Year after year, disappointment after disappointment. Tom Telesco became general manager of the Chargers in 2013. He has had NINE seasons to build a playoff-caliber team. Yet, we have gotten to the playoffs only TWO of those seasons: In 2013, a team he basically inherited from former GM A.J. Smith; and in 2018. That's only TWO out of NINE seasons we have made the playoffs, despite having very good QB's those years in Rivers and Herbert. That's 2/9 despite having one of the top Edge players in Joey Bosa. That's 2/9 despite having a stellar player like Derwin James.
Yes, there have been coaching issues. McCoy and Lynn were not the best. Staley appears to be an improvement over those two, but he's a rook HC and has made some bonehead game decisions. So he does need to take some of the blame here. But ultimately, it's TT's job to build a team through the draft and free agency, and bottom line, he has failed. I especially cringe when I think of ALL those draft picks he traded away, all those 3rd and 4th and 5th rounders he threw away like poker chips at a Vegas casino, gambling our future to move up in the draft to pick a targeted player. And what did those trades get us? A 2nd and a 3rd rounder to move up for Murray. Bust. A 1st, 4th and 5th rounder in 2015 for Gordon. Kind of a steep price to pay, but okay, he did produce for us till he stabbed us in the back with his lame holdout. A 2nd and a 4th rounder to move up for Jerry Attouchu. Bust. In 2013, a 2nd and a 4th rounder for Manti Teo. Bust.
Okay, so TT DID hit on some of his draft picks. KA. Bosa. Derwin. Herbert. But these kind of fell into his lap. If he DIDN'T pick them, TT REALLY almost would have been fired years ago. And then, besides the ill-advised trade ups, let's not forget some of Telesco's other busts. 2013, DJ Fluker, round 1. Bust. 2014, round 3, Chris Watt. Bust. 2015, round 3, Craig Mager. Bust. 2016, round 3, Max Tuerk. Bust. 2017, Lamp and Feeney, rounds 2 and 3. Both busts. 2019, round 3, Pipkins. Bust. Okay, so I realize you can't always hit on every pick, but come on...you would expect at least SOME of those players to turn into at least average starters. But no. Oh, and anyone notice how a lot of those busts, along with some other poor choices in mid to late rounds were from Notre Dame? For crying out loud, when you draft, you have to evaluate the PLAYER, not get swayed by the SCHOOL they play for. Wow, just...wow.
Yes, TT has brought in some decent free agents. But there have also been a lot of FA busts. Ultimately, TT has failed to build a team deep enough in talent to get us over the hump and into the playoffs, most of the time. Is it time to let Telesco go?
Yes, there have been coaching issues. McCoy and Lynn were not the best. Staley appears to be an improvement over those two, but he's a rook HC and has made some bonehead game decisions. So he does need to take some of the blame here. But ultimately, it's TT's job to build a team through the draft and free agency, and bottom line, he has failed. I especially cringe when I think of ALL those draft picks he traded away, all those 3rd and 4th and 5th rounders he threw away like poker chips at a Vegas casino, gambling our future to move up in the draft to pick a targeted player. And what did those trades get us? A 2nd and a 3rd rounder to move up for Murray. Bust. A 1st, 4th and 5th rounder in 2015 for Gordon. Kind of a steep price to pay, but okay, he did produce for us till he stabbed us in the back with his lame holdout. A 2nd and a 4th rounder to move up for Jerry Attouchu. Bust. In 2013, a 2nd and a 4th rounder for Manti Teo. Bust.
Okay, so TT DID hit on some of his draft picks. KA. Bosa. Derwin. Herbert. But these kind of fell into his lap. If he DIDN'T pick them, TT REALLY almost would have been fired years ago. And then, besides the ill-advised trade ups, let's not forget some of Telesco's other busts. 2013, DJ Fluker, round 1. Bust. 2014, round 3, Chris Watt. Bust. 2015, round 3, Craig Mager. Bust. 2016, round 3, Max Tuerk. Bust. 2017, Lamp and Feeney, rounds 2 and 3. Both busts. 2019, round 3, Pipkins. Bust. Okay, so I realize you can't always hit on every pick, but come on...you would expect at least SOME of those players to turn into at least average starters. But no. Oh, and anyone notice how a lot of those busts, along with some other poor choices in mid to late rounds were from Notre Dame? For crying out loud, when you draft, you have to evaluate the PLAYER, not get swayed by the SCHOOL they play for. Wow, just...wow.
Yes, TT has brought in some decent free agents. But there have also been a lot of FA busts. Ultimately, TT has failed to build a team deep enough in talent to get us over the hump and into the playoffs, most of the time. Is it time to let Telesco go?
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