Planning for a Future without Marcus McNeill

by Wonko on Jun 18, 2010 11:00 AM PDT in San Diego Chargers Training Camp/Preseason

Both sides of the Marcus McNeill contract squabble are now firmly entrenched. The McNeill camp is saying they are ready to hold out, and they are prepared to forfeit millions of dollars in an effort to work out a long term contract. The Chargers camp is sticking to a one year contract offer and is making noise that they are ready to move on without Marcus McNeill. So, as fans I guess we have to start looking at life without our 4 year starter at left tackle.

The Chargers have been grooming a former San Diego State player who went undrafted back in 2008 named Brandyn Dombrowski. Dombrowski spent all of 2008 on the practice squad. In 2009 he filled in early in the season at RG when Louis Vazquez was hurt and Scott Mruczkowski had to replace an injured Nick Hardwick mid-game. Then, later in the season when Jeromey Clary was put on IR, he stepped up at RT holding off veteran Jon Runyan. I'm sure the Chargers would prefer to groom him more before making him a starter, but he's battle tested enough to no longer be a complete unknown.

The Chargers also have brought in a veteran for depth. William "Tra" Thomas started at left tackle for multiple playoff teams in Philadelphia and made three Pro Bowls. His last years for the Eagles were injury plagued and he was let go before the 2009 season to make way for a younger replacement. Last season he served as a backup to a rookie left tackle in Jacksonville.

This is not the worst situation to be in, however it's not a good enough situation to keep from hearing the cries of the masses. The most common refrain usually mentions how much we are paying our QB (he signed a contract extension last year in excess of $90 million) and how you must protect that investment with a top left tackle watching his blind side. But do you really?

I present to you 3 teams that all at least made their conference championship game last year: the Saints, the Colts and the Vikings. We can all agree that each team has a QB that is vital to their team's success. Drew Brees was the Super Bowl MVP and Peyton Manning and Brett Favre both have league MVP trophies on their shelves. In order for these top QBs to achieve such great success in 2009 and stay healthy they must all have top flight left tackles, right?

Wrong.

The Saints lost their former 1st round pick Jamaal Brown in the preseason and had to replace him with 2007 4th round pick out of Towson University Jermon Bushrod. Bushrod had never started a game in the NFL and there's not a single source I could find that was proclaiming him a future starter at left tackle. He was a virtual unknown and yet he in no way encumbered the Saints from taking home the Lombardi Trophy.

The Colts had their Pro Bowl left tackle Tarik Glenn retire in 2007 after a 10 year career in the NFL. The Colts tried to replace him with 2007 1st round pick Tony Ugoh, but he had some inconsistent performances and got hurt in 2009. The bulk of the snaps at left tackle went to 2006 6th round pick Charlie Johnson. Johnson is not going to be earning any Pro Bowl bids any time soon and there was talk that the Colts would try to draft someone to groom as a replacement this year. However, Peyton Manning still had great year on route to an AFC Championship.

After much drama the Vikings employed future hall of famer Brett Favre as their QB and rode him all the way to the NFC title game. Their starter at left tackle is 8 year veteran Bryant McKinnie. McKinnie has a fairly recognizable name due to being a high 1st round draft pick in 2002, his incredible size which led to his nickname Mt. McKinnie and his repeated Pro Bowl Honors. One of those Pro Bowl selections was for last year, but that was a complete joke. McKinnie didn't deserve that as he was almost always the weak link on the offensive line. His struggles were most noticeable in their game against Carolina where the Panther defense racked up 4 sacks and McKinnie was called for a false start and a hold. Nevertheless, the Vikings made it farther in the playoffs than all but 2 teams.

These aren't the only teams with left tackle issues. The Bengals drafted a left tackle that held out, got hurt and never really contributed so they went with a relative unknown. The Jets left tackle, D'Brickashaw Ferguson is still a work in progress in the passing game. The Cowboys released Flozell Adams after a penalty plagued season. The Packers' Chad Clifton was never 100%. This was not a year where the premier teams had premier left tackles.

That all being said, there is still the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The Chargers don't necessarily need to move on from Marcus McNeill, and I'm definitely not saying they would be better off for it. I just want it to be considered that if the rest of the team is solid then the left tackle position maybe isn't the big deal that people are making it out to be.

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I can see us going through some growing pains at first on the O-line.

But I don’t beleive that the Chargers have completely forfeited their SB chances this season by not giving in to McNeills demands as some fans and MSM have suggested. The Chargers have a good squad and a good coach. We’ll be alright.

Please don't read my signature.

by SoCalBoltFan on Jun 18, 2010 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

I agree

It will be more difficult – not a reason to call the season off. Let’s go ahead and play those games in 2010.

Ya know Wonko another thing to consider is all the rules changes that the NFL has made to protect QB’s. Back in the day a sacks commonly put the QB out of the game. I think the lack of protection cut Stan Humphries career short. It seems to me that the QB are tolerating the sacks and coming out in better condition.

