2012 NFL Draft - Scouting for Future Chargers: Bowl Games Part 3

by Wonko on Dec 24, 2011 7:57 PM PST in NFL Draft

Team Needs
Starter	Starter Competition	Depth	Projects
Current starter is FA next year and has no surefire understudy	Current starter is FA next year and has understudy or current starter is inexperienced	One or more backups are FAs next year	May need a new starter or backup after 2012 season
S, FB, C, DT	S, ILB, WR, C, DT, OLB, OG	S, ILB, WR, RB, TE, CB, OT	QB, K, OLB, DT, DE, TE

In case you missed it, I justified the most recent updates to the team needs list two weeks ago when I scouted the last week of the college football regular season. There's a lot of unknowns until we know the extent of some injuries and any changes in management are made, so I'm not going to say much more about that. Instead let's go to the games.

Nevada

(7-5)

Southern Miss.

(11-2)

Saturday 12/24 5:00 PM PT

(ESPN)

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Honolulu, HI):The Upsetters Bowl. Last year Nevada defeated Boise St. and cost the Broncos an undefeated season and since the conference gets a share of the money (which its splits between the member teams) from its teams BCS Bowl appearances it cost the WAC a payoff. This year something similar happened when Southern Miss defeated Houston in their final game and cost Conference USA that dough. I'm not sure if that makes this game any more interesting, but its odd story in this college football business. As far as NFL talent the one to interest our scouting eyes is an ILB for the Wolfpack James-Michael Johnson. He's not a high round prospect, but could be a depth guy if you figure the Chargers would stick with Spikes, Butler and Mouton. On the other side of the ball the Golden Eagles have a nice QB Austin Davis who is throwing to two senior WRs in Ryan Balentine and Kelvin Bolden who both could be sleeper options at a Chargers position of need. However, Nevada is not to be outdone in the sleeper WR category as they have Rishard Matthews and Shane Anderson. One of them will match up with a sophomore NFL prospect at CB for Southern Miss in Deron Wilson.

I'll go over the individual players after the jump.

BFTB Scouting Targets:
Player	School	Pos.	Class	Height	Weight
James-Michael Johnson	Nevada	ILB	Sr.	6'0	243 lbs
Very durable, hasn't missed a game in his college career. Two year team captain. Has played both inside and outside linebacker. Not great versus the run as he needs to work on angles and doesn't use his speed to the best of his ability. Tackling could use work, but wouldn't be considered bad. Show some skill with coverage, but too easily fooled. More of a zone defender since he'd get beat man-to-man. Has strength to beat blocks, but needs some better technique. (Mid to late rounds)
Sleepers:
Player	School	Pos.	Class	Height	Weight
Brandon Marshall	Nevada	OLB	Sr.	6'1	241 lbs
(UDFA)
Brett Roy	Nevada	RB	Sr.	6'2	263 lbs
(UDFA)
Isaiah Frey	Nevada	CB	Sr.	5'10	190 lbs
(UDFA)
Rishard Matthews	Nevada	WR	Sr.	6'0	208 lbs
(UDFA)
Zach Sudfield	Nevada	TE	Sr.	6'6	248 lbs
(UDFA)
Willie Faataualofa	Nevada	DT	Sr.	6'1	292 lbs
(UDFA)
Lampford Mark	Nevada	RB	Sr.	5'11	200 lbs
(UDFA)
Kevin Burnett	Nevada	OLB	Sr.	6'3	215 lbs
(UDFA)
Steve Haley	Nevada	OT	Sr.	6'4	290 lbs
(UDFA)
Shane Anderson	Nevada	WR	Sr.	6'1	210 lbs
(UDFA)
Ronnie Thonton	Southern Miss	OLB	Sr.	6'1	238 lbs
(UDFA)
Dann Hrapman	Southern Miss	K	Sr.	5'9	158 lbs
(UDFA)
Austin Davis	Southern Miss	QB	Sr.	6'1	213 lbs
(UDFA)
Korey Williams	Southern Miss	ILB	Sr.	6'1	242 lbs
(UDFA)
Cordarro Law	Southern Miss	DE	Sr.	6'1	244 lbs
(UDFA)
Lamar Holmes	Southern Miss	OT	Sr.	6'4	320 lbs
(UDFA)
Jason Weaver	Southern Miss	OG	Sr.	6'4	304 lbs
(UDFA)
Kevin Bolden	Southern Miss	WR	Sr.	5'11	160 lbs
(UDFA)
Ryan Balentine	Southern Miss	WR	Sr.	6'1	176 lbs
(UDFA)

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Comments

hey Wonko you do such a great job on these.

but help me understand, are you looking for the best picks in the draft for the chargers needs? or the best players, according to their needs at the picks they have?

The peanut gallery has spoken!!!

by gatesoftds on Dec 25, 2011 10:02 PM PST reply actions

I'm not really looking at what picks the Chargers have

Things are fluid enough at this point that players could rise and fall to different spots in the draft.

I just divide the prospects into categories where the BFTB scouting targets are the ones who play positions the Chargers could use. The NFL prospects play other positions the Chargers aren’t likely to need or are just guys I don’t see the Chargers drafting (like 5’9 CBs). That category was a little broader last year and the BFTB targets a little narrower. This year, almost everyone except QBs becomes a target, even guys that wouldn’t fit the 3-4 (we could switch if we blow this thing up enough). Sleepers are anyone that doesn’t look likely to be drafted, but still could be NFL talent. Also, I usually don’t have much in the way of scouting reports on those guys.

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

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by Wonko on Dec 26, 2011 5:02 PM PST up reply actions