OL

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Actual VJ had no trouble driving TO a bender, only driving FROM a bender did he need a ride...

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

San Diego Chargers: Starting left tackle update

July 30, 2013 by Brendan Davis

When the San Diego Chargers signed LT Max Starks in free agency, many people assumed he would step in at the starting role on the line. The Chargers had already signed LT King Dunlap in the offseason as well, but Starks being the ladder signing was viewed as the favorite.

Looking at NFL careers, it would appear that Starks has the upper hand. He has been a starter on the Steelers ever since mid 2008 and has played 9 seasons in the NFL. On the other hand, Dunlap has only played 5 seasons in the NFL and didn’t become a starter until last season (only due to injuries on the Eagles’ line). Based on history alone, it was expected that Starks would start and Dunlap would play the swing role (meaning he could step in at either right or left tackle depending on the situation).

However, so far in the team’s training camp, Dunlap has been the lineman taking the majority of the first team snaps. Although not expected, Dunlap has been playing very well thus far for the team. It is unclear right now who will be the starter, but it is likely that the coaching staff will make this decision quickly so that the unit has a chance to build chemistry.

Dunlap’s early play in training camp suggests that he is getting better as a lineman and may be ready to start at an NFL level. His play last season was heavily criticized, but at any position, the first year starting is always the hardest. Starks on the other hand is 31 years old. This number isn’t alarming for a lineman, but if the Chargers could develop the 27-year-old Dunlap, they would have a long-term option. So if both players are playing at very similar levels, it may make more sense for Dunlap to be the starter.

One side note is that when RT D.J. Fluker sat out some plays, Dunlap went to right tackle and Starks went in on the left side. This is interesting because if Dunlap was going to be the likely starter, it would more sense for Starks to play the swing linemen and keep Dunlap on the left side. Perhaps this was a move by the coaching staff to just give Starks a chance on the left, but ultimately it means there is no clear favorite for the position.

At the moment, Dunlap is suffering from a minor injury he sustained on Monday. This should not hurt his chances to start, but will give Starks the opportunity to impress the coaching staff. If he can show the coaches that he is a quality starter soon, he may take back the starting role before Dunlap can prove his worth to the team. No matter which way you look at it, this training camp battle will be good for the Chargers. Since there is no set starter, both players will have to play their best all season long. This competition should hopefully drive both to play at a higher level, which at the minimum will benefit Phillip Rivers’ protection in the pocket

[Beerman]

All this Dunlap playing well in TC talk needs to be tempered. I didn't see it at all. To start, getting blown into the backfield during running plays is bad and was happening all too often. 2nd, on multiple occasions he was beaten off the edge by the likes of Tourek Williams. Unless he learns how to bend over and get leverage, I don't see this long term crap that was posted in that article (the guy is 27 if it hasn't happened yet....).

[thelightningwill]

All this Dunlap playing well in TC talk needs to be tempered. I didn't see it at all. To start, getting blown into the backfield during running plays is bad and was happening all too often. 2nd, on multiple occasions he was beaten off the edge by the likes of Tourek Williams. Unless he learns how to bend over and get leverage, I don't see this long term crap that was posted in that article (the guy is 27 if it hasn't happened yet....).

My friend, the Eagles fan, complained more about Dunlap than I did about Norv or Clary.

[Steve]

I don't think the move from LT to RT is that odd. Starks is a known quantity and he isn't going to get a lot better with a lot of reps. Dunlap could still get better, so it worth getting him the reps and see if he responds. But holding Starks out of too many plays is just good sense, keeps him fresh. And Dunlap is the guy who has the look of a swing OT, so jumping him around to get some work on both sides is good sense.

But Dunlap was one of the most promising OT in college football as a junior, and really hasn't made much progress since. He has the tools, but I would be a lot happier with him as a swing OT, then as a starter. The guy is an OK pass protector, but he is not a good run blocker, so he needs to fix that or he won't be a pro player that much longer.

[Fleet]

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid34444135001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAA5PNMME~,K3tOT-PuaftQ66litXDUugUQvcNm4ah5&bctid=2571335327001

[TTK]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/01/panthers-release-geoff-hangartner/

This guy can play guard and center. I wonder if TT and MM will consider him.

[RTPbolt]

I'm not going to read too much at this point. We all know the OL is more of a team effort than individual effort and with a new OL coaching staff and 3 new guys they need time to gel and get reps in. Would be nice to hear the OL was hammering the defense but as I understand it the Defense usually is ahead of the game at this point anyway. I think we will see the "starter" OL playing quite a bit more than the norm in preseason just to give them live experience as a unit. Just hope they can gel enough at pass defense or run defense to give us something to hang our hat on to start the season.

I agree its a good sign that Freeney is maybe a nice surprise for having some juice left. Keep that guy healthy.

RTPbolt

[oneinchpunch]

Sounds like he had to be awful so far

[Steve]

Him getting released is probably just vet courtesy. If it doesn't look like the guy has any chance to be on the roster, you release him early, and he has a chance to sign somewhere else, catch on while there is still a chance to pick up an offense.

[oneinchpunch]

Him getting released is probably just vet courtesy. If it doesn't look like the guy has any chance to be on the roster, you release him early, and he has a chance to sign somewhere else, catch on while there is still a chance to pick up an offense.

Panthers released G/C Geoff Hangartner.
This one comes out of left field because Hangartner was penciled in as Carolina's starting right guard. Hangartner was owed a reasonable $1.575 million salary, but must have been really struggling through a week of camp. He was also brutal last season, grading out as a bottom-five center (in place of then-injured Ryan Kalil) per Pro Football Focus' ratings. Of more concern is Hangartner's replacement. Rookie RG backup Edmund Kugbila (leg) hasn't even practiced yet. Including turnstile RT Byron Bell, the right side of Carolina's offensive line is a major concern.

Sound like a vet courtesy?

[Steve]

Why not let him stay and cut him in a few weeks then? As bad as a vet may be, they still give 2nd DL a better look then any UDFA, so they could keep him, even though he has almost no chance to make their roster.

Let him go, and potentially he can catch on with another team. Bottom 5 C are still good enough to be backups on just about any team, and the Donks area more desperate than that.