- BrandX

The Lord of NO Rings (Part 2)

BrandX — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:10 GMT

The Two 'Tards

Part one of this story left us with what should happen, yet we of Chargers faith could never be so lucky to actually have happen. With that said, I want to introduce BoltYou!.com readers to two men whom I refer to as The Two 'Tards. You're probably thinking I'm going to say Norv and A.J., right? Well, if it were that simple, I would have no reason to write this article. The Two 'Tards that I speak of are actually father and son. That's right; none other than team President and CEO Dean Spanos and his degenerate offspring John, who currently holds the title of Director of College Scouting. These two have played a crucial role in the dismantling of what should have been a Super Bowl Dynasty.

Dean Spanos was appointed by his father and team owner Alex Spanos back in 1994. We all remember what happened then, right? In case you don't remember, it was the year the Chargers made their first and only Super Bowl appearance. Can anyone say, "Beginner's Luck"??? Anyway, prior to 1994, the team had just a handful of winning seasons, and even less playoff appearances since their AFL Championship back in 1963. And it was Dean's job to help mold this franchise and help turn it into a "Dynasty". Dean's greatest downfall has always been his loyalty to his General Manager. It was Dean, who stood by then GM Bobby Beathard, and allowed him to push Head Coach Bobby Ross around, which ultimately resulted in Ross "stepping down". He replaced Ross with the "Ryan Leaf of Head Coaches", Kevin Gilbride. We all remember how well that went. After firing Gilbride, and replacing him with June Jones (who saw the writing on the wall and left to coach at U. of Hawaii), he brought in one of the dumbest football minds in the history of the NFL, Mike Riley. Riley was a real nice guy, but my left shoe knows more about the game than he did. That leaves us with Marty Schottenheimer, and our current "curse" Norv Turner. He allowed Schottenheimer to use the Chargers front office as a staffing agency for his family. Then, being loyal to his GM again (A.J. Smith), he sent Marty packing following a 14-2 regular season.

Let's just think for a minute of what could have been...

If only Marlon McCree goes down after intercepting Tom Brady, then we get to kill the clock. Chargers win, and the Colts (who we've done nothing short of "Bitch Slap" for the past four seasons) have to come to The "Q" for the AFC Championship Game. Win that game, and everyone knows Chicago was overrated in 2006. Well, that's not how it went down, but instead of bouncing back the following season, we instead make it to the AFC Championship with an entirely different playbook, when we could have gotten there with the one we had already mastered. I credit our inability to score against New England in that game as being a direct result of our backup players not having the experience running Norv's plays. Michael Turner used to kill it when Marty was head coach. But instead of touchdowns in the Red Zone, we got 3 field goals, and so went what could possibly be our only chance at a Super Bowl for many years to come. Why would I suggest that the Chargers are in a decline? Well, it all comes down to talent. Talent like Drew Brees, Michael Turner, Wes Welker; players we let walk away. But not only players that we let walk away, or we sent away, but also players we would never have. John Spanos, who was given the title of Director of College Scouting in January of 2003, made what might have been a "career killer" with his first recommendation to John Butler, who was GM at the time.

It was 2003. The Chargers were coming off an 8-8 season in which they failed to make the playoffs for the seventh year in a row. They hired Marty Schottenheimer as Head Coach, and held the 15th overall selection in the NFL Draft. John Butler had recently released fan-favorite SS- Rodney Harrison, and everyone in Chargertown just knew that they were going to select SS- Troy Polamalu from USC. But John Spanos had an even better idea...He spent his time and used his expertise with scouting a true gem. Rather than go for the sure thing in Polamalu, they move down to number 30, pick up an extra 3rd round pick, and select CB- Sammy Davis, from Texas A&M. Well, Polamalu has two championship rings, five Pro Bowl appearances, and two runner-ups for NFL Defensive MVP. The Chargers traded their pick to Philadelphia, who selected DE- Jerome McDougle. The Steelers (who were at #27) set a world record in the 40 yard dash they ran so fast to get up to #16 and take Mr. Polamalu. John Spanos' comments on Polamalu's draft card were that he was too aggressive, and played with too much intensity...ummmmmm...isn't that what you want in the field??? OH, and Sammy Davis by they way...yeah; He's "spreadin' the news" alright. He tackles early morning drivers at busy intersections now because instead of playing in the NFL, He's slingin' newspapers. Pretty sure I almost hit him with my car last week. And so, what became John Spanos' first mistake, certainly was not his last.

I could write five pages on how incompetent this loser is, but instead, I'm going to focus entirely on this season. His "must haves"? There were three. LB- Larry English (who has yet to impress me), G- Louis Vasquez (The Galloping Gimp), and DE- Vaughn Martin (plays like Canada...moves like molasses). I thought we should have used our first round pick to get a RT or a Guard. Two players who were available at #16 were OT- Michael Oher (Ole Miss), and OG- Phil Loadholt (Oklahoma). I wrote about both of them, and predicted both would be late-first round or early-second round picks. Where are they now? Oher is the starting RT for the Baltimore Ravens, and has yet to yield a sack in his first 8 games. He's also the subject of a documentary that will be in theaters this winter. It chronicles his collegiate career, and his succession to the NFL level, after being orphaned by his parents as a child. Well, he wasn't in Jeromy "El Matador" Clary's league according to J-Span, so the Ravens will now benefit from what Spanos referred to as a player who "lacked discipline", and needed "special attention". Loadholt is the starting RG for the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings, and instead of clearing the way for LaDainian Tomlinson, he's making a path for Adrian Peterson, who will likely be an MVP contender at the end of the season. Instead of Vazquez, they could have selected DT- Roy Miller, who has as many sacks as English, but only from a more difficult position. Wait a minute...isn't that where Jamal Williams plays? Oh, that's right...33 year-old Defensive Tackles who have had 2 knee surgeries last forever in this league...I FORGOT. So instead of taking Miller...who played at U. of Texas...in the Big-12, no less; they take Vasquez from pass-only Texas Tech, and scoop up Martin in the 4th round. Well, there was a guy still available from a little-known program in Texas named Johnny Knox (Abilene Christian), who would have made an excellent addition to our receiving corps. He lasted until the 5th round. Who would have known? Better yet, they could have redeemed themselves for releasing Wes Welker and Greg Camarillo by taking Austin Collie (BYU), a player who gave up his final year of eligibility where he would have finished as the NCAA's all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. But hey, what do I know??? What I do know is that we did not need a Linebacker. In fact, our best LB from this draft went undrafted. We just signed him to the active roster. James Holt. Remember his name. If he actually gets a chance to play, he will be impressive. He was a sack specialist in college. I don't need to tell everybody this again, if you want to read more, just reference my Draft Analysis blogs. In fact, I'm pretty sure I mentioned all of these guys.

The Two 'Tards will always be connected to this team, but it doesn't mean they need to be involved in the decision making process. I think Alex Spanos would do better handing operations over to a man who knows how to handle personnel. I'm speaking of Senior Executive Randy Mueller. He's the real genius who traded QB- Rick Mirer to the Bears for a 1st round pick in 1997, and drafted OT- Walter Jones who's had nine Pro Bowls if I'm not mistaken. He also traded RB- Ricky Williams (right before he went crazy) from the Saints to the Dolphins and received two 1st round picks, both which produced Pro Bowl players DE- Will Smith, and OT- Jammal Brown. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the man who SHOULD be president. But it will never happen. Team Spanos just doesn't make enough money in the Apartment/Condominium building industry, I guess. Maybe one day It'll all make sense...until then...

BOLTYOU! (not you personally...I mean Team Spanos)

Stay tuned for Part 3 of "The Lord of NO Rings" Trilogy

BX

Forum: BrandX

The Lord of NO Rings (Part 1)

BrandX — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:21:07 GMT

The Fellowship of No Ring

Once an exciting, 14-2 Championship caliber team, the Chargers have quickly become a whirlwind of mistakes, fakes, and finger-pointers. Let us begin with the mistakes...

When a GM repeatedly tells the media that he has "failed on his end", shouldn't that GM do everything within his power to assure that he will not continue to make the same mistakes? Well, yes...unless of course your name is A.J. Smith. You see, A.J. has a quality that is best used by politicians. He tells everybody he sucks before they get the chance to tell him that he does. So...that way, if anyone says, "Hey A.J., why aren't we winning?", he can reply with some nonsense about the team being soft, or injured, or blah, blah, blah, and cap it all off by reminding everyone that he has failed. AND WE BUY IT EVERY TIME!!! Now, for those who don't already know, I think of A.J. Smith the same as one would a Sexually Transmitted Disease. Sure, it was probably fun getting there, but look what you get as an end result!!!

To put it simply, A.J. Smith is no better for this team than would be Al Davis, Jerry Jones, or even Mark Cuban. He was the beneficiary of the hard work and vast knowledge of the late John Butler. Maybe A.J. was really good at making coffee, because I sure don't see how he was able to stay employed for so long. But what the Lord of No Rings has done for this team is taken it from a promising 12-4 (2004) group of youngsters to what we now have today...a bunch of banged up, old guys that are trying to figure out what went wrong. Well guys, I will tell you what went wrong. and why A.J. Smith is 100% to blame for it.

It all began when we saw the first glimpse of A.J.'s attitude. After a breakout year in 2004 in which he set an NFL record for touchdown catches (by a TE), Antonio Gates felt he deserved a little more than the $253,000 salary he was due for the 2005 season. A.J. told him to go pound sand. He signed a $15 million dollar deal following the 2005 season. A.J. probably could have saved $10 million if he would have just given Gates the $5 million he was asking for, for 3 years, no less.

His next brain fart came when he allowed Drew Brees to go to New Orleans as a free agent. Though I love Philip Rivers, I still think we could have gotten something in return for Brees. After all, we got draft picks for Toniu Fonoti and Cleo Lemon, but nothing for Brees??? And don't even get me started about Brees' injury. I would love to see the bank deposits made to (Denver Broncos) Gerrard Warren's account around Christmas time, 2005. Yes, I'm accusing A.J. of paying the Broncos to hurt Brees. Either way, A.J. got his wish, and Rivers was handed the job.

Following a heartbreaking, but very productive 2006 season, in which we went 14-2, he fired then Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer. Not because he lost in the first round of the playoffs...but because he didn't like him. Then he replaced Marty with Howdy Duty (a.k.a. Norv Turner)a career loser. Now he had his puppet. And if you look closely enough, you can actually see A.J.'s hand up the back of Norv's shirt; every time he speaks. I would rather have Kevin Gillbride than Norv Turner. Honestly, Napoleon Bonaparte could coach better than Norv, because at least he knew when to run!

I don't want to turn this blog into a Chargers History lesson, but I think you get my point. A.J. has a philosophy in which he does not go after big name or big time free agents. He instead chooses to address the team's needs via the annual draft. And if you've read my past blogs, you should remember how good that has turned out for him. This year, he chose a position that wasn't necessary in the first round, when he could have drafted an offensive lineman who will likely make the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Michael Oher. We had no second round pick, thanks to one of the worst draft day trades in history, and he chose an Offensive Tackle from a "pass-only" program. That team is so used to passing, that their Star Player (Michael Crabtree) decided to "pass" on the opportunity to make millions of dollars and slowed down what is sure to be a very productive NFL career. Then he turns to Canada for his next "Ex-NFLer", followed by Gartrell Johnson, an oversized RB from Colorado (lost a foot race to molasses) who did not make the 53-man roster.

So he sucks at drafting, and he sucks at signing free agents, and he sucks at communicating...WHY IS HE STILL HERE!!!??? Because he is able to manipulate the fans, the media, and most importantly, the Spanos family. I am fed up with this clown. And his little puppet too. Hey Norv, can I tell you what the problem is? It's your offensive line!!! I'll explain... Watch the games. See how the line runs textbook X's and O's while run blocking. The problem with this is that the defense can easily read the play. Why can't we zone block? And for heaven's sake, Where is our "pulling" Guard? You pull that guard and LT runs for 12+ yards. Send him "Off-Tackle" or "Up The Gut" and he gets stopped in his tracks.

If you can't effectively run, then it forces you to pass. If you pass; you take less time off the clock, and it results in more "3 and outs", which, in turn, makes the Defense tired faster, and the pass rush non-existent. Look at the defensive line over the first 5 weeks...They look like they are trying to Sumo-wrestle their opposition. It means that on rushing plays, the defensive line depends on the Linebackers to make the tackles. Which is why we are giving up 4.6 yards per rushing attempt. The team averages a league-low 2.7 yards per rushing attempt on offense. I'm not even a coach, and I can figure that out!

Since he has "failed" now, on more than one occasion, he needs to do three things. First, he needs to fire Norv Turner. The guy is a terrible head coach, and doesn't even support his own team. Second, he needs to bring in a veteran Head Coach like Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, or, even Schottenheimer (to name a few) that will get the most out of his players. Someone who won't tolerate mistakes. Last, he needs to step down. If he is willing to admit he has failed on more than one occasion, then he needs to embrace the fact that he is never going to win a Super Bowl. Not with this team...and not with anyone else! That is why he is forever to be known as: The Lord of No Rings...

X is back...

Forum: BrandX

Let The Countdown Begin

BrandX — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:36:36 GMT

OK, so I know I've been on the shelf for a while, but we all have things we have to deal with, right? Still, I wanted to make sure I posted this before our first game, but for now it will have to be the short, short version...

Predictions for regular and post season:

Overall record - (11-5)

League MVP - Philip Rivers

Statistics:

Rivers - 4500 yds, 30 TD's

Tomlinson - 1400 rush yds, 15 TD's

Jackson - 1300 rec. yds, 11 TD's

Gates - 900 rec. yds, 9 TD's

Sproles - Still a midget

Merriman - 12 Sacks

Phillips - 8 Sacks

English - 6 Sacks

Cromartie - 7 INT's

Jammer - 5 INT's

Weddle - Still sucks, but will lead the league in tackles 15 yards downfield.

Post Season:

AFC Championship - Chargers vs. Patriots

NFC Championship - Eagles vs. Falcons

Super Bowl XLIV - Chargers 31, Eagles 17

I will be blogging again very soon, so look for it...Go Chargers!!!

Busy X

Forum: BrandX

Final 2009 Draft Analysis/Upcoming Preseason

BrandX — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:30:19 GMT

So its been a month since the draft, and as promised I am going to discuss the more promising free agents the Chargers signed the day after the draft (what I refer to as Day 3), as well as which teams had the best and worst draft. After a thorough analysis of all 32 teams, I have decided that the Oakland Raiders didnt do as bad as I had originally thought. In fact, I think they did better than San Diego. I hate to say it, but they addressed their teams needs better than the Chargers. Not by much, but they did so in the top half of the draft, and thats where it counts the most. Their only mistake was not addressing their offensive line. I will also provide some insight on the upcoming Chargers 2009 season. Ok, now lets get to it

I was extremely pleased to see we were very active on Day 3 of the draft, as we brought in 18 new hopefuls, and it looks like there will be some who have a good chance of making not only the practice squad, but the 53-man Gameday roster as well. There are five players whom I am really excited to see now wearing the bolts, and think they certainly were overlooked during the draft. Three others have what it takes to make this team, and of the remaining ten, you might see one or two make the practice squad. Still, of the eight more promising players, there is the potential to have some future starters and possibly even a Pro Bowl player or two.

