Bleacher Report - Articles by Sean Fitzgerald

San Diego Chargers Pre-Camp Position Preview (Part 3 of 5)

Sean Fitzgerald — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:37:53 -0400

Rolling on with a review of the San Diego Chargers, position group by position group, this week we turn our attention to the Defensive Line.

Nose Tackle

Returning

Jamal Williams, Ryon Bingham (?), Ian Scott

Additions

Ngemdi Nwagbuo, Rashaad Jackson

Questions

How effective can Williams be after so much mileage, and for how long?
Is Bingham truly the favorite to replace Olshansky at DE, and if so, doesn't that create real depth problems here?

Outlook

Personally, I think this is the hardest position in the NFL to draft for. The requirements for the position are incredibly restrictive: massive size, tremendous strength, especially in the lower body, quickness, and a nearly inhuman tolerance for pounding at the hands of 2-3 offensive lineman each play. Oh, and you're also among the easiest guys on the field to cheap shot...and for all this you'll almost never get your name called, especially if you are doing your job right.

Williams has quietly been one of the most consistent performers in the NFL for years. It is incomprehensible that he doesn't have twice as many Pro Bowl appearances as he does, but it seems the past few years as though he is getting a bit more of the respect he deserves.

While we should be happy for the big fella, we also have to acknowledge that 12 years in the NFL, especially at nose tackle, will take their toll. Williams still shows flashes of his ability to dominate, but they are not nearly as frequent as in past years, and I think we've seen the last of the games where he dominates an offense from the nose tackle position, a nearly impossible feat.

So, this position is badly in need of depth to keep Williams fresh and a future star to eventually replace him...and neither seem to be present at this point.

Ends

Returning

Luis Castillo, Ryon Bingham, Jacques Cesaire, Andre Coleman, Keith Grennan

Additions

Vaughan Martin

Questions

Can Castillo stay on the field enough to be a consistent force?
Just how much will Olshansky be missed?
What do the Chargers have in Vaughan Martin?

Outlook

The move of Bingham thins the depth at nose tackle considerably, but it bolsters this group with some much-needed depth. Castillo's quickness and motor are significant weapons when he's healthy, but nagging injuries seem to have robbed him of his edge the past couple years. With Olshansky gone, Castillo has got to step up and prove that he can provide consistency.

Cesaire has been an underrated performer for the Chargers for a number of years now. He fits perfectly in his role, which can be compared to that of an NBA sixth-man: come off the bench and use fresh legs to give the team a spark. That pattern would likely suffer if he is forced to play a more intensive role.

That put the onus on Bingham and/or Martin to solidify the other starting spot. Olshansky was never spectacular, but he was consistently stout against the run and won't be easy to replace. Bingham has the experience to be considered the front runner, but the height-weight-speed combination of Martin suggests that he could eventually force his way in, and the high draft pick the team spent on him indicates they are looking for just such a scenario.

Overall

Injuries along the defensive line have clearly impacted the overall performance of this group, but injuries elsewhere in the defense have also caused problems. Just as the secondary suffers from a lack of pressure, so too does the defensive line suffer when the presence of a Shawne Merriman is not in the lineup. San Diego's defensive ends, and even Williams at times, are not only space-fillers meant to occupy blockers. Castillo and Cesaire in particular are quick enough to take advantage of mis-matches and blown assignments that Merriman can create.

Health is always an issue, but, with regard to the defensive line, it may be the only issue. It doesn't take much to imagine a scenario in which Williams and Castillo are dinged up, Cesaire suffers from over-use, and Bingham and Martin simply don't materialize as NFL-quality starters. If some combination of those factors becomes reality, opposing teams will have an increased ability to game plan for the Chargers' edge rushers, making it easy to run AND throw, just as they did last year.

San Diego Chargers Pre-Camp Position Preview (Part 2 of 5)

Sean Fitzgerald — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:03:57 -0400

In this series, we're looking at the San Diego Chargers' roster with an eye toward who is returning, who is gone, and whether or not the team has improved itself heading into the preseason.

In this second installment, let's focus on the offensive line.

Tackles

Returning

Marcus McNeill, Jeromey Clary, L.J. Shelton, Corey Clark

Additions

Brandyn Dombrowski, Dan Gay

Questions

Is Clary ready to take a step forward and become a more consistent contributor?
With only the veteran Shelton backing up, will the Chargers regret not taking a tackle in the draft?
Among the new and unproven, will anyone step up to help provide depth?

Outlook

On a team with relatively few glaring weaknesses, you'd think this somewhat thin position would merit more discussion as one that should be addressed.

Perhaps the quiet excellence of McNeill makes this group seem more effective than it is, but the fact remains that Clary is likely not a long-term answer, Shelton is entering his 11th pro season, and the depth behind those three is suspect at best.

One could argue that the organization must like what it sees in Corey Clark, and so they looked elsewhere in the draft. But having made that argument last year about ILB, I won't be the one doing so in this case.

In short, McNeill needs to be excellent, everyone needs to stay healthy, and it would be great if one of the young players stepped up big.

Guards

Returning

Kris Dielman. Scott Mruczkowski

Additions

Kynan Forney, Louis Vasquez, Tyronne Green, Sam Allen, Ben Muth

Questions

Can Forney step right in for the consistently productive Goff?
Is Mruczkowski ready to take on a bigger role if injuries demand it?
Is Vasquez as good as his reviews say?

Outlook

The loss of Goff stands to be a bigger deal than perhaps the casual Chargers fan is aware, which seemed to drive the high level of activity at the position in the offseason.

It seems every Chargers free-agent signing the past few years relates to a critical team-need, and that is the case with Forney, who reached the Pro Bowl in 2005 with a very effective Atlanta line, but is unlikely to match Goff's performance right away, hence the hope will be that Vasquez and Green—who is listed at center, but apparently may see time at both positions—can come along quickly.

I don't know why, but I always like it when a lineman is described as "mean" or "nasty".

Centers

Returning

Nick Hardwick, Scott Mruczkowski

Additions

Tyronne Green, Ryan McDonald

Questions

With his health restored, can Hardwick return to Pro Bowl form?
Can Green provide actual depth should it be needed?

Outlook

Hardwick's absence at the start of last season was as significant as any the team faced during the year. A smart signal caller for his linemates and a gutsy, skilled blocker, particularly for his size, Hardwick is a critical component in maintaining continuity along the Chargers' offensive front.

Mruczkowski is a backup center only on the depth chart, seemingly, as the team elected to sign Jeremy Newberry to cover Hardwick's absence, even though it was only for the first few games of the season.

Having played center in the SEC, Green could provide a better backup option if pressed into service. As with most positions for the Chargers (and the rest of the NFL, for that matter), everything is great here as long as the starter stays healthy.

Summary

Even with the loss of Goff, the offensive line promises to be a strength for the Chargers once again. Certainly, the long-term viability of Clary at right tackle and the overall depth can be questioned, but Clary is adequate for now and no team has a line full of All-Pros waiting on the bench.

The Chargers now feature Pro Bowlers at four of five positions, have kept many of the same players in place for 3-4 years, and have drafted promising players to help add depth.

The performance has certainly been excellent over the past few years: a touchdown record for LaDanian Tomlinson, consistent development, a 4,000-yard offensive season, a team touchdown record for an incredibly immobile quarterback, and five-straight years over 400 points—only team in the NFL to accomplish that.

San Diego Chargers Pre-Camp Position Review, Pt. 1 of 5

Sean Fitzgerald — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:53:40 -0400

In this series, we'll take a look at the San Diego Chargers' roster with an eye toward who is returning, who is gone, and whether or not the team has improved itself heading into the preseason. In this first installment, let's take a look at the backs and receivers:

Quarterback

Returning

Rivers, Volek, Whitehurst

Additions

None

Questions

Can the line provide the protection to keep Rivers healthy and focused?
Is there a plan for another young QB to come in once Whitehurst walks next year?

Outlook

In the words of Bush 41..."Stay the course." Rivers is healthier than last year, the clear leader of the team and seems poised for another Pro Bowl-worthy year. What Billy Volek lacks in ideal size for his position, he certainly makes up for in experience and ability to step in quickly and effectively. Charlie Whitehurst has never really had his shot and walks next year, but this seems again to be a position of strength.

