Welcome WR Quentin Johnston , TCU (Round 1, #21)

[Boltnut]

I'd throw a tight end in the there, alongside a wide receiver ...... Chargers need a second option in the passing game.

I'd even throw a dynamic RB coming out of the back field. Is that Omarion Hampton? ..... no, it is not ..... he's not much at that, nor in pass pro.

They had a healthy enough JK Dobbins against Houston .... pounding the rock more with Omarion, or even Jeanty, wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference.
Having a 2nd receiver/tight end to pressure Houston's back 7, and keep a safety out of the box all game would have helped.

Still on your crusade claiming that Greg Roman's offense only needs functional receivers Boltnut?

In almost every Harbaugh/Roman offense, you will find the TE is the 2nd option.
I would say that Ladd's 9 receptions for 197 yards was a little better than "functional"...
Draft a WR3 to replace Palmer (missed dearly v Houston)... yes!
Spend $25-30m on a free agent WR... I doubt it.

They gave up on the run game v Houston. 9 carries from Dobbins was hardly "pounding the rock"...
They will always strive to be a balanced offense... it's not my "crusade".
A fresh/healthy Dobbins paired with Hampton would always ensure an effective run game. We saw what happened when JK went down.
They cut both Keenan and MW... then drafted Alt over Nabers. I don't know what else to tell you... sorry...?

[beachcomber]

am afraid there is no such thing as a "healthy" Dobbins, and.... ditto for in the draft, as would surmise that someone like TreVeyon Henderson, and no matter how tempting and talented he might well be.... would guess again that he is closer to a Jason Verrett than not ??

prolly better to bite the bullet in both FA and the draft, and side on the availability/durability quotient before taking the eye candy that could well be riding the pine come the playoffs.... ??

[powderblueboy]

In almost every Harbaugh/Roman offense, you will find the TE is the 2nd option.
I would say that Ladd's 9 receptions for 197 yards was a little better than "functional"...
Draft a WR3 to replace Palmer (missed dearly v Houston)... yes!
Spend $25-30m on a free agent WR... I doubt it.

They gave up on the run game v Houston. 9 carries from Dobbins was hardly "pounding the rock"...
They will always strive to be a balanced offense... it's not my "crusade".
A fresh/healthy Dobbins paired with Hampton would always ensure an effective run game. We saw what happened when JK went down.
They cut both Keenan and MW... then drafted Alt over Nabers. I don't know what else to tell you... sorry...?

I well remember Ladd, and yet Ladd's 197 yards was useless, the others only being functional receivers.
A 2nd option could be a wide out, tight end, even RB .... I'm fine with any one of the three.
A tight end would be fine .... so Loveland over the 1-D Hampton?

JK Dobbins went 9 carries for 26 yards ..... 2.9 ypc against Houston.
Only so long that you are going to stick to that ..... unless your D is shutting out the opponent.

Another 8 carries for 20 yards by Omarion .... where would that had got them?
This world where the Chargers will knock the snot out of opponents by the 4rth quarter pounding the rock,
sounds like the 60s to me.

[powderblueboy]

am afraid there is no such thing as a "healthy" Dobbins, and.... ditto for in the draft, as would surmise that someone like TreVeyon Henderson, and no matter how tempting and talented he might well be.... would guess again that he is closer to a Jason Verrett than not ??

prolly better to bite the bullet in both FA and the draft, and side on the availability/durability quotient before taking the eye candy that could well be riding the pine come the playoffs.... ??

Dobbins was 'healthy' last year.
Yeah, he missed a 4 games .... those things happen.

You can't rely on it, for sure ... you need more than 1 back.
Get the Oline interior settled and stick with Gus/JK ... with a 3rd/4rth rounder brought in .... that might be what they do.

[Steve]

Roman does like to incorporate the TE into the passing game. However, he knows how to scheme things, so that if they find weapons, I think he can figure out how to use them.

The catch is that we just need more offensive production to compliment Ladd. He is the weapon that can get open. So, we need the running game or complimentary receivers to step up and when Ladd is drawing the attention towards him, someone else (or multiple someones) need to pick up the slack.

QJ started to do that as the season went on. Especially the Raiders game. However, Houston was able to get their pass rush going, forced QJ to be used in the quick passing game, which isn't his thing. He is fine on the occasional quick screen, which football people don't consider quick passing. If QJ is going to be a #2 guy, stretching the field which is where he does his best work, we need to give Herbert the time to let QJ get downfield.

