An Admitted A.J. Smith Apologist

As the Chargers struggle to justify not at least offering long-term contracts to their two current holdouts, plenty of media outlets and fans are going to point the finger at the team’s General Manager A.J. Smith. Some of that blame surely comes because of Smith’s arrogant attitude with the media and his questionable negotiation tactics, but the fact of the matter is that Smith is an employee of the Chargers organization under no one’s authority but team ownership. Dean Spanos and the Spanos family sign Smith’s paycheck and they evidently feel that the GM is doing an extraordinary job. And why wouldn’t they?

Smith took on the title of general manager after the late John Butler passed away in April of 2003 from his battle with lung cancer. After working his way up through the ranks as an NFL scout in the late seventies and throughout the eighties, Smith landed with the Buffalo Bills where he would begin a 14-year relationship with the team. He served as an area scout (1987-1988), their Assistant Director of College Scouting (1989-1992), and then became the Director of Pro Personnel (1993-2000). Smith’s time in Buffalo came during the heyday of the franchise when the Bills notoriously reached four consecutive Super Bowls only to lose each of those contests to superior NFC opponents.

During his first season as GM with the Bolts, Smith was named Executive of the Year by CBS Sportsline.com after the team transformed from a 4-12 nightmare to a 12-4 Cinderella. That year was the resurrection of Drew Brees’ career in San Diego and ultimately forced the Bolts to place the franchise tag on him even though they had just selected Philip Rivers in the 2004 NFL Draft after a controversial trade with the New York Giants. Smith’s trade for Rivers acquired the picks from the Giants which would later be used to select linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding (both Pro Bowlers). The incidents that followed the 2005 season would eventually begin the second guessing of Smith’s management philosophies and provide the ammunition for those who question his priorities to this day.

After Brees suffered a torn labrum in the season finale of 2005, then Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer came under scrutiny for leaving Brees in the game. The chain of events that would follow included Brees being allowed to test the free agent market and eventually signing with the New Orleans Saints while the Bolts turned the reigns over to Rivers under center. After an outstanding first season by Rivers and company posting a 14-2 record, expectations were high as the number one seed in the AFC. The Bolts would be stunned in a Divisional round playoff loss to the New England Patriots after some passive coaching decisions by Schottenheimer. In a highly publicized spat, Smith and Marty starred one another down with the end result being Schottenheimer’s pink slip in San Diego.

What does all of this controversy mean?

In short, Smith is a man with principals that are written in stone and if someone fails to conform to his way of thinking, the Bolt GM would rather move on without them than change his ideals. Call it stubborn, but Smith has found success in San Diego building a perrenial AFC West champion team and creating a core group of players that have another four or five years of upper level production ahead of them. That is what makes these holdouts so troubling being that they involve two of those draft pick gems that Smith has become noted for during his tenure with the team. Jackson was plucked late in round number two with the 61st overall selection in 2005 while McNeill was snagged just one year later in the second round with the 50th pick.

Not every general manager is capable of finding Pro Bowl caliber players in the latter half of round two on a yearly basis, but not every GM has the audacity to stare down holdouts from two of his premier offensive stars and not blink either. Smith is definitely one of a kind in the NFL and quite a trailblazer with his negotiation tactics, but the jury is still out on whether that is a good or bad thing for the sake of the franchise.

YOUR TAKE

Let’s hear from the fans, should Smith give in to the demands of both McNeill and Jackson or should he stand firm in the face of adversity? Which side will ultimately cave, the players or team management? Has Smith been an effective general manager or does the team need to look elsewhere if they want to reach the pinnacle and one day raise the Lombardi trophy? Pour on the comments below!

AJ Smith On Rumors Of New McNeill Negotiations: "Absolutely Untrue."

Chargers General Manager AJ Smith was in rare form yesterday, responding to the increased chatter surrounding the team's big-name holdouts. In an interview with beat reporter Kevin Acee, Smith made it crystal clear that negotiations with Marcus McNeill have made no progress, and that there would be no guarantees that Shawne Merriman would not be placed on the trading block.

According to Acee of the Union-Tribune, AJ Smith came out yesterday to shoot down any rumor that the Chargers and McNeill's camp were to seriously begin contract negotiations this week. This statement refutes a report by NFL.com's Jason La Canfora saying the two sides were expected to get something done soon.

As for Merriman holding out of training camp in protest of a lack of assurances that he wont be traded this season, Smith had this to say:

“It was very disappointing to hear Shawne’s demands and desires regarding the Chargers,” Smith said. “But it certainly is his right to voice them. We will not guarantee him that he won’t be traded. That is not in the best interest of the organization. We will not be building a defense around Shawne. Our hope was that he would become an integral part of our defense. Obviously he has a lot on his mind going into the season. He will have to work that out with his agent.”

Does AJ Smith Sound As If He's Conceeded The Season?

Chargers General Manager AJ Smith is known for his hard-lined, no-nonsense policies, whether it be his approach to the media, his dealings with agents and players, or his philosophy towards free agency and the draft. As he would put it, "there is a book" on him - a track record. Known for keeping an eye on the future, having adequate depth at all positions, and taking care of his own, it's bewildering how such a well-run personnel department prepares to enter a season in which it finds itself caught with it's proverbial pants on the ground; without the services of Pro Bowl players Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeil, and no one legitimate replacements.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement deadline had been looming on the horizon for years; when the owners decided to opt out of the agreement in 2008 they thereby agreed to play the 2010 season without a salary cap. An uncertain situation such as this needed delicate action, but the Chargers seem content to simply freeze. AJ Smith has acknowledged the difficulties with retaining so much young talent in the past. But as someone who knew this day would come, it appears as if he is ill-prepared with what has transpired. It seems as though Smith was gambling that McNeill and Jackson would be happy to sign their tenders and that the Chargers would march towards an eventual Super Bowl berth.

