Official 2025 Chargers Discussion | 2025 Roster Build | Free Agency and Draft

[CanadianBoltFan]

If you're going to trade anyone for something, it should be for iOL starter.
we have to get Gus going and that will help weapons get open.

Gus actually needs to cede carries to Vidal or someone else brought in

[Topcat]

Gus actually needs to cede carries to Vidal or someone else brought in

I'd like to see Vidal activated...let's see what the kid can do...and we don't necessarily need to ahem, throw Gus under the Bus...

[sonorajim]

We're not exactly world class run blockers. There have been moments where we were good but not against Pit or KC. Block for him and Gus will get his 4 ypc avg and a little better once in awhile. JK is the real deal.

I like Vidal but IMO Harbaugh and Roman know what they're doing. I can wait if they can.

[sonorajim]

If you're going to trade anyone for something, it should be for iOL starter.
we have to get Gus going and that will help weapons get open.

Blocking needs to improve. Gus and JK fell off the map. Not good. We can do better vs Den with the team we have.

Harbaugh and Roman need to do a better job of coaching TEAM blocking. Too many guys not engaged when a ball carrier is underway. There should be some deception involved to get the D out of position but when we're running there should be eight blockers. We want to out-physical the other team? Herbert gets a pass but the rest of the O should be hitting some D when we run. WRs, TEs put a DB or LB on the ground when Gus / JK have the ball. No more of this foo-foo nice guy crap. Some KC A-hole shoved Q in the back and face planted him. What's OK for them is just as good for us. Knock somebody down every run play, thank you.

[Velo]

For an offense that wants to prioritize running the ball, it is not well equipped at RB. Besides Dobbins, the RBs they've chosen to have no juice. Edwards is averaging 3 ypc on 38 totes. Haskins has 11 yds on 3 carries. He does play a lot of ST snaps though. Edwards only got 6 touches and played 25 percent of snaps v the Chiefs. Maybe that's a sign they're going to change it up at RB.

[CanadianBoltFan]

For an offense that wants to prioritize running the ball, it is not well equipped at RB. Besides Dobbins, the RBs they've chosen to have no juice. Edwards is averaging 3 ypc on 38 totes. Haskins has 11 yds on 3 carries. He does play a lot of ST snaps though. Edwards only got 6 touches and played 25 percent of snaps v the Chiefs. Maybe that's a sign they're going to change it up at RB.

Gus has been a pretty good committee 2 down back over his career in Balitimore but he is 29 and yes doesnt appear to have tons of juice.

I was ok with the signing, but frankly surprised going into the season some were referring to him as a bell cow or our #1 back. That is not what he is or has ever been. Not the slightest bit surpised Dobbins took over in no time, he did that over Gus twice in Baltimore already. Injuries are the only thing that have ever stopped Dobbins, far better player.

Some of these signings Gus, Hurst, Dissly, were ok on a budget but the lack of playmaking talent on our offense is glaring on Sundays. Now Chark is being talked about as the answer. Hope so but he has had one good season in the NFL and it was 4 years ago.

For an offense that prioritizes running the ball they need to hit this stacked RB draft class hard in April.

[21&500]

Gus actually needs to cede carries to Vidal or someone else brought in

Sure but idk if Vidal would be any more successful with that interior.
either way, I agree that we need to know what Vidal can do. It's not like Gus' production is forcing Roman to feed him.

[Velo]

Gus has been a pretty good committee 2 down back over his career in Balitimore but he is 29 and yes doesnt appear to have tons of juice.

I was ok with the signing, but frankly surprised going into the season some were referring to him as a bell cow or our #1 back. That is not what he is or has ever been. Not the slightest bit surpised Dobbins took over in no time, he did that over Gus twice in Baltimore already. Injuries are the only thing that have ever stopped Dobbins, far better player.

He had an ACL tear just before the 2021 season began. He didn't return until the 2nd half of the 2022 season. He averaged 5.0 ypc on 87 carries in 9 games in 2022, but his ypc declined to 4.1 in 2023, the first time he averaged under 5.0 ypc for a season. The Ravens opted to let him walk in favor of Derrick Henry. I don't know, it does seem like Gus lacks burst.

[CanadianBoltFan]

He had an ACL tear just before the 2021 season began. He didn't return until the 2nd half of the 2022 season. He averaged 5.0 ypc on 87 carries in 9 games in 2022, but his ypc declined to 4.1 in 2023, the first time he averaged under 5.0 ypc for a season. The Ravens opted to let him walk in favor of Derrick Henry. I don't know, it does seem like Gus lacks burst.

I know he has had a good ave per carry in Baltimore, solid player. But it was always in a limited carry sample size and I believe enhanced by sharing the bsckfield with the threat of the best running QB in NFL history.

[Velo]

Sure but idk if Vidal would be any more successful with that interior.
either way, I agree that we need to know what Vidal can do. It's not like Gus' production is forcing Roman to feed him.

I don't know, it might be the situation for Vidal. Edwards seems to need bigger holes to run through. Dobbins is able to burst through smaller openings, maybe Vidal can too. Vidal is shorter in stature, but he's not a small back at 218 lbs. He's the same weight as Dobbins and LT and some 15-20 lbs heavier than Ekeler.

I suspect one reason they have not been activating him is that his blocking/blitz pickup is not up to par, which is often the case with rookie RBs.

Here he is in the preseason v the Rams.

Kimani Vidal Preseason Week 2 Replay: Every Run, Target, and Catch vs Los Angeles Rams

[jamrock]

I don't know, it might be the situation for Vidal. Edwards seems to need bigger holes to run through. Dobbins is able to burst through smaller openings, maybe Vidal can too. Vidal is shorter in stature, but he's not a small back at 218 lbs. He's the same weight as Dobbins and LT and some 15-20 lbs heavier than Ekeler.

I suspect one reason they have not been activating him is that his blocking/blitz pickup is not up to par, which is often the case with rookie RBs.

Here he is in the preseason v the Rams.

Kimani Vidal Preseason Week 2 Replay: Every Run, Target, and Catch vs Los Angeles Rams

This illustrates the central problem with our offense and maybe construction of the team. The guys that are paid to block are not doing a good job and the guys we need to make plays are judged more by blocking ability.

Antonio Gates would not be able to play for this team.

[Highboltage]

Bozeman is the problem. Linsley at his peak has this line protecting and playing far better. Bozeman is not just a poor blocker, but he makes poor line reads and poor protection calls -- and the latter is mostly felt in pass protection. A really good center on this team improves pass protection mightily. Bozeman may be fine for the run game, but he is seriously lacking in the passing game.

I remember when we went thru 4 centers and the line was a mess, Rivers took over the line calls and suddenly they were serviceable.