Official 2025 Chargers Discussion | 2025 Roster Build | In-Season

[Whydachargers?]

Are you guys judging Vidal - didn’t he run behind that PS garbage line too? I prefer Sanders in absolute terms but I don’t think there’s all that much difference to worry about.

Blocking was non-existent. No.

[Fouts2herbert]

Sanders seemed to be a less-agile Hampton, Najee, or Haskins.
Amar Johnson or Keilan Robinson (guys they brought in for a workout yesterday) seem like guys that can offer something more versatile/agile than Sanders (or the RB's already on the 53-man roster).

Keilan doesn't fit the mold in LA, he's tiny and drops the second a defender breathes on him, he would strictly be a 3rd down back assuming he can pass pro...he would offer some kick return ability tho...

[Fouts2herbert]

At first all I saw with Campbell was his good speed, good size, young age and excellent contested catch ability - at least for sure down the sidelines. On the surface all of that seemed enough to keep him on the roster. BUT then I asked myself what possible reason would the Chargers have for letting him go? I came up with the possibility that he does not show good burst or quickness off the line - at least compared to the rest of our WR's. And that was confirmed in a way by powderblueboy with his post on Campbell's RAC numbers. I see quickness off the line and keeping that quickness into your route (through cuts or change of direction) as the most important characteristic for our WRs to possess. Because Justin has a very limited time window to release the ball to his receivers due to our o-line's porous protection. So Campbell became a luxury for us. One we couldn't afford with six WRs already rostered. I think some team with a good pass-blocking o-line (I'm not sure the Panthers have that) will end up very happy they have Campbell on their team. He could turn into a Mike Williams in his prime type of WR in such a situation. But with MORE speed!

a LOT of guys could turn into somebody, most of them don't, if he goes on to be the next Mike Williams then he'll become the latest version of Wes Welker on these forums...difference is that in this regimes defense, this WR room is stacked compared to the one they had when they tried to sneak Welker thru waivers...

[CanadianBoltFan]

Are you guys judging Vidal - didn’t he run behind that PS garbage line too? I prefer Sanders in absolute terms but I don’t think there’s all that much difference to worry about.

Not a fan of Vidal, nothing overy impressive about him, but I was really pointing out the abysmal back up o line performance because Rocket's 3.6 ave was being judged. He at least did have some good runs where he showed burst and good cutting ability. Didnt see any of that from Vidal.

Vidal has one great wheel route TD on broken coverage and has showed nothig else, couldnt even pass block good enough to get on the field last year.

[dmac_bolt]

The Rams and the Chargers were the hardest hit teams on the waiver wire, that statistic that 2.6 percent of guys get claimed per year came at a disproportionate expense of those two teams this year...having great scouting and coaching is a blessing not a curse...It has been written about by people outside this forum and it has been discussed by folks in the podcast media that Fickens finger prints are all over the final roster cuts, and it stands to reason because Ficken lives and breathes off of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4rth string players to fill out his special teams unit, it makes sense that of course he's going to have some say on which reserves better serve the special teams unit...it's not consipiracy theory, some coaches and GMs appreciate and understand the importance of special teams and I think Hortiz and Harbaugh belong in that group...

I appreciate special teams too, but it still burns a bit to lose a guy like Rocket, If I knew what to expect from Najee it would almost be a non issue for me much like the big receiver that the Panthers claimed, our WR group is so strong I don't give a shit about losing that one, and they still have Raegor on PS too...Ficken is in a place where his opinion is respected and listened to, that's a good thing, I like Ficken and I'm glad he finally fixed our fucked up STs units, I'm just venting about losing Rocket...there are clubs out there that treat their STs coaches like scrubs...Staley did a lot of stupid shit during his tenure, but bringing in Mack and hiring Ficken away from Minnesota were some of the rare highlights of his time as HC...

I expect Jim asks for input from all of his staff on which of the fringe players have the highest development potential, which might be most important if there are injuries, and which could contribute most to ST. No doubt Fickens is part of the discussion and sometimes a ST need will rise as more important.