But that's not was has happened. Jackson and McNeill refused to sign and are prepared to sit out a majority of the season. The Chargers will be without two important keys to their offense and could find themselves regressing.

“It hurts,” Smith said. “It hurts when you don’t have your players. How are you going to win a championship without your left tackle and your wideout? I’m sick about it. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how anybody could be more upset about this than me. My head is spinning. I’m trying to replace them. I think we’ve got a good football team. We’re losing a left tackle and a wide receiver, I want our team to know they’re gone. Talk about it now, process it while you’re on vacation, get it out of the way. But they’re not coming back, and we have to move on. If those players change their mind, I’ll deal with it then.”

AJ Smith responded quickly by signing journeymen free agents Tra Thomas and Josh Reed, but those acquisitions strike me as desperate moves, not executions of a well-formulated plan. Hadn't Smith and his front office people been in contact with the agents of Jackson and McNeill? Did they not discuss each others' intentions prior to 2010? Were those lines of communication even open? I would guess not, because the Chargers ignored both the offensive tackle position as well as the wide receiver position in the 2010 NFL Draft. Was drafting a safety and a middle linebacker in the third and fourth rounds really a smart decision? Couldn't the Chargers have found a tackle and a wideout instead?

The Chargers are a frugal team but have shown the willingness to lock-up players who they've identified as a key components to the team. No one will argue against signing Philip Rivers to a $90 million dollar contract, but there have been more than a few who've scratched their heads at deals handed out to Luis Castillo and Jyles Tucker; two players millionaires many times over. And as good as Darren Sproles is, $7 million dollars a year over the past two years is an enormous amount of money for a kick returner and specialty back.

At this point, I think the reality is that Vincent Jackson will not be signing a long-term contract with the San Diego Chargers. Unless the Chargers decide to franchise tag him in 2011, and they very well may, I think he leaves the team and signs a fair market deal elsewhere. And as for Marcus McNeill, I can only hope that the Chargers and McNeill's agent can come to terms on a long-term contract and secure such a valuable position on the Chargers' roster.

“In a normal year, we would be doing contracts,” says Smith. “My philosophy has not changed. I want to identify people and keep them. Under normal conditions, maybe we would have signed them. It’s a unique year, a difficult year. We’re all businessmen. I’m disappointed. They have rights. Unfortunately, it’s not good for us to win a championship without our Pro Bowl left tackle and wide receiver. Not every player can get max contracts. The more star players you have, the more difficult it becomes. But it’s very difficult to win championships without your best players. Everyone knows that.”

It's not hard to find the frustration and disappointment in AJ Smith's words. And if you look closely enough, a certain sense of concession can be found. The Chargers at this point don't seem to be making any big pushes for the 2010 season. With a rookie lead running back, no star receiver available, question marks at offensive tackle, and a tight end who hopes his foot is good to go, it almost sounds as if AJ Smith has lowered his expectations for his team.

“We haven’t won a world championship yet,” Smith says. “We have not been able to get it done. We cannot crack it. If you’ve not hit it yet, and now you have all these obstacles, it’s not fun at all. The bottom line is we’re all passing through here – the players are, and I am, too. I don’t know when Dean Spanos will knock on my door and not want me anymore. How do you know that? So all I can do is stay true to my philosophy.”

It's a philosophy that has worked well in the past, so why does the team now find itself looking unprepared when expectations are so high?

QUOTES SOURCED FROM: The San Diego Union-Tribune and Yahoo! Sports

Did The Chargers Make A Mistake By Not Keeping Olshansky?

With an already suspect run defense, the San Diego Chargers' woes are only compounded by the fact that they have lost both Jamal Williams and Ryon Bingham for the year. The Chargers now find themselves in a nightmare situation, desperately depleted along the defensive line. They drafted DT Vaughn Martin with the idea that he would benefit from further development and blossom down the road, and traded for DT Travis Johnson hoping he could fit in as a starting 5-tech until that time. But two weeks into the season, the Chargers are more banged up than ever and are scrambling to find bodies. Word on the street is that the Bolts are bringing in 33 year old free agent Alfonso Boone, who has never played in the 3-4... and their search might not end there. At this point, the question deserves to be asked: Did the Chargers make a mistake by not signing Igor Olshansky a contract extension when they had a chance?

Olshansky, swiftly signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys (four years, $18 million), expressed his desire to stay in San Diego, but at the same time was vocal about his disappointment that the Chargers made no offers to him. Under new Chargers Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera, Olshansky saw his playing time tapper off significantly:

"I’m not blaming anyone," says Olshansky. "I don’t know what the reason is. But it was definitely something. In [the playoff game against the Steelers] I had 5 tackles, Jamal Williams had 5 tackles. That was the most important game of the season. No one else was really that productive. Why would you cut a productive player’s playing time?"

Not one to cause trouble in the locker room, Olshansky bit his tongue and kept grinding, hoping that his hard work on the practice field and in the weight room would be recognized:

"It’s a tricky thing, dealing with coaches and knowing your role," explains Olshansky. "I had to know my role on the team. I didn’t want to make any problems for anybody. I didn’t want to make problems for myself and be a distraction. So I quickly realized my role on the team; if we call your number, you get out there and play your ass off. If we don’t, you sit on the sideline until you are called up again. So that’s basically the role I played this year. When they called me I went out there and played my butt off. And when they didn’t, I sat quietly on the sidelines, jumping around, stretching, and making sure I stayed warm."

