Serious Business: 3/2 Chargers Links

by Richard Wade on Mar 2, 2010 3:00 AM PST in Daily Links Comment 9 comments

Bolts’ RB question: Veteran or rookie? - Kevin Acee
The Chargers are, for the first time since the start of the past decade, in the market for a running back.

Sproles a fit for Eagles? (ESPN Insider)
Sproles had a -14.3% DVOA last year on 93 carries, which was even worse than LaDainian Tomlinson's -10.1% figure. He was second in receiving DVOA amongst backs, though, and that's where his role is in an offense (LT was last.)

Scouts' Eye: Taylor-made for Chargers - Matt Williamson (ESPN Insider)
Anthony Dixon and especially Toby Gerhart would be very attractive, but even more so would be veteran free agent Chester Taylor. Taylor is extremely skilled in the passing game, should adapt very quickly to this high-powered offense and despite his age (he is 30 years old) has very little wear and tear on his proverbial tires. Taylor is a great fit.

Options available for 3-4 defenses - Steve Muench (ESPN Insider)
Arizona State's Dexter Davis, TCU's Jerry Hughes, Michigan's Brandon Graham and Utah's Koa Misi all played defensive end in college but are expected to move to 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. Base 3-4 teams looking for help at outside linebacker were interested to see how they ran in the 40-yard dash, and none of them disappointed.

A piece of the puzzle - Jen Rojas
Chargers executives, coaches, scouts and medical staff have been in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, which Director of College Scouting John Spanos calls "a piece of the puzzle" as the team prepares for April’s draft.

2010 speed scores: Rise of Ben Tate - ESPN Insider
On the other hand, Tate has a mid-round grade on him. Comparing him to backs taken between the third and fifth rounds and with similar speed scores yields a very interesting crop of players: Jamaal Charles (108.7), Kevan Barlow (108.7), Onterrio Smith (109.2), Antonio Pittman (110.5), Chris Brown (111.2), Jerious Norwood (112.1), Michael Turner (116.6), and Musa Smith (118.3). Turner, taken in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, had the closest figure to Tate; all of the players listed had pro careers, although Pittman was a bust and the talented Smith flunked his way out of the league with drug test failures.

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Hmmmm

While I agree with Williamson that Chester Taylor is a good fit, I don’t know that he’d be my choice to be the #1 RB. Williamson seems to think the Chargers should/will end up with Taylor as the starter, Sproles as the backup (long-term contract) and a later-round rookie RB to be the “project”. I’m not crazy about that because I don’t see that as much of an improvement.

"When they come for me I'll be sitting at my desk, with a gun in my hand wearing a bullet-proof vest, singing 'My, my, my, how the time does fly when you know you're going to die by the end of the night.'" - Catch 22

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2010 3:39 AM PST reply actions

My thinking is that if we can sign Sproles to a long term deal, we don’t need Taylor.

It’s really important for us to have a vet in the backfield on third downs because protecting Rivers is the number one priority in our offense. Sproles has shown himself to be capable of pass protection and pass catching and from what I hear of Taylor, he has a strong third down skill set as well. That lets our rookie start as a two down player and not have to play third downs from the very start.

So we need either Sproles or Taylor (or Maurice Morris, or some other vet) as third down back and then hopefully a rookie runner to mix in on earlier downs.

by cowbell on Mar 2, 2010 7:32 AM PST up reply actions

Whether or not he'll get it remains to be seen

but reports are out that Taylor is looking for a 4 yr deal in the neighborhood of $14 MM. I can’t see AJ handing out a 4 year deal to an aging vet, even to a guy with (relatively) low mileage.

by BFDC on Mar 2, 2010 7:41 AM PST up reply actions

I think you hit the nail on the head

If we were to bring in a guy like Taylor, a 1 year deal would be the ideal for our purpses. Or a two year deal with a roster bonus next March that makes him an easy cut. A 4 year deal would not fly.

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.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 2, 2010 12:44 PM PST up reply actions

Based on the way they have acted thus far

and by the lack of any news of the Chargers even talking with Sproles I’m not shure how much intrest they have in signing him to a long term deal.

by Steve (Grey Suit) on Mar 2, 2010 7:50 AM PST up reply actions

Acee was on 1090 yesterday

and said the Chargers want to sign him, but the two sides are pretty far apart on dollar figures, which is why they let him go test the market.

He also said he believes Darren genuinely wants to stay in San Diego, which means they may yet get a deal done. A lot of athletes say that, but in Sproles’s case it may actually have impact. Last off-season when he got the franchise tag, his agent told him to skip mini-camp and all the voluntary workouts (which a lot of players who get hit with the tag do to avoid risk of injury), but Darren came anyway because he wanted to be part of the team.

So you never know what will happen in this case. Sometimes players do a round of free agency visits, and end up back where they started.

"I aim to misbehave." - Mal Reynolds

by Zach (maestro876) on Mar 2, 2010 8:44 AM PST up reply actions

Its also worth noting that Sproles probably fits Norv’s offensive scheme (and all of igts screens) more than most others.

by John Gennaro on Mar 2, 2010 8:48 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Maybe we can get Dielman to talk to him

It’s not unheard of for players to test the market but then come back. It’s just a matter of our FO offering a contract that would be fair to both sides.

by cowbell on Mar 2, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions