Bleacher Report - Articles by Fletcher Kelly

Newly Acquired QBs: Who Out-Shined The Rest?

Fletcher Kelly — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:43:46 -0400

There has been a large amount of wheel-and-dealing at the QB position this year. With the first week of preseason coming to an end, there is a question in all of our minds: who has performed the best?

Jay Cutler: Da Bears
The Bears' new quarterback displayed his strong arm on some throws, but appeared shaky on others. Cutler went three-and-out on his first drive, threw an interception on his second, and nearly had an under-thrown pass picked off on his third. He finished 5-of-10 passing for 64 yards. I'm not sure who got the worse end of the deal: da Bears with Cutler or the Broncos with Orton.

Josh Freeman: The Bucs
For Josh Freeman to make a run at starting, he had to show us something amazing. He didn't do that. Don't get me wrong; he's good, but he isn't better than Leftwich or McCown. He isn't right now, anyways. Freeman has star potential. His great size has NFL written all over him.

Matt Cassell: The Chiefs
Rusty, rusty, rusty. The former Patriots QB played in three series during his Chiefs debut, but he failed to put the team into scoring position, or past the 50-yard line for that matter. I know I can't criticize a QB when he only throws five balls, but he didn't look like things were clicking.

Matthew Stafford: The Lions
In his first series, No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Stafford proved that he has an NFL arm, but Detroit's receivers dropped several of his passes (they didn't have star wide-out Calvin Johnson). Then in the third quarter, the former Georgia standout threw a pick-six. But he regrouped, and on the next series, Stafford threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Williams, a rookie WR out of Penn State. Stafford finished with 114 yards on 7-of-14 passing.

Mark Sanchez: The Jets
Mark Sanchez knows how to make an entrance: In his first play from scrimmage as an NFL quarterback, the Jets' rookie quarterback threw a 48-yard pass to David Clowney. Do you remember Matt Ryan's first NFL pass? It was a sixty-two yard bomb. Albeit, Sanchez's pass wasn't a touchdown, but you get the point.

With that said, who played the best? I say Sanchez.

Who do you think shined this week?

Chargers vs. Seahawks: A Fan's Perspective

Fletcher Kelly — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:56:38 -0400

The wide receiver position was the most interesting position of the night. A few players stepped up to the occasion, and a few disappointed us.

Rookie WR Charly Martin probably has secured his position on the 53-man roster. Martin led the team in receiving yards with five catches for 67 yards and had two special team tackles.

Third-year WR Legedu Naanee had an up and down night. He caught three balls for 30 yards and a touchdown. However, Volek and Whitehurst both threw perfect balls, which he dropped, to Naanee. If Naanee wants to stay in talented stable of wide outs he will have to step it up a bit.

Buster Davis, Buster Davis, Buster Davis. Still, you show us glimpses of a great wide receiver, and you show us idiotic mistakes that has you buried in the depth chart. For example, Davis had a beautiful 41-yard catch and finished the night with 64 yards receiving, but he also dropped a perfect pass and had very poor route-running skills. In defense of Whitehurst, one of those picks was due to Buster's horrible route; he just stopped on a slant route right before Whitehurst threw it, but that's enough picking on Davis.

Floyd, Banks, and TE Wilson all contributed with big catches.

As I was expecting, new-comer LB Kevin Burnett showed off his skills. Burnett led the team in tackles in limited action. He stutter-stepped a few times, but that is expected from any player's first actual game. Overall, it looks like Burnett will take the majority of reps in the middle.

Brandon Hughes was second on the team with five tackles, but that is because he got them from behind after they burnt him. His night wasn't all that impressive.

Rookie S Kevin Ellison showed a lot of good things to us last night. He provided big hits and a good knowledge of the position. His stats weren't all that great, but he provided solid coverage, a lot better coverage than I expected anyways. I'm excited to see him play next week.

