Chargers Roster: Outside Linebackers

by John Gennaro on Mar 23, 2011 11:10 AM PDT in San Diego Chargers Front Office

Just about every day I wake up and say "Today is the day that I finally write my 'CBA in layman's terms' post." Then, about 10 minutes into doing so, I get bored of the BS and posturing and decide that there's probably something more interesting I could be writing about. Today that's the upcoming draft, and trying to figure out what's a bigger a need for the San Diego Chargers: Outside LB or Defensive End?

Let's start by taking a look at what the team has on the roster current at OLB.

Signed
Shaun Phillips
Larry English
Jyles Tucker

Tendered
Antwan Applewhite
Antwan Barnes

Phillips is the only one of that group getting paid well, and that's really the way it should be. English and Tucker make about the same, and both are viewed as overpaid underachievers. They serve as the other side of a spectrum against Shawne Merriman and Phillips in the debate about A.J. Smith's abilities to scout pass-rushing OLBs.

The big question, and perhaps the one that determines which way Smith should go with the first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, is if anyone is comfortable with that list without Phillips on it.

Do you think English has what it takes to be a starter and stay healthy? Can Jyles Tucker finally become consistent? Is Antwan Applewhite's versatility enough to ignore his lack of talent as a pass-rusher? Is Barnes' pass-rushing skills enough to ignore his lack of versatility? I think most Chargers fans answer each of these questions with "No", which means that Smith either has to trust his instincts more than past performance or he has to use that first pick to push everyone else on this list down a spot on the depth chart.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Since the front 7 seems to be strong against the run...

I’d say the pass rush is a bigger need. Either Draft a DE that can draw some double teams away from El Toro and Garay, or draft an OLB that has clear pass rush skills. Both of which are somewhat win-win scenarios. I think.

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
Next article: Scouting Bob Sanders, coming soon.

by Superduperboltman on Mar 23, 2011 12:00 PM PDT reply actions

An OLB with clear pass rush skills

Is going to go very high in the draft. The only player that fits that description is Von Miller. And we have no shot at him.

You either get OLBs that need to learn to pass rush or DEs that need to learn to cover.

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

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

by Wonko on Mar 23, 2011 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

or a DT that can rush

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
Next article: Scouting Bob Sanders, coming soon.

by Superduperboltman on Mar 24, 2011 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions

I would prefer Watt or Cam Jordan

But if they aren’t there i wouldnt mind kerrigan, although i somewhat question his athleticism.

by cameronm on Mar 23, 2011 12:25 PM PDT reply actions

I agree here

Jordon, Watt, Wilkerson in that order before any OLB except Von Miller. Who as Wonko noted above is expected to go really high. We need help at ILB too so back to back LB picks in the 2nd/3rd could happen. Other than the three 5Ts I mention, I imagine RT could also present the right value in the mid 1st. Give me a stud RT over a reach on a LB any day. The only other thing I can think of is WRs falling, which has happened before

Winning

by Foilhat on Mar 23, 2011 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm just crossing my fingers

that AJ doesn’t waste another 1st round pick on an undersized defensive player/bust.

by Kame on Mar 23, 2011 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Well, he has a good track record of not using 1st round picks on defensive players who turn out to be undersized or busts

It’s just that his most recent attempt at a 1st round defensive player was undersized and a bust.

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

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

by Wonko on Mar 23, 2011 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

So rec'd

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Mar 24, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

No question

that DE & OLB are needs. I believe that DE is a little deeper in this draft, but is there an OLB worthy of the 18 pick? IMO, it certainly isn’t Kerrigan. MAYBE Justin Houston.

This could be the reason that there is talk of trading back in to the 28 spot. AJ could have someone like Brooks Reed targeted & feels he won’t make it to 50.

Either way – no, I’m not comfortable with who we have in that unit. Barnes is a situational guy, although I like him. English is a big ? Frankly, I’d consider moving Applewhite inside.

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Mar 24, 2011 4:43 AM PDT reply actions

Where does Holt fit in?

He is still on the roster at OLB although I thought he played more ILB during the season. He was a speed guy coming out of college, but is woeful undersized for a 3-4 OLB

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Mar 24, 2011 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

ST player only, at this point

Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.

by John Gennaro on Mar 24, 2011 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Houston a Bolt?

Houston is a really interesting option people do not seem to connect with the Chargers. Is that by design? Nobody saw Cason being drafted by us. We showed virtually no interest in him before the draft.

There seem to be a lot of mixed reviews on him. Some scouts think he can immediately produce 10 sacks, while others think he is too stiff a rusher. I think the guy is a natural rusher with some good moves at his disposal. He has a very good first step and attacks the play in front of him well. Plus he showed up at 270 with 4.68 speed at the combine. He reminds me a little bit of Orakpo and Woodley in some ways. If we took him at 18 I would not be disappointed, especially over Kerrigan.

by Rob Oz on Mar 24, 2011 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

I still like Kerrigan over Houston,

I like guys who give high effort, with excellent tape, Kerrigan surprised a lot of people testing really well (4.7 forty), Houston I have heard inconsistent effort, not really interested on running plays.

Kerrigan gets confused as an overarchiever not athletic white guy, his combine stats say he can convert to OLB, and he’s more than athletic enough for 3-4 OLB. And there is no question who is a better player right now between Houston and Kerrigan.

See the senior bowl. Kerrigan shows moves and a burst, would I prefer Quinn, Watt, Jordan over Kerrigan yes, but Kerrigan sounds just about right for pick 18, if none of those guys is around.

by TJBOLT on Mar 24, 2011 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Perhaps not Houston or Kerrigan, but maybe Quinn

I totally hear you, but I still have reservations about Kerrigan. My opinion has been iffy on Houston and only recently have I warmed up to him so perhaps the same will occur with Kerrigan. In either case, I think I prefer a Sheard, Carter, Acho or Reed (probably will be gone) later in the draft and focus on DE. I try not to put a lot of stock in the 40 as time and again players have run fast times only to not translate it to the field. However, I do recognize that it has some importance. Tenacity is obviously a great trait for a player, but how much of his production stems from his effort masking talent deficiencies? I can’t answer that, but there seem to be enough questions about his explosion and fluidity as an athlete to give me pause. I believe if we are drafting an OLB high there should be no doubt about his explosion off the edge. I find it interesting that Kerrigan and Houston have similar weight, 40’s and 10 yard splits (which I think is important for a pass rusher) though. Houston had an insane 44 QB hurries btw, but Kerrigan had 26 tackles for a loss. Both impressive.

Kerrigan is very similar to Chris Long and has been compared to him by Kiper. While Long is definitely a good player, he does not have the type of impact that we need. I’m not sure that Houston has the ability to either though.

I have also lost interest in Aldon Smith because there are a lot of people questioning his ability to be effective in a 3-4 and think that he is suited exclusively as 43 end.

One guy we may target is Quinn. There are no questions of his ability as he may be the best overall player in the draft. Say he falls out of the top 10, a team like the vikings, who do need a DE, but greatly need a QB could decide to trade back and take maybe a Locker or Ponder. We have the firepower to move up, but I still like Cameron Jordan a lot if we do. There are plenty of questions surrounding him though and his character could very well make us pass as we value it more highly than most. He was caught up in the agent scandal, so perhaps he is not considered a character risk and the incident is not indicative of his overall person. The other concern is the brain tumor he has as it is considered benign but is still scaring some teams. Perhaps that causes him to fall far enough for us to target him if he clears the medical staff.

Our defense is clearly missing a difference maker. We once had arguably the best defensive player in football in Merriman, and for a season Cro was also a force. We are completely missing that type of presence and Quinn is the one player who could change that. He is the type of athlete who can emerge as the best pass rusher in this draft, even over guys like Miller and Bowers. He has a plethora of issues to overcome to reach that potential though. AJ has shown in the past that he is willing to take risks on players with potential like Cromartie and Castillo, and to a lesser extent guys like Martin and Van Burren. It remains to be seen if they will target him or entirely remove him from the draft board, but there is no denying the vast potential Robert Quinn has that no other player we can reasonably target provides.

by Rob Oz on Mar 24, 2011 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I have been heavy on the Quinn bandwagon

I completely agree on the Merriman comparison, and the need for the difference maker, must game plan for player. NFL network mentioned that the Redskins at pick 10, has been put their up for trade so that would probably the spot to trade up for Quinn.

Quinn was very honest about his mistake, and admitted the situation with the agents, so maybe just maybe AJ Smith, will not downgrade the character situation with him. As I see it, this team has 5 picks in the first 3 rounds, and their biggest need is a true difference maker on Defense.

I like Kerrigan, Watt & Jordan, but I think all 3 will probably solid complementary players, I think for the chargers needs the only players who could be true difference makers would be: Von Miller, Robert Quinn & Patrick Peterson. They have the ammunition lets hope they take a reasonable gamble.

by TJBOLT on Mar 24, 2011 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Why would AJ

overlook Quinn’s transgressions & not Austin’s?

I like Quinn as well, although I’m not crazy about the idea of trading picks to move up.

In the DE thread the statement was made that Austin is off AJ’s board because of his issues at UNC. If that’s the case, why not Quinn as well?

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Mar 25, 2011 4:00 AM PDT reply actions

I think he'd overlook both

I don’t even see why they’d be an issue. However, I thought I heard that Austin’s interviews didn’t go well and that’s why his transgressions might be weighing heavier.

Personally, I don’t think of Austin as a 3-4 guy and I do think of Quinn that way. But, I’ve been wrong before…

The National League West title was all but a lock,
Then they lost 10 in a row, ‘twas like a punch in the jock!

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

by Wonko on Mar 25, 2011 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions

As I said in another post, Austin and Quinn are completely different cases. Quinn is said to be a good person by some. Austin on the other hand, is not. A scout said this to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Austin "if he had any character at all he would be a 1st round pick. he’s a punk but he has special, special feet. He does some athletic stuff that makes you go Holy $@*#%".

by Rob Oz on Mar 25, 2011 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Not trying to beat a dead horse

but I would suppose that scouts can be just as biased in their attitudes about certain players as fans,

Both Quinn & Austin are elite athletes. And, unlike Cam Thomas, i did not see anywhere near the same lack of effort from Austin. I believe that he could play the 5-tech pretty well – he’s stout against the run & can apply enough pressure to draw double teams.