2010 Offensive Line Analysis and Grading

 

Chargers Pre-Season Week 3

 

Opponent:  New Orleans Saints

 

Date:  August 27, 2010

 

Drive 1

 

1.  1-10;  -18

22 Gun Lt.

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints send seven, we have six to block.  Rivers "picks up" the extra blitzer by throwing to his zone.  Perfect.

 

2.  2-3; -25

Texas Rt. H-Flanker

26 Iso

LT-1.5; LG-1.5; C-1.5; RG-1.5; RT-1.5

 

Everyone does ok.  But no one gets their block completely.  Hester has to chip Vasquez’s guy and is late to the Sam.  Not bad overall.

 

3.  1-10; -30

Pro Rt. Strong

26 Power

 

LT-1; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dombo struggles to finish his block.  Gates needs to get the scraping DT.  Legs can’t get the safety.

 

4.  2-8; -32

Ace H-Flanker

726 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Very good all around.

 

5.  1-10; -40

Blue Twins Lt.

61 Pro

LT-1; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints send six.  Dombo is too slow on the switch and gives up a pressure.

 

6.  2-10; -40

22 Gun Rt.

50 Pro

LT-.5; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dombo is off to a rough start and gives up another pressure.

 

7.  3-1; -49

Texas Rt. H-Flanker

29 Pitch

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

If Wilson can get the Mike this may have gone for more, maybe house.  TDEK is TDEK.

 

8.  1-10; 34

Pro Twins Rt.

723 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints send six, TDEK misses the DE.

 

9.  2-6; 30

Pro Lt. Twins Rt. SB

70 Pro

LT-0; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

I don’t know if Dombo is lost, but I can’t see a reason for him not to pick up the five.  I reserve the right to be wrong (if it’s gap protection inside?) but I don’t like it.  TDEK makes a nice p/u.

 

10.  1-10; 15

Pro Twins Rt.

24 Iso

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Hester does well.  Dombo does well.  Very good all around.

 

11.  2-5; 10

Pro Twins Lt.

25 Iso

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-1; RT-2

 

Vasquez can’t get to his LB, but the LB gets caught in the wash.  Hester has literally his best block ever.  Squares up, leads with the facemask, and earns a pancake.  WOW!

 

12.  3-1; 6

Texas Lt. H-Flanker

33 Dive

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dombo is amazing on this play, as is the rest of the line.  Smash mouth GET YOU SOME!  Congrats to Hester for the home state TD.

 

Drive 2

 

13.  1-10; -45

Pro Rt. Twins Lt. SB

28 G Stretch

New Play!

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Hardwick and Vasquez do very well.  80 can’t get inside the DB and GMP.  Nice seal from 81.

 

14.  2-10; -45

Pro Wing Rt.

25 Iso

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Wow.  Hardwick and Vasquez roll, and Clary looks awesome.  If Wilson can get the safety, house?  Hester doesn’t get the Sam because the Sam runs himself out of the play…go get someone else Jacob.

 

15.  3-4; 49

Blue Twins Rt.

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Very good from Dombo.   I don’t like to critique Rivers, but he has Legs on a drag and Wilson uncovered in the flat.

 

Drive 3

 

16.  1-10; -20

Pro Lt. Y-Flanker

724 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Very good.

 

17.  2-10; -20

Pro Wing Rt. Y-Up Twins Lt. SB

28 Toss

LT-2; LG-2; C-1; RG-2; RT-2

 

A little confusion here on my part.  We know both tackles do very well.  We know Hardwick misses the Will.  We know Vilma makes one hell of a play.  Question:  Who had the Mike (Vilma)?  Was Wilson supposed to pick him up (I think so)?  The only other option would be Vasquez pulling around Wilson to get the Mike.  I’ll try and find out.  Vasquez’s footwork doesn’t look like he’s even thinking of pulling, so if it was him, he didn’t know it.

 

18.  3-14; -16

Blue Twins Lt.

50 Pro

LT-1.5; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Good overall.  Dombo gives up slight pressure.

 

19.  1-10; -36

Pro Rt. Twins Lt. Y-Flanker SB

725 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Pretty good.

 

20.  2-10; -36

Ace Wide* - Denotes essentially a 2 X 2 spread with QB under center.

61 Pro (Gap)

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

21.  3-5; -41

22 Gun Rt.

60 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Nice switch from both the left and the right side.  Textbook.

 

Drive 4

 

22.  1-10; -24

Pro Twins Rt.

24 Iso

LT-2; LG-1.5; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dielman does well but can’t quite stay on the Will.  Hester and Wilson do well.  The unblocked (by design) backside LB makes the play.

 

23.  2-9; -25

22 Gun Rt.

60 Pro

LT-1.5; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dombo does well, but gets beat at the very end.  Minute pressure.  A savvy hold/tug though.

 

24.  1-10; -34

22 Gun Rt.

60 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints bring 5.5, and we pick it all up very well.

 

25.  1-10; -48

Pro Rt. Strong

724 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-1; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints bring 6.  Dielman gives up a pressure.