Antwan Applewhite, the second year RFA out of San Diego State, was a silent leader on defense as always. He also provided the team with it's only take-away. This kid can probably start on any other team in need of an OLB. Because of our depth at OLB, Applewhite and Tucker both have to make the most of what they have when they get it.

Gartrell Johnson disappointed in his Chargers' debut. He rushed five times for eight yards. He is supposed to be a power-runner, but he went down on first contact nearly every time. In his defense, the OL was horrible last night.

Rookie C Tyronne Green was originally to be a back-up center to Hardwick. However, that wasn't the new game plan. Green played at guard while Scott Mruczkowski, a fifth year player out of Bowling Green State, will provide some more experience at center.

Charlie Whitehurst was the reason for San Diego's loss to the Seahawks. His fourth quarter-surge didn't quite make up for his two picks and fumble; inexperience hurt Whitehurst, nothing else. However, Whitehurst still played decent throughout the rest of the game. He threw 15/29 for 193 yards and a TD.

Note: Gordon, Beckwith, English, Cooper, Dombrowski, Vasquez, Cesaire, and Bingham were all inactive, but technically, there aren't inactives during the preseason.

Super Bowl 2010 Prediction: San Diego Chargers Vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Fletcher Kelly — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:31:46 -0400

After watching the Eagles' pre-season opener against New England, I'm positive they will be in the Super Bowl.

Why They Can Do It

Philly have huge potential this year. With stars like Westbrook and Jackson, the Eagles will have some big expectations. I just watched the Eagles-Patriots game, and I'm convinced Philly have drafted the next big thing—LeSean McCoy.

McCoy showed some crazy burst tonight, he will make a deadly duo with Westbrook. McCoy posted a 5.5 yard per run average and added two receptions for 12 yards.

The addition of former Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick will also be a big plus. Whether they use him in the Wildcat or keep him as a change-up QB, he will make an immediate impact.

Just look at their roster: They have Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, Donovan McNabb—those are some scary names. Plus, they have crazy depth at WR (Gibson, Avant, Baskett, and Buckley).

San Diego have some question marks this year. Whether or not Merriman, Tomlinson, and Gates can recover from injury will play a big factor in how the Chargers will do.

Why They Can Do It

Last year, San Diego's offense was great. They were the second-highest scoring team in the league. With receivers like V-Jack, Gates and Chambers; Philip Rivers can show off his arm.

If L.T. is healthy this year, look for a four-headed monster in L.T., Sproles, Bennett, and Johnson. Their running game should be a highlight show this year.

Since this all seems the same as last year's 8-8 campaign, why should this year be any different? The answer is they have a defense this year.

In 2008, San Diego lost Merriman in the first game, and had Cromartie and Hart banged up all season. We have them back, and they all are looking great.

We also have better depth at MLB. With the addition of LB Kevin Burnett, the middle linebacker spot will be pretty much filled. It will include a combo of Burnett, Siler, and a little bit of Darry Beckwith, a RFA we picked up this year.

We couldn't get any pressure on the QB with the absence of Merriman; that is a thing of the past. Merriman is back, and we drafted a great player in Larry English out of NIU. We drafted him as a DE, but he will play OLB normally and MLB in pass-rushing situations.

Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera already said that San Diego will have English, Merriman, and Phillips on the field on the same time. Talk about bringing the heat!

Out With Matt Wilhelm, In With Kevin Burnett

Fletcher Kelly — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:47:22 -0400

Woah! There's some good news for Charger faithful.

The move was made a week before the entire squad gathers at training camp. This was a good move for both the team and Wilhelm.

Wilhelm was brought in for his skills in pass coverage. However, he proved that it was his worst skill.

A linebacker that doesn't like to hit and can't cover? That's not Chargers material. For Wilhelm, it's a prefect time to land a spot on a team before camp.

For San Diego, they cleared room to allow Tim Dobbins, Kevin Burnett, and Darry Beckwith to take more reps.

A.J. Smith made it clear that the Burnett deal sealed Wilhelm's fate. The Chargers have a crazy amount of depth at linebacker.

