Jake Slaughter, C/G, Florida (R2 #63)

[sonorajim]

Besides Pipkins, I don’t think we had one backup worth a damn last year.

Joe Alt got injured in the first quarter of the 4th game. Chargers were 3-0 up to that point and then lost to the Giants and their rookie QB.

The Offense was putting up okay numbers at 21.6 PPG up until then but the offense really fell apart once the OL needed substitutes.

Oline injuries across the league were quite common last year. We have the Jake Slaughter and other threads just focusing concerned on who the starters will be but I’ll be the first to say, injuries are almost a certainty along the OL and it will be depth of players that will matter as much as the starters.

Hortiz brought in a lot of fresh competition. I’m sure he was thinking the same thing. Obviously the starters look better this season but just as importantly, the bar needs to be raised on the backups. Last year was an utter failure in that regard.

Depth is always key and becomes a desperate need if you need it and don't have it. Last year was pretty extreme on OL, compounded by lousy C- RG starters and a mediocre LG starter. Currently we have 16 OL competing for 8-9 roster slots. There will be depth and they will have roughly 12 weeks experience training in McDaniel's wide zone OL concepts as Chargers OL. The OL will be better than last year. Starters and Depth.

[electricgold]

If you had to give Hortiz a letter grade these first two seasons on what he's done as a GM in regard to our Oline he gets an F!

hopefully this season at the very least he gets a B!

[sonorajim]

If you had to give Hortiz a letter grade these first two seasons on what he's done as a GM in regard to our Oline he gets an F!

hopefully this season at the very least he gets a B!

I wouldn't go lower than a D for a GM that drafted elite OT Alt. Or attempting improvement with SB winning starting RG Becton. I'm tempted though. Bozeman is not quality C and should have been replaced last offseason.
This season depends on McDaniels and staff successfully installing his wide zone blocking concepts. Our LT-C-RT get high grades from outside observers and there are decent candidates for OG starters and overall OL depth. It'll be on McD and Co. Hortiz has done his job.

[Boltnut]

I wouldn't go lower than a D for a GM that drafted elite OT Alt. Or attempting improvement with SB winning starting RG Becton. I'm tempted though. Bozeman is not quality C and should have been replaced last offseason.
This season depends on McDaniels and staff successfully installing his wide zone blocking concepts. Our LT-C-RT get high grades from outside observers and there are decent candidates for OG starters and overall OL depth. It'll be on McD and Co. Hortiz has done his job.

Hortiz gets an A+ for drafting Joe Alt... it was an unpopular pick but he made the right choice.
Bradley Bozeman (62.2) gets a D grade from me. He was an upgrade from Will Clapp (56.7). There were no other power/gap centers available.
I give the Becton signing a C even though he played so poorly. He was replacing Trey Pipkins (49.7) with Becton (75.2). Sometimes, you have to expect players to take responsibility for their poor performances. I also give credit to Hortiz for allowing a relative cheap out of Becton's contract in the 2nd year. Given the circumstances, I can't see giving him less than a C- for his choices in 2024/2025.

When you look at what Hortiz was handed... not just along the OL... the overall roster... and compare it to what they have today, he gets a solid B+.

[Maniaque 6]

According to Lindy's Football, the battle for LG will be between Slaughter and Penning
They see Awosika as depth at both guard spots
I thought it was between Slaughter and Awosika for the LG spot
And I saw Penning as depth materiel OL

[dmac_bolt]

I keep forgetting if it’s Awosika or Awisoka. no need to post … I know at the moment.

I’m like the guy who’s got a question: is it Pet Smart, or is it Pets Mart?

To answer the Q of the Day: Joe got an F for OL last year. 32 is 32, ain’t no bell curve wide enough to pull that up to a D. He got a D+ the year before. Before this year he made one great move (Alt) and every other move sucked. The next two best OL players on the team after 2 years were carryover backups from TT (Slater and Salyer). if you get one question right on your final, you got an F. I see solid B planning for 2026 … remote chance for an A if coaches can get them to outperform a bit.

[dmac_bolt]

According to Lindy's Football, the battle for LG will be between Slaughter and Penning
They see Awosika as depth at both guard spots
I thought it was between Slaughter and Awosika for the LG spot
And I saw Penning as depth materiel OL

The Triple Lindy!

[DerwinBosa]

Hortiz gets an A+ for drafting Joe Alt... it was an unpopular pick but he made the right choice.
Bradley Bozeman (62.2) gets a D grade from me. He was an upgrade from Will Clapp (56.7). There were no other power/gap centers available.
I give the Becton signing a C even though he played so poorly. He was replacing Trey Pipkins (49.7) with Becton (75.2). Sometimes, you have to expect players to take responsibility for their poor performances. I also give credit to Hortiz for allowing a relative cheap out of Becton's contract in the 2nd year. Given the circumstances, I can't see giving him less than a C- for his choices in 2024/2025.

When you look at what Hortiz was handed... not just along the OL... the overall roster... and compare it to what they have today, he gets a solid B+.

I'd give Hortiz an F if he drafted Emmanuel Pregnon in the second round.

[Boltnut]

I'd give Hortiz an F if he drafted Emmanuel Pregnon in the second round.

No worries... all of the Pod Jockies would have cancelled out your "F" with their endless praise and meaningless "A" grades.

[sonorajim]

According to Lindy's Football, the battle for LG will be between Slaughter and Penning
They see Awosika as depth at both guard spots
I thought it was between Slaughter and Awosika for the LG spot
And I saw Penning as depth materiel OL

I agree with you. I'd guess that the Lindy writer is going '26 2nd rd pick vs vet 1st rder vs UDFA vet. They had to get the issue ready for print not long ago