First, there is a tie between OLB- James Holt (U. of Kansas), and ILB- Darry Beckwith (LSU). Both of these players were projected to be drafted, Beckwith listed as high as round 3 and Holt somewhere around round 5. But most of all I see a Change of Pace, pure sack machine (Holt), and a guy who with one leg could give current starting ILB- Matt Wilhelm a run for his money (Beckwith). Both of these players are featured in my Pre-Draft blog #2, and have excellent skills and potential. Heres a link if you want to read my comments on these two: http://boltyou.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3430533

Next is Boise State WR- Jeremy Childs, who spent his collegiate career in a pass happy offense. This means he is a seasoned route runner, and will be instrumental in bringing a quick strike to our offense. This; of course, depends on whether or not he makes the team. But he possesses the raw skills to jump ahead of a few of our current receivers, perhaps sending Craig Buster Davis to the unemployment line, and further proving my point that A.J. is useless.

I also really like NT- Rashaad Jackson (Clemson). He is a physical player who can add depth to our defensive line who severely struggled last season. And it never hurts to bring in extra Big-Men, when we arent sure just how much is left in the legs of Jamal Williams. Jackson is a monster when he wants to be, and maybe Ron Rivera can help him become what the scouts saw all along.

Our inability to stop the pass last season eventually cost us the chance to reach our ultimate destinyan NFL Championship. That is why I am happy to see us sign FS- C.J. Spillman (Marshall). Spillman is a raw prospect that played well against his Conference USA opponents. He knows how to zero in on the ball and has above average read and react awareness. Look for him to contribute early on Special Teams, and possibly in dime packages. Hes a dark horse to fill the void we have at Safety.

The three other players whom I feel have a chance to make it from this bunch are OT- Dan Gay (Baylor), RB- Curtis Brinkley (Syracuse), and CB- Wopamo Osaisai (Stanford). Gay played on the same O-Line as #2 overall pick Jason Smith. That doesnt mean it instantly makes him great, but he did play very well at Baylor, and deserved at the very worst a late-round pick. Brinkley played in a Pro Set style offense, and will be that impressive guy we see during the 3^rd and 4^th quarter of our preseason games who probably wont survive the 53-man roster, but will likely end up on the practice squad. Teams stayed away from him because he had limited carries and they just didnt have much to go off of. But the guy played at Syracuse, the same school that produced the likes of Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. Osaisai is the wild card of the bunch, hoping to be the Poor-Mans version of Raiders All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha. Ok, well maybe there's a littleno, a lot of wishful thinking there. Still, this kid has talent. He just needs to get stronger. He kind of reminds me of former Charger Darrien Gordon (theres a blast from the past). He has very deceptive speed, and good football instincts. Its highly unlikely that all eight of these players will make the team, but I guarantee you they will make it somewhere. I just hope none of them wind up haunting us like Patriots WR- Wes Welker has done.

Since I spent the past month hoping I would wake up from this terrible nightmare (which in reality was our 2009 draft), I have had time to look at every NFL team and there is one team that stands alone at the top for 2009. If you havent already figured it out, it is a team that has consistently made the playoffs over the past decade: Philadelphia. What they did was simply send a message to their Quarterback... WE WANT TO WIN!!! They gave him everything necessary to make a run for a championship in the next two years or so. Not only did they STEAL WR- Jeremy Maclin (#19 overall), and even more so, RB- LeSean Shady McCoy ( #53 overall), but they also gave McNabb a replacement Tight End for the departed L.J. Smith, two more offensive lineman to protect him, and a deep threat receiver in the 6^th round (Brandon Gibson). And lets not forget that two days before the draft, they used a #1 pick to snag an All-Pro tackle from Buffalo. Now that is what I call commitment. McNabb has no excuses now. And although they only drafted 2 defensive players, they still wound up getting a projected Day 1 pick in CB-Victor Harris. Hes going to be good. And Philadelphia is a breeding ground for All-Pro DBs. They even acquired CB- Ellis Hobbs from the Patriots, which gives them a much-needed replacement for Lito Sheppard in their secondary. The Eagles are my preseason favorite to win the NFC Championship.

With the best, there must also come the worst. I wanted to wait a little while to discuss this, due to the tragic accident at their training facility, which left an assistant coach paralyzed, and injured a dozen other team employees. Thankfully, nobody was killed. But the Dallas Cowboys just did downright crappy. They say the world will end if peace is made in the Holy Land, but I say the world will end if and when Al Davis team meets Jerry Jones team in the Super Bowl. Dallas had 13 draft picks for 2009, and wasted nearly all of them. Not to mention, they couldnt use any until the late 2^nd round. What a joke! No wonder why they cant win a playoff game! But the fact that this team aborted itself of 15 TDs a year by releasing WR- Terrell Owens. You mean to tell me they couldnt get ANYTHING for him? I find that hard to believe. Jerry Jones is the NFLs version of Paris Hiltonand by that I mean he is completely worthless.

Moving forward, I think that things look good at the present moment for the Chargers. Shawne Merriman is nearing 100%, LaDainian Tomlinson seems to be healthy, and the team only suffered a few minor roster losses. There is talk that some team might go ahead and give up a 2^nd round pick to acquire WR- Malcolm Floyd, who is currently a Restricted Free Agent. If so, it might sting a bit, but he is replaceable. Also, there is talk that the Chargers might be looking to deal Shawne Merriman before the October deadline. Relax, this is just talk. He will be here all season. They will franchise him, and then he will sign the 1-year tender. At the end of 2010, we will have to decide Merrimans fate, and whether or not to pay out the big bucks. Theres also going to be some interesting Training Camp battles this season, including Right Tackle, Right Guard, Fullback, Strong Safety, Inside Linebacker, and since all signs are pointing to it (I just cant believe it), it looks like Shaun Phillips will be competing with Larry English for his position at OLB. If I had my way, L.J. Shelton wins the Tackle spot, Tyronne Green at Guard, Gartrell Johnson at Fullback, Kevin Ellison at Safety, and Id like to see Brandon Siler and Tim Dobbins at ILB. As far as Phillips vs. English, Im a huge fan of Shauns. But if this guy is the next DeMarcus Ware, we should know right away because Ware wasted no time in becoming a standout.

With regard to our division, I will go much more in depth toward the start of the regular season. But for now, San Diego is still the team to beat, followed byOakland, Denver and Kansas City. Wow, did I really just say that? You bet. Reason being, Denver head coach Josh McDaniels. This guy has his head up his ass. And his players dont trust him, either. Look, I realize its a 16 game season and Denver may lose a few before they put it together and start winning, but you have to consider that the Broncos have not finished a season strongly since John Elway retired. And theyre not about to start now. The Broncos needed seven starters on defense prior to the draft, and used their 1^stpick on a position where they had six players already (RB), and three of those six were free agents who signed with the team in March. In their defense, they most likely drafted the Offensive Rookie of the year, but here is just exactly what they will be: an offensive powerhouse, who cant stop anybody on defense. I hate to say it, but Oakland just might have enough to climb out of the cellar. They played well last season against both Denver and Kansas City, and with the addition of Lorenzo Neal at Fullback; their ground game will be dangerous. With a strong running attack that includes Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, it will certainly open up the passing game for QB- JaMarcus Russell. You know, drafting Darrius Heyward-Bay may have been a smart move after all. Who am I kidding? They passed on Michael Crabtree! But they will no longer be the laughing stock of the league (that title now belongs to St. Louis). Realistically, were talking seven or eight wins maxnot a playoff team or anything like that. That tells us how bad our division is.

Well, thats all for now. I hope you all enjoyed my pre and post draft analyses, and I thank everyone who participated in the contest. Congratulations to T_Fletch41, who is the winner of the 2006 Bowman Chrome Chargers Team Set. It is time now for the Grand Prize Drawing; an Upper Deck SP Authentic autographed jersey card of CB- Quentin Jammer, serial numbered to 55! This is the real thing, and has been authenticated by The Upper Deck Company. Make sure you enter. Its very simplejust post a reply to this blog. No right or wrong answers, just participation. Good luck to all of you. Until then

BX signing off

Forum: BrandX

BrandXs 2009 Chargers Draft Report Card

BrandX — Thur, 30 Apr 2009 03:58:43 GMT

Well, the draft has come and gone, and I must say that I am not very pleased. But before this turns into a 3-page tongue-lashing of A.J. Smith, I will say that I actually liked some of what he did. Im going to grade our 2009 draft and will assess it to you pick-by-pick. Later in the week I will give my input on the 18 un-drafted free agents we signed on Monday. No, not all 18, but the fact that we signed 18, and which ones were key acquisitions. Also, I will compare how we fared versus our division opponents, which team(s) I feel did the best, and the team that did the absolute worst (although many of you probably know this one alreadyRaidersumm, but yeah). Before I start, there are some ground rules: I will not judge players taken simply on whether or not I liked that particular player. Ill do it based on (1) team need versus their (2) draft value and (3) when they were selected. For example, the Raiders took a Safety (which they needed, but not badly) in the 2^nd round. The problem is he would most likely have been available in the 6^th or 7^th round, so his value was low and their timing was bad. They get a C (70) for addressing a mid-range need, but they also get an F (50) for timing, and an F (50) for draft value. This player scored 170 (56.6%), which translates to an F. Ok, so here it goesthis is going to be interesting

1^st Rd.- Pick 16- Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois, 63, 255 lbs.

(50) Since English is only 255 lbs., we know that he was drafted as an Outside Linebacker, not a Defensive End. This was not a high area of need (#6), but would have scored higher if they had plans to use him as an ILB, which they would never do in a million years. So I give them a 50 for area of need.

(70) I did like English as a possible fit for the Chargers, but I listed his draft value at the end of the 1^st round to possibly mid-2^nd round. NOT with the 16^th pick overall. We could have traded down and easily picked him up between #27 and #40. We could have picked OT- Michael Oher (OR BEANIE WELLS) and would have had a Right Tackle for the next 10 years. Instead, we have a guy who has to switch positions and learn a new defensive scheme at the highest level imaginable. Not smart A.J

(60) It seems that English was on several teams radar in the latter 1^st round, so A.J. pulled the trigger early. I like that in a GM, but why at a position we already have 2 quality starters? It just doesnt make any sense, which is why many of us, including the broadcast panels of both NFL Network and ESPN, were left scratching our heads. I wanted to strangle our GM. If youre going to draft a non-need, you have to hit a home run, and A.J. struck out on this one.

Total (200) = 60.0% (D-)

3^rd Rd.- Pick 14 (#78 overall)- Louis Vasquez, OG, Texas Tech, 66, 335 lbs.

(80) We aggressively addressed a gaping hole on the right side by selecting Vasquez, who could likely step in right now at Right Guard, and (hopefully) learn the Tackle position by mid season. But he played in a pass-happy gimmick offense at TTU, and will need to adjust quickly or he will never make it off the bench in the NFL.

(60) Since Vasquez isnt used to run blocking, he did not have the draft value of a player in the 3^rd round (more like late 4^th, early 5^th). He is considered a project at this point and will remain one until he polishes his skills enough to use his massive size and nimble feet to play at the Tackle position, which I think A.J. had in mind for him when he selected Vasquez. I expected the Chargers to draft a receiver with this pick, since right now we are a pass happy offense. Some of the more notable WRs who were still available at this point included 66 Ramses Barden, Juaquin Iglesias, and the speedy Mike Thomas (who would have completed our passing game). Also, U. of Alabama Safety Rashad Johnson was still on the board, and would be starting alongside Eric Weddle in 2009 for sure, but A.J. went with yet another project.

(50) Timing is everything on draft day, and A.J. had more than 12 hours to figure this one out. He blew it big time, and at this point, had drafted two players who will likely come off the bench, unless Vasquez catches on quick, and learns how to run block. Nobody wanted to take Vasquez, and a huge sigh of relief swept through Radio City Music Hall Sunday, when A.J. pulled the trigger. By the way, 50 is the lowest score possible, or else this one would have been lower.

Total (190) = 63.3% (D)

4^th Rd.- Pick 13 (#113 overall)- Vaughn Martin, DT, Western Ontario (Canada), 64 300 lbs.

(60) Kudos to A.J. for finally drafting a position we need to fill immediately. But in the 4^th round, it was already too little, too late. And the player he took may not ever see the field in the NFL. Cmon, Canada? Really A.J.? Is that the best you could do? Starting defensive lineman in the NFL are taken in rounds 1-3. This position should have been addressed with one of our first two picks.

(60) I do like Martins size for a 3-4 tackle or end, and from what I have read about him, he was a dominating player with impressive stats in college. But we do not know how his skills translate to the NFL because he played in Canada. With nothing more than that, it is hard to give him adequate draft value. A.J. probably would have been able to get him in the 6^th or 7^th round. We could have addressed the Safety position again, with Chip Vaughn, or replaced the horrible Matt Wilhelm with ILB- Gerald McRath, both who were still available at the time.

(50) With the theme of A.J.s draft seeming to be Bad Timing, he didnt disappoint, and took a player who many NFL teams were hoping to sign as an un-drafted free agent. At this point, I do not believe what A.J. said about his hoping that Martin lasted until the 4^th round. I think that the real A.J. Smith had stood up, realizing that he was sitting in Al Davis chair

Total (170) = 56.6% (F)

4^th Rd.- Pick 33 (#133 overall)- Tyronne Green, OG, Auburn, 62, 309 lbs.

(90) Never take an offensive lineman after the 4^th round, unless you are adding depth to your bench. And I applaud A.J. for going after the line early to help our running game by selecting such versatile lineman. This pick makes perfect sense for the Chargers, since we lost Mike Goff to free agency. But the cool thing about Green is that he can play Center as well.

(100) Green was projected to go much higher (like late 2^nd, early 3^rd round) but many scouts questioned if he was physical enough to play guard in the NFL. They neglected to realize that he could play Center as well. So by learning the NFL game and taking all the hits, bumps and bruises as a Guard, it will make him mean and nasty. Imagine how good of a Center he will make in a couple of years. I really liked this pick. So much so, that I dont care who we may have passed over to get him. It was the best pick of our draft.

(90) Considering that Green was projected to go earlier, the time couldnt have been better for Smith to select him. At worst, if he were supposed to be a mid-3^rd round pick, we got him over 50 picks later, which means 31 other teams dropped the ball. This was one of the best picks in the entire draft. A.J. got lucky.

Total (280) = 93.3% (A)

4^th Rd.- Pick 34 (#134 overall)- Gartrell Johnson, RB, Colorado State, 60, 227 lbs.

(70) Heres the perfect chance to select not a great, but a good Running Back, definitely NOT a Fullback. If we gave up our 2009 2^nd round pick, and used a 2008 3^rd round pick to take Jacob Hester, than this pick was unnecessary, unless it means A.J. admits he screwed up with Hester. But he wont do that.

(70) Johnson shredded in the New Mexico Bowl, en route to 375 total yards from scrimmage, and impressed many scouts with his hard-hitting, physical style of play. What did not impress was his 4.72 40-yard dash time he ran at the combine. At 22 years old, that is Fullback speed. If A.J. was looking for an eventual replacement for Tomlinson, he should have picked Wells in the first round, or traded into the second and picked LeSean McCoy or Shonn Greene. At this point, OG- Herman Johnson had fallen down the board, and he would be more valuable right away compared to Louis Vasquez. But hindsight is 20/20.

