Bolts Draft 2015

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It was a good San Diego Chargers draft weekend, but it could have been even better, if they had not bypassed people who could have helped them at their positions of most need.

 
The drafting of Wisconsin Badgers star running back Melvin Gordon was a pro-active GM’s move at its best.  He is a diverse talent, a vibrant personality, a quick learner, and a pretty complete player, fumbles not withstanding in the Big 10.
 
He may be more complete right now than the future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlin was when he came here out of TCU.  I am not projecting he will be a 10,000-yard rushing guy, but he has done everything, in a big time program, big time conference, and done it well.  I think he is a clone of Kansas City’s big time back Jamal Charles, slash-dash-crash.. 
 
And yes they overpaid to get access to him, and yes, I was stunned Cleveland and Miami did not take him, considering the mess they have at running back.  And the Bolts had to move quickly, because Houston was lurking out there, looking for someone to be the next guy when Arian Foster is no longer the guy.
 
Impressed early, a bit disappointed later, when the Chargers went for an undersized inside linebacker, Denzel Perryman of the Miami Hurricanes in the second round.  There is no doubt this guy is a hitter, a leader, a football junkie.  But he is neither tall, nor very big, nor very fast.  Smaller in stature than Mantei Te’o and Donald Butler, and not as fast.
 
In desperate need of help at defensive tackle, they bypassed a wide variety of D-lineman in that second round.  Oklahoma’s Jordan Phillips, Iowa’s Carl Davis, and Louisville’s Lornezo Mauldin were there.  Maybe San Diego feels Ricardo Mathews and Ryan Carrethers will grow into talents at that position.
 
The third round choice choice might have been a reach too.  Bypassing a pass rusher, they went for a small college cornerback, a hitter, in Craig Mager of Texas State.  Another young DB to go with all the young DBs you are trying to develop.
 
The final couple of picks were a small college linebacker from North Dakota State and a very young defensive tackle from Arkansas.  
 
I wouldn’t have touched Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, a real package of problems, and they evidentally didn’t want to go near LSU’s OT-La’El Collins either, despite police reports that say he was not a suspect in the death of a girl friend last Friday.
 
And they looked the other way despite working out Sean Mannion of Oregon State, Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, and even Baylor’s Bryce Petty, some think might be quarterbacks of the future other places..
 
The national media loves the running back pick, but laughed at the others.
 
“You picked 4-special teams players with all your other choices?  You’ll have to coach em up to become players in the NFL.  Is your South Dakota on your schedule” wrote the critics..
 
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and the Chargers wanted speed and toughness, and that is what they think they got.  But with a franchise is such desperate need of defensive help, you have to ask how you can pass big time players from big time programs.
 
Yes I know Rodney Harrison became a star coming out of Western Illinois, but I also know Kenny Bynum of South Carolina was a disaster of a running back.
 
They had a really good chance to add more to compliment the Badgers running back.  I gave them a letter grade “B” but they really need more A-grade players.
 
I just cannot get away from the fact, the defense gave up 4.3-yards per carry, had few interceptions, and not many sacks, and the people at the Fortress did not really address those needs.

Bolts Draft Day

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I said he was the one of the best on the draft board, and I felt they had to have him.  And the Chargers GM-Tom Telesco and Coach Mike McCoy felt the same.

 
In an NFL draft they had to hit the jackpot on, the Bolts, drafting Wisconsin star running back Melvin Gordon, did just that.  They paid a price to get the right to pick him, shipping a lst, a 4th and a future 5th round choice to San Francisco to move up.
 
Expensive price to move up a couple of slots, but they got an explosive player.
 
Telesco gushed about what he saw scouting the Badgers running back.  Fast, physical, slash and dash, explosive, tough, glides and slides.
 
All that wrapped around a season in which he ran for (2,587Y), averaged a wild 7.5 YPC, caught passes, blitz blocked, and had a nose for the end zone.
 
Scout compared him to Kansas City'[s Jamal Charles, a dangerous runner, hitting people, making people miss and bursting away from tacklers once he hits the 2nd level.
 