It's tough to really quantify a defensive lineman's value to a team, especially in a 3-man front where defensive lineman don't generally put up big numbers. But without those stout bodies up front keeping the linebackers free to make plays outside, the Chargers are going to become soft up the middle and will continue to allow chunks of yardage on the ground. As the year goes on, it'll be interesting to see how the team responds to the strain that injuries have placed on them.

AJ Smith Sheds Some Light On The Chargers Draft Needs

Being the general manager of a professional football team is never an easy job. As the primary decision maker in regards to football operations, both the team's ownership and it's fans rely on the GM to make sound decisions in order to field a competitive team. Coming off a disappointing 8-8 season in 2008, the San Diego Chargers have some areas that need to be addressed going forward, and team GM AJ Smith has publicly acknowledged those needs.

Smith pointed to two areas which he believes are necessary for a team to compete for a championship. The first area Smith called out was the Chargers running game, or lack thereof:

"I just know we're not good enough. But I will say this, which I've said before: we need to have a solid, consistent running game. We have to."

Smith cautioned not to jump to conclusions when it came to evaluating players. It is important to consider all the circumstances and dynamics of a player's performance on the field, and to not get too caught up in numbers.

"If you're evaluation running backs, and the line is playing poorly, you have to consider that. If you've got outstanding wide receivers, and you've got a quarterback that can't get them the ball, you better come up with some answers there. If you've got a secondary, and people are running around, and you don't have a pass rush, you have to consider that."

While Smith has to take all considerations into account when preparing his team for the 2009 season, there is one thing that he staunchly believes in, and that is defense.

"I believe defense wins championships. I've said that a number of years and I'll never deviate from it. But we have to find out how to stop passing assaults on this football team. We've gotta get off the field."

AJ Smith is a blunt and candid guy, and the Chargers' fans appreciate him for it. As he stated, the team needs to improve on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Chargers clearly need to run the ball better. They'll likely improve in this area by drafting a talented offensive lineman to come in and compete for a starting job, but only if the right guy is available to them.

They also want to improve defensively, and especially when it comes to third down situations. To help get the defense off the field on third down, the Chargers will look to bolster their front seven. A linebacker and a defensive lineman are certainly in the cards, and the team could also draft a safety.

Assuming the Chargers sign no free agents, they'll Chargers are all but guaranteed to draft the following positions:

+ Linebacker
+ Defensive End/Tackle
+ Offensive Tackle
+ Safety

Nobody knows for sure what round the Chargers will draft those position; that will only become clear as the draft itself unfolds. But running the ball, and bolstering the defense are two areas AJ Smith and the San Diego Chargers are planning to address.

"Those two areas; until we figure it out, we will not go where we want to go. It's just not going to happen."

"I don't have any answers for it, but it's right there in front of our faces. We need to fix it."

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Linebackers Waters And Harris Released

San Diego Chargers General Manager AJ Smith announced today that the team has released Linebackers Anthony Waters and Marques Harris. Waters came to San Diego an injured prospect full of potential. The Chargers knew he would require time to recover and had hoped he'd prove to be an impact player. Waters never lived up to his billing as a first-round talent who fell to the third round because of injury. The coaching staff has apparently decided that Waters has not developed enough and have decided to move in another direction.

Also released was the veteran linebacker Marques Harris. Harris was used primarily as a pass rush specialist but he made his living on special teams. Harris was never viewed as an every down linebacker and with the expected development of Jyles Tucker and Antwan Applewhite, Harris' days as an outside linebacker have come to an end.

With the Chargers down both an inside linebacker and an outside pass rusher, it would be reasonable to expect them to at least consider drafting a linebacker in the first round, and holding the 16th overall pick, the San Diego Chargers are in great position to find a playmaker on defense.

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Predicting The Pick: AJ Smith's Draft History

Since becoming the San Diego Chargers GM in 2003, AJ Smith has had a great deal of success rebuilding the team through the NFL Draft. Indeed, Smith has become a respected figure in NFL circles based on his keen ability to scout talent. AJ is not one to discuss his football business publicly, and you would hardly expect him to divulge in detail his plans for the upcoming draft. But with six drafts under his belt here in San Diego, we begin to get a better grasp on his approach. Whether we come to conclusions based on coincidence or trend, there are a few "certainties" we can expect come draft day...

AJ Smith will probably spend his late round picks on an offensive tackle or two. In the middle rounds, he'll likely get a player who can contribute on special teams first and work his way into the starting lineup later. And in the first two round, Smith will select players who will have a very good opportunity to start early in their career.

AJ SMITH'S DRAFT HISTORY SINCE BECOMING CHARGERS GM IN 2003

2003
1 CB Sammy Davis - Texas AM
2 CB Drayton Florence Tuskegee
2 SS Terrence Kiel - Texas AM
3 OT Courtney Van Buren - Arkansas-Pine Bluff
4 LB Matt Wilhelm - Ohio State
5 PP Mike Scifres - Western Ilinois
6 FS Hanik Milligan - Houston
7 FB Andrew Pinnock - South Carolina

2004
1 QB Philip Rivers - NC State
2 DT Igor Olshansky - Oregon
3 KK Nate Kaeding - Iowa
3 OC Nick Hardwick - Purdue
4 LB Shaun Phillips - Purdue
5 DE Dave Ball - UCLA
5 RB Michael Turner - Northern Illinois
6 TE Ryan Krause - Nebraska-Omaha
7 DT Ryon Bingham - Nebraska
7 OT Shane Olivea - Ohio State
7 OT Carlos Joseph - Miami

2005
1 LB Shawne Merriman - Maryland
1 DT Luis Castillo - Northwestern
2 WR Vincent Jackson - Northern Colorado
4 RB Darren Sproles - Kansas State
5 OT Wesley Britt - Alabama
6 OT Wes Sims - Oklahoma
7 OC Scott Mruczkowski - Bowling Green

2006
1 CB Antonio Cromartie - Florida State
2 OT Marcus McNeill - Auburn
3 QB Charlie Whitehurst - Clemson
5 LB Tim Dobbins - Iowa State
6 OT Jeromey Clary - Kansas State
6 KK Kurt Smith - Virginia
7 DT Case Page - North Carolina
7 OT Jimmy Martin - Virginia Tech


2007
1 WR Craig Buster Davis - LSU
2 SS Eric Weddle - Utah
3 LB Anthony Waters - Clemson
4 TE Scott Chandler - Iowa
5 WR Legedu Naanee - Boise State
7 LB Brandon Siler - Florida

Supplemental Draft
4 DB Paul Oliver - Georgia

2008
1 CB Antoine Cason - Arizona
3 RB Jacob Hester - LSU
5 RB Marcus Thomas - UTEP
6 CB DeJuan Tribble - Boston College
7 OT Corey Clark - Texas A&M


Using the above record as a guide, we can see a few trends in Smith's approach to the draft. In the first two rounds, Smith has spent the premium picks necessary to help build a solid secondary. The creation of that secondary is still a work-in-progress, but the Chargers have certainly acquired some young, talented defensive backs and they have no place to go but up.

Rounds 1/2 (Top Picks)
6 Defensive Backs
2 Defensive Tackles
2 Wide Receivers
1 Linebacker
1 Offensive Tackle
1 Quarterback

In the mid rounds, Smith has gotten some tremendous value drafting lunch pail football players like linebackers and running backs. Smith seems to find talented players from mid-western school in these rounds.

Rounds 3/4/5 (Mid Rounders)
4 Linebackers
4 Runningbacks
3 Offensive Linemen
1 Tight End
1 Kicker
1 Quarterback
1 Wide Receiver

In the late rounds, Smith is all but guaranteed to draft offensive linemen, particularly at offensive tackle. I guess the thinking is that tackle is the more difficult position to play compared to guard. And if a tackle prospect can't play the position in the NFL, then he at least has a chance to be kicked inside and tried at guard. If he doesn't fit at guard then he probably doesn't belong in the NFL in the first place.

Rounds 6/7 Late Rounds
6 Offensive Tackles
1 Offensive Guard
2 Defensive Tackles
2 Defensive Backs
1 Linebacker
1 Tight End
1 Fullback
1 Kickers

POTENTIAL DRAFT DAY SCENARIOS

(note: as supplemental draft picks have yet to be officially awarded, we've omitted those anticipated picks at this time)

Based both on team needs, and AJ Smith's history and perceived value on particular positions, I put together a few scenarios that we might expect to see come draft day:

Scenario A
(In this scenario, the Chargers place a priority on adding playmakers to the defense)

1 LB Rey Magaluga
3 DT Fili Moala
4 FS Michael Hamlin
5 FB Quinn Johnson
6 RB Kory Sheets
7 OT Robert Brewster

Scenario B
(Here we look to fill the holes left behind by Olshansky and Goff with immediate starters)

1 OT Michael Oher
3 SS Chip Vaughn
4 DT Darryl Richard
5 LB Orion Martin
6 WR Kenny McKinley
7 OG Jaime Thomas

Scenario C
(In this situation, we add two starters to the lines and draft a powerful running back to compliment LT)

1 DT Tyson Jackson
3 OG Kraig Urbik
4 RB Andre Brown
5 LB Zack Follett
6 DT Dorell Scott
7 OT Jose Valdez

AJ Smith Has 5 Questions And I Have 5 Answers For Him

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In a recent interview with Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Chargers GM AJ Smith expressed his extreme disappointment and embarrassment over the way the Chargers have performed this season. Smith puts the blame squarely on his own shoulders, and identifies a set of five questions he'll ask himself as the 2008 comes to an end. I'll do my best to address his questions as best as I can, and I ask all of you to contribute to this post by sharing your thoughts as well:

“1. What happened between 2007 and 2008?”

Well a number of things happened:

Defensively, losing Shawne Merriman had a tremendously negative impact on the team. With Merriman out for the entire season, guys who previously came in situationally were now being counted on to play on the base defense. Not only was Merriman a tremendous pass rusher, he was also a dominant run stopper. Without Merriman, guys had to step in and at times were playing out of position. While they still could generate decent pressure on the passer, there was a significant drop off in run defense. For example, I am very high on the future of Jyles Tucker, but he is a guy who could certainly have benefited from developing another year in a situational role.

On the back end of the defense, we didn’t see the improvement we were expecting from what was essentially the same core group of guys. Marlon McCree was a veteran leader last year, and losing him might have had a negative impact on the young group, not only from a mentorship standpoint but also from mental and schematic standpoint. McCree was well versed in coverages and did an excellent job lining his guys up. Eric Weddle is a first year starter and has made some big plays but also some costly mistakes. Antonio Cromartie is also in his first full year as a starter and he has struggled with nagging injuries, leading to what some have called “confidence issues.” As Cromartie improves as a tackler, it is important to have a hard-hitting safety (valve) to clean up his leftovers. On the bright side, Antoine Cason has performed at a high level as the third cornerback and there has been no drop off in losing Drayton Florence. As far as coaching is concerned, promoting Ron Rivera was absolutely the right move and I would not dismiss him as a possible candidate for the head coaching job here in San Diego.

On the offensive side of the ball, Norv Turner has made it clear in his second year as the head coach that he is changing the offensive philosophy of the team. His first year as head coach, he preached “continuity.” But just a year later the offense is almost recognizable. Chris Chambers was brought to San Diego to help the team win a championship. Antonio Gates and Ladainian Tomlinson were supposed to be the best players at their position. The Chargers offense was supposed to be unstoppable; no team in the league was going to be able to contain such playmakers. It turns out the team that rendered such high profile and productive players relatively useless were largely the San Diego Chargers themselves.

2. “What's happened to the defense on third-down conversions? It seems automatic for the offenses now. It's been much too easy. They're dangerous, because they can break your spirit.”


Everyone looked at the Chargers and said "this team needs to generate more pressure on the QB." Well, there's a difference between pressure and sacks. If an NFL Quarterback cannot deal with pressure, then they shouldn’t be on the field. Pressure isn’t good enough. The defense needs to get sacks. Negative plays. Pressure was never the problem with this defense. Guys were close to getting sacks way too often. What the failed to do was to actually sack the QB.

3. “The offensive line. We lack a running game. This is a deficiency. If we don't fix the running game and stop the passing assaults on third down, a championship will not be coming to San Diego any time soon.”

The Chargers are now a passing team and no longer play the physical brand of football that was a hallmark of Marty Schottenheimer. The offensive line are not allowed to get into a grove running the ball and with opposing defensive lines going relatively unpunished throughout the game, the Chargers have a had time controlling the line of scrimmage. All season long, teams have dictated what the Chargers can do offensively. The Chargers have struggled to start fast – they do not play sixty minutes of football with a fourth quarter intensity. Instead of taking control of a game early, the San Diego Chargers offense is constantly trying to play catch-up, completely throwing off any sort of offensive rhythm.

4. “Is our talent base overrated, or is it just an off year for them? Are some of the players starting to decline?”

This is an interesting question because physical talent is worthless without the drive and passion to perform. I think we should be asking if the talent base is responding to the coaching. Are these guys giving 100% on each play? Is the locker room dividing? Are the players buying into the team's philosophy and playing together? Are there individuals on the team going through the motions?

I certainly feel that this team has weakness at certain positions. Heading into the 2008 NFL season, I identified the Chargers top four draft needs.

1. Defensive Tackle
2. Offensive Tackle
3. Running Back
4. Strong Safety

The interesting thing is that these four positions are still need-areas heading into offseason. Outside of Jamal Williams' return to dominance, the Chargers defensive line has not generated plays. The team signed Ian Scott and activated Keith Grennan on a few occasions because they needed the depth. The defensive line has probably seen more individuals rotating in and out than any other position on the team. Drafting a top defensive linemen could have helped in this area and possibly provided more big plays.

Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard will continue to be an area of improvement. The Chargers offensive line is not dominant and has not dominated the line of scrimmage like in years past. Tomlinson is having the worst season of his career. Certainly the team needs to bring in another offensive lineman, and while they did draft Corey Clark late, he bounced around from the active roster to the practice squad and back.

Running Back; it was a glaring need heading into this season, and it remains a position under intense scrutiny. Is Jacob Hester the heir apparent to Ladainian Tomlinson? Will he be at least what Michael Turner was to this team? Is he going to play fullback or not? Why was Marcus Thomas drafted only to be cut? The team obviously thought enough of the guy to draft him, so why couldn't he stick around? Did he not fit in schematically? Didn't the front office already know that there wasn't going to be a place for him on the roster?

I thought it was obvious that the strong safety needed a serious upgrade, especially considering Antonio Cromartie isn't a very good tackler. And for some reason people are just now noticing that opposing Tight Ends are shredding our defense. I pointed this out two years ago! Wanna beat the Chargers? Attack the Safeties. I've been very critical of the Chargers revolving door at safety over the years. It's time we got a playmaker at the position; something we haven't had since Rodney Harrison.

5. “When a losing period enters a football team, how do the players react? Do they split away and divide the team? They're easy to find.”

The answer to this question remains to be seen. The Chargers need to find reasons to keep playing hard, not the least of which should be to win for the fans.

“I have three months to ask myself these questions and answer them,” he said. “Now is the most dangerous time to evaluate. I don't want to go down the list and say, 'Out! Out! Out! Out!'
“I'll take it all on my shoulders. I'm judged on a week-to-week basis. This business is about winning championships. That's it. I think we're a playoff-caliber team that did not play playoff-caliber football.” - AJ SMITH

San Diego Union-Tribune: 'It's very, very difficult, very, very painful,' says GM Smith

AJ Smith Says The Players Are On Notice

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Longtime San Diego newsman Nick Canepa seems to have a good rapport with Chargers GM AJ Smith. I while I don't know the extent of their relationship per se, I've noticed that Canepa seems to enjoy good access to the Chargers boss. Canepa puts together excellent pieces detailing their conversations, and his latest chat with Smith has been enlightening. Canepa asked Smith to shed light on the recent firing of defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell; After all, Teddy came to San Diego with a resume that included AJ Smith's at the top of his references.