(60) Since Johnson was rated much lower than several backs at this point, he wasnt on anybodys radar. The timing of the pick was off, and they could easily have drafted Gartrell Johnson in the 6^th round. Hopefully he becomes the next Lorenzo Neal-type fullback, although Norv doesnt run that type of offense.

Total (200) = 66.6% (D)

5^th Rd.- Pick 12 (#148 overall)- Brandon Hughes, CB, Oregon State, 511, 178 lbs.

(70) From this point on, I wont be too picky, so drafting a CB in the 5^th round may be ok, except we still had more areas to address. Needs mean exactly thatNEEDS. Why take a CB with this pick? Its not a throw away pick. Should have addressed ILB at this point.

(70) Hughes was a great player at Oregon St. I even thought we could use him, but for the right reasons. He will be good in the return game, and now that Darren Sproles is playing for the big money, they wont use him on Special Teams anymore. Hughes started 40 games in college, but he only weighs 178 lbs. That is even smaller than Sproles! His lack of size is why his value was so low to begin with.

(70) Timing was ok on this pick, given that he did impress some scouts with his natural abilities. But we passed on S. Carolina ILB- Jasper Brinkley (who went 2 picks later), a move I think we will soon regret. He had more draft value at that point, and Brinkley could have replaced Marques Harris on S/T coverage.

Total (210) = 70.0% (C-)

6^th Rd.- Pick 16 (#189 overall)- Kevin Ellison, S, Southern California, 61, 230 lbs.

(75) Finally addressing our #3 need. Again it was too little, too late. Except this time we take more of a risk, which always makes it interesting. Better than a throw away pick, but not by much.

(85) Ellison was on his way to being a 2^nd or 3^rd round pick, but a torn meniscus eight weeks into 2008 ruined those plans. So teams were skeptical as to whether or not he could play again, since shoulders are probably the most important part of a defensive backs body. He still has talent, and I feel he can do better in a wheelchair than weve had at safety for a while. If he recovers, he could be our everyday starter.

(75) Timing wasnt great on this pick, as I think that most teams had already written him off to the 7^th round or free agency. We could have drafted a sleeper and potential heir to L.T. in Rashad Jennings. After all, he was projected by many to go in the 2^nd or 3^rd round, but slipped to the late 7^th round (250^{th overall}).

Total (235) = 78.3% (C+)

7^th Rd.- Pick 15 (#224 overall)- Demetrius Byrd, WR, Louisiana State, 63, 200 lbs.

(70) Ok, so receiver in the 7^th round is typical I dont know what Im doing behavior for a GM, however this could wind up being one of our best picksif Byrd recovers from the car crash that currently has him hospitalized. 7^th round is always a pick that adds depth. Most 7^th rounders dont make the 48-man roster.

(100) Though Byrd was projected to go between rounds 6-7 even before the accident; I still think the scouts had it all wrong. The guy is 63, 200 lbs., carries it well with a 4.42 40-yard dash time, and was ranked 16^th at his position. So unless his hands are made out of stone, Byrd should have been projected to go much earlier. If he makes a complete recovery, Im interested to see what he can do on the field.

(80) I have to say the timing on this pick was not the best, given the fact that Byrd would likely have made it through without being drafted at all, and the Chargers could have instead signed him as a free agent. But my gut tells me that A.J. was doing the right thing by drafting Byrd, therefore taking the instant pressure off of him.

Total (250) = 83.3% (B)

Overall Total (1735) = 72.29% (C-)

Thats it for now. Congratulations to LT21, who is the winner of the Doug Flutie jersey card, serial numbered to 150. This weeks prize honors three of our best draft picks ever! Make sure you enter the drawing. You can either respond to any portion of this blog, or you can answer the following question: Which player from the Chargers 2009 draft do you think has the best chance of starting this year, and why? Ok, its your guys turn now. The Grand Prize drawing is only a couple of weeks awaymake sure you register with BoltYou!.com and subscribe to the BrandX blog, which automatically enters you in the Grand Prize drawing. Be back soon!

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BrandX Draft Analysis: Part Three - OL - Safety

BrandX — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:00:02 GMT

Welcome to the third and final installment of my 2009 Draft analysis. Due to time constraints, I must combine what would have been part three with part four. So, this edition will include my Take 3 analysis of the following positions: Offensive Line (#2 need), Safety (#3 need), Wide Receiver/Tight End (#5 need), and Cornerback (#7 need). I will also include a short breakdown of Quarterbacks, although if the Chargers were to be drafting a QB, it would most likely be in the later rounds. The draft is only 3 days away, and everything seems to be hush-hush as usual. But as expected, Detroit (who holds the #1 pick) is currently working on signing the player they wish to select to a contract before the draft begins this coming Saturday. This happens quite often in the NFL, due to the importance of getting the player into training camp on time. So, we will see who it is. I personally think they will take U. of Georgia QB- Matthew Stafford, but other scenarios suggest they will bolster their O-Line or their LB corps. Ok, so get ready, cause this one is going to take a while

Offensive Lineman

Eugene Monroe, OT, University of Virginia, 66, 315 lbs., 5.18 (40 yd.)

Monroe is a mammoth tackle who can fit in most offenses in the NFL right away. He is familiar with a Pro Set style offense, which is what we know as NFL football. He has played both Offensive and Defensive Tackle, and is extremely athletic for a man so big. Imagine having a player who dominates the left side so well, that we would have to move Marcus McNeill to Right Tackle, thus bidding Jeromy Olay Clary his long overdue farewell. But Monroe is the type of bookend Tackle that has coaches and GMs all over the league salivating. Its too bad he wont make it past the top 5. And if he does, it will be a steal. This guy will be a monster in the league for the next 10-15 years. Hes extremely light on his feet, and has outstanding balancethe mark of a player who has to get used to being pushed around.

Michael Oher, OT, University of Mississippi, 65, 318 lbs., 5.34 (40 yd.)

Due to the fact that there are as many as four OTs who could be top 10 picks this year, Oher seems to be the one who has the biggest chance of falling to #16. It wouldnt be a bad thing either. I actually ranked him at #2 at his position in my personal rankings. He is exceptionally strong, has long arms and extremely nimble feet. He comes with some baggage though. Oher is known to take a play or two off from time to time, and in the NFL, that could be catastrophic. But when he realizes he cant make his Ferrari payments as a free agent, Im sure the pressure of being replaced in the NFL will help him figure out that he can relax all he wants to during the off-season. He could very well slip past the first 15 teams, and if still there at 16, I could see A.J. taking him to plug our gaping hole at Right Tackle. But I think theres a better player we could snag if we trade down to the bottom of the roundread more to find out who he is.

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor University, 65, 305 lbs., 5.09 (40 yd.)

Projected to go either first or second overall, Smith is an athletes athlete. He looks great on paper, and played very well in college. So why do I think hes overrated? Its just a gut feeling. First, Smith is a converted Tight End (with one season at Tackle), which means he doesnt have what I feel to be adequate experience to survive the onslaught he will face in the NFL. Second, Baylor is a vertical offense, meaning they are pass-happy. Guess what? In the NFL, they run the ball 65% of the time. I dont think he will catch on fast enough. He does have the athleticism to develop into a fine NFL player, but it will take way too much time. And he will probably be guaranteed in the neighborhood of $40 million, so the fans wont be forgiving for very long. Case in point: Oakland Raiders tackle, Robert Gallery. Also a converted TE; also taken 2^nd overall. And he gets booed quite regularly. In fact, no player has yielded more sacks in the NFL (since 2004) as Gallery has. Plus, look at Smiths ankles. They are tiny compared to the rest of his body. Hes an Injured Reserve player waiting to happen.

Here are some more lineman to consider:

(Round 1) Andre Smith, OT, University of Alabama, 64, 332 lbs. Back-to-back Outland Trophy winner, who has had the worst story coming into the draft. Once touted as high as the #1 pick, he is now a head case who will still go in the top 10, but it couldnt have gone worse for him. If he gets his head right, the sky is the limit for his NFL career. If notlets hope he invests some of that signing bonus in something other than the U.S. economy

(Round 1-2) Duke Robinson, OG, University of Oklahoma, 65, 334 lbs. This is the guy I spoke of earlier. I think we could improve our line instantly by taking him, and we could trade down to #25 or so and still have a legitimate chance of getting him, and maybe get back into the 2^nd round??? It would be nice. Hes not very mobile, but he steamrolls anyone who gets in his way. He could help us bring back the Power I-right running game were so good at.

(Round 2-3) Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina, 65, 304 lbs. FAST!!! Sub 5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he can play guard as well. Very high I.Q. Light on his feet, and protects well in the passing game. Could easily start at Left Tackle, however will move to Right Tackle if he comes to San Diego. Needs to work on his hand technique a bit, and will then be a top player wherever he goes. Hes a steal if he makes it to round 3.

(Round 2-3) Herman Johnson, OG, Louisiana State University, 67, 368 lbs. Some publications listed him at 382 lbs., but he is worth his weight in gold. Nicknamed Planet Herman, he absolutely devours the competition. He has the tendency to pop the 400 lb. mark during the off-season, which is why he is not a first round prospect. It will be a lot harder for him to cut weight when hell be able to afford whatever he wants to eat for the next 10 years. But WOW!

(Round 3-4) Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State University, 65, 310 lbs. Another exceptionally fast OT, he is also an outstanding technical blocker. He reacts well on stunts, and is known to push multiple defenders. Had a dominant career at PSU, and will bring his aggressive style to the running game of the NFL. Very hard worker.

(Round 3-4) Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State University, 63, 317 lbs. Cmon, the guys name is Levitre! Do I really need to say anything more? I know its spelled differently, but he will definitely be hard to handle in the NFL, just so long as he doesnt play too stiff when facing bigger competition. But seriously, this guy is just waiting to bust out. O.K., I have to stop. I could do this page after page (I just love the English Language).

(Round 4-5) Tyrone Green, OG, Auburn, 63, 305 lbs. A DT conversion, Green is extremely athletic, and shows tremendous burst. Not much experience at OG, so, he will need a year or two to be considered NFL ready. Still, he can contribute in zone blocking schemes if needed. A project with a big future.

(Round 4-5) Xavier Fulton, OT, University of Illinois, 65, 301 lbs. A DE conversion with long arms and brute strength. Still working on his footwork, so he will not contribute right away. He is very athletic, and with the right coaching, could be the next Duane Brown. He has decent speed for a 300-pound player.

(Round 5-6) Jason Watkins, OT, University of Florida, 66, 310 lbs. A bit sloppy, but hes still learning the game. Hes a quick learner and started 25 games in the SEC. Versatile, and energetic. Needs to bulk up just a bit, and could use a mean streak. But all of that can be either taught or added in the NFL.

(Round 5-6) Andy Kemp, OG, University of Wisconsin, 66, 315 lbs. Rough and powerful, can dominate the running attack. Lacks good footwork, and sometimes gets beat on pass plays. Still, he can dominate inside and help bolster the Chargers running game. Pushes the line into the second level. Very, very strong. Could be an equalizer.

(Round 6-7) Andrew Gardner, OT, Georgia Tech, 66, 305 lbs. Four-year starter in college who plays extremely well on pass plays. Needs work on his run blocking. Struggles against speed rushers, but his skills can improve vastly with proper coaching. Reliable; started 48 games at G-Tech. Solid backup with starter potential.

(Round 6-7) Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston, 68, 310 lbs. Heres when you take the converted Tight End. Vollmers an absolute giant. Sloppy technique, but hes got massive size, which will make him effective on pass plays. Transplanted from Germany, he has the raw tools to become a great player. Will begin his NFL career at age 25 (a bit old), but at 68 he could make things really interesting

Safety

Rashad Johnson, University of Alabama, 60, 203 lbs., 4.49 (40 yd.)

Without a true first round talent at Safety this year, it gets interesting here. Johnson had 11 interceptions in the past two seasons, and nearly 200 tackles. He was called a coach on the field by his teammates, so he knows the game well. But he isnt as physical as he should be. I still think he could fill in nicely for Clinton Hart, but he will probably get scooped up early in the 2^nd round. Was the leader of the nations top defense last year in college footballI think that says enough.

William Moore, University of Missouri, 61, 221 lbs., 4.50 (40 yd.)

If the Chargers draft a Safety, it will be Moore. He is exactly what we have been missing for a long time. Big, strong, fast, and knows what to do with the interception (11 picks, 4 TDs). I just dont see him being there in the 3^rd round, so they will have to work something out in order to get into round 2 and take him. This probably wont happen, but like I said, Moore is the guy A.J. is hoping falls to the 3^rd. Chip Vaughn is another on A.J.s radar, but he will likely go before pick #78. But Moore is still very good. He sometimes plays too stiff, which suggests maybe he should be a Linebacker.

Patrick Chung, University of Oregon, 511, 212 lbs., 4.49 (40 yd.)

Buyer-beware on this guy. I watched him play in person and he got torched by two hack receivers from USC. Now granted, Mark Sanchez (top 10 pick) was the QB, but he just looked like a player who was out of his league. Not only did Sanchez tear him up but he was also embarrassed by PAC-10 bottom feeder Arizona, yielding over 300 yards and 45 points. But Chung does have some skills. He is an intense hitter, and he tackles extremely well. I just think he was a good player who put up good numbers at a level of play he could keep up with. The next level will ruin him.

Here are some more safeties to consider:

(Round 2-3) Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest University, 62, 220 lbs. Fastest safety available (4.40 40 yd.). Very aggressive player known for making big plays. Coaches love him, fans love him, heck; I love him! But he is climbing the draft board right now, and probably wont make it to the 3^rd round. But he is a fantastic player who is being overshadowed by a top 5 pick (Aaron Curry). He has all the intangibles.

(Round 3-4) Michael Hamlin, Clemson University, 63, 205 lbs. Has all the tools of a first round talent, however, he has broken both of his feet in his career, which affects his draft status. He is a very physical player, and was very productive in college, but he needs to add some size in order to make it at the next level.

(Round 4-5) Courtney Greene, Rutgers University, 62, 215 lbs. Posted nearly 200 tackles in the past two seasons. Very good against the run, but will need some help on his pass coverage skills. Started 51 games in a row, and can play either Strong or Free Safety. We could use a player like this, and he could still be available even in the 4^th round.

(Round 5-6) Troy Nolan, Arizona State University, 61, 215 lbs. Scored 5 TDs in two seasons. He is an intense player who covers the ball like a hawk. Not the fastest player, but he covers ground well, and is not afraid to go 1-on-1. Shows a resemblance to the late Pat Tillman, who also played at ASU.

(Round 6-7) Stephen Hodge, Texas Christian University, 60, 212 lbs. Very physical player. Played at OLB and posted 11 sacks in the last two seasons for one of the top defensive teams in college football. Runs downhill. Will likely be a special teams dynamo. Could replace Kassim Osgood at the gunner if he parts ways with the Chargers.

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BrandX Draft Analysis: Part Three - WR/TE - CB - QB

BrandX — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:58:12 GMT

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech University, 63, 220 lbs., 4.54 (40 yd.)

Perhaps the best and most talented player in the 2009 Draft, Crabtree is blessed with the skill set of the all-time greats, and the body of a Linebacker. A player who was born to run patterns and outmuscle defenders with his immense strength, he is a cross somewhere between Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens (without the ego). What could Crabtree do for San Diego? Just about anything he wants to do. Thats how good he is. If Kansas City drafts him, we will not beat the Chiefs as long as he plays along side Dwayne Bowe. He doesnt have world-class speed, but neither did Rice or Owens. In fact, the speed receivers werent ever the best. It was the guy who knew what to do once he caught the ball. If only we had a top 3 pick.

Kenny Britt, Rutgers University, 64, 218 lbs., 4.50 (40 yd.)

Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, and Darius Heyward-Bey will be gone by 16, and Percy Harvin tested positive for marijuana, so you know A.J. wont draft him. This brings us to Britt, who I could easily see the Chargers drafting, given his great hands and his ability to shield defenders. These are traits you would find also in Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson. But he has one more tool in his arsenal; he is a fantastic blocker. We could use a player like this, and hell still be there at the end of round 1, so we could move down and still get him, and possibly add an extra 2^nd or 3^rd round pick???

Percy Harvin, University of Florida, 511, 192 lbs., 4.41 (40 yd.)

I still felt this way about Harvin, even before it was announced that he tested positive for drugs. Reason being; he is too fragile. There are smaller WRs than him in the NFL, but theyre durable, and dont get injured as often. Hes just another deep threat with deceptive speed. I think he is faster than 4.41, but speed is overrated at WR. I have to give it up to him though, he does play while hurt, but he never really did anything in college, and it will take him way too long to un-learn the spread offense, which he spent three years playing. Like recent Florida Gators WRs, Harvin wont amount to very much in the NFL, except maybe on special teams. Let someone else pay him and get ripped off.

Here are some more receivers to consider:

(Round 1-2) Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina, 62, 215 lbs. Very good after the catch. Not overpowering in size and speed (4.51 40 yd.), but he catches well in traffic. Has a great football I.Q. He is your classic possession receiver. Maybe not quite a #1 WR, but he will have a big rookie season if hes paired up with a good #1 WR.

(Round 2-3) Brian Robiskie, Ohio State University, 63, 209 lbs. Comes from a football family. His father is the Falcons Receivers Coach. Surprisingly quick (4.46 40 yd.), and has all the fundamentals necessary to become a reliable target for years to come. Not afraid to go across the middle. Runs perfect routes.

(Round 2-3) Juaquin Iglesias, University of Oklahoma, 61, 210 lbs. I have to admit, hes got a cool name. But his play at OU is what makes him a day 1 prospect. He is quick (4.44 40 yd.), but not blazing. Runs clean routes, and knows how to get open. An elusive runner after the catch. Will make a great #2 WR.

(Round 3-4) Ramses Barden, Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, 66, 227 lbs. Comes to the NFL from Division 1-AA, but has the body every receiver wished they had. Scored 36 TDs in the past 2 seasons, and can outmuscle anyone who tries to tackle him. Will need some coaching, to polish his route running, but should develop nicely in a year or two.

(Round 3-4) Jarrett Dillard, Rice University, 510, 185 lbs. Yeah hes only 510, but this guy is talented. He scored 55 TDs in the last 3 years, and had over 3,600 yards receiving. Very polished and NFL ready. The only question is his height and weight. Last time I checked, that was everybodys question about Carolinas Steve Smith

(Round 4-5) Mike Thomas, University of Arizona, 58, 190 lbs. A born to play the slot player if I have ever seen one. This guy would shatter NFL records if he were on the right team and given a chance to play. Think Wes Welker with Deion Sanders speed (4.23 40 yd.). Still his small size makes him an injury risk. But hell make it exciting.

(Round 4-5) Austin Collie, Brigham Young University, 62, 200 lbs. Collie is your prototypical go-to possession receiver. He runs clean routes, and will go across the middle and take the hit. Long in the tooth for a rookie (24 years old), he will have to go to a team in need of a #2 WR if he is going to make an instant impact.

(Round 5-6) Brandon Gibson, Washington State University, 61, 204 lbs. Has good size and speed, but 2008 was a bad year for him statistically. He runs good routes, has good hands, and excellent body control. He lacks good speed, and was in a horrible offense last year, so he will need to study the game for a bit. Great potential though.

(Round 5-6) Mike Wallace, University of Mississippi, 60, 190 lbs. Flat-out fast (4.29 40 yd.). Thats about it. Lacks toughness, has ok hands and runs marginal routes. A little coaching and this guy could be a superstar. Extremely dangerous in the return game. Will probably start his career there.

(Round 6-7) JaMarko Simmons, Western Michigan, 62, 234 lbs. Other than playing college ball at WMU, he certainly looks like someone who should be on an NFL roster. Caught 104 passes last yearin 13 games. Compute that average into a 16-game season and you have a player chasing an NFL record. Worth a look in the 6^th round.

(Round 6-7) Marko Mitchell, University of Nevada, 64, 210 lbs. Can be dangerous. Averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in college. His skills need work. But like most unpolished receivers, with a little coaching, could come a diamond in the rough. Very fast for his size (4.43 40 yd.) and runs with long strides.

Tight Ends

Im only interested in three, but we would never draft two of them because we have great TEs already. Anyway, here they are:

(Round 1-2) Brandon Pettigrew, University of Texas, 66, 263 lbs., 4.80 (40 yd.) Pettigrew is hands down the best TE in this years draft. He runs well, blocks well, can catch, and break tackles. Theres only one problemwe cant use him. We have Antonio Gates. He will make a great addition to a team in the bottom of the 1^st round.

(Round 2-3) Chase Coffman, University of Missouri, 66, 245 lbs., 4.83 (40 yd.) Coffman is Jeremy Shockey except with a brain. Posted very good numbers at Mizzou (90 catches, 987 yards, and 10 TDs). If he slips to the 3^rd round (which he wont), I would applaud A.J. for drafting him. Not a great blocker though. Son of former NFLer.

(Round 6-7) Jared Bronson, Central Washington, 64, 248 lbs., 4.68 (40 yd.) Great blocker, great hands, great speed. Whats wrong with him then? Well, Central Washington just got beat by the Nuns from the Mission, and is scheduled to play next week against Valencia Park Pop Warner. But rememberwe like small school TEs

Cornerback

Sean Smith, University of Utah, 64, 217 lbs., 4.50 (40 yd.)

Projected to go in the late 2^nd round, Smith is the player that I think would be worth trading down to acquire. Or, I would even argue that we could make a deal for him by giving up a future pick. Although he is listed as a CB, Smith will most likely switch to Safety in the NFL. He has staggering height, and can easily play just as well if he adds 15-20 lbs. Originally played WR, so he knows how to cover routes. I watched him play in college, and he is a HUGE reason Utah stayed undefeated last year. He has incredible football awareness, and is pretty quick for being so tall. If we move down in the 1^st round, and pick up a 2^nd round pick in the process, theres a good chance our middle secondary will be composed entirely from the U. of Utah.

Darius Butler, University of Connecticut, 511, 183 lbs., 4.41 (40 yd.)

Although reports suggested that A.J. Smith went to UConns pro day to get a look at RB- Donald Brown, it was actually Butler that Smith was interested in. A.J. knows that we are already well stocked at corner, however Butler is the guy that every scout says has the all-around skills to become a great player in the NFL. He has good footwork, and tackles well despite his small size. I think hes too small, and not having an interception last season makes me wonder if A.J. has completely lost it.

Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State University, 61, 204 lbs., 4.51 (40 yd.)

The consensus to CB in the 2009 draft, Jenkins seems to be headed for a team between picks #11-15. I think he is extremely overrated. He didnt really shut anyone down in college, especially in the big games (USC, Texas, Penn St.) and I watched him self-destruct in the Fiesta Bowl back in January. He just looks like an ok player. But hes certainly not worthy of a high 1^st round pick. I am just happy that we arent in dire need of a CB.

Here are some more cornerbacks to consider:

(Round 2-3) Vontae Davis, University of Illinois, 60, 204 lbs. Should be the #1 CB taken this year however Jenkins will actually go before him. I think CB is going to be to this years draft, as WR was to last years. So Davis will probably go in round 2, which is a shock for someone with his speed (4.40 40 yd.). Still has good feet and better closing speed. Excellent tackler. Brother of 49ers TE- Vernon Davis.

(Round 2-3) D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt University, 510, 192 lbs. Moore should also be picked before Jenkins, but wont. He doesnt have attractive speed (4.56 40 yd.), but he is a pure cover corner. Reminds me of Quentin Jammer, only shorter. He mirrors routes well and loves to get physical. He will be a Pro Bowl player one day.

(Round 3-4) Mike Mickens, Cincinnati, 60, 184 lbs. Lanky and quick (4.49 40 yd.), Mickens will need to bulk up a bit or else he will be thrown around like a rag doll in the NFL. With that said, he has excellent football instincts and is very fluid in pass coverage. Hes worth a look if he gets to the 4^th round, where we have three picks.

(Round 4-5) Victor Harris, Virginia Tech University, 60, 198 lbs. Nicknamed Macho Harris is a tough, aggressive player with good football instincts. Very versatile and complimentary to cover-2 defenses. Speed is the question, though (4.68 40 yd.), but he has talent.

(Round 4-5) Brandon Hughes, Oregon State University, 511, 192 lbs. Converted from WR, Hughes is very consistent and aggressive against the run. He hits well off the snap, but his speed is less than satisfactory. He will need coaching and some work on not getting turned around so often. Started 40 games at CB in three seasons.

(Round 5-6) Morgan Trent, University of Michigan, 61, 196 lbs. 4-year starter at Michigan who has decent speed but tends to get beat on deep routes. Will more than likely start out on special teams, but could develop into a solid nickel or dime player. Very durable.

(Round 6-7) Bruce Johnson, University of Miami (FL), 511, 192 lbs. World-class sprinter (4.27 40 yd.), and the lone NFL draft prospect from U. of Miami, which used to be called NFL-U. Dangerous ok kick returns, and has very raw talent. He will need coaching at the next level, but since he is from Miami, dont count on A.J. drafting him.

Quarterback

Although we have our QB of the present and future in Philip Rivers, we might need to pick up a reasonable backup in the later rounds. There is one player I would consider in the 2^nd or 3^rd round, but he will be a receiver in the NFL. SO here are a few guys to consider for our team:

(Round 2-3) Pat White, University of West Virginia, 60, 195 lbs., (4.38 40 yd.) Phenomenal athlete, who will likely move to WR in the NFL. White will be the focal point of many gimmick plays. But he is an extremely fast runner, to the tune of Michael Vick. Nobody knows how well he can play at QB in the NFL, and he most likely will never get the chance to, unless there is an injury that forces him to come in.

(Round 4-5) Hunter Cantwell, Louisville, 64, 230 lbs. Tall, strong and ready for the NFL. Learned under Bobby Petrino, who runs a Pro Set style offense in college. Very mentally tough player who has a quick release. He would make a nice backup for Rivers, and looks similar to him. Didnt win many games though as a starter (5) and many wonder if he has what it takes to win. I think this late in the draft he is worth a look.

(Round 5-6) Brian Johnson, University of Utah, 61, 210 lbs. Not as big as desired, but talk about a winner! Johnson was at the helm for the nations only undefeated team last season, and he played exceptionally well. He can throw well on the run, and would be an asset in garbage time or as an injury replacement. Truly, it is his size that keeps him from being a higher touted prospect.

Heres, my question for the Flutie jersey card drawing: If you could draft any player in this years draft, whom would you pick, and why would you pick them?

My final thoughts heading into this weekendthere is a wealth of talent at several positions this year. I think if we play our cards right, we could land three to four starting players this year. My dream scenario is of course still drafting Chris Wells in the first round, but if I had to best serve the immediate needs of the team, then the best scenario for us would be to move down in the 1st round and attempt to get back into the 2^nd round. We could easily do this by swapping with a team in the lower 20s, and exchanging our 5^th rounder for their 2^nd rounder. Keep in mind, we have the last two picks in the 4^th round, so giving up a 5^th wont hurt as much. We will have to leave it to the guys who get paid to do this stuff, but hopefully some of the players I mentioned in these blogs will be wearing the Bolt in 2009. And lets hope none of them are the ones I listed as overrated. My next blog will be a full analysis and grading of the Chargers draft, and comparisons to the team(s) I feel did the best and the worst. Also, I will be announcing the winner of the Flutie jersey card. So look for it next week. Until thengo Chargers!!!

BX signing off

(R.I.P. Mike)

Forum: BrandX

BrandX Draft Analysis: Part Two

BrandX — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:36:38 GMT

Welcome to the second installment of my 2009 Draft analysis. My first gave insight on the Running Back position, listing several players whom I felt would make a good addition to the Chargers. Although there are many players at each position available, I chose the players whom I felt would best fit our teams needs (with the exception of one overrated player). I will follow that trend in this blog, however I will be ranking two positions at a time. This installment will include the Defensive Line (#1 need), and Linebacker (#6 need) position. After careful review of my rankings of our teams needs by position, I have made a change. Running Back (now #4) and Safety (now #3) have switched places. I would put Safety at #2 above Offensive Line, but if I had a choice, I would rather have Steve Gregory playing at Safety than Jeromy El Matador Clary at Right Tackle. Ok, so here is my Take 3 on Defensive Ends. Note: I am separating DEs and DTs, but OLBs and ILBs will be mixed together.

Brian Orakpo, University of Texas, 63, 263 lbs., 4.58 (40 yd.)

Blessed with Linebacker speed, and Defensive Tackle strength, Orakpo is the Total Package when it comes to Defensive Ends. Much like Adalius Thomas of the Patriots, Orakpo could easily play 3-4 defensive positions. Not only can he get to the QB (11.5 sacks), but he also closes in on the ball extremely well for a player his size (40 tackles, 19 for a loss). This means he can do it all, folks. A team in the top 5 will be drafting a franchise player when they select Orakpo. If only we had been able to trade Michael Turner to Detroit (who offered 2009 1^st and 6^th round picks for Turner in 2007), rather than let him walk away, we would have had the #1 pick this year. But I think Ive proved my point on how crappy A.J. Smith is already. Orakpo has had some knee issues the past two seasons, and there have been questions on whether or not He can hold up as an end in a 4-3 scheme, so, if taken by a 4-3 team, he will likely switch to LB wherever he goes. But if he were to fall out of the Top 5, I wouldnt blame A.J. for trading up to take him.

Tyson Jackson, Louisiana State University, 64, 296 lbs., 4.94 (40 yd.)

A player who is undeniably on the Chargers radar, Jackson almost seems built to play for San Diego. I dont think there is a player in the first round that hits on more points as a 3-4 DE than Jackson. I think his speed is suspect, however in a 3-4, you dont expect your ends to be lightning quick. What is most important is that first step off the line, and Jacksons is as good as any. He is also VERY strong. Our defense missed that bull-rush type pass rush that we had in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and Jackson could bring it back to SD. He is a great tackler (36 tackles, 12 for a loss) in the backfield, and showed that he can get to the QB in a 3-4 scheme with 16 sacks in his past 3 seasons (4.5 in 2008). He does not have an athletic type body, and his weight could be an issue in the years to come. But there have been fat players come to the NFL who changed their ways. One plays for San Diego. His name is Luis Castillo. Still, if he doesnt get snatched up by the Broncos at #12, theres a really good chance Jackson will be wearing #99 (vacated by Igor Olshansky) for San Diego.

Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech, 67, 266 lbs., 4.68 (40 yd.)

A year ago, Johnson would have been taken in the top 10. But what a difference that year made. In 2008, Johnson seemed to play like he wished hed gone to the NFL instead of returning for his senior season at G-Tech. And he cost himself millions of dollars in doing so. If a team takes him in the first round, it will be based on his physical and athletic abilities, which rival those of Julius Peppers. Theres no question he has the talent, and no question he has the potential. But what I see in Johnson is a player who will take the money and run. Once he receives his signing bonus, he wont care anymore. It would be great to see him reach his full potential because I once hoped he would come to San Diego. But what I saw last year did not impress me at all, and he played like he was just going through the motions. Johnson is very tall, fast and strong. He can also play linebacker, but that would exploit his height in the NFL. He played at half-steam and still had 9 sacks. Imagine what he would have done if hed tried

Here are some more players to consider:

(Round 1) Everette Brown, Florida State University, 62, 256 lbs. Explosive sack machine, but he couldnt drop back into pass coverage if it saved his life. Hell probably go in the middle of the round, but the Chargers would never consider him, because of A.J. Smith. Mark my words, A.J. will NEVER draft a player from FSU, nor will he draft a player from the U. of Miami. Its like he automatically brands them as problems. Yet those two schools combined have produced more NFL players in the last 15 years than any other two schools you can put together. Brown will definitely be a star, but probably not an all-pro.

(Round 2) Aaron Maybin, Penn State, 64, 249 lbs. Another tweener, who will probably switch to OLB. Doesnt have true DE size. Fantastic in zone defense. Can pass protect like an ILB. Strong, but not exceptionally fast. Struggles against big lineman, so he needs to hit the dinner table. Put up big numbers in the Big-10 last year (12 sacks, 49 tackles, 21 for a loss), and should follow that success into the NFL. Has some dazzling moves, and will produce a few highlight reels for ESPN.

(Round 2-3) Paul Kruger, Utah, 64, 263 lbs. Comes to the NFL as a college sophomore following an unfortunate past. He was stabbed in January 2008, and lost a kidney as a child. He also spent two years on a Mormon mission, prior to playing college football. Still, he proved that he has NFL talent, and his draft stock could never be higher. He will be considered by San Diego, given the fact that A.J. likes to scout Utah players. Showed that he can overcome adversity, and may be a third round steal. Excellent tackler. Needs to add weight, but that could shorten his career, due to having only one kidney.

(Round 3-4) Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State, 66, 288 lbs. Already a star, Gilbert has nothing but upside. His You Tube video (Google Jarron Gilbert water), which shows him jump directly out of a swimming pool, gives us an idea of his physical ability. He didnt face adequate competition in college, so his draft stock fell a bit. Still, he posted 52 tackles (24 for a loss) and added 9.5 sacks in 2008. Added 40 lbs., which affected his speed, but he now has true NFL size. Can be a two-gap closer.

(Round 4-5) Brandon Williams, Texas Tech, 65, 246 lbs. Raw, talented prospect. A pure speed rusher (13 sacks in 2008) who doesnt fare well against the run, but that might be just what SD needs: a 3^rd down specialist. Very fast (4.61 40 yd.). Will improve with NFL experience and by adding 10-15 lbs.

(Round 5-6) Lawrence Sidbury, Jr., Richmond, 64, 265 lbs. Has all of the makings to become the next DeMarcus Ware. Runs downhill. Needs to show he can stand out against bigger, stronger, faster competition. Has the numbers (11.5 sacks, 56 tackles, 25 for a loss) to be a round two or three prospect, but his small school status makes NFL scouts gun-shy.

(Round 6-7) Phillip Hunt, University of Houston, 62, 260 lbs. I love this guy. He terrorized Conference USA QBs last year, posting 14 sacks, and 52 tackles (21 for a loss). Doesnt play the run well, and might not be trainable. But he is a playmaker, and reminds me of Marques Harris with even more potential.

Heres my Take 3 on Defensive Tackles:

Ron Brace, Boston College, 63, 330 lbs., 5.29 (40 yd.)

Brace is the player who could replace Jamal Williams at Nose Tackle in the next year or two. Williams has been a warrior, but lets face it, his NFL days are numbered. Brace played college ball alongside possible #1 overall pick, B.J. Raji. Many scouts think that Brace benefited from Rajis presence, but I have watched them both play and I think its the other way around. Either way, hes a three down lineman, who wont ever quit. He reminds me a lot of the Ravens Haloti Ngata, who made the Pro Bowl last season. Has a nose for the ball, and excellent body control. Not an A+ pass rusher, but 3-4 DTs usually arent.

Evander Ziggy Hood, University of Missouri, 63, 300 lbs., 4.88 (40 yd.)

The Chargers will be looking to replace Igor Olshansky, and will look first to Hood, if they choose a Tackle. He had an outstanding Senior Bowl, and for some stupid reason, that means more than it should to Chargers management. But Hood is a true run stuffer, and will fare well alongside an aging Williams. Not sure how he would play combined with Ryon Bingham. They will probably have to move Hood to the middle, and put Bingham or Jacques Cesaire outside. This is a bad year for the DT position.

B.J. Raji, Boston College, 62, 337 lbs., 5.12 (40 yd.)

Raji has visited Detroit, which means the Lions have considered possibly taking him #1 overall. I think he will be a massive NFL bust. The only plus he has in my book is his explosive first step. After that, its a downward spiral. He does not hustle. Once he is beat, he gives up. He has continuously had issues with his weight, so paying him millions of dollars means hell certainly change his habits, right? Wrong. He also missed the 2007 season due to academic suspension. He has a short wingspan, and is a poor tackler. To sum it up, he is a lazy slob, and a waste of natural ability. For this, I am happy were not in the top 10.

Here are some more players to consider:

(Round 2-3) Fili Moala, Southern Cal, 64, 305 lbs. Exceptional athlete for his size. Quick off the snap, and extremely agile. Can play any position on the line. Cousin of Haloti Ngata. Needs motivation at times, often resulting in being a two-down player. Dangerous, when at his best.

(Round 3-4) Mitch King, Iowa, 62, 280 lbs. A tweener, who will more than likely play end in the NFL. Hes very instinctive, and tries his hardest on every play. Considered too small, or hed be a first round pick. His non-stop motor makes him a valuable pass rusher.

(Round 4-5) Alex Magee, Purdue, 63, 292 lbs. Very strong. Shows flashes of talent that compare him to Chicagos Alex Brown. Takes plays off once and a while. Should develop into a solid starter, if put in the right situation. Quick and powerful. Beats bigger lineman.

(Round 5-6) Sammie Lee Hill, Stillman, 64, 331 lbs. He is an absolute monster, but will be more of a project in the NFL. Did not face quality competition, so hell need to learn how to beat NFL lineman by more than just bullying them. Extremely quick and agile for his massive size.

(Round 5-6) Chris Baker, Hampton, 62, 308 lbs. Kicked out of Penn State for fighting, Baker transferred to Hampton in 2008. Dominated the MEAC, posting 69 tackles (24 for a loss) and 8.5 sacks. Put up these numbers despite double and triple-coverage. Would have been a 1^st round pick if he didnt have the troubled past. Strong, quick two-gap tackle. Worth the gamble.

Heres my Take 3 on Linebackers:

Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest University, 62, 254 lbs., 4.52 (40 yd.)

What cant be said about Curry? He is the most sought after Linebacker since Lavar Arrington in 2000. His rare combination of size, speed, strength, and agility make him a for sure top 5 pick. Detroit has had him visit, but he will not make it past the Chiefs at #3. Seems even better in pass coverage, which is rare for a player his size. He can fit into any defensive system, and will be a superstar right away.

James Little Animal Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State University, 63, 244 lbs., 4.78 (40 yd.)

The son of a former Pro Wrestler (Animal) from The Road Warriors and a 2-time Miss Fitness U.S.A winner, Laurinaitis comes to the NFL as a dominant physical specimen. He is an excellent tackler (130 in 2008) who can also get to the QB on the blitz (4 sacks in 2008). Was projected to be a high 1^st round pick in 08, but he returned for his senior season, and polished his skills. The team that selects Laurinaitis will have a workhorse LB starting in their lineup for a decade or longer. Doesnt have closing speed, but will fare well in short to mid-range pass coverage. Will have an immediate impact in the NFL.

Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern Cal, 62, 260 lbs., 4.81 (40 yd.)

Im probably going to take a lot of flack for this, but here is the most overrated player in the draft. Considered by many draft analysts to be a top 15 pick, he does not have the speed or the strength to do well at the next level. Maualuga hits tremendously hard, quite possibly the hardest in the draft, and as a result, gets injured all-to-often. Plays with the intensity of Junior Seau, which is why scouts are attracted to him. But he will struggle in a game where he cant have free reign. He will never live up to his billing.

Here are some more players to consider:

(Round 1) Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern Cal, 63, 243 lbs. Versatile LB who can play inside or outside. This is valuable to a team like the Chargers. Good speed (4.68 40 yd.) and can cover well. He also hits hard, but doesnt try to kill everyone he hits like Maualuga does. Strong enough to get to the QB from the inside, which is rare. Will go higher than Maualuga.

(Round 1-2) Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois University, 62, 255 lbs. Played DE in college, but will move to OLB in the NFL. Totaled 30 sacks in 3 years, so he can get to the QB. His speed is a bit suspect, so the question will be can he make the jump to the NFL? I think he has the tools, but he will need to be placed in the right system. A bit of a risk, but it may pay off.

(Round 2) Connor Barwin, OLB, Cincinnati, 64, 256 lbs. Very fast (4.59 40 yd.) and tremendous in pass coverage. Converted from Tight End, so his hands might not be that great. Only played on defense for one season, posting 49 tackles (16 for a loss) and 11 sacks. Wow, for a guy whos just learning the defense, he has a very high ceiling. Round 3 steal, if he gets there.

(Round 2-3) Gerald McRath, ILB, Southern Mississippi, 62, 228 lbs. Better suited as an NFL Safety, McRath is a monster hitter with exceptional speed. A tackling machine (370 in three seasons as a starter), he could be the Chargers answer to our gaping hole in the middle of the secondary. A vocal leader on defense; could be the next Rodney Harrison.

(Round 3) Dannell Ellerbe, ILB, University of Georgia, 61, 236 lbs. Another smaller LB, instead he will need to put on weight because he does not have the speed to play at safety. Had an alcohol related run-in with the law in 2006, so character may be suspect. He has all the tools though. Very physical, and can chase down runners to the outside. Definitely boom-or bust.

(Round 3) Clint Sintim, OLB, University of Virginia, 63, 256 lbs. Sack Specialist who can move to the inside if needed. Can easily step in and be effective in a 3-4 defense, at both the outside and inside linebacker positions. A bit on the slower side (4.75 40 yd.), he will most likely play ILB in the NFL. Needs pass coverage experience. Shows similarities to Pittsburghs James Harrison.

(Round 3-4) Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State University, 61, 239 lbs. Small and fast (4.67 40 yd.), shows great awareness. An instinctual player, Freeman reacts quickly, and uses his speed to make the play. Played in shadow of Laurinaitis. Can get to the QB from the weak side. Will need to bulk up, for the NFL.

(Round 4-5) Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida, 62, 243 lbs. Like all players from South Florida. Fast, and hits extremely hard on every play. Will need to tone it down a bit in the NFL. Ran a 4.78 40 yd. dash with a pulled hamstring. Tough and aggressive. Times his hits well. With 3 picks in the fourth round, the Chargers might take a look at him.

(Round 5) Cody Brown, OLB, University of Connecticut, 62, 244 lbs. Blue collar LB with DE strength. Has long arms and is very intelligent. A prototype LB who played out of position in college (DE), and never faced true competition. Will now be an NFL project with HUGE upside.

(Round 5-6) Darry Beckwith, ILB, Louisiana State University, 61, 234 lbs. Missed time in 2008 with a nagging knee injury, but when healthy, can be a threat. Very fluid player. Drops into coverage with the best of them. A bit undersized, needs to add 10-15 lbs and will be dangerous.

(Round 5-6) Jasper Brinkley, ILB, South Carolina, 62, 269 lbs. Dont you just love a guy named Jasper? He sounds like he can kill you. Will stuff the run in a 3-4 defense. One year removed from a torn ACL, he should fully recover in time for his rookie season in the NFL. Would have been a first rounder without the injury. San Diego needs him.

(Round 6-7) James Holt, OLB, University of Kansas, 63, 226 lbs. Heres a guy I wouldnt mind having either. He will be a project, but comes to the NFL after a 105-tackle season in which he had 10 sacks. This means he can stop the run, and rush the passer. Uses his speed to get to the QB, and his instincts to either stop the run or drop back into coverage. Dominated Big 12 QBs.

(Round 6-7) Frantz Joseph, ILB, Florida Atlantic University, 61, 229 lbs. For some reason, if we took the last three players, I wouldnt be mad at all. This guy is a tackling machine (154 in 2008) who sometimes over pursues the play. Will be useful on 1^st and 2^nd down, but with Ron Riveras help, could blossom into a superstar. Extremely intense and physical player.

This concludes part two of my pre-draft analysis. Look for part three in a few days. I will break down the WR/TE and OL positions. Congratulations to jimdog99, our first winner in the drawing for the 2005 Topps Heritage Philip Rivers football card, compliments of BoltYou! If you didnt get a chance to enter the drawing for the Philip Rivers card, you can enter this rounds drawing by simply subscribing to this blog, and responding to it. So you can either tell me what you think about my analysis, or you can answer the following question. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. Here it is: If you had to replace one starting LB on the Chargers, whom would you choose, and why would you choose them? Ok, thats it for me; its your turn now...

BX signing off

(R.I.P. Mike)

Forum: BrandX

BrandX Draft Analysis: Part One

BrandX — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:23:22 GMT

Before I begin my first of several draft related blogs, I want to give you all a very well researched, yet very important statistic that nobody has yet to point out. It has to do directly with our current General Manager and village idiot, A.J. Smith. I have carefully studied the last three years of draft picks and have done an analysis of all 32 teams in two draft related statistics. The first is not as important as the second, however when put together they become equally important. Let me explain With regard to the number of total draft picks made by each team over the past three seasons, Green Bay leads all teams with 32 total draft picks. San Diego ranks 30^th (with 20 picks) leaving only Minnesota and Arizona below them (both with 19 picks). So that is my first statistic. No big deal, right? Wrong. Heres why. Of those 32 picks Green Bay has had over the last three seasons, 30 players still remain in the NFL. Of the Chargers 20 picks between 2006-2008, only 12 remain in the league which; incidentally, puts San Diego at the top of the list (with 8) for the most players drafted during that period that are no longer in the NFL. Congratulations A.J.! What a fine General Manager you have been. You have the distinction as the worst evaluator of NFL talent in the entire league!!!

What triggered this study was because a friend of mine and I were trying to remember the past couple of Chargers drafts, and it seemed like an alarmingly high number of players we had taken were already out of the league. So to elaborate on what has happened directly as a result of A.J. Smiths incompetence is that the Chargers have gone from a 14-2 team, to an 8-8 team. This is not a coincidence, either. It is because he is so bad at communicating, that he cant sign free agents. And since we get no help from signing NFL vets, he must build the team up from the draft, right? Well, not really because he likes to trade away multiple important picks for players that arent on any other NFL teams radar (i.e. Eric Weddle in 2007, Jacob Hester in 2008). So what you get as a result is more injuries to your superstars (LT, Rivers, Gates, Merriman), with less depth coming off the bench because you cant afford to keep everybody (M. Turner, D. Florence, D. Edwards). So his genius has quickly become his disaster, and his method of bringing in character guys is now suspect with the off-field problems weve had over the past couple of years (Jackson, Phillips, Foley, and who cant forget the late Terrance Kiel). So what do we make of all this? Basically, that we arent going to win a Super Bowl because of A.J. Smith. If we do, it will be because we have whats left over from the John Butler era (LT, Gates, Jammer) and A.J.s only good move (Rivers), but keep in mind we could have still had Drew Brees. He gets no credit for Merriman, because he was a second choice. Everyone knows that if Mike Williams had been there at 12, we would have drafted him due to our dire need for a WR at the time. Wheres Williams now? Probably eating the burgers that Sammy Davis is flipping

Now that Ive gotten that off of my chest, its time to start with my own draft evaluations. I will keep true to the format I provided in my last blog, with the exception of doing two positions for each blog instead of one, which I had originally planned. This one, however, will only evaluate one position (so my readers arent bored to death). I will break everything down in a total of five blogs, which will be added over the next 20 days. Draft day is April 25^th, and I want to give all of my input at least a couple of days before we make our first selection (Chris Beenie Wells). I will combine positions based on relevance. Keep in mind though, that my areas of need have not and will not change, so if you need to reference them, click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the page: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/boltyou/vpost?id=3398899

My first evaluation is for my favorite position in the NFL, Running Back. As you know, I am really high on Ohio States Chris Beenie Wells, and have been since I watched him torch Wisconsin for 168 yards on 22 carries last October. I saw something in him that you rarely see: A big guy (61, 235 lbs.) who can flat-out run (4.48 in 40 yd. dash). Combine those skills with the field vision of a QB, and tremendous balance and acceleration, and you get a downhill runner who will turn it on in the open field (a la Adrian Peterson). His primary weakness has been his durability. He missed three games last year, and left early in several others during his previous two seasons. That wont be as much of a problem in the NFL though, as he will certainly receive the best roidsI mean, medical advice and treatment once he is in the NFL. He will also be an instant contributor on offense. The only question is, do the Chargers spend another $3-5 million per year at a position they have already committed $15 million per year to? It would be a good idea, seeing that the top 5 RBs on anybodys draft board are all underclassmen, which means it will be Slim Pickens come next years draft at RB. So my Take 3 goes as follows:

Chris Wells, Ohio State University, 61, 235 lbs., 4.48 (40 yd.)

This is the player who I wish the Chargers would draft in the first round. Wells will be an All-Pro player; I guarantee it. Players like these dont come around but maybe once in a decade, and who better to pick up where the greatest of all time (Tomlinson) left off than a guy nicknamed Beenie? He has what it takes, and Im not the only person saying that. Several draft experts have him coming to San Diego regardless of how the LT/Sproles situation fared.

Knowshon Moreno, University of Georgia, 511, 208 lbs., 4.58 (40 yd.)

Given the fact that many scouts are referring to Moreno as the next Barry Sanders I will tell you that if he is still there at 16, he will be wearing lighting bolts for a long time. Knowshon is easily the top rated back in the draft, and its because of what his skills offer each teams offense. He is the more versatile back of the bunch, and his pass catching skills rival that of Thurman Thomas, Marshall Faulk, Charlie Garner, and yes, LaDainian Tomlinson. So why wasnt he my top choice? First, we have LT and Sproles to catch passes out of the backfield. Second, Norv doesnt even use all of LTs talents, so why would he start using someone elses? And last, because we need a power running back that can make his own holes, since our line cant seem to put it all together at once. Moreno has decent speed, much like Sanders, but his greatest gift is his elusiveness. He seems to run what I like to call Jiu-jitsu style, which means you cant quite get a hold of him. So with all of his strengths, there must be some weaknesses, right? Absolutely. His biggest weakness is his size to speed ratio. Moreno ran nearly a 4.6 at the combine, and that would be fine, if he weighed 30 pounds heavier. But the fact of the matter is, his first serious injury will probably end his career as a starting back. He also was a two-down back in college, which raises concerns on how he will perform in short yardage situations. Still, if he is there I think the Chargers would certainly take him at 16 over Wells or anybody else. But lets hope they dont

Donald Brown, University of Connecticut, 510, 210 lbs., 4.48 (40 yd.)

By and large the most overrated player in the entire NFL Draft, Brown has been shooting up the board as of late. There seems to be this all of a sudden flocking to Connecticut by many NFL teams, who are wasting their money by going there. UConn hasnt had a player drafted in the first or second round of the NFL Draft in its history, and theres a reason for it. If this were the NBA, I would be on board. But the plain and simple fact is this team went 8-5 in 2008, and three of those wins came against Hofstra, Buffalo, and a 12-9 squeaker over college footballs version of the Raiders; Temple. They lost to West Virginia (a real opponent) 35-13, where Brown had only 82 yards on 19 carries (4.3 avg.). Brown did lead the nation in rushing yards with 2,083, but his 5.7 average yards per carry was less than that of Chris Wells (5.8) and Iowas Shonn Greene (6.0), both of which played against far superior competition. He is too small and too slow for his size. He also keeps his legs going, which in the NFL is the fastest way to get injured. Just ask Garrison Hearst and Deuce McAllister how well that strategy fared for them. Brown will be an NFL bust. He lacks true NFL size & speed. Hes had nearly 700 carries in three seasons, which is far too many. My advice to Donald Brown is just three letters: C-F-L!

Now, for a few players in the later rounds:

(Round 2-3) Shonn Greene, Iowa, 511, 227 lbs. Very productive runner who has had some off the field issues. Talented and strong, but not very fast (4.65 40 yd.). If put in the right situation, he would best compare to the Jets Thomas Jones, who made the Pro Bowl last season.

(Round 3) Cedric Peerman, Virginia, 510, 216 lbs. Posted the fastest 40 yd. dash time (4.31) at the combine. Shows a resemblance to the Titans Chris Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. Hes an extremely fast runner who can also pass block. Ideal for one-back formations. Could be a starter in a year or two.

(Round 3-4) Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon, 59, 200 lbs. A small, yet explosive runner. Gets into the secondary on 65% of his carries (very strong). He has excellent hands. Would compliment well in a two back set. Compares well to Indys Joseph Addai, but not an every down back. Could start, but would definitely need a reliable backup.

(Round 4-5) Rashad Jennings, Liberty, 61, 234 lbs. Projected to go much higher, however his small school status makes him an NFL project. Big and strong, can make holes for himself, as well as dominate would-be blitzers. He has surprisingly good hands for such a large, physical type runner. Could impress very well in a couple of years. Imagine a taller Michael Turner with great hands. Played 8 games as a freshman for U. of Pittsburgh. (Hint: The Chargers have three picks in the 4^th round)

(Round 5-6) James Davis, Clemson, 511, 207 lbs. Powerful back who shared carries in his senior season, making him somewhat NFL ready. He has average speed and limited moves, but is impossible to bring down once he gets downfield. Poor pass blocker. Even worse pass catcher. I still think he could contribute to this team though

(Round 5-6) Ian Johnson, Boise State, 511, 204 lbs. Rushed for 1,714 yards (6.2 avg.) and 25 touchdowns in 2006 as a sophomore. Took a reduced role over the next two seasons, as BSU became a pass happy offense (sound familiar?). Showed that he has excellent vision, and a nose for the goal line. Reminds me a lot of LT in college, but doesnt have the head to grow like LT, and lacks speed. Still, out of every player on this list (besides Wells), I would be ecstatic if we were to pick him up.

(Round 6-7) Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois, 510, 225 lbs. An outstanding runner who has ridiculous potential. Rushed for 1,784 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Showed he can play with the big boys when he shredded Arkansas for 157 yards and 2 TDs, nearly pulling off the upset (28-24). Needs to lower his shoulders a bit when he runs. He has all the tools to be a breakout rusher like Marion Barber III of Dallas. I seem to remember a big game type player the Chargers once took from WIU. Rodney Harrison, I think, was his name???

So there you have it. The running back position has been broken down, and I have provided you with players whom I feel would best fit our teams immediate and future needs. Now regarding the blog contest, feel free to respond to anything posted within this blog. But if you dont want to comment on the content of this blog, then here is a question for you to answer: Which position do you think the Chargers should use their first round pick (#16 overall) to take, and why do you think they should draft that specific position? Remember, it is a forum, so there are no right or wrong answers. Good luck and I am looking forward to reading all of your replies and answers.

BrandX

(R.I.P. Mike)

Forum: BrandX

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

BrandX — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:52:28 GMT

The time is rapidly approaching; my favorite time of the year, the NFL Draft. Quick trivia question: Which sporting event receives a higher television rating? Is it: A) The Daytona 500, B) The MLB World Series, C) The NBA Finals, D) The NFL Draft, or E) Opening/Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics? If you answered D) The NFL Draft, go ahead and give yourself two points. That stat used to amaze me, but as I got older, I realized that there really are only two seasons...football season, and the off-season. Nothing compares to the NFL. Although the NBA is better than it has ever been in its history, and for any of you who are looking for a second sport to watch, now is the time to start watching the NBA. If you think the Jordan era was exciting, or the Magic/Bird era, then you will be blown away by the product thats out there now. David Stern is about as genius as Pete Rozelle. Butlets stay on topic.

This time of year, everybody thinks theyre Draft Analysts, and although there are some whizzes out there, unfortunately about 99% of them are morons. I remember a publication (who shall remain nameless) listing Chargers LB- Brandon Siler as the 50^th ranked player overall in the 2007 Draft. So, when A.J. Smith chose Siler with the 249^th pick at the end of the seventh and final round, that either made him a genius, or it made the other 31 GMs total retards. Im just glad that we were the team that got him. He has amazing speed and strength for his size. I hope Ron Rivera will turn him loose this year. The fact is, He is a 4-3 LB, and since we run a 3-4 defense, he has had trouble adjusting. Hopefully this will be his breakout year.

One thing I would like to see in San Diego is better news coverage regarding the Chargers during the off-season. Since I am a New York Knicks fan, I read both The Post, and The Daily News on a regular basis, and notice that there is Jets or Giants news whenever one of their players hiccups. But the one thing that stands out for me is the fact that when any college football player comes to visit one of New Yorks NFL teams, it makes the papers, and the local TV news broadcasts. Here in San Diego though, sometimes it gets reported, and sometimes it doesnt. Who knows if its the media, the Chargers, or a combination of both of them? All I know is, I would like to be informed that the Chargers brought in a Sammy Davis ahead of time, so I wont get so upset when they dont draft a Troy Polamalu, and curse the team and all it stands for. Communicationright? Polamalu would have made a great Bolt. And good ol Sammy was traded to the 49ers for another first round bust, Rashaun Woods, who couldnt pass a drug test. That guy broke every receiving record there was at Oklahoma State. Oh, and if youre wondering how Sammy fared, well, lets just say hes probably spreadin the news while flipping burgers.

So since this time of year is such an interesting one for me, I want to share my interests with each of you. In doing so, I will be posting blogs more frequently, Lord willing, up until the Draft (who knows, maybe longer). And since I am an expert analyst of the Draft (lol), I will be addressing the Chargers areas of need by position, and give insight on what I call the Take 3. Take 3 is my own coined phrase which means an analysis of 3 potential players to draft at a specific position. The first player is the one I wish we could draft. The second player is the one who I think we will probably draft. And the third player is the one who I think is completely overrated, therefore we should not draft. After my Take 3 I will list a few players at each position that will be available in later rounds, and could possibly contribute. Each blog will consist of one position (i.e. QB, RB, WR/TE, OL, DL, LB, CB, S, K/P). If you dont know what those mean, you probably arent going to be interested in my blog anyway. Now, without further adieu, my Chargers Shopping List

1) Head Coach/General Manager (just kiddingbut seriously)

2) Defensive Line

3) Offensive Line

4) Running Back

5) Safety

6) Wide Receiver/Tight End

7) Linebacker

8) Cornerback

9) Quarterback

10) Kicker/Punter

So look for my next blog to break down the Defensive Line position, as well as give some insight on players I feel would be a fit for the Bolts. If you havent yet subscribed to my blog, now would be a good time. I will be posting these faster than you can read them (well, maybe not that fast), and you dont want to miss one

DraftX

(R.I.P. Mike)

Forum: BrandX

Looking for a Scapegoat

BrandX — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:34:57 GMT

I apologize for being away for so long, its been a rough past 3 weeks. Its been said that what doesnt kill you, only makes you stronger. I say that I would rather not be strong at all, but I guess its not my choice. Anyway, my last blog was to give my final insight on the L.T. contract situation, in the event he was to be traded or released by Chargers management. Thankfully, they arent completely insane. L.T. remains a Charger for 2009, and by the looks of the scaled down 2010 and 2011 contract numbers, it looks like hell remain one for life. One small sidebar thoughTomlinson did mention chasing history and going after Emmitt Smiths rushing record. So unless he starts hanging out with A-Roid and Clemens, it will realistically take him until the 2013 season to surpass his childhood Idol. I think he has what it takes, but if the Chargers continue to remain a Championship caliber team, then L.T.s carries will more than likely decrease in the early part of the season so that he is fresh for the post season. And dont count on L.T. being here in 2012 or 2013, unless its with the coaching staff. Im hoping for a huge 2009 that gives him a boost for the yards he missed out on in 2008.

One thing I would like to put to rest is something that I hear from nearly everyone I speak to about the Chargers. There seems to be some belief by many that the reason for L.T.s decline in production in 2008 was largely in part to the absence of fullback Lorenzo Neal (currently a free agent as of 3/10). This scenario is the easy way to put things, however it is overwhelmingly false. Actually, there are two reasons why: (1) Norv Turner, and (2) L.T. Now, Lorenzo Neal has had an amazing career, clearing the way for an unprecedented eleven straight 1,000 yd. rushers. The list includes Adrian Murrell (Jets), Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers x2), Eddie George (Titans x2), Corey Dillon (Bengals x2), and, of course, Tomlinson (x5). That streak ended this season though, when LeRon McClain fell short of the 1,000 mark by 93 yards. In Neals defense, the Ravens played a bit of musical chairs with their running game in 2008 with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice, even using McClain as the FB, while Neal was an onlooker. But his absence from San Diego has nothing to do with L.T.s low production in 2008. If you dont agree, lets look back at the 2007 season.

In 2007, Lorenzo Neal played in only 13 games. Three of which, he left in the first half due to a thigh injury, and one where he blocked for Michael Turner, because L.T. sat out. That means he realistically only played in nine productive games. In those nine, he spent a large part of the time on the sideline, due to the fact that we were using more 2-TE and 3-WR sets. We also used some 2-RB sets with Turner and Tomlinson (I still cant believe we let him go). There were several times during games that season where I turned to my uncle and said, Wheres Lo Neal? He shrugged his shoulders and would say, Watching a good game. Tomlinson still finished the 2007 season as the NFLs leading rusher, but that was due to the fact that Adrian Peterson of the Vikings spent some time injured, or else would have rushed for close to 2,000 yards. But this time, he did it when Neal was basically non-existent; something A.J. Smith was savvy enough to spot. That is why he was not re-signed for 2008. And there is only one person to thank for this, Head Coach Norv Turner. You see; Turner runs a pass-first offense. And whenever he is a coordinator, he runs what the Head Coach wants, which is why he is better suited as a coordinator. I think if he were given the tools, Norv would try to resurrect the Run-and-Shoot offense. Give him June Jones, and Jerry Glanville as a coordinator and youll see Rivers morph into Warren Moon. Vincent Jackson would become Haywood Jeffries, and Chambers would become Drew Hill. Antonio Gates would disappear (sort of like hes already doing now) because there is no need for a TE in the Run-and-Shoot. But what you would see is Craig Davis and Kassim Osgood become near 1,000 yd. receivers. Also, Tomlinson would become Alonzo Highsmith (and eventually have an unsuccessful heavyweight pro boxing career). Ok, so maybe I was a bit rough on Tomlinsonfor now lets just say he would become Lorenzo White.

Marty Schottenheimer ran the Power I formation. It was remarkably successful with L.T. and Neal, and even turned Marcus McNeill into a Pro Bowl Left Tackle in 2006. Also, it helped Krissy The Flu Deilman become the most overpaid lineman in history. Im not saying I wish Marty was still here, but I sure do wish A.J. wasnt so arrogant. He was destined to make sure everyone knew he made the right decision on Draft Day 2004 when he traded Eli Manning for Philip Rivers. Now its Rivers team and Tomlinson has to take a back seat in priority on offense. This would be fine, of course, if it were successful. But following two early exits from the 2007 and 2008 post season, let me just say that it doesnt, nor will it ever work. Which brings me to reason #2 for L.T.s low production. His health. Tomlinson is a warrior, and doesnt let the injury get the best of him. As long as I can recall, he has had either a groin strain, sore ribs, a sore shoulder, strained quadriceps, a sprained ankle, sore back, even a stiff neck. These are all injuries we have forgotten about because He is so tough, and refuses to give in. He plays hurt, like all NFL greats before him have. But this year, he got the career killer; turf toe. This injury is worse for a running back than a torn knee ligament. Reason being: you can still try to play on it, but it only gets worse as a result. And you can surgically repair a knee. But if the toe doesnt heal by itself it can hobble you for the rest of your life. And if it gets bad enough, it must be amputated. Deion Sanders, who retired 3 different times from this injury, still walks with a limp to this day as a result of turf toe.

So I dont blame L.T. for being tough, because thats what we want to see from our superstars. What Im saying is that because of his injury, he had no pivot, which means no burst. And trust me, it bothered him all season. Combine that with no holes created by the obviously lost (pass-first) Offensive Line and you get 1,100 yards by the best that ever played the game. But if you give us a blocking FB like Neal, and dedicate your offense to the run, then youll get an 1,800 + yard RB, provided he stays healthy. Hey, Neal is a free agent? He likes it here; maybe hell take the San Diego discount? I seriously doubt it though, because A.J. knows Norv wont use him to the best of his abilities. Its too bad we couldnt have Marty coach the team and Norv run the offenseMartys offense. Wouldnt that be a thing to see? Instead we have to hope that L.T. will create holes of his own. Or, just get used to passing out the clock which seems to be the Turner way of protecting a 4^th quarter lead. A lot of good it did in 2008. I think we lost 6 games on the final drive and 4 of those six on the last play? Something like that

Anyway, I hope next season is worth all of the off-season drama we have had to deal with. Hopefully, Shawna Prima Donna will return to his Nandrolone form of 2006 and light a fire on the defense so that we can start shutting down the run again, and maybe sack the quarterback more than 1.6 times per game. Losing Igor Olshansky left a big hole at DE, but I think we wont miss him so much if Jamal can put the bottle and the cheeseburgers down and try to win a Super Bowl. If he gets double teamed, it means someone on either side doesnt get blocked. Castillo and whomever we draft will need to step it up. That is something Ill be addressing in my next blog; the draft. Right now, Im still hoping for Beanie Wells, but the Bolts already have over $15 million tied up in RBs for next season. So its still a long shot. Until then, I like Memphis in the NCAA tourney, and Ill be blogging again soon...

X has left the keyboard

(R.I.P. Mike)

Forum: BrandX

ReadySet???

BrandX — Thur, 26 Feb 2009 01:45:24 GMT

Before I begin, I would like to inform everybody that BrandX has lost a dear friend. Michael W. James of Lyons, New York was on his snowmobile in the Adirondack Mountains near Rochester, NY last Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21) when the vehicle struck a drainage ditch and quickly overturned. He was killed instantly. He was 42 years old, and is survived by his wife and two daughters. Mike was a wonderful man. He was truly one in a million. I am dedicating this blog and all future blogs that I write to his memory. To quote him directly, Theres no such thing as impossible. With that said, here we go

Its difficult to try to keep my blog topics interesting and fresh, yet still try to remain factual and try not to let my personal opinions take over entirely. But in deciding what my topic for this blog would be, I realized that I have so much to write about. This time around, I want to speak about LTs contract situation before all the fallout hits tomorrow. Im assuming we will know something tomorrow because it is the start of free agency, and most NFL veterans who are going to be released receive their walking papers on Veteran Wednesday. If you take a look at which NFL veterans have already been released, and add it to the list of players which have been left unsigned or unprotected, you could easily put together a Super Bowl-worthy team. And this list will look twice as tasty in about 12 hours.

Lets see who has already been released at the present moment: (Remember, in the NFL, cutting a player means their former team has no intentions of bringing them back.)

QBs- Jeff Garcia, Damon Huard

RBs- Fred Taylor, Deuce McAllister, Warrick Dunn, Ahman Green, (FB) Leonard Weaver

WRs- Marvin Harrison, Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, Mike Furrey, Jerry Porter

LBs- Derrick Brooks, Donnie Edwards, Morlon Greenwood, Tully Banta-Cain

DTs- Dewayne Robinson

DBs- Chris McAllister, Patrick Surtain, Lawyer Milloy, Dre Bly, Sammy Knight, Sam Madison

Package those guys together and add to it Unrestricted Free Agents DE- Julius Peppers, DE- Albert Haynesworth, DT- Igor Olshansky, LB- Bart Scott, OT- Jon Runyan, OT- Vernon Carey, OG- Wayne Gandy, OG- Pete Kendall, C- Jeff Saturday, TE- L.J. Smith, TE- Bubba Franks, and throw in QB- Byron Leftwich and WR- T.J. Houshmandzadeh and I guarantee you your ring finger will never look the same.

My point in all of this is to tell you that in the NFL, the word loyalty simply does not exist. Many of the aforementioned players are their perspective franchise record holders in one or more major statistical category. But this means nothing to the business of football when youre over 30 and still have $10 million owed to you over the next 2-3 seasons. This list may soon include the greatest player of all time, LaDainian Tomlinson. I think the message that was sent to A.J. Smith by the fans negative reaction to his original comments regarding LT; combined with the undertones from the statement given by LB- Shawne Merriman, sent our GM a clear message. San Diego needs L.T. Now, aside from franchising Darren Sproles instead of signing him to a multi-year deal, it seems the groundwork has been laid for the Chargers to follow through in taking a running back in the first round of this years draft. I have given my personal scenario of what I would like to see in several of my previous blogs, but I will reiterate it to you again.

First, LT needs to take a pay cut in the neighborhood of $2-3 million per year. This may seem huge, but for a 30-year old running back, it is certainly better than retirement. This cut would allow the Chargers to bring in the heir-apparent to Tomlinson, and sign him to a rookie contract. If all my wishes came true, that player would be Ohio States Chris Beanie Wells. Even if not, this years draft seems to be as deep in first round talent at the RB position as was last years draft, which produced Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, and Felix Jones, as well as future superstars Darren McFadden and Rashard Mendenhall. So if Wells were not available at 16, I wouldnt mind taking Pitts LeSean McCoy, or even the multi-faceted Knowshon Moreno of Georgia, who is currently the top ranked RB (for his pass catching ability) in the draft. We should know very soon the outcome of the meetings between LTs agent (Tom Condon) and A.J Smith, which took place on Feb. 21^st and 22^nd. If Tomlinson agrees to restructure for 2009 only, expect the Chargers to draft a RB this year. If he restructures the remainder of his contract, they will wait to draft a RB, or they will try to find a Diamond in the Rough so to speak in the 4^th or later rounds.

And who says the off-season is boring???

BrandX

(R.I.P. Mike. The world misses you already)

Forum: BrandX

An Inconvenient Lie

BrandX — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:21:32 GMT

I dont want to get too far away from talking about the Chargers, but I want to address an issue that seems to be affecting professional sports as of late. The issue of steroid use has just received an enormous boost in popularity with the recent admission of guilt by New York Yankees third baseman and three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez. Better known as A-Rod (or A-Roid as Ive been calling him since he left Seattle in 2001); Rodriguez, after categorically denying any wrong-doing in a televised interview on 60 minutes in December 2007, has just admitted to ESPNs Peter Gammons today that he used performance enhancing drugs in 2001, 2002, and 2003. The admission came following a story that broke in Sports Illustrated stating that Rodriguez was among 104 MLB players who had tested positive during 2003; when players were told the test results would remain 100% confidential. Even though I would never condone cheating, I think that the way things have come to light regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs is unfair to the athletes that are using them. Sure its wrong, sure it gives kids a false sense of hope, but is it any worse than being lied to by officials, or used by the media to make a story? Put it this way: Taking steroids is illegal. So is robbing a bank. So is murder. And whenever somebody with a conscience does something illegal, it haunts him or her until they can get it off their chest. In 2003, when Major League Baseball conducted initial testing in order to see what percentage of players were using, they promised all players there would be no penalty for testing positive, nor would there be any public knowledge. Yet somehow, we now know. And the media will get as much out of this A-Roid issue as they can, before bringing yet another superstar to light.

With the latest events, I have arrived at one conclusion. There will be a hero in all of this, and as much as I dont care for him, I have to give this man credit for being the only one who has told the truth all along. Using the term Hero may seem a bit of a reach, given the fact that he was probably the biggest user of all. His name is Jose Canseco. Canseco stated in his 2008 book, Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball. that he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer, but did not know for sure whether he (Rodriguez) had taken them or not. But Canseco has told the press that They were looking in the wrong places and that This has been a 25-year cover-up. The true criminals are (MLBPA CEO) Gene Orza, (MLBPA President) Donald Fehr and (MLB Commissioner) Bud Selig. So far, nobody that Canseco named in either of his books has been able to prove their innocence, other than denial. This leads me to believe that Canseco is not making it all up, as MLB officials have suggested. I personally however, think the media is the biggest problem we have today. And not just in sports, but in the entire world. They create these larger than life heroes and spend years building them up, only to tear them down harder and faster than they ever rose to begin with. Im not suggesting the guilty players are victims, because if you dont want to be a victim, then dont be guilty. The problem with that is the line of work they are in, and what it takes to stay in the game, let alone at the top.

The constant pressure that surrounds professional athletes is perhaps the most severe next to that of entertainers, primarily musicians and movie stars. This is because of their excessive salaries, which have increased by 5000% in the last 25 years. Doing the math, if minimum wage were $4.00 an hour 25 years ago, a 5000% increase would make todays minimum wage $200 an hour. Imagine that But instead of using steroids, entertainers turn to drug and alcohol abuse to cope with their struggles. Some athletes develop those problems as well, and many times, its to hide from what they are doing. But keeping that competitive edge takes a whole lot more in professional sports today than just hard work and determination. This is the reason why I never followed through with my dream of being a professional athlete. By the time I reached my early adult years, I already had friends who were using steroids. None of them ever made it anywhere, because they werent that good to begin with. And even though I was a stand out in the sports I chose to play, I knew that I could never cross that threshold on my own. At 59 180 lbs, I was too small for football, and too fat for baseball. I would need an edge. Two of my childhood best fiends, John Barnes and Jason Phillips, both became professional baseball players and made it to the Major Leagues. Both refused to give in to the pressure of performance enhancing drugs. And now, both are out of baseball. But these were the two best athletes I had ever seen, or played against. They were in a class all by themselves. John could have been professional in the NBA and NFL if he wanted to, but chose baseball. Jason was the purest and most gifted hitter I had ever seen. Being a junk-ball pitcher with six different pitches, I could strike anybody out. But I never struck Jason out. In fact, he hit a ball off me in 1990 that has been in orbit ever since. I only pitched against John twice. I hit him with a hard slider, and the other time he sent it right back at me and almost took out Little Lieutenant BrandX, if you know what I mean. And though I was a tremendous hitter (I have a record from 1992 that still stands, .884 batting average), I knew it wouldnt be enough. But that was a long time ago. Still, my friends endured the minor leagues, and managed to crack the Bigs around the same time as each other (John in 2000, and Jason in 2001). It is no coincidence that this is around the same time that A-Roid says he started using. Its because many players who wanted to stay competitive had to do it in order to remain at that level, and my friends non-use is 100% the reason why they arent still playing. I remember visiting John in Minnesota, when he was called up. He kept complaining about all the cheaters, and I didnt want to believe him, but I knew he wasnt lying. And I never could bring myself to ask whom he was talking about. Jasons career lasted a little while longer than Johns, but every time I visited him, he just seemed to be surprised that he was still in the league, and that it could end anytime.

So before making Baseball the only guilty party in the steroids/performance enhancing drug era, let me tell you that it has only just begun. If anyone reading this thinks that the NFL, and other professional sports are not guilty as well should stop reading here. For those who want to know more, keep reading. Pro football is a collection of physical and genetic freaks that defy the laws of humanity. But the percentage of players who make it without help somewhere along the way is probably fewer than 25%. And theres no telling when that started in pro football, but many it is believed it actually started here. Theres a story about it on ESPN.com, and it talks about how the entire 1963 San Diego Chargers team and how they took or were encouraged to take anabolic steroids. Here is a link to that story: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3866837. So even though its been around since then, somehow the 1990s and early 2000s have been labeled the steroid era. It is my personal belief that professional athletes have been doing whatever they could to gain an edge since the sport began. Weve seen it all, over the years. In baseball, weve seen the spitball, scuffing, stitch tearing, Vaseline, the corked bat, pine tar, loading the bat with super-balls, shaving the barrel, and lets not forget fixing the World Series. In football, its been the chop-block, the cut-block, the tear-away jersey, stick-um, the head-slap, the clothesline tackle, horse-collar tackle, the spear, and the forearm shiver. Improved technology has made it easier for players to cheat. And the easier something is to do, the more people will try to do it.

We penalize these athletes for taking shortcuts, but what happens when the league is responsible for pointing them to the drugs? I have a hard time believing that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa got that big and that strong by eating their Wheaties. But in 1998, baseball was dead. Not even the 1996 Yankees return to the World Series and their first Championship since 1978 could make people watch. The following year (1997) had an extra-innings World Series Game 7 that nobody watched. It was the lowest rated Game 7 in history. So the MLB had to do something fast. Fans were still foaming at the mouth because of the cancelled 1994 Season. San Diego fans were directly affected by this, since Tony Gwynn was knocking on the door of batting .400 and being the first to do so since Ted Williams in 1941. But the strike went forward, and Gwynn finished at .396, and was among other players left chasing milestones that year. So in an attempt to save a dying sport, it is my belief that McGwire and Sosa, the leagues two premier power hitters, and a host of others were pointed in the direction of performance enhancing drugs. And I believe Canseco when he says the aforementioned MLBPA officials and the League Commissioner played a major role in letting the issue get out of control. So while we all watched and loved Big Mac and Slammin Sammy chase down history, we opened our hearts back up to Americas National Pastime.