 

26.  1-10; 23

Pro Twins Rt. Weak Y-Open

RB Screen Rt.

LT-2; LG-1; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Another head scratcher.  The RG is always involved in our screens, yet Vasquez stays home.  Usually he would be leading out there for the kick out.  His actions are secure, but I have questions.  Conversely, the BS guard is always peel back.  Now Dielman angles towards the Will and ends up getting a peel back on a lineman, but was the Will his assignment?  I dock Dielman based only on action.  I think this may have actually been a screw up by Vasquez (If he’s in on the screen, then Hardwick could have gotten the Will).

 

27.  2-4; 17

Pro Twins Lt.

28 G-Lead

LT-2; LG-2; C-1; RG-2; RT-2

 

Hester can’t handle Vilma.  Hardwick can’t get off the double team to the Will, and his GMP.  Vasquez pulls around for Sharper.  Clary does very well.

 

28.  3-5; 18

22 Gun Lt.

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-1.5; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dielman needs to get more depth so the DT can’t split the switch.  Dombo does well and Clary does very well.

 

29.  1-G; 10

Pro Wing Rt. F-Tight Wing*

New formation.  Unbalanced with FB lining up outside the Wing.  Essentially Y-Trips Tight SB.

26 Power

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Vasquez and Clary have a great double team to the Will.  Dielman has to get the Sam, because McMichael misses him (falls).  Therefore, the Mike is unblocked and makes the play.  Wilson does very well.  Gates is Gates.

 

30.  2-G; 9

22 Gun Lt.

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-1; RT-2

 

Saints send 6.  Sproles simply has to get the LB here.  This one’s on him.  Vasquez falls and can’t pick up the switch.  Dielman does NOT have the blitzing LB, but he is ready if a second LB enters (he’s counting on Sproles).

 

31.  3-G; 9

31 Gun Rt.

50 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-1.5

 

Clary gives up slight pressure.

 

Drive 5

 

32.  1-10; -48

Y-Trips Rt. Open Lt. SB

23 Zone

LT-2; LG-2; C-1.5; RG-2; RT-2

 

Hardwick can’t get into his guy.  Wilson doesn’t get his guy.

 

33.  2-7; 49

22 Gun Lt.

50 Pro

LT-0; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dombo gives up the inside so bad, I get confused.  Is this by design?  Is he expecting help?  Is he making sure that the outside is free for Sproles?    I reserve the right to absolve Dombo, but as of now he gets beat inside badly.

 

34.  3-3; 45

Y-Trips Rt. Open Lt. SB

60 Pro (Quick)

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Very silly high/low from Hardwick.

 

Drive 6

 

35.  1-10; -15

22 Gun Lt.

20 Draw

LT-2; LG-1; C-1; RG-2; RT-2

 

Dielman can’t hook and seal the DT and his GMP.  Hardwick should at least shove or help a little before he leaves, and then he misses the Mike.

 

End of 1st Half

 

Drive 7

 

36.  1-10; -30

Pro Lt.

26 Iso

LT-2; LG-2; C-.5; RG-1.5; RT-2

 

The left side double of Dombo and Diel execute a nasty double team to the LB.  Enjoyable to watch!  Hardwick engages but gets shed way too easy.  Perhaps Vasquez could have stayed a tad longer on the double, but he does well with the Mike.  Clary looks good on this one.

 

37.  2-10; -30

Blue Twins Lt.

61 Pro

LT-1.5; LG-2; C-1.5; RG-2; RT-1.5

 

Saints send 6.  Dombo switches late to Vilma, but gets the job done.  Hardwick and Clary both give up late pressures.

 

38.  3-10; -30

22 Gun Lt.

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-.5; RT-2

 

Saints send 7.  Hardwick and Clary do very well.  Vasquez makes a decent handoff, but misses the switch completely.

 

Drive 8

 

39.  1-10; -24

Pro Lt. Weak Y-Up

724 PA Pro

LT-.5; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Even though he grades out low, I really don’t think Dombo does a bad job here.  He washes nine yards upfield.  I guess he needs to wash more.  I may comment that Rivers could have helped him with a step up.

 

40.  2-10; -24

Ace H-Flanker

726 PA Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Easy.  Our PA look so good sometimes.

 

41.  1-10; -39

Pro Rt.

27 Iso

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-1; RT-2

 

Dielman and Hardwick double to Mike, very well.  Vasquez and Clary double to Will.  The double is good but Vasquez misses the Will and his GMP.  Hester does well.

 

42.  2-5; -44

Pro Rt. Weak

61 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints send 6.  We pick it up just fine.

 

43.  3-2; -47

22 Gun Rt.

70 Pro

LT-2; LG-2; C-2; RG-2; RT-2

 

Saints send 6 again.  We pick it up easily.  On a related side note, Sproles pass protection is very good.

 

End of starters

 

I will not be breaking down the back-ups, sorry.  I watched a couple more drives to look at Green.  He is pretty good and consistent, but Dombo is clearly better.  I do feel ok if Green is called upon.