Smith also shed light on his disapproval of the way the team has played through the first half of the season. Smith felt the players were beginning to lose faith in the system, and he noticed the fire inside was fading fast. So a move had to be made - a spark needed to be set:

“I think there's fight left,” Smith says. “I know Shawne Merriman is missed; a terrific player, a great player, is missing. But you move on. Go! I don't think the players believed in our way of attacking and a lot of us were unhappy with the (defensive) game plans. Something was very wrong, and the Chargers organization reacted to it. This issue was building – building. The head coach was not happy with the direction of the defense and neither was I.

“But the players have to be held accountable. The players are on notice. Some of you may lose your jobs, or maybe you'll alternate, or maybe you won't be here next year. You're a Charger one year at a time. There are some prideful guys here. Let's make a run at this thing. We're still within striking distance of a title.”

As great an architect that Smith has been, his blueprint hasn't been without suspect design. For one, his decision to re-do Clinton Hart's contract and to not draft a safety has backfired. Both Clinton Hart and Eric Weddle have struggled this year and there is no one on the depth chart to push them.

The Chargers also forfeited the opportunity to select a defensive lineman in the draft; Jamal Williams had a slow start to the season, Igor Olshanksy is having a down season as he inches closer towards free agency, and Luis Castillo is not playing up to expectations following his new contract.

If promoting Ron Rivera to Defensive Coordinator proves to be brilliant move (which is the expectation both here at BoltHype and among fans), then the story will be different. But heading into the season, BoltHype consistently identified the need for a defensive lineman, a running back, and a safety and so far those three positions have struggled mightily.

Read: A.J. Smith: Chargers were at breaking point

Castillo Signs 7-Year Deal; Cason Gets Final Offer

The San Diego Chargers today announced that they have resigned Defensive End Luis Castillo to a new seven year contract (good through 2014). Castillo’s deal is worth up to $43 million dollars, placing him among the NFL’s highest paid defensive linemen.

“Three years ago, all I looked for was an opportunity; a chance to come into this league and play and prove the kind of player I was and the kind of things I can do on that football field. Standing here three years later, committed to San Diego for seven more: it’s an unbelievable feeling. I love this town, I love the fans here. I love this team.” – Luis Castillo

Credit AJ Smith for taking a chance on Castillo. There were question marks surrounding Luis, but Smith trusted his instincts and it’s paid off:

“Since his arrival, Luis has been played a huge role in the success we’ve had as a defense. He’s an ascending player who is committed to getting better. We’re thrilled that he’ll be a Charger for years to come.” – AJ Smith

On another note, the Chargers have apparently extended their final offer towards rookie Antoine Cason. Cason is the only rookie who remains unsigned at this point, but the good news is that the two sides are not very far off in terms of money.

“Antoine and his agent, Ron Slavin, are viewing our offer. When they call us and say they like it, they will be in. If they don't like it, they will stay away. They are both making a big business decision right now. Talks have been great; (the) relationship is great. I hope things work out. If not, we will be disappointed and move on.” – AJ Smith

Read: Castillo signs new seven-year contract

Read: Cason gets final offer on contract

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AJ Smith Is Obsessed With The Patriots?

While most predict the San Diego Chargers will again be contenders this year, the fact remains that the Patriots are a hurdle the Bolts seem unable to get passed. The Chargers have figured out how to beat the Indianapolis Colts but in their quest to become the class of the AFC they have yet to solve the New England puzzle.

Solving this puzzle is a consuming affair for Chargers GM AJ Smith; some teams are content to keep their nose to the ground, Smith is a guy who is more than willing to learn from his opponents:

"George used to say that in building a championship team you first look at your division, because that's the direct competition. That's who you've got to match up with. But then, if you're lucky enough to go to the playoffs, concentrate on the teams that win every year and what they do. Spend all your time focusing on them, because the rest of the teams will beat themselves. That's what he preached."

"For Christmas, I got 'The Blueprint: How the New England Patriots Beat the System to Create the Last Great NFL Super Power' by Christopher Price. I've read all the books put out on the New England Patriots organization. There aren't trade secrets, but just general thoughts on why they've been successful."

"I study organization and I study trends. If it's clearly in front of your face, you need to look at it and learn from it. Doesn't that only make sense? Why would you study losers? What are you going to get out of that? If you study winners, you find out how they win and the roads they took to get there. You try to figure out what they're doing right."

Props go out to Don Banks of SportsIllustrated for giving us a chance to see a little bit behind the scenes into the workings of AJ Smith's mind. Definitely sit down and read the whole article as Smith sheds some light on his approach to the draft, how he compares his roster to his opponent's, and how he sees San Diego's chances this year to get to a Super Bowl.

Read: Patriotic obsession: Chargers enter '08 season with one goal in mind

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Chargers Get Low Draft Score Because Of Jacob Hester

There was a poll running for the past week here asking fans to grade the Chargers 2008 draft. The majority of voters gave the Bolts a 'B' which is a pretty good score overall. However, the second largest group of voters graded the team with a 'C'. Respected draft analyst Scott Wright of NFLDraftcountdown recently wrote an in-depth review of the Chargers draft and graded the team with a 'C-' citing the trade to acquire Jacob Hester of LSU as "a questionable selection" due to his lack of "speed and quickness to play running back in the pros" as well as a lack of "bulk or blocking ability to be a traditional fullback." Adding to the criticism of the selection is the fact that AJ Smith used up "essentially using two premium draft choices on a guy like that."