Is River gonna get sacked from the blind side next year – yes. But McNeill gave up some sacks last year too. We’ll have to see if the team can cope.

by Trendsearcher on Jun 18, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

agreed

The two ski’s did alright last year stepping in early after several starters got hurt. Also, we’ll see how good mathews is at blocking. LT sucked at blocking. sproles was better at blocking than LT. I would also like to see the wildcat a little more often. Not all the time, but enough to make other teams prepare for it. BTW, when is the trade deadline?

by irishlad on Jun 18, 2010 11:59 AM PDT reply actions

Week six I do believe.

by Its Mikey!! on Jun 18, 2010 2:38 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

thanks

I was wondering about the chargers possibly trading one or all of their holdouts. Once the season starts, there may be teams seriously interested in a trade. Of course, they would first have to come to terms with the team and then work out a contract with the player in order to get them to sign their tender so that they could be traded. I imagine A J would probably come down from the first and third round picks. Possibly a player for a player or player and lower round pick. Maybe miami? Can you imagine marshall and V J on the same team?

by irishlad on Jun 20, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Problem with a trade is that we need those same positions

We aren’t deep with front line talent at OL or WR. We’d be trading the limited strength we have at those positions, and likely we’d get back talent at a postion where we have depth. Either V-Jax or MM leave big holes that need to be filled.

We are probably best suited to cope with the loss of Merriman through a trade.

by Trendsearcher on Jun 21, 2010 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

The NFL is a QB driven league

so I do think that as long as we (the Chargers) have Rivers to a certain extent everything will be fine. But it does seem like a lot of people seem to think that if we lose top level players like McNeill and VJ we can just plug a back up in and not lose a beat. To me there is no doubt that the Chargers are not as good without them. And while I would still make the Chargers the clear cut favorite to win the AFC West and be right in the mix for the AFC title, the possible loss of McNeill and VJ along with the loss of the now much hated Cromartie without a doubt hurt these chances.

More to the point of your post, I would like to see Dombroski get the first crack at McNeill’s spot for now as I don’t think Thomas has much left and is more suited for a back up role at this stage of his career.

by JeromeB on Jun 18, 2010 12:20 PM PDT reply actions

I agree.

I know that left tackles(LT) are very valuable and that they’re very important to a team because they protect the QBs blind side but I think you could find a good left tackle anywhere in the 1st round or early second so I’m ready for McNeil to be gone. I wouldn’t mind the chargers trading him this season if the line is holding up well without him because we could get so much value for the guy and we could find a starter in the 1st round of next years draft (assuming there is one).
Norv Turner’s offense also has Rivers taking shorter drops so LTs become less important in protecting him because he doesnt hold onto the ball very long.

Finally, McNeil hasn’t been the healthiest or most consistent player the last couple seasons so i’m not too sure giving him a huge LT contract would be the best idea. Don’t get me wrong he’s a good player but why play him top tier money when we could draft a rookie who could manage those same responsibilities for a fraction of the price. I say we trade McNeil, get value out of the guy, take away VJ’s hold out leverage and draft a 1st round LT next season.

by ZionKing on Jun 18, 2010 12:28 PM PDT reply actions

younger is better

I believe AJ Smith holds this philosophy true that you get good young talent in the draft, groom them for a year or so. Then hopefully they become the starter for 3-5 years, then get rid of them. (well most of them) It makes perfect economics. The problem being we let to many good players go that can not be replaced by their heir apparent. I hope Brandon and Tra can hold down the left side like big Mac did. I think they can.

by big staxx on Jun 19, 2010 10:54 AM PDT reply actions

It depends on the QB's mobility.

Both Brees and Favre can move around in and out of the pocket. And Manning, well you could probablly put five orangutans on the line and he would still be unbelievable. Rivers is good in the pocket but let’s face it he’s not the most fleet of foot. Especially since his two knee surgeries. He needs a strong LT more than the other 3 guys.

by sjboltfan on Jun 19, 2010 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

have a rb or te cover the blind side

On passing plays you can keep a rb or te back for extra protection to cover the blind side. Or how about a version of the wildcat where the qb lines up in the rb spot. Then the rb can either run it or pitch it back to the qb ala the flea flicker. Can Mathews throw? LT used to throw passes occasionally once upon a time. There are a lot of different wrinkles they could use if they use their imagination. Also, use the shotgun more.

by irishlad on Jun 20, 2010 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

that's a nice woulda coulda shoulda' cenerio

But the above mentioned QB’ moved around or got rid on the ball quickly. Phillip, is neither mobile nor quick to get rid of the ball. so a not so great LT with Favre, Manning and Brees is doable. besides all three of those teams could run the ball.

if the hope is Norv will adjust the passing game for more quick throws, mathews will take a lot of pressure of the QB by making the run game good again. and Dombrowski an Tra will make do. that’s a lot of “what if’s” compared to just sitting and trying to negotiate with marcus.

The peanut gallery has spoken!!!

by gatesoftds on Jun 20, 2010 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I would disagree with the Brees part

I think Brees needs his blindside more protected than any of the others. He is so susceptible to the blind side sack fumble and his mobility does not help him avoid that. Unlike Manning, Brady, Rivers or Favre Brees’ blind side seems to be more blind that the rest of them who have a better feel for what’s coming. Brees just adjusts by getting the ball out faster than most and being extremely accurate when he does so that he doesn’t have wasted effort on incompletions. Or, he doesn’t, and it looks like the game where he played the Cowboys this year (and to a lesser extent the Dolphins game).

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

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

by Wonko on Jun 21, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Manning?...

Isn’t mobile at all, in fact he’s probaby the most similar to rivers in that sense. Both guys make up for their lack of mobility with great awareness and timing, when they feel the pressure they get rid of the ball.

by ZionKing on Jun 21, 2010 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions