2022 Official Bolts Draft Superthread

[NoMoreChillies]

It's hard to get too excited about a play where the blocker hardly touched him and made no real effort to get in front of Davis. Not a lot of NFL OL make mental mistakes that badly.

And again, drafting Davis, by itself, would not fix the run D. There are too many other holes. If you want to play run D, you defend all 8 gaps on every play. And Davis, at most, can only protect 2.

What is the excuse all the Davis fans have for his lack of production???

my excuse is i am horrible at scouting LOL


Still I want a NT that commands double team so Bosa gets 1on1

[Formula 21]

my excuse is i am horrible at scouting LOL

Welcome to the team

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Of course, a lot is going to change with player rankings between NOW and when the draft is held late in April.

But in sifting through early evaluations and rankings, it looks to me like-- at pick #17-- the more premium left tackle prospects will be off the board, but that the best right tackle prospects have a good chance of being there. (Since the Bolts aren't looking for a left tackle, this works out fine.)

Maybe at that spot, there will be higher ranked prospects at positions of even greater need, and if so-- great. I'd love for the Bolts to get a Chris Jones-type DT, or other impact Front 7 defensive player who'd be an asset in both run defense and pass pressure.. But if a right tackle is the highest ranked prospect left on the board at #17, taking him would do wonders for protecting Herb, and moving the chains on the ground. I don't see a downside here.

[Caslon]

Honestly, I’d rather the Chargers continue to build around Herbert and the O-line, but only if a Slater caliber player falls to them at right tackle. TT has sour luck with FA offensive lineman aging vets. Been forever since the Bolts had a respectable running attack. Other, draft D-lineman at #1.

[Steve]

my excuse is i am horrible at scouting LOL


Still I want a NT that commands double team so Bosa gets 1on1

One thing to keep in mind. If the player you are looking at is supposed to be a .... (in this case big physical run stuffer). When you watch the highlight tape, it helps to see the guy making plays doing that very thing. Davis has a lot fo amazing plays where he is running down plays in space. Fine. But is that what we want the guy to do? Maybe.

We might want to take him with the idea he can be and every down DT who can do dominate in every sense. Sort of another Ndamukong Suh. There is a chance he can develop into that kind of player. And he is one of the few DL that has that kind of ability. Still, it is a big leap for him to turn into that type of player, because he isn't that type now. So he would be a HUGE project. But if that is what is wanted, fine.

Most people keep saying that he is going to be a run stuffing NT. Ok, but are you OK with a 30 play a game type of player with the 17th pick? Remember, he is going to be neutralized because offenses get to call the play, so he would probably see 12-15 passes in those 30 plays he has. Is Davis a good enough pass rusher to help in those? And if he is really good run defender, that ratio will go down, not up. It's hard to make much of an impact as a part time player. That's fine if a guy is a later round pick. But with a 1st pick, you would like to picks someone who can have an impact.

And as I keep pointing out, getting 1 DL is not going to fix the run D, by itself. It is a bigger problem than that. And it is not the only problem we have on D. We need some help on DL, and a NT would be a nice addition, but even if we resign Jones, we could still use another every down DE/DT to sub in with him and Tillery. And it would be nice if we push TIllery to the bench with that same guy.

Our lack of pass rush is an issue, and it is harder to find good pass rushers in later rounds. Our depth in the secondary is an issue. If we think Chris Harris is going to play really well, and come back fine, but he is older and we need another CB. Can Gilman be a factor vs KC passing game, or do we need another S who can cover, and play vs the run?

I am not really sure about any of the LB. White is the best LB we have, but with relatively few good LB, is he going to cost a lot, because while he is a good LB, he is not a great ILB. Tranquill has his moments too, but he got exposed some by his lack of speed. he is defintely a player I want to keep, but not necessarily a player I want starting full time. Murray needs to step up, and he might be better suited to playing OLB, even though Staley thinks he is better suited to being an ILB. And maybe we just need more help at S, so we play 2 LB a lot less of the time.

I am not that pleased with our edge rushers. Bosa is one of the best edge players in football, but after that ..... Nwosu is more of a good athlete who can be a run down player, but not the ideal OLB to rush the QB on 3rd downs. He is fine as a rotational guy, but we need more from another OLB, even if he is going to play at the same level he did late in the year. Rumph could be that guy, but didn't play much so jury is still out. Fackrell has never been that good a pass rusher. He got lucky 1 year with the packers but can't consistently beat OT, and was just not that effective. If Rumph develops as a situational passing down guy and Nwosu develops as a run down player, we might be OK, but adding another OLB would be a good idea to be able to move Bosa around more.

[dmac_bolt]

Getting an immovable 1DT alone doesn’t solve all defensive problems, 100% agree. But NO defensive problems will be solved until we solve this. Jmo. The criteria for 3-down players misses the fact that NFL is highly specialized and if we plug a generalist into a specialist role, he is by definition not as good - absent the rare unicorn athletic freak that just does everything better than anyone else.

JDavis moves very well for a big fat gap-clogging NT. Thats the #1 risk with big fat NTs is that don’t have this rare athletic talent and can ‘t move,. There are other good DL prospects - the kid from ALA is good, a few others. We’ve all seen the list here and in many Davis isn’t even #1. I’m not married to only JD or bust - i defer to the scouts here and even could go to Rd 2. I doubt we will get that difference maker if we wait past Rd2 though. We were near last in rush defense, another undersized DT isnt the answer to that problem.