Some have bashed the Chargers for their effort in this draft but, really, who are we to doubt this organization when it comes to player evaluation? Nobody has done a better job of drafting in recent years than A.J. Smith and the Chargers and the number of home grown starters on their roster is truly mind-boggling. In fact, only 3 of their 25 projected starters (including special teams) were not originally signed by San Diego!!! This certainly wasn't a flashy draft class for the Chargers and it isn't going to provide a lot of instant impact but guys like Cason and Hester are high-character guys who will add depth and compliment the talent they already have on hand. San Diego didn't have to hit a home run with this draft because they are already one of the best teams in the league, they just needed to hit a nice solid single and that's exactly what they did. With that said there were things I would have done differently and their lack of depth along the offensive and defensive lines could come back to haunt them which is why I have to give them a modest grade for this class.

GRADE: C-

So what do you think? Is this a fair grade, or is the team being judged too harshly? For argument's sake, lets allow for a premature grade for a second; we all know that a draft is graded best three years down the road, but lets give the team a quick grade...most of you graded the team with a 'B'. Why not an 'A'? Did the team fail to address their needs, or were there better players available at the time of each selection? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...

Read: San Diego Chargers '08 Draft Review

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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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Chargers GM AJ Smith Spotted At Michigan’s Pro Day

Michigan’s pro day featured a number of good NFL prospects and so it comes as only a mild surprise to hear that AJ Smith was personally present for the workouts. Jake Long is the stud everyone wants to see but there are a few other guys who could be future Chargers like Safety Jamar Adams (a guy I really like as a potential Strong Safety for the Bolts), OLB Shawn Crable, and possibly RB Mike Hart. The Chargers would absolutely love to have an opportunity to draft Jake Long and plug him in at Right Tackle, but they won’t trade away the farm to get him. However, if a deal made sense for the Chargers and a team at the very top of the draft, I could see the Chargers moving up to get a guy like Long. But in this year’s draft class, Jake Long is probably the only prospect worth moving up for if you are the San Diego Chargers.

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Smith Gives Some Insight On the NFL Draft

Some more insightful quotes from AJ Smith's recent press conference:

On the draft;

At this time we have four selections in the draft and we anticipate one compensatory pick from the league maybe mid-March.

It’s a little light this year because of the moves we made last year. That could change, however, with some wheeling and dealing on draft day or before. We won’t know that until we move through the process.

How do you view you needs going into the draft?

Well, we’re not going to draft a kicker, we’re not going to draft a punter, and we’re not going to draft a tight end. Every other position is wide open. And its much to early for me to look at that. We rank the players first…line them up. And then after that we get in and we start looking at who we like and who we don’t like. We pretty much know who our team is. For the second year (in a row) I can say that; meaning starters, probably replacements. Looking for depth. We’ll decide later where we want to fill in depending on the value of the players that we have (available) to draft. As you see the draft, we’re a little bit light right now. That could change. It’s just too early to answer the particulars but we’re loaded with players that we like for right now.

Does that mean you might draft a receiver?

Yeah. The only thing I eliminated was a punter, a kicker, and a tight end; very comfortable with the depth there. Other than that, I like our receivers; I like everything on our team. But until we grade the college players, and until we have our meetings, and the coaches input, and the scouts input, and my own input, and we see those individuals (on our board), and then we match those individuals and think about his future in the NFL or for the Chargers versus what we have (on our team); I have to look at that. Who is he better than? Will his future be better than so and so. That’s down the road. That all comes together very easily for us as we get down to the draft day. But everything is open. Wide open.

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A BoltHype post

AJ Smith Acknowledges The Draft Is Deep In Offensive Tackles

Chargers General Manager AJ Smith gave his state of the union, so to speak, on Thursday and he outlined his offseason plans. Smith is never one to go into great detail concerning his football operations, but he shed a little light on this upcoming draft:

What position do you feel is the deepest in this draft?

I don't want to get in to my opinion on that, except...lemme just give you this, I'll give you something; Tackles are deep. I've heard everybody talk about the tackles, around the league. So I'll join in with the GMs and the scouts. Very deep. Other than that, I don't want to get in to my opinion. I'm gonna go along with their opinions - Offensive tackles...deep, tremendous talent - AJ Smith

With went on record multiple times saying he is looking at all positions in the draft except kicker, punter, and tight end. Other than those positions, Smith said he will entertain drafting any player in this draft. He and his staff will go into the draft with their positional player rankings and will likely stay true to their big board.

The team released Shane Olivea and will now be forced to address the offensive tackle positions in the coming months, whether through the draft or free agency. With Smith acknowledging the draft is deep in tackles, there may be an opportunity to land a talented lineman in rounds 2, 3, and 4. It's not really Smith's style to spend a first round pick on an offensive lineman, but anything is possible...

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The Architect Remains In San Diego Through 2014

While his decisions aren't always popular with fans (or the media for that matter), you have to respect what the man has done to change the both the perception and the direction of the San Diego Chargers franchise. Since taking over as General Manager in 2003, AJ Smith has established a philosophy of building a winning team through the draft, resigning key performing players, and taking measured risks in free agency.

Smith is deified by some, and demonized by others but as far as I am concerned, AJ Smith is one of the best evaluators of talent in the NFL and should be considered one of the best GMs in all of sports. Indeed, I was worried that at some point the Chargers might lose Smith from either his continued success or from a dramatic failure. But on the first day of the year 2008, the San Diego Chargers' President Dean Spanos has announced that AJ has accepted a contract extension that will keep him here through the 2014 season.

