Ekeler: Negotiated Incentives for 2023 Contract Year

[Budsman]

Oh i agree, we need a bigger back that can run inside and pick up tough yards when needed. Just not a huge fan of Williams

Other than him being exactly a one dimensional fit for the big bruiser back that can get the tough yards, what don’t you like about him? He’s good at what he does.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Other than him being exactly a one dimensional fit for the big bruiser back that can get the tough yards, what don’t you like about him? He’s good at what he does.

He is ok. I just think he is a bit of a plodder.

Maybe I never forgave him for taking carries and goal line away from Aaron Jones on my FF team one year. (who is a better player)

[Budsman]

Thats what I think

I think he is a solid 3rd down back and spot person to run the ball. But the fact that Kelly and Spiller weren't ready to handle the load - shows the Chargers still need RB1

I am not sure Zeke is the right player for the chargers offense - still think its better to go younger for the "workhorse running back"

I really like Bijan in the first or Charbonet day two. Both would give this team what they need at a young cost controlled price. The price part is important with Herbert’s contract looming large.

[Budsman]

He is ok. I just think he is a bit of a plodder.

Maybe I never forgave him for taking carries and goal line away from Aaron Jones on my FF team one year. (who is a better player)

Fair enough. I agree he isnt anything special, just good at what he does.

[Bolt4Knob]

I really like Bijan in the first or Charbonet day two. Both would give this team what they need at a young cost controlled price. The price part is important with Herbert’s contract looming large.

I am still all about trading out of R1 and getting maybe another day 2 pick and day 3 pick. Like 1/6 for 2/3/5

[CanadianBoltFan]

So let’s go through your points one by one and debunk them.

1. “Gordon was out primary RB in 17, 18, and 19. Ekeler only played in 10 games in 2020. Your premise is completely false. Lombardi's offense did not scheme around Ekeler.
Ekeler's first year of playing 16 or more games and being the featured back came under Lombardi. That's why the sudden up tick in yards, yards receiving and TDs.”

That’s funny that you say that for three (four) years Ekeler wasn’t our starting back and that’s why his numbers were down? Well I wonder why he wasn’t our starting back and instead the wonder boy Gordon was the starter? He had four years of being a, you guessed it, 3rd down back. Why do you think he was not used more than that? Maybe because in a more balanced offense that requires a running back to run between the tackles Austin Ekeler doesn’t thrive. Can you see how Lombardi created an offense that allowed Ekeler to thrive because it played to his strengths? Ekeler is an undersized back that thrives in space and Lombardi gave him that. Under Wiz and Steichen (seems like a pretty good coach) who both run a more balanced offense he was used as a secondary weapon, Lombardi he was a primary weapon, see the problem?


2. “In fact Herbert's best statistical year passing was in 2021 under Lombardi. In that year Williams gained 1146 yards receiving, Allen 1138 yards receiving. The offense hardly ran
through Ekeler although he did catch over 600 yards that year.”

Yes Herbert’s best year was 21, but he also went from throwing the ball 595 times in 20 (rookie season) to 672 21 and then 699 last year. This was a passing first offense and Ekeler in both seasons was a huge part of it. Not surprisingly Ekeler was the number 1 back on Lombardis offense and couldn’t break 1000 yards rushing in either year under Lombardi but received the lions share of the handoffs and goal line work. The problem is Ekeler didn’t scare teams between the tackles and the only one scared of increased work between the tackles was Ekeler himself when he talked about his inability to shoulder the whole load (wonder if Barkley or Henry are worried about someone taking some of the load for them?). Lombardi chose Ekeler to be his number one back and enhanced his skill set in his offense. Before Lombardi for 4 years under some better offensive coaches than Lombardi he was what he is a 3rd down change of pace back not the every down back Lombardi tried to make him.

3. “2022 was the year of injury and Herbert, not Lombardi relied more heavily on Ekeler since
a) He had ribs injuries for part of the year.
b) Both Allen and Williams not available in the same game for pretty much all season.
c) Injury to our O line which made for terrible run and pass blocking (especially when teams blitzed.)”

Who do we blame for the offense last year herbert or Lombardi? From what I can tell Lombardi was the play caller and offensive coordinator and he chose to put a 3rd down back as our number 1 back. Sure some things effected the game but let’s take the rib injury. Don’t you think if Ekeler was a great all around balanced back would could have run the ball way more to protect Herbert’s ribs? Or was the offense designed for dump off passes to Ekeler to be the same as short runs? I wonder if Ekeler was a different more balanced back if Herbert could have relied on the run game more with his injured wrs out, but nope we had to keep passing it because we didn’t have a back who could handle that load. Lombardi made that choice and was happy to pass the ball without his top wrs and a banged up qb because he had to because he chose Ekeler for his pass first offense.