I think the main candidate to starting next to Stephen Cooper is Kevin Burnett. Burnett was a special team god in Dallas. His main area of expertise is pass coverage.

Beckwith will also be in the rotation. He has great instincts; he would have been picked in the third or fourth round but was passed over because of injury. I picked him as the No. 2 linebacker behind James Laurinaitis, and I can't get over the fact that San Diego got this guy as a free agent.

Dobbins will see playing time early in the season, but will eventually fade. He won the starting job over Wilhelm six games into the season last year, but Wilhelm got it back and started the last two games of the year. If he can't hold a position over Wilhelm, I don't see him beating out Beckwith or Burnett.

This was a great move by management. At the same time, I wish Wilhelm the best of luck.

Boise State Broncos Preview: Defense

Fletcher Kelly — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:28:54 -0400

The big question will be the consistent alignment. The 4-3 won't be scrapped, but there are so many good defensive backs, and so many options; there will be a 4-2-5 used more often than not.

The secondary is loaded with four starters returning to a group that was second in the nation in pass efficiency defense. CB Kyle Wilson will play in the NFL, while CB Brandyn Thompsonand FS Jeron Johnson are sure-thing All-Stars.

Defensive Line

Junior Ryan Winterswyck lead the D-line. Last year, he emerged as a huge part of this defense. Earning first-team All-WAC honors, Ryan had 40 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

Taking over on the other side will be a steady rotation, led by 6'3", 243-lb sophomore Jarrell Root. While he's not a pure pass rusher, he's athletic and talented.

Ready to shine on the inside is Chase Baker, a 6'1", 293-lb sophomore who had a good spring and has All-WAC written all over him.

6-4, 279-pound sophomore Billy Winn was one of the team's top backup tackles making 26 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. A star high school sprinter and a phenomenal wrestler, he bulked up and now has a tremendous array of tools with quickness, athleticism, and strength. He should shine now that he has a bigger role.

Former Fullback Michael Atkinson will bring his impressive size to the defensive line as a reserve. He's 6', 324 lbs, and very, very promising.

Linebackers

There's one returning starter to the linebacking corps, Derrell Acrey, and he's likely going to be a backup because of the emergence of Hunter White. The 5'11", 215-lb sophomore saw a little time as a backup in his first season making 25 tackles with two tackles for loss, but he looked special this offseason.

I expect for Boise State to run a 4-2-5 the majority of the year; there isn't much to say about linebackers.

The linebacking corps is the typical undersized, scrappy unit that Boise State always has, and while the starting experience isn't there, outside of Derrell Acrey, tackling won't be an issue.

Secondary

The secondary is the strength of this defense. With five returning starters and several all-star talents, I see this the best secondary in the nation. The star of the show is Kyle Wilson, the first-team All-WAC corner. He has All-American written all over him.

Working on the other side will once again by junior Brandyn Thompson after making 54 tackles with four interceptions and six broken up passes, highlighted by three picks against Hawaii. He will be an All-star.

The team's leading returning tackler, Jeron Johnson, is back at free safety after making 98 tackles, three interceptions, and seven broken up passes. All over the field, the second-team All-WAC performer recovered three fumbles and made 20 more tackles than the No. 2 man. I love this kid.

Unsung compared to stars like Wilson and Johnson, sophomore George Iloka came up with an under-the-radar season making 63 tackles with six broken up passes and four picks as a true freshman. A nice hitter with 6'3", 210-lb size and tremendous range, he's a prototype strong safety who'll get more attention this year and should be in the hunt for all-star honors.

While the defense will go with a 4-3 at times, it'll more often than not employ a nickelback against the WAC"s better passing teams. That means junior Winston Venable will see time after coming in from the JUCO ranks. The 6'0", 206-pounder made 94 tackles last year for Glendale CC in Arizona and is ready-made to be one of the team's leading tacklers.

Also, look for Doug Martin to come in during the nickel packages. He is a good running back, but he's better in the defensive backfield.

