashard Mendenhall
19. Philip Merling
20. Felix Jones
21. Brian Brohm
22. Mike Jenkins
23. Chris Williams
24. Dan Connor
25. Mike Jenkins
26. Reggie Smith
27. Jeff Otah
28. Malcolm Kelly
29. Antoine Cason
30. Mario Manningham
31. Kenny Phillips
32. Aqib Talib
33. Gosder Cherilus
34. Dre Moore
35. Calais Campbell
36. Lawrence Jackson
37. Patrick Lee
38. Dajuan Morgan
39. Chad Henne
40. DeMario Pressley
41. Jerod Mayo
42. Sam Baker
43. Erin Henderson
44. Kentwan Balmer
45. Chilo Rachal Subscribe in a reader