4.”And no Ekeler and Williams are in no way shape or form the same. Ekeler ran for over 900 yards with terrible O line blocking plus over 700 yards receiving. If anything
he is a multi-dimensional RB. Williams is not.”

How did Eklers “multi-dimensional” game work out up 27-0 in the playoffs. Ekeler can’t break 1k on the ground because he’s too small, he forces Herbert to take hits he doesn’t need to because teams don’t respect Ekelers run game. He’s not a threat between the tackles and teams know that DT can arm tackle him. Ekeler is a very good 3rd down back that was forced into a role that he shouldn’t be in. Lombardi promoted him vs getting another bigger back because he was creating a Herbert first passing offense that didn’t rely on a bigger more powerful back. Ekeler can’t stand the beating that Gordon took and better offensive minds than Lombardi knew that. It’s really not hard to see but if we went to a more balanced attack (The cowboys last year with Moore were almost exactly 50/50 with 556p/531r vs the chargers 771p/404r) Ekeler will not and cannot be the number 1 back. He can’t carry the load because he is one dimensional much like Williams is and i bet we draft a much stronger back to be our number 1 this year.

I have to say.

You make some very compelling counter points.

A good traditional running game would have definately helped Herbert's ribs

If you could design a perfect backfield, Ekler would not be the early down back, you are right he would be the 3rd down back or passing down back, not running between the tackles.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Fair enough. I agree he isnt anything special, just good at what he does.

For sure, he has a role and a place in this game and last year he did it very well...but I think that was a career year.

And actually paired with Ekler he would be solid, as he was with Jones, who was more explosive.

[Budsman]

I have to say.

You make some very compelling counter points.

A good traditional running game would have definately helped Herbert's ribs

If you could design a perfect backfield, Ekler would not be the early down back, you are right he would be the 3rd down back or passing down back, not running between the tackles.

I really like Ekeler and hope he stays but I really think he has been over inflated. It would be similar to a player like Jamal Williams or a more one dimensional runner whose team ran the ball 700 times and threw it 400. Yes I know it’s not the same because there are more pass catchers but the point is the opportunity for big numbers goes way up.

[Bolt4Knob]

I really like Ekeler and hope he stays but I really think he has been over inflated. It would be similar to a player like Jamal Williams or a more one dimensional runner whose team ran the ball 700 times and threw it 400. Yes I know it’s not the same because there are more pass catchers but the point is the opportunity for big numbers goes way up.

Agreed.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I really like Ekeler and hope he stays but I really think he has been over inflated. It would be similar to a player like Jamal Williams or a more one dimensional runner whose team ran the ball 700 times and threw it 400. Yes I know it’s not the same because there are more pass catchers but the point is the opportunity for big numbers goes way up.

I am in the same boat. I like Ekler and want him back. What's not to like, on and off the field?

But if his contract demands get in the way of cap management and a balanced roster, the reality is that any RB is replaceable and not worth paying more than your cap can afford. We see all the time RBs drafted that you can plug and play, more than any other position.

Dameon Pierce last year, looked good, 4th round pick

[charger1_sj]

So let’s go through your points one by one and debunk them.

1. “Gordon was out primary RB in 17, 18, and 19. Ekeler only played in 10 games in 2020. Your premise is completely false. Lombardi's offense did not scheme around Ekeler.
Ekeler's first year of playing 16 or more games and being the featured back came under Lombardi. That's why the sudden up tick in yards, yards receiving and TDs.”

That’s funny that you say that for three (four) years Ekeler wasn’t our starting back and that’s why his numbers were down? Well I wonder why he wasn’t our starting back and instead the wonder boy Gordon was the starter? He had four years of being a, you guessed it, 3rd down back. Why do you think he was not used more than that? Maybe because in a more balanced offense that requires a running back to run between the tackles Austin Ekeler doesn’t thrive. Can you see how Lombardi created an offense that allowed Ekeler to thrive because it played to his strengths? Ekeler is an undersized back that thrives in space and Lombardi gave him that. Under Wiz and Steichen (seems like a pretty good coach) who both run a more balanced offense he was used as a secondary weapon, Lombardi he was a primary weapon, see the problem?


2. “In fact Herbert's best statistical year passing was in 2021 under Lombardi. In that year Williams gained 1146 yards receiving, Allen 1138 yards receiving. The offense hardly ran
through Ekeler although he did catch over 600 yards that year.”

