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Unlike20 1 3, Chargers losses appear minor
By Tom Krasovic 04:21p.m. Apr 3, 2014
Departures are part of every NFL team's offseason. Some losses sting more than others. Others are addition by subtraction.
Last June, I wrote of Louis Vasquez and Shaun Phillips as the Chargers' only significant losses within a massive exodus last offseason. I doubt the Chargers had a chance of retaining Vasquez, but I still maintain they could've brought back Phillips cheaply.
How much they would've helped the Chargers is unknown, but the two sure helped the Broncos: Vasquez, one year into a $23.5 million deal, was a first-team All-Pro at right guard; Phillips outperformed his $1 million salary by leading Denver in sacks, four of them coming in three games versus San Diego.
This offseason, the Chargers are having better luck on the debit side of the ledger. I don't see any worrisome departures to date or to come. Let's take a closer look:
Ronnie Brown: He gave the Chargers a B+ season in 2012. He was useful last year, but looked like he lost some footspeed. Donald Brown, signed in March to replace him, is much faster along with being more than five years younger. Brown lockered next to Ryan Mathews and was a wise, encouraging presence, Mathews said. The 230-pounder was a forceful blocker and even played fullback for the first time since his Auburn career.
Bottom line: Running back is a young man's position. Donald Brown, who will turn 27, is a well-rounded performer himself. Next fall he should pose far more trouble for defenses than Ronnie Brown would at age 32. I think Ronnie Brown would be a promising scout, coach or media analyst.
Le'Ron McClain: He provided pretty good blocking and decent returns as a short-yardage runner after he lost 15 pounds and earned a roster spot, despite the new coaching staff's seemingly light regard for the fullback position. McClain, savvy, tough and enthusiastic, was one of numerous effective leaders. Now, the 29-year-old seems near the end. Like Ronnie Brown, he is an unsigned free agent.
Bottom line: The Chargers don't seem to have much use for fullbacks. Newcomer David Johnson, formerly of the Steelers, is a tight end who has lined up at fullback at times. On the roster is 250-pound fullback Zach Boren, 22. He went undrafted out of Ohio State. Boren's success in the Big 10 as an emergency, run-stuffing linebacker could add to his appeal.
Derek Cox: The Chargers were better on defense after they benched Cox and replaced him with Richard Marshall, whom they have resigned.
Bottom line: It made sense to give Cox, 27, a new start. The Vikings signed him to a one-year deal for $780,000.
Bront Bird: His chances of making the team look iffy entering training camp, but after Manti Te'o and Jonas Mouton were injured and D.J. Smith lagged in his comeback from knee surgery, Bird gained a roster spot and started on Opening Night. He made a few plays, such as when he stopped the Texans' Arian Foster on a short-yardage try, but Reggie Walker started over him in Game 2. Tom Telesco's signing of Kavell Conner, a former Colts starter, coincided with the Chargers not offering Bird a contract for 2014.
Bottom line: Bird was energetic but limited. Conner is faster, more agile and far more experienced. If Te'o needs a replacement, Conner may have the chops for it.
Cam Thomas: The Steelers signed him to a two-year contract for $5 million. Good for Thomas, whose bulk may play better in the rugged AFC North. He opened last season as the primary starter for the first time in his four-year career and made an interception on Opening Night, off Jarret Johnson's deflection of a Matt Schaub pass. On occasion, he won off a first move, sometimes with power, other times with lateral quickness or by shooting a gap. He never seized the job, however, and Sean Lissmore became the starter in Week 13. Blockers knocked Thomas upright with frequency. Too often, he lacked a counter move.
Bottom line: Lissemore, smaller but quicker and more energetic, was the better performer in 2013, although it remains to be seen if he can weather starter's snaps at such as demanding position.
Johnny Patrick: Patrick, a slot cornerback claimed from the Saints last offseason, was one of the team's feistier defenders in the season's first three months. made a key strip in Game 2 of Nate Washington, the Titans No. 1 receiver. He outplayed Wes Welker in Game 9. Staying on the field was a problem for Patrick, who suffered several head injuries and a chest injury. The repeated setbacks may have dulled his game. Ultimately, an ankle injury ended his season with four games to go.
Bottom line: The defense fared much better after Patrick's final injury led John Pagano to move Marcus Gilchrist to slot cornerback, his former position. At the same time, the linebacking corps benefited from the return of Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram. If healthy, Patrick may be better off with the Jets, who have a strong defensive line.
Charlie Whitehurst: Philip Rivers said he benefited from the in-game feedback of Whitehurst, a good friend. Whitehurst, the son of former NFL quarterback David Whitehurst, had a rapport as well with several linemen and pass-catchers, with whom he worked in preseason games and practices. He was an effective scout team performer who had enough footspeed to simulate a decent zone-read option.
Bottom line: This looks like an even exchange: Whitehurst joined Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee, and the Chargers replaced him with Kellen Clemens, who started nine games with the Rams last year.
In limbo
Rich Ohrnberger: He was another low-cost addition of Telesco's who panned out. Ohrnberger's knowledge of New England's no-huddle system seemed to translate to Whisenhunt's offense, and his guard-center versatility paid off in several games. He slugged it out against larger, faster opponents, but you don't want him out there too often. Cowboys starter Jason Hatcher got past him to hit Rivers and cause a pick-6 in Game 4, but with Nick Hardwick starting 18 games the Chargers were able to not overexpose Ohrnberger. He did fine work after replacing Hardwick one quarter into the Wild Card game at Cincinnati.
Bottom line: The door isn't shut to Ohrnberger, 28. Regardless, the Chargers are in the market for a draftee who can play guard and center.
