Telesco Needs To Be Relieved Of Duties..

[like54ninjas]

Cheap as in the Spanos won’t fire GM before his contract ends because then they would have to keep paying the fired GM and a new one.

The Spanos family are extremely poor by sports owners standards. Their net worth is a joke (again, by sports owners standards). This is why they won’t sell the Chargers because they know they would likely invest poorly in any other business with the money they get from selling the Chargers.

All the current Spanos family members are fools at business, only Alex (May he RIP) was the smart one. It’s why none of them have been able to make something of themselves or at least start a big successful other than football with the money they inherited.

You do know that AG Spanos company is one of the largest construction/RE development/apartment builders-operations in the country?

They are on the low end of net worth of NFL owners true enough.

Would I like new ownership? Sure. Are they the main reason we are not consistent winners? Doubt it.

[Boltjolt]

just a financial footnote here:
according to spotrac Chargers have the 3rd least amount of available cap space this year (2.9m).

Some of us already know that and why we don't say let's sign this guy and that guy every time someone gets waived and why we sign guys like Groy.

[Gwynning_Spirit]

Some of us already know that and why we don't say let's sign this guy and that guy every time someone gets waived and why we sign guys like Groy.

:toyou:

[Topcat]

Some of us already know that and why we don't say let's sign this guy and that guy every time someone gets waived and why we sign guys like Groy.

How about a reality show about TT scouring the FA waiver wire for castoffs from other teams: "Dumpster Diving with Tommy"

[Boltjolt]

How about a reality show about TT scouring the FA waiver wire for castoffs from other teams: "Dumpster Diving with Tommy"

When you have dumpster dive funds that's what you do. We were never going to get Trent Williams.

It would have to be a trade and I doubt Wash would want Benjamin, Tyrod or Gordon.....though with Guice being the China doll he turned into it's hard to say going forward but we would of had to trade them at least a couple players to afford Trent.
And then Telesco had to be willing to trade Tyrod or Gordon. Hec we can't even get him to cut Benjamin which should be an easy one.

[Boltgang74]

So basically TT and the f.o. need to manage the cap better so they can work free agency better.Because the money their spending now definitely ain't payin dividends.

[pacstud]

Any suggestions ?

Beatings...until morale improves.

[Boltgang74]

Winning usually helps morale.

[richpjr]

Daniel Poppers take on TT:

Should the Chargers keep GM Tom Telesco? Here’s an honest assessment

By Daniel Popper

Tom Telesco is a good general manager, and he deserves to stay in that role with the Chargers.

That’s where we’ll start. Consider it a thesis of sorts — one I believe is proven by the facts and details of Telesco’s tenure with the franchise, not all of which are entirely flattering.

This is Part 2 of our series on why the Chargers’ leaders — Anthony Lynn and Telesco — should keep their jobs for 2020. Last week, I wrote about Lynn and why his players believe he’s still the right man to be their head coach. This week, we assess Telesco, who has sat atop the Chargers’ player personnel department since he was hired as GM in January 2013.

The most common gripe I get from fans when discussing Telesco — be it on social media or in subscriber Q&As — is something along the lines of: “Why didn’t he do more to bolster the offensive line when everyone knew it was an issue?”

Well, first off, the Chargers offensive line was not an issue last season, statistically speaking. According to SportsRadar, the unit allowed pressure (sacks, hurries or knockdowns) on the eighth-lowest percentage of passing plays in the 2018 regular season. And the running game averaged the seventh-most yards per attempt in the league.

The offensive line was pretty clearly a top-10 group in the league last year, according to the numbers. What changed was injuries. And the timing of those injuries — particularly Russell Okung’s — was most detrimental.

Okung was first diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in early June, more than a month after the draft. There was no way for Telesco to anticipate that his starting Pro Bowl left tackle would endure a near-fatal blood clot scare.

If Okung’s diagnosis happened, say, in March, then Telesco could have hypothetically altered his draft plan. Instead of defensive lineman Jerry Tillery at 28th overall, maybe the Chargers take one of the available offensive tackles — Kaleb McGary or Cody Ford, both of whom have started double-digit games this season. However, the timing of Okung’s medical ordeal made it rather difficult to create a viable contingency plan for protecting Philip Rivers’ blind side.

Once Okung went down, the Chargers had two options to fill that spot until their left tackle returned: bring in a veteran off the street or go with a young player who may struggle but provides more upside. They went with the latter and started Trent Scott, who, frankly, had — and still has — more potential than free agents like Jermey Parnell, Matt Kalil, Donald Penn or Ryan Schraeder.

Russell Okung’s offseason health issues were unexpected. (Reinhold Matay / USA TODAY Sports)

The truth is, left tackles are hard to find. In a perfect world, there would be several starting-caliber players on the market. But that’s just not the case. It’s the most important position on the field outside of quarterback. Any tackle close to that level had already been scooped up by the time Okung suffered the pulmonary embolism.

There was no quick fix. Sometimes, you’re just unlucky. And this was incredibly unlucky for Okung, Telesco and the Chargers.

It was a sound strategy to enter 2019 with the same offensive line. But that group never got to play together. Pouncey suffered a freak neck injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve, just more than a month after signing an extension. He could wind up retiring this offseason. Okung didn’t return until Week 8. If everyone is healthy, maybe this season shakes out much differently.