I just think some posts are way overblown, a few state Fickens basically holds the entire FO leadership hostage to his demands for ST players and I just highly doubt he has that much clout or veto power. HC’s like good ST play too.

[dmac_bolt]

Not a fan of Vidal, nothing overy impressive about him, but I was really pointing out the abysmal back up o line performance because Rocket's 3.6 ave was being judged. He at least did have some good runs where he showed burst and good cutting ability. Didnt see any of that from Vidal.

Vidal has one great wheel route TD on broken coverage and has showed nothig else, couldnt even pass block good enough to get on the field last year.

I’m not a huge Vidal fan either, he’s JAG imo. We’re parsing fine to get excited about the difference between the two is my only point - neither matter much in the big scheme of things. Sanders basically had two big runs against scrubs that are not on rosters. thats kind of like one big wheel route except that wheel route actually was against starting NFL players.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I’m not a huge Vidal fan either, he’s JAG imo. We’re parsing fine to get excited about the difference between the two is my only point - neither matter much in the big scheme of things. Sanders basically had two big runs against scrubs that are not on rosters. thats kind of like one big wheel route except that wheel route actually was against starting NFL players.

Lol and I counter that Vidal made one play in 1+ years. Rocket had about 20 carries behind scrubs of the worst order

[Boltjolt]

The world will go on without Rocket but I am going to have to push back on using the 3.6 rush ave as any sort of statement. The perfomance and blocking of the back up o line he ran behind was atrocious, I mean so bad that you could not fairly judge any skill position player trying to make the team.

Vidal was 2.8

Sanders last 2 seasons in college his YPC was 3.4 and 4.8.
Not good numbers in college. He had slow agility numbers at the combine when he weighed 217...as well as his 40 of 4.46, which.... Isn't as important as the others. Vision also comes into play.

To me he looked better than I thought he would in preseason but he didn't do anything great. Looked better than Vidal for sure but evidently practice matters a lot for the coaches as well.

[21&500]

Someone mentioned that Rocket might get cut when the Junkins situation resolves,
I'm still hoping Rocket somehow ends up back here at some point.
keeping an eye on Trevor Keegan in Dallas too.
Speaking f Dallas, I just realized, that game suddenly got a lot more winnable.
No excuse for losing at Dallas.

[Topcat]

It used to be that my main function here was to watch copious amounts of draft prospects tape... and give advice about draft prospects.

More and more I feel that Job#1 is coaxing people away from the edge. I'm glad you feel better now.

Special teams is really important...apparently, the Bolt brass saw a slight dropoff between Haskins and Rocket...maybe pass pro and/or blocking?

[CanadianBoltFan]

Sanders last 2 seasons in college his YPC was 3.4 and 4.8.
Not good numbers in college. He had slow agility numbers at the combine when he weighed 217.

To me he looked better than I thought he would in preseason but he didn't do anything great. Looked better than Vidal for sure but evidently practice matters a lot for the coaches as well.

6.5 in 2022 when he was heathy and one of the best RBs in NCAA....2023 knee and shoulder injuries that limited him to 6 games...last year started to get healthy and find his game again

I agree he didnt do anything special in pre season but not sure if that can be expected behind Barnhart and the other scrubs that couldnt block shit. I also agree we can live without him but I do think the Chargers wanted to keep him on PS and werent thrilled to lose him.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Special teams is really important...apparently, the Bolt brass saw a slight dropoff between Haskins and Rocket...maybe pass pro and/or blocking?

Haskins ran better in pre season than he usually does I have to admit.. He is usally a plodder that remains for special teams. He earned his spot and the coaches like him.

Have to say though I never get why Money Smith says we need to keep him for short yardage to get those 1-2 yards and pass pro. Really? We have a 240 lb Najee Harris and a 220 lb bruiser in Hampton, who are both above average in pass pro. I am fine with Haskins on the team just not sure why Money goes on about that value. Hampton is a geat receiver with explosion. Do we want that game breaking off the field on 3rd downs for Hassan Haskins?

Haskins is just a solid guy that does nothing spectacular but coaches like.