We also need CB1, that could be a #17 pick, or RT. I’m of the mind that RT is probably the easiest to upgrade to a workable level (we may have that guy in Pipkins already?) and more of our losses were due to defense than offense last year.

I’d almost rather take an elite skill player at 17 than a RT, personally. Our skills guys are “typical” but not elite, with the exception of Eke. Again Jmo. KA is a master technician but seems to be slipping slightly and isn’t breakaway threat. MDub is Mr Radius but will be high priced. Palmer is a poor man’s MDub and will be better but again, not a threat over the top. Guyton has flashes but he’s not a Deebo or Hill, he’s not elusive vs straight line speed. We don’t have a power RB, so we misuse Eke in that role and he does his best. This could be Rd2 also.

Always hard to decide - limited picks, lots of needs to upgrade. Hmmm.

[Caslon]

Slater was a home run. Keep building on that at #1. Let defensive genius HC/DC Staley do what he can after a round 1 RT and get TT lucky in D-line FA, for once. Build a core offensive line, don’t waste the Herbert, Slater picks and decide to go sideways. A pro bowl caliber center and Slater, keep it going. Build on that. If no Slater type RT at 17, you better pick good, TT…on defense.

[Bolt4Knob]

Slater was a home run. Keep building on that at #1. Let defensive genius HC/DC Staley do what he can after a round 1 RT and get TT lucky in D-line FA, for once. Build a core offensive line, don’t waste the Herbert, Slater picks and decide to go sideways. A pro bowl caliber center and Slater, keep it going. Build on that. If no Slater type RT at 17, you better pick good, TT…on defense.

My guess is free agency will produce a larger quantity of quality IDL that can fit the STaley system over RT. So, use Free agency to make sure DLine is solidified so going into the draft you have plenty of ways to fill the needs at: CB, RT, IDL, RB, P and maybe speed WR

In free agency, unless the Chargers lose an Nwosu (Williams, Jones, White)- and have to use free agency to replace him - I still only see 2 maybe three signings before the draft.
These do not include veteran depth for minimum or <$2m contracts

[powderblueboy]

my excuse is i am horrible at scouting LOL


Still I want a NT that commands double team so Bosa gets 1on1

The fatty from Georgia, in my opinion, is not just a run stuffer.....he can provide a pass rush.
His problem is that he runs hot and cold, and too often is cold. He needs to lose weight, but will he?

A guy that big who runs like him has a lot of potential for mayhem: your eagle scouting eye NoMoreChillies picked that up.
Stand up for yourself's man!!! Most of the time i'm posturing & spitballing. I like my amateurishness....wouldn't want to be informed.

He also seems to have gotten by with his immense size and mobility, and hasn't learned the technical aspects of the position that well:
to me, he looks sloppy: his hands, brain and feet are not as coordinated and active as i would like. That necessarily doesn't make sense to anyone,
but that is how i feel about him. Something is off and he just seems to be a lump out there too often.

BTW, Jerry Tillery was the last to receive my infamous 'sloppy' label coming out of college.

[Maniaque 6]

Many experts see him between 14 and 21.

[Formula 21]

Many experts see him between 14 and 21.

I’ve seen him out of the 1st. That wouldn’t surprise me. He’s a part time player

[Charge!]

Getting an immovable 1DT alone doesn’t solve all defensive problems, 100% agree. But NO defensive problems will be solved until we solve this. Jmo. The criteria for 3-down players misses the fact that NFL is highly specialized and if we plug a generalist into a specialist role, he is by definition not as good - absent the rare unicorn athletic freak that just does everything better than anyone else.

JDavis moves very well for a big fat gap-clogging NT. Thats the #1 risk with big fat NTs is that don’t have this rare athletic talent and can ‘t move,. There are other good DL prospects - the kid from ALA is good, a few others. We’ve all seen the list here and in many Davis isn’t even #1. I’m not married to only JD or bust - i defer to the scouts here and even could go to Rd 2. I doubt we will get that difference maker if we wait past Rd2 though. We were near last in rush defense, another undersized DT isnt the answer to that problem.

We also need CB1, that could be a #17 pick, or RT. I’m of the mind that RT is probably the easiest to upgrade to a workable level (we may have that guy in Pipkins already?) and more of our losses were due to defense than offense last year.

I’d almost rather take an elite skill player at 17 than a RT, personally. Our skills guys are “typical” but not elite, with the exception of Eke. Again Jmo. KA is a master technician but seems to be slipping slightly and isn’t breakaway threat. MDub is Mr Radius but will be high priced. Palmer is a poor man’s MDub and will be better but again, not a threat over the top. Guyton has flashes but he’s not a Deebo or Hill, he’s not elusive vs straight line speed. We don’t have a power RB, so we misuse Eke in that role and he does his best. This could be Rd2 also.

Always hard to decide - limited picks, lots of needs to upgrade. Hmmm.

Agree..... we dont have a true number one CB, and we desperately need one.....our horrible pass coverage last year was made to artificially look better than it was because opponents could just run at will and usually chose to do that over passing the ball.....they usually did not need to throw....

CB's, pass rushers and QB's are the rarest and most difficult to find and most of the great ones are found in the top top middle of first round....... RT's can be drafted after first round (if you know what you are doing), in FA, or traded for..... solid DT's can be found multiple places, but elite ones who also can pass rush are usually also found in top half of first round.....