Now, there is room to criticize Telesco for the offensive linemen he’s drafted. He took three offensive linemen in the first three rounds from 2013 to 2016 — D.J. Fluker (first, 2013), Chris Watt (third, 2014) and Max Tuerk (third, 2016). The Chargers cut Fluker after four up-and-down seasons, despite picking up his fifth-year option. Watt was cut in 2016. And Tuerk never played a down for the Chargers.

Telesco drafted five more offensive linemen over the last three drafts — Sam Tevi (sixth round, 2017), Dan Feeney (third round, 2017), Forrest Lamp (second round, 2017), Scott Quessenberry (fifth round, 2018) and Trey Pipkins (third round, 2019).

The Chargers still don’t know what they have with this group. Tevi is a dynamic athlete but inconsistent in pass protection. Lamp has dealt with a slew injuries, most recently a season-ending broken ankle. Feeney probably projects more as a backup swing guard than a full-time starter. Quessenberry has impressed the coaching staff and front office this season and could develop into a starting center. And Pipkins remains a project, but he showed flashes when he was forced to play left tackle because of injuries.

Still, the numbers don’t lie — nine offensive linemen drafted and no Pro Bowls or contract extensions (yet). Telesco, though, has made up for his inconsistency drafting offensive linemen with free agency and the waiver wire.

He targeted Pouncey after the Dolphins surprisingly cut him in the spring of 2018. Pouncey signed for a team-friendly deal and made the Pro Bowl that next season. His impact as a leader both on and off the field was also profound.

In 2017, Telesco signed Okung, who went on to make the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Chargers. Also that year, following cutdown day, Telesco claimed Michael Schofield off waivers after the Broncos released him. Schofield has developed into the most steady presence on the offensive line over the past two seasons.

Telesco’s success in free agency isn’t limited to the offensive line. He also identified cornerback Casey Hayward in the spring of 2016 after the Packers let him walk. Green Bay had played Hayward exclusively on the inside, but Telesco felt like Hayward could play outside as well. Hayward eventually found the field because of injuries, and he’s turned into one of the league’s best cornerbacks.

The most impressive part of Telesco’s Chargers resume is his draft history outside of offensive linemen. His full-on misses on picks in the first two rounds — where teams expect to draft starters — have been relatively minimal. (Lamp is one; we have to wait and see on Tillery and 2019 second-round pick Nasir Adderley). Telesco also drafted numerous starters in the third round or later.

• Keenan Allen was a third-round pick in 2013. He’s made three Pro Bowls.
• Melvin Gordon was a first-round pick in 2015. He’s made two Pro Bowls.
• Joey Bosa was a first round-pick in 2016. He’s made two Pro Bowls.
• Derwin James was a first round-pick in 2018. He was All-Pro as a rookie.
• Desmond King was a fifth-round pick in 2017. He was All-Pro in 2018 and has developed into one the game’s best slot corners.
• Rayshawn Jenkins was a fourth-round pick in 2017. He played at a high level this season as the starting free safety.
• Mike Williams was a first-round pick in 2017. He is having a breakout season this year and is on pace to top 1,000 yards.
• Hunter Henry was a second-round pick in 2016. He has emerged this season as one of the top all-around tight ends in the NFL.
• Justin Jones was a third-round pick in 2018. He has been one of the Chargers’ best run defenders this season.
• Uchenna Nwosu was a second-round pick in the same draft. He has shown explosive pass-rushing skills and versatility in limited snaps in 2019.
• Oh, and Telesco signed Austin Ekeler as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Ekeler is eighth among running backs in total yards this season.

Good front offices build their cores through the draft and then fill the remaining holes through free agency. Telesco has followed that model commendably. At the same time, the Chargers have just two playoff wins since he took over, all while working with a probable future Hall of Fame quarterback in Rivers.

The Chargers were supposed to take another step this season, and they’re sitting at 5-9. Telesco deserves some scrutiny for that. And if the Chargers endure another disappointing season in 2020, then the whole operation needs to be evaluated.

But until then, the positives for Telesco vastly outweigh the negatives.

The grass isn’t always greener.

[Boltgang74]

I see all this supposed talent TT has brought to our team and yet we haven't really accomplished squat.I guess its moved on from the 5 year plan to the 10 year plan?

[richpjr]

I see all this supposed talent TT has brought to our team and yet we haven't really accomplished squat.I guess its moved on from the 5 year plan to the 10 year plan?

If Rivers played like he did last season instead of this, we'd likely be 9-5 instead of 5-9 and people would not be questioning the talent level. But we aren't so I guess everything is fair game.

[powderblueboy]

I am curious.
How much input do you think John Spanos has ?
I picture him being too busy with all the various aspects of serving as Team President.
He maybe sticks his head in the room to cast a tiebreaking vote here and there.
I think our bigger problem is not better developing the players we draft.

Your wisdom would be appreciated...

I doubt he has influenced one draft decision. I imagine he's more of a fly on the wall who evaluates all aspects of the team; but particularly the head coach and gm.

That, and making sure there are clean towels and filled soap dispensers in the executive bathrooms at Charger Park.