As far as TE go, that is a good place to add another receiver. We play as much 2 TE/2 RB offense as any team in football (or close too it). And we had games where we played a lot more 3 WR stuff than I think we wanted. But that TE needs to be a good enough blocker that we can sustain the running game. Only a few elite WR can really beat CB and S consistently. But if defenses are going to try and matchup vs our heavy personnel (21, 22, 12 and 13 personnel) with base or heavy personnel, a good pass catcher would give a matchup advantage ... but only if we can find a TE who block and catch. A receiving only option adds a little bit to the offense. A player who adds some of both adds much more. Dissly added some, but we need at least another option who is similar, and a better receiver would be even better ... but only if they can block to force the matchups.

The other option would be a big WR/TE tweener if they can block well. We need the matchup option, but if we go 3 WR and get teams in nickel and reduce the defensive front, we still have to find a way to blocking done.

And in either case, the highest priority has to be OL. We cannot protect Herbert. We cannot open holes for the RB. Either running or passing, we need to block better.

[Maniaque 6]

Fix the IOL, please !
Give Herby and QJ time.

[Boltnut]

I well remember Ladd, and yet Ladd's 197 yards was useless, the others only being functional receivers.
A 2nd option could be a wide out, tight end, even RB .... I'm fine with any one of the three.
A tight end would be fine .... so Loveland over the 1-D Hampton?

JK Dobbins went 9 carries for 26 yards ..... 2.9 ypc against Houston.
Only so long that you are going to stick to that ..... unless your D is shutting out the opponent.

Another 8 carries for 20 yards by Omarion .... where would that had got them?
This world where the Chargers will knock the snot out of opponents by the 4rth quarter pounding the rock,
sounds like the 60s to me.

Sure... if Loveland is there @#22. My 1st round cluster has always been Loveland, Warren, Hampton, Kaleb Johnson.
It's a BPA kind of thing for me. I just don't see Warren and Loveland being there @#22.

Dobbins 9/26 was an IOL thing. I would fix the IOL via free agency. More bang for your buck than a $25-30m WR.
Has Ortiz ever spent that kind of money on a WR...? Didn't the Ravens trade Hollywood Brown rather than sign him to a 2nd contract?

[21&500]

iirc, Hollywood asked (demanded?) to be traded despite being close with Jackson because he didn't believe he would get enough opportunities in that offense (with Roman/Jackson).

[Boltjolt]

iirc, Hollywood asked (demanded?) to be traded despite being close with Jackson because he didn't believe he would get enough opportunities in that offense (with Roman/Jackson).

Something like that, yes. He wont want to be here either and i for one dont want him anyway.

[beachcomber]

was no fan of drafting QJ, and am not waving any flags on his behalf, and.... Higgins is not head 'n shoulders better than QJ,

[Boltjolt]

was no fan of drafting QJ, and am not waving any flags on his behalf, and.... Higgins is not head 'n shoulders better than QJ,

Agree and i like Higgins but he isnt one that pops for me. Tre Harris didnt pop for me either, but he has good hands.

Its why i like Savions potentual so much. His skills pop for me and potentual as a dual offensive player. I like that he stayed in school the extra year to work on his skills more.

I like Ebuka but he is mainly a slot and we have one. Tez i like but he is such a skinny fuck. Doubt he is blocking anyone and we have Davis already for a small fuck. Golden i like but not thinking we go 1sr round reciever. Royals is another to consider i like.
Nash is from a from a mall school and i really havent watched him yet. Bech is a possesion WR who might struggle a little to begin his rookie year with getting open. Ayomanor is another who i havent seen yet. Restrepo also mostly a slot guy.

Anyone lwatch Tennese WR Donte Thronton? Could be a late round sleeper,.... he is a tall guy 6'5" , 214 guy with speed. he is #220 on PFF but 58th ranked WR of 1041. Going to go watch him soon. Didnt have big production.

Im thinking we likely need to sign a mid tier vet not named Higgins (assuming Palmer and Simi arent back) and hope QJ takes another step and Rice takes a step. Golden may be able to start right away, Savion imma guess will get better as we go.

[beachcomber]

Dont'e Thornton

deep threat w/ability to separate, developmental prototypical X receiver, high ceiling, played w/Bo Nix @Oregon, effective blocker, red zone option, fits in w/playmakers welcome wagon rolled out by big Jim.

injury prone w/injury riddled (hamstring/lower leg) 2023 season, and played thru 2024 knee injury, lacks physicality as blocker, not vacuum suck w/hands, level of comp may be a question, could lack in change of direction/explosion, low/lackluster production, and has been known to have a case of the dropsies.... fifth/six rounder.