Welcome Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (R1, Pick 22)

[ChargerTrader]

There are several very positive draft reviews about this pick for the Chargers and how he will improve our offensive play.

[Steve]

Hampton not only carried the load for N CAR last year for almost 1700 yards, but he caught 38 passes last year alone. 30 the year before. The dude can do it all.

They run that shuffle pass thing to him, so it's a qualified 30+ catch season. UNC didn't ask him to catch passes downfield. A lot of college teams don't. Two of the best receiving RB of all times (LT and Rodger Craig) were not a big part of their college offenses passing game. It's doesn't necessarily mean Hampton can't be, just that he never was used that way.

But I don't see it is any kind of a problem. First, I think Hampton is athletic enough to be a good receiver. Again Rodger Craig, LT and many others were underutlized in college and it has little to do with them.

It's also worth remembering that we don't really use our RB as receivers. They go out a few yards, turn around and stop for the simple checkdowns. We stretch the field with the WR and when teams are dropping deep in zones, those checkdowns are easy yards. A few screen passes and an occasional swing passes just force the D to defend the whole field.

They count as passes in the stat sheet, but they are not running downfield routes attacking the D underneath like Ronnie Harmon, Ekeler, or Sproles did in their primes. The more offenses try and force their RB to do all that, the more it takes away from other things. There is only so much time in the day and practice time is strictly regulated.

Hampton mostly just needs to focus on pass protection so we can get him on the field without telegraphing that he is just there to run the ball.

Harris is probably going to be the guy to wear down defenses and sustain the offense and keep the chains moving. Then we bring in Hampton and give him good carries late, and his explosiveness and being hard to tackle him late in the game (tired D vs fresh back) is going to make him a nice chess piece guy for a year or two until he takes over as the featured RB.

[La Costa Boy]

I really never thought he would be there for us. Almost every mock I remember had the Donkeys taking him at 20. I also remember a lot of chatter about how that would suck for us if they did........LOTS of it. He's a Bolt now and I could not be happier. The only other guy still on the board that I was pining for was Pearce. I love his highlight tape not so much for the runs, but for the safety valve short passes AND that shovel pass that NC used a lot. You know that Herbert is going to look there while checking down. Solid guy, solid pick.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

I didn't know Means was his coach! That's in I'm all in!

[northerner]

I really never thought he would be there for us. Almost every mock I remember had the Donkeys taking him at 20. I also remember a lot of chatter about how that would suck for us if they did........LOTS of it. He's a Bolt now and I could not be happier. The only other guy still on the board that I was pining for was Pearce. I love his highlight tape not so much for the runs, but for the safety valve short passes AND that shovel pass that NC used a lot. You know that Herbert is going to look there while checking down. Solid guy, solid pick.

i really couldn't feel it in the draft thread here, but there must have been alarms going off in the chargers draft room when Denver passed on Hampton.

[powderblueboy]

i really couldn't feel it in the draft thread here, but there must have been alarms going off in the chargers draft room when Denver passed on Hampton.

Charger draft room sure looked subdued ... I would guess their guys were just picked.

A solid pick .... the offense was stagnant when dobbins went down - so now they can focus elsewhere.
Wish he was a better compliment to Najee: not thrilled about him as a receiving option.

Since Harris will be gone soon, a good pick .... buts proof.

[ShockNAwe]

Charger draft room sure looked subdued ... I would guess their guys were just picked.

A solid pick .... the offense was stagnant when dobbins went down - so now they can focus elsewhere.
Wish he was a better compliment to Najee: not thrilled about him as a receiving option.

Since Harris will be gone soon, a good pick.

I agree there was tension in that room. Then it was almost like they instructed the GM to just turn in the pick.

Def weird.

[perryao]

They run that shuffle pass thing to him, so it's a qualified 30+ catch season. UNC didn't ask him to catch passes downfield. A lot of college teams don't. Two of the best receiving RB of all times (LT and Rodger Craig) were not a big part of their college offenses passing game. It's doesn't necessarily mean Hampton can't be, just that he never was used that way.

But I don't see it is any kind of a problem. First, I think Hampton is athletic enough to be a good receiver. Again Rodger Craig, LT and many others were underutlized in college and it has little to do with them.

It's also worth remembering that we don't really use our RB as receivers. They go out a few yards, turn around and stop for the simple checkdowns. We stretch the field with the WR and when teams are dropping deep in zones, those checkdowns are easy yards. A few screen passes and an occasional swing passes just force the D to defend the whole field.

They count as passes in the stat sheet, but they are not running downfield routes attacking the D underneath like Ronnie Harmon, Ekeler, or Sproles did in their primes. The more offenses try and force their RB to do all that, the more it takes away from other things. There is only so much time in the day and practice time is strictly regulated.

Hampton mostly just needs to focus on pass protection so we can get him on the field without telegraphing that he is just there to run the ball.

Harris is probably going to be the guy to wear down defenses and sustain the offense and keep the chains moving. Then we bring in Hampton and give him good carries late, and his explosiveness and being hard to tackle him late in the game (tired D vs fresh back) is going to make him a nice chess piece guy for a year or two until he takes over as the featured RB.

You may have a point, his average depth of reception was -1.5. However, he averaged 9.8 yards gained per reception. Average gain for an NFL RB was 7.59 (can't find depth). I think you're being a little debbie downerish here. Even JH and JO mentioned the number of receptions as a plus in post draft interviews. I think they are confident his pass passing skills will translate to the NFL.

Btw, he's noted as being excellent at pass pro.

[perryao]

Heard a clip from Micah Parson's (Cowboys) draft podcast. When they selected the Olineman in the first round, he said he was happy but he wanted "Omarion". haha.

[electricgold]

Our backfield is now solidified! Now its on to the TE, OL, and WR position!

[Eurobolt]

Do not love it do not hate it.

Fact is that we tried to trade down.

Let's nail day 2.

[ChargerTrader]

I went to bed grumpy about this pick, but feeling better about it today, lmao.