Top 21 College Running Backs

Fletcher Kelly — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:31:06 -0400

This year will be full of talent in the running back department. It will be full of suprise as well as disappointments. The Walker is given out to the best running back in the nation. I have compiled a list of players that I think have a chance at that title. The first four players are my Heisman picks. This will be a fun year of college football. Tell me what you think, where you would put certain players, and who I should have put on the list.

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The Linebackers of San Diego: RFA's and the Rest of the Bunch

Fletcher Kelly — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:46:03 -0400

I have a perfect solution to our problems at safety. The Chargers need to convert to a 3-5 defense. For those of you not familiar with this formation, there is usually a backer called the Rover, who switches from linebacker to safety. With all of the talent on our roster, this formation could work out perfectly. San Diego had an awesome linebacking corp led by Shawne Merriman. People know the popular starters, but the guys deeper on the depth chart are the ones that catch my eyes.

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Boise State's Recruits: A Goldmine

Fletcher Kelly — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:05:40 -0400

Boise State has hit the goldmine this year. Their recruits are top-notch. It seems that the more Boise State wins, the better recruits they get. So don't expect these to be the last of them.

My favorite recruit is Malcolm Johnson, a 5'10", 185-pound beast at running back. In his senior year of high school, he ran the ball 230 times for 2,095 yards and 22 touchdowns. Look for him to be the starter next year now that Doug Martin is playing defense.

Quarterback may not seem like all that exciting of a position now that we have Moore, but standout Joe Southwick is the real deal. In high school, he passed for 290.8 yards a game for 28 total touchdowns. He added an additional eight TDs on the ground. He will red shirt his first year, and when Moore graduates, Southwick will most likely be the starter.

We have two star CBs that will soon be on the roster. First is Jonathan Brown, a multi-position player from Encinal High School. He played QB, OLB, and eventually CB. Just look at this guy's highlights, and you will immediately see why he was so sought after.

The next CB on my list is Ebenezer Makinde. He's about like Brown—just check his highlights.

Boise State has many bright years ahead.

Let's go Broncos!

Boise State: Hidden Talent University

Fletcher Kelly — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:59:21 -0400

Boise State is full of depth; when one player leaves for the NFL, another one takes his place. Boise State players don't get drafted very high if at all, but they develope into great NFL players. Only one player from Boise State has ever been drafted in the first round. That man was Ryan Clady, a tackle that lived up to the title: underrated. It may be that we Broncos don't get good enough national exposure, but we probably will still sneak through the draft to the late round or into free-agency. For those lucky few teams that give the former Broncos a chance, they are in for a great player.

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Tackle This: Who are the Greatest Chargers Ever?

Fletcher Kelly — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:49:13 -0400

I made a list of who I thought was the greatest players to ever wear a Charger jersey. These are the players that helped the Chargers to where they are now.

Quarterbacks
Dan Fouts - John Hadl - Philip Rivers

Fouts is the obvious number one QB, a first-ballot Pro Football hall-of-famer. Hadl was the Chargers' all-time leader in many passing categories until Fouts obliterated the record book. And Rivers has the been the QB for three consecutive division-winning teams and has a very bright future with the organization.

Running Backs

Keith Lincoln - Paul Lowe - Natrone Means - Chuck Muncie - LaDainian Tomlinson

Running back is probably the hardest position to organize. Tomlinson needs no explanation. Lowe was the franchise's all-time leading rusher before LT, a mark that stood since the 1960s. Lincoln and Lowe teamed up in many of those AFL championship games and were All-Stars several times. Chuck Muncie was a huge part of the record-setting Air Coryell offense in the early 1980s. The Last one was hard; Marion Butts and Natrone Means were very similar. I'm going with Means because of his bulldozer mentality. He was also a part of the Super Bowl team.

