2024 Chargers Draft Superthread - Prospect Discussion - Draft Has Started

[sonorajim]

If you go back and watch 2022, after Slater went down, you'll see that the pass protection slid Salyers way most of the time. As the season went on, and Salyer began to prove himself, the protection started rolling Pipkins way. Pipkins had his best year... but a lot of that must be attributed to the extra help Pipkins was getting.

If you go back to 2020, when Steichen was letting JH go vertical more, you'll see that Sam Tevi was getting protection rolled his way. Bryan Bulaga was @RT that year. If you have an OT that is sub-par, you almost always need help that direction... especially when you ask your QB/WR to go vertical.

But the most interesting year to look at is 2021. Herbert threw for over 5,000 yards and had 38 TD tosses (both career bests)... even though Lombardi was the OC and tended towards a horizontal passing attack... rather than Steichen's vertical attack philosophy. The biggest difference was their effectiveness running the ball under Frank Smith (his only year with the Chargers).

Teams can use different personnel and different philosophies. But if they want to be truly effective, their run/pass blocking schemes better be top-notch. The OL coach is under-recognized IMO. Remember how great the Patriots were with Scar as their OL coach... and how terrible they were without him...?

I remember it well. Best in recent history. There have been other units I admired ( 'Skins Hogs) but Pats with Scar were the picture of consistency for a long time. Most of BB's career in NE.

[Charge!]

KC won primarily with D.. and cold. Mia was WAY out of their element.
That aside, KC's D is their best in recent years.
"Defense wins Championships"..Or so they say.
KC has already proven that Offense does. Repeatedly. Why be one sided?

agree.... that expression, "Defense wins Championships", is from long lomng ago when defenses could legally maul and mug receivers.....

a truer expression should be "Defenses keep you in the game, so elite QB's can win you the Championship" and yes, a great OL is needed for great QB's to play well and great DL's afre needed to stuff run and pressure the other teams greart QB.....

remember that today, with single coverage or zone coverage, a perfect pass is impossible to defend.......because there is always a spot to place the ball where defense cannot make a play..... and offense knows where they are going.....

[blueman]

I remember it well. Best in recent history. There have been other units I admired ( 'Skins Hogs) but Pats with Scar were the picture of consistency for a long time. Most of BB's career in NE.

That was a good Oline, made great by the refs never calling anything on them unless utterly blatant (and even then only seldom).

[sonorajim]

That was a good Oline, made great by the refs never calling anything on them unless utterly blatant (and even then only seldom).

Every OL holds every down. Pats did it with skill. True story.
There were some posters at the old UT that mocked "ball watchers" who got me to focus more on OL.
Dante Scarneccia had a lot to do with BB's success, among others. Hell of an OL coach.

[Leslie Grossman]

I look at this differently. I see stud OT's as enabling a team to create explosive plays... whether it's creating time for a WR to get open or whether it's an OT creating holes for RB's to burst through. I sure would like to see Justin have enough time to use that rocket arm of his to a WR downfield. I sure would like to see an offense that can get more than 3.8 ypc. in the run game.

Our former OC Lombardi and current OC Moore were able to create explosive plays in New Orleans and Dallas. Yet, both of them kept JH from going downfield very much. Was that for lack of an explosive offensive playmaker...? Or did they recognize our shortcomings at the OT position...?

👍
I’m going out on a limb to say The Chiefs downgrades at tackles were more important than the downgrades at WR

[Fouts2herbert]

The O-line regressed when Linsley went out, they lost their leader and the guy that helped with letting everyone know how to counter what the defense was going to do...Ideally the chargers could go looking for a veteran accomplished center that won't cost a too much...I don't think they need to tear down this offensive line and move people around, I think you draft some depth, maybe a center early in the 2-3rd rounds if you can't find a good veteran but with proper leadership and coaching I still think this O-line can be one of the best in the division for sure...

[QuiteFrankly]

agree.... that expression, "Defense wins Championships", is from long lomng ago when defenses could legally maul and mug receivers.....

a truer expression should be "Defenses keep you in the game, so elite QB's can win you the Championship" and yes, a great OL is needed for great QB's to play well and great DL's afre needed to stuff run and pressure the other teams greart QB.....

remember that today, with single coverage or zone coverage, a perfect pass is impossible to defend.......because there is always a spot to place the ball where defense cannot make a play..... and offense knows where they are going.....

IMO KC won because of they always have recently:
1. Mahomes and Reid combo. With that weather, Reid knew they need to score early in case the weather got bad. Once Mahomes adjusted to the weather, he started completing passes. And of course Reids scheme/plays.
2. The weather. Fins just could not play well in it.

You could say the defense...don't think so. Weather was more of a factor. Tua just could not put the ball where he wanted.

There defense is better for sure..but I think this was mostly weather.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

IMO KC won because of they always have recently:
1. Mahomes and Reid combo. With that weather, Reid knew they need to score early in case the weather got bad. Once Mahomes adjusted to the weather, he started completing passes. And of course Reids scheme/plays.
2. The weather. Fins just could not play well in it.

You could say the defense...don't think so. Weather was more of a factor. Tua just could not put the ball where he wanted.

There defense is better for sure..but I think this was mostly weather.

Inability to cover Kelce

[electricgold]

Seeing Detroit with their RT Peni, sure I want Bowers but I wouldn't be mad one bit if we drafted Joe Alt and plugged him in as our starting RT day 1!

[northerner]

The O-line regressed when Linsley went out, they lost their leader and the guy that helped with letting everyone know how to counter what the defense was going to do...Ideally the chargers could go looking for a veteran accomplished center that won't cost a too much...I don't think they need to tear down this offensive line and move people around, I think you draft some depth, maybe a center early in the 2-3rd rounds if you can't find a good veteran but with proper leadership and coaching I still think this O-line can be one of the best in the division for sure...

the OL might be the best area for a free agency project - we need guys with experience who can produce on day 1, not rookies learning the NFL while giving up sacks.

can you imagine a QJ project on the OLine? you would have to pull him.

[northerner]

Seeing Detroit with their RT Peni, sure I want Bowers but I wouldn't be mad one bit if we drafted Joe Alt and plugged him in as our starting RT day 1!

Detroit is usually giving Goff a great pocket to pass from. So many needs this offseason. i like a vet OL, but we will see.

[Go Chargers go]

Watching Detroit OL handle Aaron Donald says everything. This is allowing Goff to slice up defense.

Every year our OL goes down and then becomes the conversation of how to fix…..if you can draft a true LT with a top 5 pick it’s a no brainer…

we have a proven WR Allen and a proven pass rusher Mack that can be reworked…….I don’t see a proven LT on this team nor do I see a proven OL that will protect Herbert all season much less if we get lucky and make PO.

Allen was #6 in reception 2023 and same in 2021,
Mack has been a top 5 edge rusher in last two years he had 6 sacks against raider in 1 game, sacked mahomes 1x, Jordan Love 2x, ravens qb 2x

the more I look at it LT in first rd makes most sense.