Regrading the Draft

by cameronm on Jan 18, 2010 8:14 PM PST Comment 11 comments

Well now that the season is officially over I think now would be a good time to go back and grade the previous draft.

Im pretty sure John or another member did this recently so I apologize if it looks similar.

First round: Larry English (OLB) Grade D+

I had a lot of hope for Larry after the draft but he just hasn't shown that he has what it takes to be an nfl player. I still have hope for him, but he must start showing more next season. Considering Clay Matthew's and Michael Oher were available this isn't looking like the smartest pick.

Third Round: Louis Vasquez (OG) Grade A-

Vasquez has been a viable starter from the beginning of the year and is looking like one of the best guards to come out of the draft. He still must improve his run blocking which is why he didn't receive an "A" but I have a lot of confidence he will develop into a elite or at least above average guard for years to come. He also seems to be very down to earth which is always a plus.

Fourth Round (1 of 3): Vaughn Martin (DE/DT) Grade B

I like the development so far of Martin. He has been a project but thats what we expected. I have been impressed with the progress and he seems to be steadily getting better each game. He could be the steal of the draft in a couple years or could be out of the league, neither would really surprise me.

Fourth Round (2 of 3): Tyronne Green (OG) Grade C

I believe someone said it best in a previous post, he is just what your looking for in the fourth round, nothing special, but is a solid backup and is depth to add onto the roster. Looking back a better choice could have been Javon Ringer or Jonny Knox but this still isn't a horrible pick.

Fourth Round (3 of 3): Gartrelly Johnson (RB) Grade F

Didn't even make the team. This was probably my favorite pick after the draft, shows what little I know.

Fifth Round: Brandon Hughes (CB) Grade F

Was put on injured reserve before the season even started. Im not convinced he would have made the team anyways. He seems to small and fragile and I was not impressed with what I saw from him in the preseason.

Six Round: Kevin Ellison (SS) Grade B+

Great value in the sixth round. The only reason this isn't an "A" is because Im not sure if he will ever be anything more then a solid/dependable starter. Adds great depth and is the only true strong safety on the team.

Seventh Round: Demetrius Byrd (WR) Grade C+/B-

Not enough data, but I dont regret this pick one bit. I think its worth every bit of the risk.

Key free agents to watch: C.J. Spillman, James Holt

Again I am sorry if this looks like the previous draft grade post, I just wanted to give my opinion.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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yeah john did this a couple weeks ago

His is much better
http://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2009/12/30/1225040/chargers-2009-draft-grade-revisions

but i thought it would be fun so here is mine.

Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.-Einstein

by cameronm on Jan 18, 2010 8:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Byrd may never see the football field

seems like a waste of a 7th round pick to me. Other players we have drafted in the 7th round: Corey Clark, Brandon Siler, Chase Page, Jimmy Martin, Scott Mruczkowski, Ryon Bingham, Shane Olivea, Carlos Joseph. That’s a 50% hit rate for serious contributors (Siler, Mooch, Bingham, and Olivea – 3 of them are starter caliber players). I didn’t really get the Byrd pick, and the more I hear the less optomistic I am that he will ever see the field, much less compete to make the team.

You’re premature on English. He is a small school guy, give him an off-season to process everything he has learned. Sure his contribution was not as much as we might expect from a 1st rounder, but he needs another year to grow into the pro level.

I agree that Hughes seems like he might not mature into anything, but aside from size he has all the skills you would hope for in a mid round pick. Lots of speed, good feet. Another guy who needs to take advantage of the off-season to mature as a professonal football player mentally and physically. F seems a little rough, how about another incomplete and we’ll let him turn in his term paper next year at this time and give him a grade then.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Jan 18, 2010 8:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

good points.

fair enough points on English and Hughes. I just havent been impressed with english, i agree that there is still hope, he is definitely no Vernon Gholston but i still expected a lot more.

I never really thought of some of the players we found in the 7th round, so another great point there.

thanks for your thoughts.

Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.-Einstein

by cameronm on Jan 18, 2010 9:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The 09 draft was good overall

2 legit starters
2 projects who may show huge dividend over the next 2 seasons (or show huge dispointment)
and 2 wait and see guys.
And 1 feel good story pick. Don’t let the hard exterior fool you, AJ Smith has made 2 feel good story draft picks in his time and at least one personnel decision (LT) based on his heart.
Looking at the roster there is great balance experience-wise. I am really looking forward to the 2010 draft now.

by BULLETBAIT on Jan 19, 2010 12:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

we should of took Beanie Wells instead of English! Been saying it will keep saying it!

by 40.OZ on Jan 20, 2010 7:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

shon green

Green was the guy I wanted us to take (and he was still available in the second round), but I would have been just as happy with Wells. Hell I was happy with Gartrell, but they decided to waive him and keep Bennett (this is, in my opinion, the biggest personnell mistake the Chargers made in 09).

I didn’t see G.J. being a contributor in 09, but it would have meant the team was developing their future backfield. Now we have to use another pick on a RB, when we could be using it for another edge rusher or a WR or some DB depth.

by BULLETBAIT on Jan 20, 2010 8:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

exactly my thoughts.

didnt realize Shon Green was available also…kind of ironic now! make that TD celebration seem personal.

by 40.OZ on Jan 20, 2010 10:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Greene went in the 2nd round

We could have traded down to get him and picked up an edge rusher elsewhere.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

by Wonko on Jan 20, 2010 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i think he was the fist pick of the third

but would he really fit the chargers scheme?
the chargers need a backs that can catch and i heard shon had jammer-esk hands.

Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving.-Einstein

by cameronm on Jan 20, 2010 1:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It still would have worked out better than English and Gartrell

But, I do agree, an all-purpose back is best suited for the Chargers offense. However, Michael Turner did well here at times when paired with other backs. I guess that’s what people like when they think of these pure runners as tailbacks.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm wrong about a lot of things, but I'm going to be the last person to admit I'm wrong about what we're currently talking about.

by Wonko on Jan 20, 2010 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

English also had 14 pressures and 9 QB hits.

which may be an indication that he’s close to putting up more sacks, he just needs to figure out how to finish. I never liked the pick, Merriman should be given next year to prove he can still be dominant, I mean c’mon the guys coming off major knee surgery and that usually takes at least a year. I wanted Beanie Wells in the 1st round he would have been a great pick I think.

by Harsh_619 on Jan 20, 2010 3:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs