San Diego Chargers Rookie Review
I decided to go around and ask bloggers how rookies are doing for the teams they cover. For today’s Q and A I turned to Ernie Padaon of Bolt Beat, a San Diego Chargers blog.
Here’s what he had to say from the questions I peppered him with.
1) Is G.M. A.J. Smith too Smart for his own Good?
His ego is too big for his own good. AJ Smith really started going downward after he brought in Norv Turner as the head coach. Either Norv is giving him bad advice on draft picks or AJ has AJ just lost his magic touch. There have been a lot of questionable draft picks and he likes to reach for “his type” of player.
2). Early on it looked as though the Chargers stole Philip Rivers from the Giants for Eli Manning because they also added Shawne Merriman to the mix. Merriman is no longer on the Chargers (and Kicker Nate Kaeding, also added is out for the season). In hindsight did the Chargers make the right move (assuming that Eli Manning would have played for the Chargers even though he was being a baby about it)?
That is a big assumption with Eli, but it still is the right move. We got a lot of productive years with Shawne and Nate here. Philip Rivers is still a good quarterback, but he is in a HUGE funk right now. It was the addition of these players that helped bring the Chargers back to relevance in the NFL again.
3). I Never get what the Chargers will do in the draft right in my mock drafts. Does the front office have some sort of vision I’m just missing? Do they follow a trend I just can’t see?
It is a crap shoot. Last draft, I was dead set that we were going to draft Cameron Jordan if he fell to us and we took Corey Liuget. Who would have ever picked Larry English that early? When I finally think I have figured out AJ, something changes. You usually know what position we are going for, just pick the most unlikely name from that position and put it on your mock.
4) They say it takes three years to evaluate a draft calss…how is the 2009 Draft class looking?
4 of the 8 players drafted are still on the team. The number one draft pick, Larry English, can’t stay on the field and has not proved anything when he does get out there. Outside linebacker will be a spot that we will be looking to upgrade in the offseason, so that 1st round pick is a waste.
G Louis Vazquez and DT Vaughn Martin are turning out to be solid players on the team and both are in starting roles this year. G Tyronne Greene is a solid backup for the team and these guys were solid pickups in the draft in the 3rd and 4th rounds.
We got some solid talent from the draft but there was no impact from our first round draft pick. We need to start picking impact players in that first round.
5) Based on how the Chargers are playing right now what are their needs for the 2012 NFL draft?
The Chargers will be looking for help at linebacker and at safety. Larry English might not be part of the team next year and the other players at the position are backups at best. We tried to bring in Bob Sanders at safety this year and of course he got hurt immediately. We need someone in the safety position next to Eric Weddle.
6). How has the play of Corey Liuget been this year (and the other high draft picks)?
Corey is out of his league right now. He is in a starting role and he only has FIVE tackles this year. We have guys on our offensive side of the ball that have that many tackles. Marcus Gilchrist is getting more and more opportunities to start, but he was burned last week against the Jonathan Baldwin and the Chiefs. He might get demoted again to the backup role against the Packers.
7). What about late round picks and UDFA. Does it appear any of them have long careers in the N.F.L.?
It is just a miracle that these late round draft picks are still on the roster at this point. They must see some things that they like from these guys. They are not getting a lot of playing time right now, but Jordan Todman looks like he could have a good future and Stephen Schilling could be a nasty guard in a couple of years.
8) How is the 2010 draft looking now? Ryan Matthews had a pretty awful first season.
Ryan is having a much better season this year. He has a lot more confidence in where he is supposed to be. The game has slowed down for him, but he still makes his mental mistakes. He is working on his fumbling issues and it seems to be a little better and his blocking is improved. If he can improve on both of those aspects even further and stay healthy, he will be a very good back in this league.
9) Will Norv Turner and Philip Rivers ever take this team to the promised land?
SIGH… It can happen. Worse quarterbacks have won and worse coaches have won. But since your question is will it happen, no. We need a different attitude on this team and like the quote on Remember the Titans, ‘”attitude reflects leadership, captain!” Norv has got to go!
10) Anything else to add?
Nothing here.
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