Official Charger Season Discussion - News - Roster Moves - Injuries

[dmac_bolt]

If the 'O' is, in fact, high scoring, that will create a huge buffer for the team to get the defensive kinks worked out.

I feel good about the O-line, but *still* see no clear answer to the long-needed-not-yet-acquired power back to pair with Ekeler.

Of COURSE it would be great if Spiller steps up and fills the role competently! It just seems like there's maybe a 10% chance of that happening. NOTHING we saw from him last year was persuasive, and we've received absolutely ZERO reassurances from Staley that he's seen things from Spiller in workouts that *we* haven't, and that those things give him confidence that Spiller is ready to step up. Zippo. Diquefist. Nada thing.

I don't know why the prospect of signing Zeke Elliot isn't getting more air. He's intimately familiar with Kellen Moore's way of running an offense, and is a reliable pass blocker. Zeke wouldn't have to produce the way that he did as the primary back in Dallas-- he'd be dividing snaps with Ek. So unless he's totally out of gas-- and he didn't look that way to *me* last season-- he checks every box for what the Chargers want in the back that they desperately need, but don't have.

Nobody rushes to sign RBs Zeke's age to long term contracts, so it looks kinda likely that he'll end up signing a one year deal, one of those 'prove it' contracts that the player hopes will get him a better contract one year down the line. And I'm thinking that Zeke would consider the Bolts' offense ready-made for him to succeed with.

I’ll put the Spiller odds at 47.9% - not quite a coin flip but not a bad bet - until we see him in TC/PS games. I don’t think we will need a Zeke-in-Prime power back to have a successful rush game simply because of the pass ability dominance and Moore’s ability to design successful rush attacks. Dallas may become immediately exposed as an average team that once had a superior OC.

Would it be nice to have an elite power back - fucking A absolutely - who wouldnt want an LT, Herschel, etc.? Given TT can sign maybe one or two semi-notable vets if he decides to, i doubt PB is where they spend unless there is some sort of calamity in the RB room

[Boltnut]

Bell-cow, power back days are gone.
Joshua Kelley had a better ypc (4.2) last year than Zeke (3.8)... at 1/10 the price.

Ekeler, Kelley, and Spiller... I'm confident.
Save your FA money to spend on in-season needs (injuries or non-performance).
Better yet, save it for 2024's cap.

Most of what we have on the roster already is as good as what's out on the market.
Younger, ascending, inexpensive > older, descending, expensive

[Boltjolt]

Bell-cow, power back days are gone.
Joshua Kelley had a better ypc (4.2) last year than Zeke (3.8)... at 1/10 the price.

Ekeler, Kelley, and Spiller... I'm confident.
Save your FA money to spend on in-season needs (injuries or non-performance).
Better yet, save it for 2024's cap.

Most of what we have on the roster already is as good as what's out on the market.
Younger, ascending, inexpensive > older, descending, expensive

No they arent.
But it sure dont hurt at all to have a good RB commity. If you have a star RB he will still get used more often than the other guys. For us, Ekeler is our best but is undersized. The smaller RBs still do not get any bell cow use and thats for a reason.

As for Kelly, he also had 1/10th the carries. Zeke is just declining and perhaps lost step and ive no interest in signing him. Kelly imo wouldnt have great numbers if he had to have 20 carries a game.

Kelly isnt a dynamic runner at all but agree, as a threesome i like the group and think Spiller will have a lot better year.

[sonorajim]

Could be. But to this point, Reid has owned the AFC west. Their record against divisional opponents over the past 7-8 years will make you puke. I don’t think we’ve seen this kid of dominance in a division other than the Patriots.

Chargers owned the AFCW in the early Rivers years. History is a simple fact. I'm more concerned about Staley's Chargers vs KC in 2023 and going forward. Staley's team beat them once and were Very close the other 3. Reid has never played our 2023 team. There have been changes.

[sonorajim]

If there's a young Jim Brown out there, he's going to get the ball. period. but I don't see any of those special players in the NFL currently.

[jamrock]

Chargers owned the AFCW in the early Rivers years. History is a simple fact. I'm more concerned about Staley's Chargers vs KC in 2023 and going forward. Staley's team beat them once and were Very close the other 3. Reid has never played our 2023 team. There have been changes.

Yes we had a little run against an anemic afc west but never got over the hump against the rest of the conference

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

If there's a young Jim Brown out there, he's going to get the ball. period. but I don't see any of those special players in the NFL currently.

I find it interesting that Austin Ekeler-- an Undrafted Free Agent-- is EVERYthing that the Chargers hoped to get when they spent a 1st round pick on James Brooks (instead of Mike Singletary) in 1981.

[sonorajim]

Yes we had a little run against an anemic afc west but never got over the hump against the rest of the conference

Reid didn't win his 1st playoff game with KC until year 3. Staley is still able to tie or beat that record. we'll see. ):

[sonorajim]

I find it interesting that Austin Ekeler-- an Undrafted Free Agent-- is EVERYthing that the Chargers hoped to get when they spent a 1st round pick on James Brooks (instead of Mike Singletary) in 1981.

No argument about Ekeler. He's very good. An NFL top scorer.
Brooks was Muncie's #2 and our KR. In retrospect a 1st was over the top. He was good, not 1st rd good.

[powderblueboy]

Yes we had a little run against an anemic afc west but never got over the hump against the rest of the conference

The Norv years - the AFC west was consistently good under Marty.

And then there were the constant playoff injury misfortunes & the Kaeding choke jobs.

[colorado]

I’ll put the Spiller odds at 47.9% - not quite a coin flip but not a bad bet - until we see him in TC/PS games. I don’t think we will need a Zeke-in-Prime power back to have a successful rush game simply because of the pass ability dominance and Moore’s ability to design successful rush attacks. Dallas may become immediately exposed as an average team that once had a superior OC.

Would it be nice to have an elite power back - fucking A absolutely - who wouldnt want an LT, Herschel, etc.? Given TT can sign maybe one or two semi-notable vets if he decides to, i doubt PB is where they spend unless there is some sort of calamity in the RB room

Jones was really in love with Emmitt and his style of run that when he saw zeke he saw bits and pieces of Emmitt. Although zeke is gone, Jones is hopping to resign him around preseason time for a fraction of the price he was do this year. Jones loves zeke like Emmitt. At least that is the plan i I heard.

[powderblueboy]

I find it interesting that Austin Ekeler-- an Undrafted Free Agent-- is EVERYthing that the Chargers hoped to get when they spent a 1st round pick on James Brooks (instead of Mike Singletary) in 1981.

Many will argue that Brooks was better ...... some have argued that he should be in the Hall of Fame.
I think I heard Boomer Esaison saying so.

Brooks was a key component in the Bengals 2nd Super Bowl appearance ... a 4 time pro bowler with the Bengals.
He made the catch, over Winslow's extended hands, to send the Orange Bowl playoff game to OT.

Chargers didn't want to pay him, so he was traded to Cincy for the overweight Pete Johnson.

I'd rank that trade as the 2nd/3rd worst non draft day trade in Charger history.