Running Back

Returning

Tomlinson, Sproles, Bennett, Hester

Additions

G. Johnson, Brinkley

Questions

What becomes of Bennett?
Which category does Hester belong in, and will we see more this year?
Will Johnson be another middle round find like Michael Turner, or lucky to contribute on special teams?

Outlook

LT turns 30 next month and the mileage of his eight seasons can't be dismissed lightly. Last year was the first year he did not top 300 carries and even then he only missed by eight, that load would take a toll on anyone. While some were eager to pull the plug on his career last year, he still managed to finish seventh in the NFL in touchdowns and 10th in rushing yards.

Back to help lighten the load on LT is Darren Sproles, whose homerun ability provides a great complement and a dangerous weapon. A more equitable job-sharing arrangement seems like the logical choice going forward, much as teams like the Giants, Panthers and others have instituted in recent years.

Fullback

Returning

Tolbert, Hester, Latsko

Additions

Rentmeester

Questions

Will Tolbert be able to establish consistency and stay healthy?
Is this a deep enough group, especially if Hester can't really be considered a true fullback?

Outlook

Tolbert flashed enough last preseason to make Lorenzo Neal expendable, then battled injuries and inconsistency during the season. Norv likes to throw to the fullback (meaning Neal and his brutal hands were on borrowed time due to more than just his age and salary), but if the Chargers are to establish the running game they claim to want, this must be an improved area of the team in 2009.

Tight End

Returning

Gates, Manumaleuna, Wilson

Additions

Sperry

Questions

While A.J. Smith has purposefully avioded draftng TE's the past two years, is bringing in just one UDFA enough of a developmental pipeline?

Outlook

When healthy, Gates is among the most dangerous weapons in the league. The Charger offense is entirely different without him, even more so that when LT is out. Because Gates is not an exceptional blocker, having Manu and Wilson around helps the running game and pass protection. Manu even comes up with a key first down from time to time. Gates' game changing abilities make this a tremendous strength of this team, so the only concern is what to do if he's not available.

Wide Receiver

Returning

Chambers, Jackson, Floyd, Davis, Naanee, Osgood, Banks

Additions

Byrd, C. Martin, Carr, Childs, R. Smith

Questions

Can Jackson become a true No. 1 WR?
Can (Bust)er Davis become a reliable threat at least as a slot WR?

Outlook

Assuming Byrd needs time to both recover and adjust to the NFL, and that none of the UDFA's explode on the scene, this is basically the same group as last year. Chambers, Floyd and Naanee are more or less known quantities, so that puts pressure on Jackson to become a more consistent force and on Davis to stay on the field and be productive. True, consistent threats on the outside could make this among the league's most dangerous offense, especially when the running game and Gates are operational.

Overall Summary

The Chargers' bizarre and disappointing start to the season and all the talk about LT's status may have obscured the fact that this was the NFL's second-highest scoring offense. This may seem impressive when one considers the injuries to Hardwick, McNeill, Gates and LT over the course of the year, but the relative weakness of the AFC West should also be considered. Additionally, the consistency of the offense is definitely still a question mark and one that cannot be laid entirely at the feet of a line that played somewhat erratically at times.

San Diego scored over 30 points six times during the regular season last year, and scored 20 or less on six other occasions. This is too talented a group for peaks and valleys like that. Certainly, health will play a key role, but equally as important will be the consistency of particular players. Vincent Jackson's play embodied the highs and lows of the offense in general; at times he looked unstoppable but drops at key moments still plagued him.

The Chargers' skill positions are talented, but injuries the past couple years have exposed them as lacking in options when key players are not available or at full strength. It is impossible at this point to know precisely, but few of the additions seem to be ready to add to the Chargers' attack, so growth will need to come from within. That said, few NFL teams can boast enviable depth across the board and having been consistently among the top 5-7 scoring offenses the past few years speaks well for this group.

Give The Raiders a Break (Kinda)

Sean Fitzgerald — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:10:08 -0400

Once again, a devout Charger fan dares to cross the line and comment on the Raiders...