It looked like the Chargers would never get the chance to draft him, not after the Rams took Georgia back Todd Gurley with the 10th pick.  They knew Cleveland and Miami just ahead might take him.  And they feared Houston would move on him, thus the trade to leap frog the Texans.
 
Today will be a different day for the Bolts.  They have to wait 15-more picks into the 2nd round before they can hope to get a defensive tackle, maybe Carl Davis of Iowa.  
 
Maybe in the 3rd round they take Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion, the heir apparent once Philip Rivers leaves.
 
But for 24-hours, feel good about what they did, for there has been little to feel good about recently about this franchise.
 
Maybe he is the next LaDanian Tomlinson, and by the way, Gordon broken LT’s single game NCAA rushing record, when the Badger went for (408-yards) rushing in a mid-season game in just 3-quarters.
 
The Bolts offensive line is better this morning than it has been.  The running game will be even more explosive thanks to this pick. The defense remains weak however.
 
Yes they paid a high price, but if this team misses the playoffs again, Telesco and McCoy might not be around to conduct another draft.
 
Good nite at the Fortress.  We’ll see if today can be just as productive.

You be the GM!

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NFL Draft Day is upon us, and your team, my Chargers, have needs everywhere.  Lucky for you, this 2015 draft board is deep in the areas your team-my team has the most needs.
 
You’re not trading quarterback Philip Rivers to get the chance at Marcus Mariota.  But you might make a trade, to jump higher into the second round of the draft.
 
With the 17th selection, you have a choice, dependent on what happens just above you.  Your Chargers definitely need a heavy duty running back, and both Todd Gurley-Georgia, and Melvin Gordon-Wisconsin are legit first rounder’s.  But Gurley may be gone, if the the rumors are right, maybe as high as pick 15-to Miami, despite the late season knee surgery.  Gordon would be there then for you at the 17th slot, and I would take him for my team..
 
But if both running backs are gone, you are going to get a shot at a pretty good offensive lineman.  There will be a run on the grunt guys probably in spots 8-thru-15.  Even if there are, you probably get a shot at nasty offensive center Cam Erving-Florida State, or Ereck Flowers, the thick tackle-guard out of Miami.  It would solidify your offensive line for years.
 
The other side of your line is woeful, and though it is not a sexy pick, your team might get an opportunity at a defensive tackle.  Florida State massive defensive tackle Eddie Goldman is not a national name, but he is a wide-body, take up space, tough to block nose tackle.  So is Arik Armstead, a very active nose tackle from Oregon, though his stock has gone up the board.  And a third one might be there, Malcom Brown, under-rated but versatile from Texas.
 
And once you get done picking a player who comes in and plays immediately, you should think about packaging your 2nd round choice (48) and your third round pick (83) tomorrow and trading higher to the top of the second round.  That second tier of players is pretty good, and you can fill a need there too.  
 
But first things, first.  What are you going to do tonite in the 7pm hour when your pick comes up?. 
 
Protecting Rivers (OL), helping Rivers (RB), and fixing a defense to go get the ball back for Rivers (DT) all seem like priorities.  At least on my team they would be.  
 
How about yours, since you are the General Manager, making the pick for the Chargers this evening.  You are on the clock.

Draft Report Card – Chargers GM

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Tom Telesco will sit in the Chargers War Room, encamped there Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  
 
The clock is ticking on him and Coach Mike McCoy, as well as his aging quarterback Philip Rivers.  The Chargers have missed the playoffs 4-times in the last 5-seasons.  They have just 1-playoff win in the last six years.
 
Roster-wise, they right now look to be a team sitting on the outside of the playoffs again.  They lost a host of veteran free agents, including their power running back, two starters in the secondary, plus the retirement of four other veterans.  Years of experience have departed, in addition to the talent gone on the field.
 
You cannot rate an NFL draft crop till a couple of years in.  Telesco’s track record when with the Indianapolis Colts, was to build thru the draft, with an occasional free agent acquisition.
 
Ranking his first two drafts is easy, based on who is playing, and who has not yet.  
 