Football players had been using steroids all along. Not all, but a lot of players used it or tried it. Some have developed health problems from it, and some have even died as a result of steroid abuse. Ive been in the locker rooms, and Ive seen these guys out of the pads and uniforms. People have no idea what type of physical specimen a professional football player is. And these guys eat like crap. But not every steroid turns you into the Incredible Hulk. Some give you bulk, while others build lean muscle, and others give you amazing recovery and vision. Baseball is where recovery is important, given the day-to-day workload. But football is more grueling, and way more damaging to the body, so muscle building is the most important characteristic of steroids. The fact is; the NFL is scared to death of a steroid scandal because it has the most to lose. It is the #1 sport in America. The NFL Draft carries a higher television rating than any other non-football televised sporting event. This includes the World Series, NBA Finals, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, NHL Finals, NASCAR, and any Golf or Tennis Grand Slam. So it goes by without being noticed. Maybe its because we dont care. Maybe its because we dont want to rush to judgment. For myself, I stopped hating on steroid users when I gave up on my dream of turning pro. What I despise is an organization that allows this to knowingly take place, but because revenues keep coming in, goes unnoticed. Like Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, and the greatest player of all time, Barry Bonds (yes, thats right, I said it), I would probably deny accusations, simply because I knew that many, many others were using but they would never admit to it as well. Its a dark, dark secret. But when you enter the league at 62 165 lbs. as Rodriguez did in 1994, and you now stand 63 225 lbs. without an ounce of fat on you, it begs the question of how you got there. Football players dont show it so much, but I saw it in my High School, and I believe its in other High Schools as well. And college, oh my God! They put the needle in your butt before you find your first class! So by the time they get to the NFL, the players are already super-human. But what do I know. Im just a quitterbut Ill tell you what; I sleep better at night knowing there are some that actually get there without help. And I root for them just a little bit harder.

So for those who are reading this and are wondering where do I come off being able to tell who has and hasnt used steroids, let me say just this. If I could wager on who hasnt, I would be a Millionaire. If I could wager on who has, I would be a Billionaire. If I could wager on whos considered it, I could cover the Economic Stimulus plan myself. Thats how sure I am. So my point in this chapter is to prepare you for football to come into question at some point. The day will come, I promise. If the government truly wants to keep people off of it, they have to go after every sport. Trust me, its not only in Baseball, but Football, Basketball, Hockey, Tennis, Boxing, Mixed-Martial Arts, Golf, Swimming, Running, Track and Field, Body Building, Figure Skating, Gymnastics, Wrestling (both real and fake), Cycling, and even Soccer. But all sports have different percentages of users. The day is coming, and our sadly heroes are going to be accused, and have to take the fall. It sucks because the people who allow it to happen will go through it completely unscathed. Its sort of like throwing all of the drug users in jail, slapping the dealers on the wrist, and not even attempting to go after the drug lords. Well, Ive prepared myself for that day. I just hope everyone else can be ready as well. Until then

BX signing off

Forum: BrandX

The Los Angeles Chargers of San Diego

BrandX — Thur, 29 Jan 2009 02:13:02 GMT

This crap may work in baseball (Angels), but believe me; it will never fly in the NFL. When the Chargers signed a marketing deal earlier this week with the Wasserman group so they can market to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, it had one purpose, and one purpose only: To send a message. They want permission to build a new stadium. Well, its way too early to say whether or not it worked, but I can tell you that fans are buzzing about it. The fact is, we NEED a new park. Now, I love the Q just as much as the next fan. In fact, if I calculate it correctly, I have spent nearly 5% of my (awake) life there, between Chargers, Padres, and Aztecs games, the occasional concert and the one time I went to see the Monster Trucks. But sadly, the facilities within the bowels of the stadium rival that of an outhouse in a third-world country. And it simply isnt equipped for everything an NFL-type venue requires. By signing this deal, I believe it is telling the city that they have absolutely no objections to leaving because they feel like a stadium deal will never be finalized. And what ammunition does the City have to fire back? A measly $57 million still owed for stadium renovations. WOW! This figure is a drop in the bucket for a team like the Chargers, given the fact that they have been nearly $20 million or more under the leagues salary cap since I can remember.

The Chargers are a moneymaker, and there is no other way to put it. So why is the deal not done yet? The simplest answer is the City is in such a financial abyss, that they dont have adequate resources to get the ball rolling. This is why an immediate solution is necessary. If the Chargers were to leave, it would all but destroy sports in San Diego. Our only remaining professional Team would be the Padres, whose financial situation seems to have used the same business model as the Citys. And now that the steroid era in Baseball is a thing of the past, it seems that the MLB is taking a back seat to the NBA in terms of popularity in the United States. This is backed by the record-low 8.4 rating the 2008 World Series had, versus the NBA, whose Finals series almost crossed the 10-point plateau with 9.8 in 2008. Thats a difference of almost 2 million viewers. San Diego doesnt have an NBA team. Not because they dont want one, but because they cant keep one. Instead, we have the Padres; who seem to be at best, a notch above the Triple-A level. The only thing keeping that franchise afloat is the Saturday night and Sunday giveaways. Go to a Padres-Phillies game on a Tuesday night and youre lucky to see 5,000 people in the stands. But on Kouzmanoff Floppy Hat/Wall Clock/Bobble Head Night versus the Washington Nationals, its a sellout. Go figure

Whats even more detrimental is the effect this would have on collegiate sports in San Diego, primarily concerning SDSU. Qualcomm Stadium cannot fiscally remain in operation for a single occupant. This means the Aztecs would have nowhere to play because NCAA Division I-A rules state that a football facility must be able to seat at least 30,000 people. No stadium in San Diego can do that, except for Qualcomm. What this means, is that SDSU would lose its Division I-A status in football, and since the Aztecs Basketball program revenues cannot afford to support the other Division I-A programs, they would lose their D1 status as well. This means, fewer scholarships available, which means less recruits, which means loss of overall interest, which means lower enrollment numbers, and finally results in the loss of jobs and a huge jump in tuition and operating costs. Translation: why go to SDSU, when you can get a better education elsewhere, and for less money? It would kill the College Area as well. Property values would plummet and before long, the Trolley would have no need to stop at SDSU anymore. Lets not forget Qualcomm hosts two NCAA Bowl Games. Without a Stadium, we would lose these as well. And you could make an argument that a new venue would certainly attract the attention of the Bowl Championship Series. That could possibly bring the NCAA National Championship game to San Diego once every 5 years. To put it best, not having a stadium in San Diego could never possibly be a good thing.

So what do we need then? While I somewhat like the idea of a waterfront stadium, I dont think the Chula Vista Chargers would be marketable. The idea to move the team to North County is completely absurd. Not taking anything away from North County, I just think the team needs to stay centralized, in order to make it possible for any San Diegan to attend a game. The proposed location east of the Olympic Training Facility is an even worse idea. I mean, if youre going to do that, why not just move the team to Tijuana? Seriously, it would put our new stadium less than 5 miles from the border. Thats fine, but imagine traveling from Oceanside or Escondido to come to a game. You can make it to Santa Monica faster on a Sunday morning. Theres a simple solution. Build right next door to Qualcomm. Given the current housing market, that piece of real estate isnt worth squat. I recently saw an ad for a condo on Fenton Parkway for $135,500. That same unit sold for $315,000 when it was built in 2002. And when is the last time you tried to go from one end of Mission Valley, to the other, on a weekday around lunchtime, or better yet, 5 pm? You can walk it faster! The last thing that area needs is another 1,500 2,000 homes, and 3,000 more cars on those streets during rush hour.

Just give the Chargers the damn property, because it will more than pay for itself. If we were to get back in the Super Bowl rotation, you could easily add another $1 billion spent in the City during the dreaded retail months of January and February every 5 years. Not to mention the tax revenue generated by surrounding businesses that will be generated year-round, in just this two-mile radius. Who knows? Maybe they could even build a new Sports Arena that would attract an unhappy NBA team, or possibly an expansion franchise? And with the success the Gulls had in hockey, one could make an argument for a possible NHL franchise. We are the nations 8^th largest city. If Denver at 26^th can have the 4 major sports, then so can San Diego. Imagine the possibilities. If only I had Mark Fabianis job

Forum: BrandX

Preserving a Legend

BrandX — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:00:46 GMT

Terrell Fletcher. Aaron Hayden. Rodney Culver. Leonard Russell. Freddie Bradley. Gary Brown. Kenny Bynum. Aaron Craver. Erric Pegram. Carwell Gardner. Tremayne Stephens. Jermaine Fazande. Robert Chancey. Ronney Jenkins. What do these names all have in common? All were running backs on Chargers teams between Natrone Means (1994) and LaDainian Tomlinson (2001). What else do they have in common? None of them ever rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season. The reason Ive given you this list is because I want to point out just exactly what a HUGE mistake the Chargers would be making if they were to trade or release LT. Lets put aside what hes done for this franchise, or the city, or the community. I want to exclusively address what hes done on the football field. Even in a down year, where he battled a toe injury which he sustained in Week 1, he still put together a season which none of these other names could have done even if they had the 1990s Dallas Cowboys Offensive Line. He didnt have the chance to fully recover from it, because he continued to play, and still rushed for 1,110 yards. If youve never experienced it yourself, just ask anyone you know who has ever played football how a toe injury affects their play. And the running backs primary job is to cut and turn, which uses the front of the foot 95% of the time. This injury sent Deion Sanders into retirement three times!

Now, three of the players listed (Russell, Brown, and Pegram) were 1,000-yard rushers prior to their stints with San Diego. And, for arguments sake, Gary Brown did get screwed by The Spanos family, and GM Bobby Beathard. He was signed in the preseason of 1997, and ran for 945 yards in 15 games, while starting 14 of them. The reason he was screwed was strictly a business move, and was very instrumental in why I was not a Charger fan at the time. The situation went like thisHe was released in training camp by Tennessee (formerly the Houston Oilers) in 1997, primarily due to the success in 1996 of Eddie George, and the fact that he did not want to sit the bench for another season. He had nowhere to go, but still wanted to play. Were talking about the first NFL running back since O.J. Simpson to reach 1,000 yards rushing in 8 games. But, he came to San Diego for the league minimum salary; which, at the time was $235,000. Thats it. No big signing bonus. No limousines. No parades. What he did have was a huge performance clause in his contract. If he were to reach 1,000 yards rushing, the Chargers would have to even out his salary to $3 Million. So, even though he was perfectly healthy, he was benched during the 2^nd quarter of week 17s game in Denver, and didnt even get a chance to try for the 55 yards he was short of 1,000. Coach Kevin Gilbrides response to reporters was that the team wanted to get a better look at Kenny Bynum, and denied that he knew anything about Brown closing in on 1,000 yards. Aside from Brown, the Chargers also reacquired Natrone Means during the 1998 season. In 10 games, he rushed for 883 yards, which was fantastic. It looked like he had returned to form. But unfortunately, he couldnt keep his weight under control, and was released after seven games during the 1999 season.

So with those performances being the best we had seen in six years, its easy to see how desperately we needed a feature running back. Then, along came LT in 2001. He saved this team. He really did. Ill never forget the first L-T-L-T-L-T! chant ever at Qualcomm Stadium. It was on September 30, 2001 vs. Cincinnati. I remember this so well because this was the Chargers first home game since the September 11^th terrorist attacks. During the announcement of the starting lineups, the announcer called Doug Fluties name last, and the crowd roared louder than ever as he ran onto the field carrying a 4 x 6 American Flag. Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched nearly 70,000 people chant U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!! Anyway, Tomlinson scored his 3^rd rushing touchdown, which made the score 28-7. When he jogged toward the sideline, the chant began. I knew at that moment, that he would be a Hall of Fame caliber player. He just needed to be in the league long enough. I even remember being made fun of by some friends for talking about it as a possibility in the future. They reminded me he still had a long, long way to go. But this was a player whom I had watched in college. I knew he was that good. I remember arguing with someone about him not winning the Heisman Trophy for the 2000 season. He was the first Division 1-A running back to not win the Heisman following a 2,000-yard rushing season. Even the year before, the trophy was a slam-dunk for Ron Dayne of Wisconsin once he hit the 2,000-yard plateau. I even would use TCU when I played NCAA Football on my Playstation. Tomlinson was without a doubt the best pure runner I had seen since Eric Dickerson.

After all of the records, all of the statistics, all of the highlights, how can A.J. Smith even contemplate getting rid of LT? It starts and ends with the business of football. Dont forget, the Dallas Cowboys released Emmitt Smith, knowing he could become the NFLs all-time leading rusher. And he helped them win three Super Bowls. So it may happen, but Im here to say that it doesnt have to. This year, I saw three teams who had success at the running back position, and all were trying to move in a different direction. They were: the Carolina Panthers (DeAngelo Williams = old, Jonathan Stewart = new), the Arizona Cardinals (Edgerrin James = old, Tim Hightower = new), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Willie Parker = old, R. Mendenhall/M. Moore = new). Its ironic that two of the three teams are in this years Super Bowl. Our situation would relate closest to that of Arizona, since James turned 30 years old, and Hightower was a rookie. So we could draft our RB of the future, while still holding on to the Old Warrior (Tomlinson). It just depends on how much A.J. Smith thinks LT has left in the tank, and a bigger factor is whether or not we can trade him for a high Draft Pick. If he can get a 1^st round pick for Tomlinson, theres a 100% chance hes gone. A 2^nd round pick would render about a 75% chance. Getting a 3^rd round pick would give us a 50% chance of losing him, and if he were to trade LT for anything less than that, Smith would probably not be able to go anywhere in San Diego without the Secret Services protection. Tomlinson is due to count for over $8 Million next season, so he will be harder to move than A.J would like him to be.

What I would like to see is this. First we make a reasonable offer to Darren Sproles. By reasonable, I mean no more than $2.5 Million per season for 3-4 years (if anyone offers him more, let them have him), and deduct that number from LTs contract. This means we would need to restructure him down to around $6 Million for 2009, and 2010, and give him an $8-10 Million, two-year option for 2011 and 2012. Then, since we have the 16^th overall pick, I say we take LeSean McCoy from the University of Pittsburgh. Hes a sophomore, so he is young, and will need a year or two in order to get used to the power of the NFL. My dreams of Ohio States Chris Beenie Wells will probably be crushed in the first five picks, so McCoy is the guy. We can never replace a LaDainian Tomlinson. But we can find his heir apparent. Georgias Knowshon Moreno and Iowas Shonn Greene are also very good choices, but if Wells and McCoy are gone by 16, we should skip the RB and go for immediate need in a Linebacker or Offensive Lineman. If we are able to keep Tomlinson, I will go on record by saying I will keep my season tickets as long as he is a Charger. If he goes, then sadly, I will be following through on my plan to stop attending the games. I will always be a Charger fan though, but a very big piece of me will go wherever Tomlinson goes. Hopefully, he retires a Bolt. I hope all of you think the same. We will probably know before April. Until then

BX out!!! (But waiting on pins and needles)

Forum: BrandX