Official 2026 Chargers Roster Discussion | Roster Build | Free Agency

[dmac_bolt]

I know we can cherry pick. But if you watch Herbert's first INT in the Texans game, I blame Matlock. The play was a designed roll to Matlock's side and he needed to make his block and totally missed it and chased the defender who hit Herbert as he was trying to throw which resulted in underthrow and the INT. Maybe Matlock can learn the position but does he have the quickness to play it?

Watching Matlock play last year, I came away with the epiphany that there have been a hell of a lot more FBs around 250lb than 300lb for a reason. They also tend to be shorter than 6'4". This is my biggest Q-mark on my Klutz-for-Klotz marketing campaign. the physics of leverage is found low(er) to the ground. its one thing to blast dumb-ass college defenders, most (all?) of those guys he was pancaking on Saturdays last year won't be playing on Sundays.

[dmac_bolt]

I used to wonder why Lo Neal would sometimes miss his blocks. Like bad. Then I learned defenders were avoiding him.

lol.

No player is successful on every play, at any position. And to be fair to Lo, he hit more defenders than most FBs. if you make the defender run far enough to a side, it can work the same as a block. I don't think the success rates of Lo and Matlock are comparable but thats just a hunch - I have no data.

[sonorajim]

Watching Matlock play last year, I came away with the epiphany that there have been a hell of a lot more FBs around 250lb than 300lb for a reason. They also tend to be shorter than 6'4". This is my biggest Q-mark on my Klutz-for-Klotz marketing campaign. the physics of leverage is found low(er) to the ground. its one thing to blast dumb-ass college defenders, most (all?) of those guys he was pancaking on Saturdays last year won't be playing on Sundays.

Min CJ Ham, 5-11 250, 49ers Kyle Juszczyk 6-2, 235, Sea Robbie Ouzts 6-3, 274, Bills Reggie Gilliam 6-0, 244, Mia Alec Ingold 6-1, 232,
Ravens Patrick Ricard 6-3, 300, Hou Jakob Johnson 6-3, 255, Den Michael Burton 5-11, 242, KC Carson Steele 6-0, 228,
LAC Scott Matlock 6-4, 296.

Ravens Ricard does well at roughly Matlock's size. IMO it's about the individual and how well he fits the coaching scheme.
I have no objection to any Chargers FB candidate in training camp. If Roman wants one, may his choice be gifted at his role.

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

Here is a lengthy collection of Klotz plays.

He definitely blows up smaller or equal sized players.

He (holds) tackles well, 😀 looks to be a ST demon.

Plays with force!

[dmac_bolt]

Min CJ Ham, 5-11 250, 49ers Kyle Juszczyk 6-2, 235, Sea Robbie Ouzts 6-3, 274, Bills Reggie Gilliam 6-0, 244, Mia Alec Ingold 6-1, 232,
Ravens Patrick Ricard 6-3, 300, Hou Jakob Johnson 6-3, 255, Den Michael Burton 5-11, 242, KC Carson Steele 6-0, 228,
LAC Scott Matlock 6-4, 296.

Ravens Ricard does well at roughly Matlock's size. IMO it's about the individual and how well he fits the coaching scheme.
I have no objection to any Chargers FB candidate in training camp. If Roman wants one, may his choice be gifted at his role.

yeah, Ricard stands out as the only effective FB at that weight. it sounds like a logical theory to me that a 250 lb will be better at moving in space and adjusting to fast-moving defenders, all other things equal. FBs tend to have more space to close on defenders more often (or so the second half of my theory assumes).

I am sure that if the average 300 lb DT athlete was better at FB than the average 250-ish FB athlete as we have known them, we would have seen a lot more 300 lb FBs a long time ago.

[sonorajim]

yeah, Ricard stands out as the only effective FB at that weight. it sounds like a logical theory to me that a 250 lb will be better at moving in space and adjusting to fast-moving defenders, all other things equal. FBs tend to have more space to close on defenders more often (or so the second half of my theory assumes).

I am sure that if the average 300 lb DT athlete was better at FB than the average 250-ish FB athlete as we have known them, we would have seen a lot more 300 lb FBs a long time ago.

Yep. I don't think Roman and Harbaugh are thinking average. I agree about probability. I look forward to seeing what the coaches choose to do.

[Formula 21]

Does Jalen Ramsey give us an extra game in the win column? Does an extra game in the win column allow us to take the division?

I’m sure someone is running 10000 simulations somewhere to see what effect he has on the W/L column.

Job 1 is to win the division.

[sonorajim]

Here is a lengthy collection of Klotz plays.

He definitely blows up smaller or equal sized players.

He (holds) tackles well, 😀 looks to be a ST demon.

Plays with force!

Looks good!

[Boltinloudguy]

Here is a lengthy collection of Klotz plays.

He definitely blows up smaller or equal sized players.

He (holds) tackles well, 😀 looks to be a ST demon.

Plays with force!

I think Klotz replaces Fisk next year. Place him on the PS to develop more, then boom, you got Fisk’s replacement.

[Boltinloudguy]

Bold prediction for me this year, Tuli has 13+ sacks. With his reduced snap count on ST, he will have more energy to put into his pass rushes.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Bold prediction for me this year, Tuli has 13+ sacks. With his reduced snap count on ST, he will have more energy to put into his pass rushes.

I hope you're right. I love Tuli, but have always seen him as a 'Robin', not a 'Batman'. If Tuli rachets his game up a level or two, that would be a great thing for the defense. How Kyle Kennard plays will also impact Tuli's game.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

I think Klotz replaces Fisk next year. Place him on the PS to develop more, then boom, you got Fisk’s replacement.

In the film clip, Klotz puts the man he's assigned to block on his BACK 80% of the time.

He doesn't HAVE TO put defenders on their backs in order to achieve his purpose: he just has to prevent them from making the tackle, or from getting to a particular lane.

Considering that Klotz will be going up against a considerably higher caliber of competition in the NFL, his pancake ratio will undoubtedly decrease. But that doesn't mean he can't be effective. Pancaking defenders isn't the goal, after all, preventing the runner from being tackled *IS* the goal.

Klotz obviously possesses the necessary 'love of contact' to get the job done. Can't wait to see him in preseason games.