The 2013-draft and its letter grades:
(1) DJ Fluker (A)…has been everything you would want as a young player.  Has missed only 1-game, has taken virtually every snap.  Has shown ability to play guard and tackle.  A cornerstone, an anchor, a leader.
(2) Mantei Teo (C)…twice has been injured with foot issues.  Showed some improvement late in his sophomore season, but still seems too small to be a force at inside linebacker, and a step slow.  Definitely not a difference maker, considering the price they paid to trade up to get him.
(3) Keenan Allen (B)..a pleasant surprise as a rookie, a bit of drop-off in production his second year, but a player at this next level.  Must have quality on the other side though to be the big play receiver they need.
(5) Stevie Williams (D)..injuries wrecked his rookie season, learning curve second year steep.  Good athlete but hasn’t show ability to make plays.
(6) Tourek Williams (C)..can play special teams, but has not done much as an every down player.  Just a guy.
 
The 2014-draft grades:
(1) Jason Verrett (B)..enormously gifted athlete but has had surgeries on both shoulders.  Potential seems spectacular with all his athletic abilities. Might be best corner they have drafted since the days of Gil Byrd.  Can be a star if he stays on the field.
(2) Jerry Attaochu (C)..has shown flashes as a pass rusher, but not not much, and had nagging injuries as rookie.  Will need to play and contribute this year.
(3) Chris Watt (B)…will be the starting center, hoping to follow long line of centers (Macek-Hall-Hardwick) the franchise has had.  Versatility important in that he could play guard if team drafts another center.  Future front and center.
(5) Ryan Carrethers (D)..big transition from 1AA football to NFL.  Had to play last year because of injuries, but did not do much.  Unproven.
 
So Telesco enters the draft on Thursday night with a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.3 on the 4-point scale, surely not good enough.  He drafts 17th, 48th and 83rd in the opening three rounds.  He could get a couple of “A” players with his first two picks.
 
He needs to get a couple of “A” players, because with a 33-year old QB, and holes on the roister, the GM and the Coach cannot afford too many more years of non-playoff football.

The Future Begins Now

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Today is pretty important to the San Diego Chargers, but then again so will be tomorrow and the years after tomorrow.
 
Thursday’s NFL draft holds lots of intrigue for a Bolt team, desperate to make itself back into a playoff team, but realizing too, they have to begin preparing the the ‘life after’.
 
No one is going to die, but somewhere down the road, quarterback Philip Rivers will no longer be part of this franchise, and teams with aging starts QBs, at some point, have to begin the retro fit project to fill the position.
 
There will be no Jameis Winton nor Marcus Mariota press conferences with the Chargers.  But there very well could be a quarterback of the future arriving at Chargers Park sometime before Sunday night when the draft is done.
 
Much depends what happens with the Bolts lst round draft pick, whether it is a running back, or a star lineman.
 
The 2nd and 3rd round choices carry importance to this franchise, especially if one of those choices is spent on a quarterback for the future.
 
Brett Hundley of UCLA is a big rangy-raw athlete.  He put up great numbers as a virtual 1-man show with the Bruins, but lived in a lifetime shotgun alignment.  There will be a real learning curve for him under center, and you can ask Cam Newton, RGIII or even Michael  Vick about that.  He is big, rangy, and dynamic, but nowheres near ready.
 
Garrett Grayson may be the best pocket passer in  the group after carrying the Colorado State program for 3-years, is big, physical, with a strong pocket presence, intelligence and fire, somewhat of a throwback guy.
 
The great unknown is Baylor’s Bryce Petty, who put up huge numbers in the Bears spread formation.  But does he have strength of arm,can he learn to play under center, is he the next Sonny Cumbie or Kliff Kingsbury, who came out of similar offenses, but did not make it in the NFL.
 
And then there is Oregon State’s Sean Mannion, a (6’6) pocket passer, built much along the lines of Rivers, even with a slingshot delivery.  Strong arm, tremendous smarts, big in the pocket but apt enough to move around a bit, and has started for almost 4-years for the Beavers.
 
Sometime late Thursday or maybe first thing Friday, these quarterback’s come off the draft board.  The Chargers need to win now, but really need to win in the future and one of these quarterbacks, linked to Mike McCoy and Frank Reich, might be the best pick the team could make this week, to guarantee a good future in weeks-years to come.