I think this is a great decision and is going to help ensure that the Chargers will remain competitive for many years. There are bound to be some touchy situations down the road under the direction of AJ Smith, and even as a fan of his work I am sure there are going to be decisions that I will question, but the fact of the matter is that since 2004 only the Patriots and Colts have complied better regular season records than the Chargers' 46-18 and a big reason for that has been AJ Smith.

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Weekly Roundup

Luis Castillo is out for about six weeks with a torn ankle tendon. Jacques Cesaire will start in Castillo's place with Ryon Bingham also seeing reps in rotation.

Buster Davis and Shaun Phillips have been a bit dinged up, but it looks like those two are going to be ready to go against the Colts this Sunday. Its especially crucial that the team gets back Phillips, as the key to beating the Colts is to get as much pressure on Peyton Manning as possible.

Adrian Peterson had a monster game against the Chargers last week; 296 yards is a new single game record and likely seals the deal for Peterson's Rookie Of The Year bid. The Detroit Lions had the opportunity to draft Peterson with the number two overall pick, but were scared away by Peterson's college injury of a broken collarbone. The Lions had already been burned in the past with that injury: Carlos Rogers was their top pick in the 2003 draft and during his rookie season, Rogers broke his collarbone while practicing. Never getting his career back on the right track after the injury, Rogers went on to become known as a major bust.

When AJ Smith was asked recently about his course of action to replenish a banged up roster with free agents, Smith admitted that the search was certainly underway but that the pickings would be very slim eight weeks into the regular season. The Chargers are going to have to rely on their current depth to help them get through the final eight weeks of the season.

If the season were to end today, the Chargers would hold the #20 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. While it is still unclear as to which direction the team would go with their top pick, certainly a player like Texas' DT Frank Okam would make a lot of sense. Its almost guaranteed that the Chargers will draft a Defensive Lineman in the upcoming draft. Defensive Tackle is Chargers number two need behind Running Back in my mind so it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Chargers take a 300 lbs monster in the first round.

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Chris Chambers Now A Charger

The San Diego Chargers today acquired Wide Receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins, in an exchange for a 2008 second round draft pick. If the Chargers make the playoffs as expected, that draft pick would be in the 55-60 range.

In Chambers, the Chargers are getting a proven veteran wide out who has great size and experience. Eric Parker's current injury may have been a factor in AJ Smith's decision to make a trade. It looks like Parker might miss even more time, and with no real veteran leadership at the wide receiver position, the Bolts feel Chambers can help them.

Personally, I have always liked Chris Chambers. I like how he attacks the ball and is physical after contact. His skill set is going to fit into our offensive philosophy under Norv Turner, who coached Chambers in Miami.

"Chris is an explosive, talented player and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to work with him again," Turner said. "He’s a very consistent player and he has big-play ability. We think he can add to what we’re doing on offense. The bonus for us is that he’s familiar with the system. It should be a quick and easy adjustment for him. We expect him to come in and be productive right away."

While Dolphin fans might feel Chambers is overrated or prone to dropped passes, the reality is that Chambers has had Quarterback instability almost his entire career. In San Diego, he'll provide the team with another big-play weapon and will allow guys like Vincent Jackson and Buster Davis time to grow as pros.

AJ Smith has obviously made it a priority to address the team's needs at wide receiver through the draft and via trades. Chambers will be the most expensive trade Smith has made (in terms of draft picks), but he'll figure to contribute right away, much like Keenan McCardell and Marlon McCree did when they arrived in San Diego.

"We are very excited to add Chris to our team," General Manager A.J. Smith said. "He brings a wealth of experience and outstanding production. He is an extremely talented football player and we have held him in high regard throughout his career."

So does this mean Keyshawn Johnson was right to call out the Chargers and AJ Smith?

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Marty's Dismissal Was Spanos' Decision, Not Smith's

AJ Smith is god-like among some fan circles... and an egotistical maniac in others. He is regarded as a brilliant scout of talent and a master roster-builder, but lacks the people skills to be an endearing figure. While that image is perfectly fine with Smith, some people feel that Smith's ego has gotten in the way of the Chargers being successful.

An example used in this instance is the firing of a winning head coach in Marty Schottenheimer. Since it is well known that Smith and Schottenheimer refused to be friends, the assumption is that AJ Smith fired Schottenheimer simply because the two weren't twp peas in a pod.

Not so, according to former San Diego journalist Jim Trotter (now with Sports Illustrated):

Spanos cited the "dysfunctional relationship" between Schottenheimer and Smith as the reason for the move, but that was hogwash. Schottenheimer and Smith had barely spoken in a year and Spanos was fine with it. Plus, just a month earlier Spanos had announced Schottenheimer would return for a sixth season.

The dismissal was strictly because Schottenheimer stood up to the team owner. When he informed Schottenheimer of the change, Spanos told him he had never seen Schottenheimer act like that. He told Schottenheimer that he had changed. Spanos was right, of course. Schottenheimer was tired of feeling like an outsider in his own organization, so he drew a bright line and crossed. Then he collected his $4 million salary and returned to his offseason home in North Carolina, where he could spend time with his daughter and grandkids.

As popular as it is to lay the blame of Schottenheimer's ouster on Smith, Spanos is the one whose fingerprints were on the pink slip. There was no way he was going to allow an employee to openly defy one of his organizational tenets. So go ahead and rip Smith for hiring Turner, who came to town with a 58-82-1 record after failing in Washington and Oakland. But any venom about the firing of Schottenheimer will have to be spewed in another direction.

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