By Tom Krasovic 04:21p.m. Apr 3, 2014
Departures are part of every NFL team's offseason. Some losses sting more than others. Others are addition by subtraction.
Last June, I wrote of Louis Vasquez and Shaun Phillips as the Chargers' only significant losses within a massive exodus last offseason. I doubt the Chargers had a chance of retaining Vasquez, but I still maintain they could've brought back Phillips cheaply.
How much they would've helped the Chargers is unknown, but the two sure helped the Broncos: Vasquez, one year into a $23.5 million deal, was a first-team All-Pro at right guard; Phillips outperformed his $1 million salary by leading Denver in sacks, four of them coming in three games versus San Diego.
This offseason, the Chargers are having better luck on the debit side of the ledger. I don't see any worrisome departures to date or to come. Let's take a closer look:
Ronnie Brown: He gave the Chargers a B+ season in 2012. He was useful last year, but looked like he lost some footspeed. Donald Brown, signed in March to replace him, is much faster along with being more than five years younger. Brown lockered next to Ryan Mathews and was a wise, encouraging presence, Mathews said. The 230-pounder was a forceful blocker and even played fullback for the first time since his Auburn career.
Bottom line: Running back is a young man's position. Donald Brown, who will turn 27, is a well-rounded performer himself. Next fall he should pose far more trouble for defenses than Ronnie Brown would at age 32. I think Ronnie Brown would be a promising scout, coach or media analyst.
Le'Ron McClain: He provided pretty good blocking and decent returns as a short-yardage runner after he lost 15 pounds and earned a roster spot, despite the new coaching staff's seemingly light regard for the fullback position. McClain, savvy, tough and enthusiastic, was one of numerous effective leaders. Now, the 29-year-old seems near the end. Like Ronnie Brown, he is an unsigned free agent.
Bottom line: The Chargers don't seem to have much use for fullbacks. Newcomer David Johnson, formerly of the Steelers, is a tight end who has lined up at fullback at times. On the roster is 250-pound fullback Zach Boren, 22. He went undrafted out of Ohio State. Boren's success in the Big 10 as an emergency, run-stuffing linebacker could add to his appeal.
Derek Cox: The Chargers were better on defense after they benched Cox and replaced him with Richard Marshall, whom they have resigned.
Bottom line: It made sense to give Cox, 27, a new start. The Vikings signed him to a one-year deal for $780,000.
Bront Bird: His chances of making the team look iffy entering training camp, but after Manti Te'o and Jonas Mouton were injured and D.J. Smith lagged in his comeback from knee surgery, Bird gained a roster spot and started on Opening Night. He made a few plays, such as when he stopped the Texans' Arian Foster on a short-yardage try, but Reggie Walker started over him in Game 2. Tom Telesco's signing of Kavell Conner, a former Colts starter, coincided with the Chargers not offering Bird a contract for 2014.
Bottom line: Bird was energetic but limited. Conner is faster, more agile and far more experienced. If Te'o needs a replacement, Conner may have the chops for it.
Cam Thomas: The Steelers signed him to a two-year contract for $5 million. Good for Thomas, whose bulk may play better in the rugged AFC North. He opened last season as the primary starter for the first time in his four-year career and made an interception on Opening Night, off Jarret Johnson's deflection of a Matt Schaub pass. On occasion, he won off a first move, sometimes with power, other times with lateral quickness or by shooting a gap. He never seized the job, however, and Sean Lissmore became the starter in Week 13. Blockers knocked Thomas upright with frequency. Too often, he lacked a counter move.
Bottom line: Lissemore, smaller but quicker and more energetic, was the better performer in 2013, although it remains to be seen if he can weather starter's snaps at such as demanding position.
Johnny Patrick: Patrick, a slot cornerback claimed from the Saints last offseason, was one of the team's feistier defenders in the season's first three months. made a key strip in Game 2 of Nate Washington, the Titans No. 1 receiver. He outplayed Wes Welker in Game 9. Staying on the field was a problem for Patrick, who suffered several head injuries and a chest injury. The repeated setbacks may have dulled his game. Ultimately, an ankle injury ended his season with four games to go.
Bottom line: The defense fared much better after Patrick's final injury led John Pagano to move Marcus Gilchrist to slot cornerback, his former position. At the same time, the linebacking corps benefited from the return of Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram. If healthy, Patrick may be better off with the Jets, who have a strong defensive line.
Charlie Whitehurst: Philip Rivers said he benefited from the in-game feedback of Whitehurst, a good friend. Whitehurst, the son of former NFL quarterback David Whitehurst, had a rapport as well with several linemen and pass-catchers, with whom he worked in preseason games and practices. He was an effective scout team performer who had enough footspeed to simulate a decent zone-read option.
Bottom line: This looks like an even exchange: Whitehurst joined Ken Whisenhunt in Tennessee, and the Chargers replaced him with Kellen Clemens, who started nine games with the Rams last year.
In limbo
Rich Ohrnberger: He was another low-cost addition of Telesco's who panned out. Ohrnberger's knowledge of New England's no-huddle system seemed to translate to Whisenhunt's offense, and his guard-center versatility paid off in several games. He slugged it out against larger, faster opponents, but you don't want him out there too often. Cowboys starter Jason Hatcher got past him to hit Rivers and cause a pick-6 in Game 4, but with Nick Hardwick starting 18 games the Chargers were able to not overexpose Ohrnberger. He did fine work after replacing Hardwick one quarter into the Wild Card game at Cincinnati.
Bottom line: The door isn't shut to Ohrnberger, 28. Regardless, the Chargers are in the market for a draftee who can play guard and center.