Yes Herbert’s best year was 21, but he also went from throwing the ball 595 times in 20 (rookie season) to 672 21 and then 699 last year. This was a passing first offense and Ekeler in both seasons was a huge part of it. Not surprisingly Ekeler was the number 1 back on Lombardis offense and couldn’t break 1000 yards rushing in either year under Lombardi but received the lions share of the handoffs and goal line work. The problem is Ekeler didn’t scare teams between the tackles and the only one scared of increased work between the tackles was Ekeler himself when he talked about his inability to shoulder the whole load (wonder if Barkley or Henry are worried about someone taking some of the load for them?). Lombardi chose Ekeler to be his number one back and enhanced his skill set in his offense. Before Lombardi for 4 years under some better offensive coaches than Lombardi he was what he is a 3rd down change of pace back not the every down back Lombardi tried to make him.

3. “2022 was the year of injury and Herbert, not Lombardi relied more heavily on Ekeler since
a) He had ribs injuries for part of the year.
b) Both Allen and Williams not available in the same game for pretty much all season.
c) Injury to our O line which made for terrible run and pass blocking (especially when teams blitzed.)”

Who do we blame for the offense last year herbert or Lombardi? From what I can tell Lombardi was the play caller and offensive coordinator and he chose to put a 3rd down back as our number 1 back. Sure some things effected the game but let’s take the rib injury. Don’t you think if Ekeler was a great all around balanced back would could have run the ball way more to protect Herbert’s ribs? Or was the offense designed for dump off passes to Ekeler to be the same as short runs? I wonder if Ekeler was a different more balanced back if Herbert could have relied on the run game more with his injured wrs out, but nope we had to keep passing it because we didn’t have a back who could handle that load. Lombardi made that choice and was happy to pass the ball without his top wrs and a banged up qb because he had to because he chose Ekeler for his pass first offense.

4.”And no Ekeler and Williams are in no way shape or form the same. Ekeler ran for over 900 yards with terrible O line blocking plus over 700 yards receiving. If anything
he is a multi-dimensional RB. Williams is not.”

How did Eklers “multi-dimensional” game work out up 27-0 in the playoffs. Ekeler can’t break 1k on the ground because he’s too small, he forces Herbert to take hits he doesn’t need to because teams don’t respect Ekelers run game. He’s not a threat between the tackles and teams know that DT can arm tackle him. Ekeler is a very good 3rd down back that was forced into a role that he shouldn’t be in. Lombardi promoted him vs getting another bigger back because he was creating a Herbert first passing offense that didn’t rely on a bigger more powerful back. Ekeler can’t stand the beating that Gordon took and better offensive minds than Lombardi knew that. It’s really not hard to see but if we went to a more balanced attack (The cowboys last year with Moore were almost exactly 50/50 with 556p/531r vs the chargers 771p/404r) Ekeler will not and cannot be the number 1 back. He can’t carry the load because he is one dimensional much like Williams is and i bet we draft a much stronger back to be our number 1 this year.

Lets take your answers 1 by 1.

Gordon was taken in round 1 to be a featured back. Ekeler wasn't even drafted. He was a undrafted free agent. Turns out when you draft
a guy in the first round he better start over a UFA or someone gets the axe and it ain't Ekeler. Gordon pushed himself out of the Chargers org
and Ekeler became the #1 guy when our great FO failed to bring in a RB that could beat out Eleker through the draft. Is that Ekeler's fault?
And it wasn't Lombardi that make Ekeler the featured back.

Herbert didn't win the starting QB job under Lynn, because Lynn is old school run first guy. So you see the fact that Herbert didn't toss the ball
around 700 times is due to Lynn and nothing to do with Ekeler. Again Ekeler was the #1 guy before Lombardi got here. Unfortunately injury
kept out of 6 games. Nobody has ever claimed that Ekeler is a big back that can run between the tackles. So not sure what you're talking about.
Our O line has been shit and that contributed heavily to what Lombardi was able to do. Turns out that Ekeler is pretty good at catching the football
and Herbert has used him as a lifeline, especially under pressure which not by coincidence happens a lot. Enter Ekeler.

The dump offs were not a designed play, they were a last resort for Herbert. A great deal of the passes Ekeler caught were behind the LOS,
In fact he gained over 700 yards passing from the LOS, but over 800 if you count where he first caught the ball. Get it?

CMC is not a between the tackler runner, just like Ekeler. In fact Ekeler is a stronger guy. But the OCs for which CMC plays for designs plays
that stretch the defense so the guy finds space to run. In this regard Lombardi fails. He has a system and sticks to it. He's not an innovative guy.
So running our RBs not just Ekeler into brick walls became common practice and is the reason we ranked 30th out of 32 in running the football.
In short we need a big guy to run into the LOS that is not the fault of Ekeler. It's the fault of the FO which has failed to bring in such a guy.

[blueman]

I really like Bijan in the first or Charbonet day two. Both would give this team what they need at a young cost controlled price. The price part is important with Herbert’s contract looming large.

Charbonet plays like a slightly bigger version of Ekeler, not a bad thing.