The “insanity” of the Bey pick has been somewhat overblown for at least a couple key reasons:

The top WR’s in this year’s draft were all in a pretty tight group, representing a variety of skill sets to teams looking for one (e.g. Crabtree for routes and polish, Maclin for speed and the return game homerun threat, Bey for deep speed and H-W-S package, etc.). I believe (and many experts endorse) that if a guy is slated to go in the next round, then its tough to call him a reach.

Fans too often assume that trading down is something that can be done at any time, allowing teams to pinpoint a player at EXACTLY the pick at which he’s a value. We can all get carried away with thinking that if a guy was supposed to go 20 picks later, then our favorite team should have hauled in a bounty of picks to slide down and get him just in time. That kind of opportunity is not always available, and just because it wasn't doesn't make the pick a reach.

For whatever reasons (some legit, some not), the Raiders are becoming an easy team to take a swipe at. Other GM’s and coaches are given the benefit of the doubt more easily that the Raiders in recent years. One need only check out the coverage of A.J. Smith’s pick of Larry English in the first round to catch several lines like “A.J. must know what he’s doing.”

Granted, the draft hasn’t been terribly kind and the records have suffered, but no one disputed the Huff and Gallery picks when made, so it’s not like the “crazy” picks have been to blame for everything.

Now before I get kicked out of the Charger Backer Fan Club, I do think criticism of the pick is warranted to some extent, and here's why:

Draft history for WR’s in the first round

A recent story on ESPN.com discussed in great detail the relatively weak history of WR’s drafted in the first round. Of the 40 taken in the first round over the past 10 years, 16 are already out of football. Some might say that 10 years is a long time and some of that attrition could simply be due to the average career of an NFL player, but that doesn’t explain everything.

I don’t have the stats on OL, DL, and other positions, but I would bet my house they are much better overall. The success of high WR picks like Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson belie the fact that it’s pretty rare to hit on a WR taken so early.

The often over-inflated importance of WR’s in general

My friends have heard me ask this a million times….Who were the WR’s on the last 8-10 Super Bowl teams? Sure, you have guys like Santonio Holmes, Torry Holt and Larry Fitzgerald (relatively high picks), but you have a litany of Deion Branches, David Pattens, Hines Wards and whoever the hell the Ravens had at WR several years back.

A lot of things need to happen to produce a successful pass, much less a consistent passing game, and the WR is just the last of those elements. I think of them a lot like Billy Beane thinks of closers: to focus overly on who gets the last three outs IF you have a lead is to take focus off who gets the OTHER 24 outs and how your hitters use THEIR 27 outs to get you the lead in the first place. Just because it’s more visible doesn’t mean important.

Other needs

The Raiders haven’t been able to stop the run or consistently put heavy pressure on QB’s for the past few years. These weaknesses have put pressure on an incredibly talented back seven.

The O-line has also been a year-to-year patchwork to some extent, particularly in delivering the kind of pass-blocking that the Raiders’ traditional deep passing game requires. Yet the team has passed on OT’s and DT’s the past couple years that would have clearly helped shore up these areas in pursuit of shiny skill players.

Finally, and most important, what does this pick signal about the inflexibility of the Raider offensive system?

Taking the fastest skill player in the draft two years running seems to point to a continuation of the Raider offensive philosophy that seems outdated. I was noting recently that Matt Cassel is focused on improving his deep balls for the upcoming season because he was LAST in average yards per pass last season.

Here’s a young QB (whose most “dangerous” weapon last year was a deep threat WR) making his first start since high school WITHOUT the benefit of No. 1 QB reps in preseason or a consistent running game who goes 11-5 in what proved to be a tough division last year. I can’t think of a better illustration of how adjusting your scheme to your personnel is the best way to be effective.

It seems to me that the Raiders continue to try to fill out the personnel that fits the scheme they want rather than the other way around. Forget for a moment about whether or not that philosophy is the best one for today’s game…the real concern is that with the NFL’s parity-driven player personnel model, it’s almost impossible to sit back and keep acquiring players that fit a scheme precisely as you would like them to.

That puts a LOT of pressure on acquiring the specific players you think will fit, and maybe that more than anything is what has lead to the splashy free agent signings and draft selections that leave fans and experts scratching their heads.