Wide Receivers

Lance Alworth - Wes Chandler - Gary Garrison - John Jefferson - Charlie Joiner

This was another group that could go many different ways. Alworth is as easy for WR as Fouts at QB. Charlie Joiner had an amazing career and retired as the NFL's all-time leading receiver. Jefferson was probably the most popular wide out besides Alworth. Chandler took Jefferson's spot on the field after J.J. was dealt away. Garrison was a longtime wide-out who took the place of Alworth, and finished right behind "Bambi" in many Chargers statistical categories by the time he retired.

Tight Ends

Antonio Gates - Kellen Winslow

No explanation needed for these two picks.

Offensive Tackles

Ron Mix - Russ Washington - Ernie Wright

Mix is a member of the Hall of Fame. Washington was a Pro Bowl selection several times. Wright gets my nod on long service and a handful of All-Star honors. In a few years, McNeill could be in this position.

Guards

Walt Sweeney - Ed White - Doug Wilkerson

Sweeney is probably the most decorated Chargers lineman besides Mix, garnering several All-Star bids and Pro Bowls. White was a Pro Bowl beast and played for the Chargers throughout the Air Coryell era. Wilkerson had a lengthy career and was honored by going to the Pro Bowl three times.

Centers

Nick Hardwick - Don Macek

Hardwick was in my mind, clearly the better center; a current Charger and one-time Pro Bowler, Hardwick is still hard at work with the Chargers. Macek, who had a long career mostly as Fouts' center, wasn't all that bad either.

Defensive Ends

Fred Dean - Earl Faison - Leslie O'Neal

Dean is a hall-of-famer. Faison was a perennial All-Star on the great '60s teams, and O'Neal made six Pro Bowls on his way to being the Chargers all-time sack leader. Though, Merriman is on his way to that title.

Defensive Tackles

Gary Johnson - Ernie Ladd - Jamal Williams

"Big Hands" Johnson, a four-time Pro Bowler, was a lone bright spot on a porous defense during the Coryell years. Ladd was an All-Star on many of the great Sid Gillman teams. Williams has made three Pro Bowls thus far as a Charger. He is a very large force that takes up the middle.

Linebackers

Chuck Allen - Frank Buncom - Shawne Merriman - Junior Seau - Billy Ray Smith

All five LB's have All-Star or All-Pro honors, highlighted by future hall-of-famer Seau. If Merriman continues his career the way it's going, he will definitely be in the Hall of Fame.

Kickers

Rolf Benirschke - John Carney

Carney is the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. Although Kaeding has been a more accurate kicker, I'm taking Benirschke because of what he overcame to play.

Kick Returners

Speedy Duncan - Darren Sproles

I'm going with someone old and new. Speedy Duncan's name says it all. Darren Sproles is an electrifying player, who when lives up to his potential, can be an elite player.

Punters

Darren Bennett - Mike Scifres

Bennett was on the All-Decade Team for the 1990s, and today, Scifres is arguably the best punter in the NFL.

Special Teamers

David Binn - Kassim Osgood

Hard to break down special teamers, as each player had different contributions. Taking Binn for very long service, and Osgood for two Pro Bowl. Kassim still has some years left in him to add to his career.

Coaches

Don Coryell - Sid Gillman

Two coaches that revolutionized the game of football. Gillman is a hall-of-famer, and Coryell should be. Sorry Marty, there isn't any room for choke artists.

Five Young Players That Will Help the San Diego Chargers

Fletcher Kelly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:55:02 -0400

These are the players that I think have the abitlity to turn the Chargers around if they start. (or at least get playing time) I have followed these players either through their college careers or their early NFL careers. Some of these players may not pan out the way that they should, but for the Charger's sake, let's hope they do.

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Five Teams To Look Out For In 2009

Fletcher Kelly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:50:49 -0400

In college football, there are those teams that you know have absolutely no chance of winning a conference championship. Then there are the teams that are right there but are afraid to capatalize. Many teams have all the pieces to win a major bowl game, but their dominoes just don't fall in the right direction. These are the teams that i believe will get their stuff together and become a major threat to college football. The top three teams could be in any order.

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