About That Eric Weddle Contract...

by John Gennaro on Jan 12, 2012 10:56 AM PST in San Diego Chargers Statistics

Remember in the offseason, right after Eric Weddle agreed to stay with the San Diego Chargers and signed a 5-year $40-million contract, when anonymous sources from around the league were saying that the Bolts had grossly overpaid? I do. I'm sure Eric does.

At the time, I was more concerned with correcting people than anything else. Everybody kept screaming about Weddle being made the "highest paid safety in NFL history". I, along with my lovely staff of sentinels, was quick to point out that Weddle was not the highest paid safety in history, or this year, or in the AFC West. That title goes to Eric Berry, who the Chiefs gave a 6-year $60-million contract to before ever seeing him play a snap in the NFL. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that Weddle's deal has more guaranteed money, but that's hardly the point.

The Chargers front office replied to these criticisms the same way they reply to all criticisms: faith and arrogance. Actually, I wish they would put a banner up at Chargers Park where the giant Antonio Cromartie poster used to be that said "San Diego Chargers: Faith and Arrogance". Anyway, A.J. Smith and others said that they were not paying Mr. Weddle for the player that he had been, but rather for the player they believe he could be. It's a philosophy that didn't quite work out with Jyles Tucker, but there were plenty of signs that Weddle was right on the cusp of becoming something special.

So how did his first season with this new contract stack up against other Safeties around the league? Pretty good, actually.

Interceptions

Weddle finished tied for the league lead in interceptions with 7 of them. In terms of Safeties, he was all alone. Here's how they ranked out:

Eric Weddle - 7
Dashon Goldson - 6
Matt Giordano - 5
Charlie Peprah - 5

Passes Defensed

I believe a "defended pass" means the defender to get his fingers on the ball. This is why defensive linemen get them sometimes in their stat lines and why interceptions count towards them. Once again, Weddle was the class of the Safeties.

Eric Weddle - 19
Kam Chancellor - 16
Reggie Nelson - 16
Troy Polamalu - 16

Tackles

This is an odd stat. For years, Weddle has been one of the better Safeties in the league at racking up the tackles. However, that has been more of a criticism on the Chargers front-seven those season than a compliment to Eric. With Donald Butler getting to those guys first this year, Weddle lost a lot of his tackling opportunities. Still, among Safeties, Weddle finished with the 15th most tackles for a Safety in the league.

Eric Weddle had himself a fine season, more than living up to his contract, and he did it with his best friend (though, admittedly, a flawed player) Steve Gregory playing next to him and no pass rush to help him at all. If the Chargers start next season with a good SS and a pass-rusher to compliment Shaun Phillips, Weddle's numbers might be even better in 2012.

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Comments

How do you write this without mentioning the All Pro selection?

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 11:05 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

And I take issue with the idea that Weddle wasn't already a great player. He was 2nd team All Pro in 2010.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Also I want a Faith & Arrogance t-shirt. I would totally wear that.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 11:05 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

how about a BFTB shirt...

oh wait…

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by QuesaDiaz on Jan 12, 2012 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

glares at creanium

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by John Gennaro on Jan 12, 2012 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

How about John gets to eat a "Faith and Arrogance" hat?

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by creanium on Jan 12, 2012 11:20 AM PST up reply actions

I'd rather have the hat.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 11:24 AM PST up reply actions

Nice

good to see his performance was on target with the paycheck. all those clowns clownin on E-Dub’s contract before the season… hater’s gonna hate, but numbers don’t lie.

thanks for addressing the Passes Defensed vs Defended, it never made sense to me. Whenever somebody says it, i always think they need a refresher on the past tense of defend as an action, where defense is a thing. like saying he the balled the throw.

"Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow."- Zappa

by QuesaDiaz on Jan 12, 2012 11:07 AM PST reply actions

Weddle was a beast in 2009 as well.

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say sh-- or fu-- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
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by Superduperboltman on Jan 12, 2012 11:38 AM PST reply actions

I love that he lived up the hype

But I made the mistake of reading the comments after the UT article lauding Weddle’s accomplishments and HOLY CRAP will people find anything to complain about.. Now it’s that he’s a self centered jerk because he talked about HIMSELF in an article in which he was asked questions ABOUT HIMSELF.. Gahhhhhhhh

by UTBoltFan on Jan 12, 2012 11:43 AM PST reply actions

Learn from this mistake, like I did

Don’t ever look over the comments in the UT (or really, any newspaper). No good can come from that.

by CABurrito on Jan 12, 2012 12:50 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs

This is so true.

I feel pretty bad for Kevin Acee, writing to a fanbase like that (boo! mouth of AJ smith! etc. etc.)…maybe you guys could lure him here for cash considerations and witnessing a man eat his hat!

by Falawful on Jan 12, 2012 7:52 PM PST up reply actions

will probably get more picks with a pass rush

by chargerclipperfan on Jan 12, 2012 11:49 AM PST reply actions

This is tru

by Lightning619 on Jan 12, 2012 11:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

hope we draft upshaw or we can get bruce irvin in the 2nd or 3rd

by chargerclipperfan on Jan 12, 2012 1:05 PM PST up reply actions

It's also worth noting that teams stopped throwing in his direction in the latter part of the year.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 3:33 PM PST up reply actions

Weddle had a great season and proved that he was worth every penny

Weddle has steadily improved each season and I would say this was a breakout year for him.

Not only has he proved he is worth the contract but he has also validated the draft day trade by AJ to move up with the Bears and get him.

by SDBear on Jan 12, 2012 12:53 PM PST via mobile reply actions

I think they should have a big Norv poster

It could read, “Faith and Ignorance”.

by SDBear on Jan 12, 2012 12:54 PM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I remember when the contract was signed and then criticized by those not in the know, I was curious about how Weddle actually stacked up with other top safeties at that point in their careers. Turns out that Weddle’s first 4 years actually line pretty well, stats wise, with Polamalu’s first 4 (granted that DB stats are tough to interpret).

Weddle will continue to be overlooked and underrated for a lot of reasons, but I’m glad that at least the pro bowl and all pro voters are finally realizing his value.

by CABurrito on Jan 12, 2012 12:57 PM PST reply actions

Weddle earned his contract.

The bigger problem is the miss use or non recognition of current personnel. Barnes is the answer oppsite SP95 but all we fans hear is he not an every snap player? We have got to be the only team who wont commit to a young player who performs! A team leading11 sacks, our run d was and has always been horrible Laboy did nothing to improve that so why not give Barnes feature starter snaps? 15 years into his carrer Spikes is the player who should not have been an every down player. Focus is on an Aging Mathis for pass rush when we need to take a chance on a player like Burfict, who could benefit from splitting time with Spikes grooming him for the future.

by Daryl Peek on Jan 12, 2012 3:25 PM PST reply actions

Really?

Barnes is the answer oppsite SP95 but all we fans hear is he not an every snap player? We have got to be the only team who wont commit to a young player who performs! A team leading11 sacks, our run d was and has always been horrible Laboy did nothing to improve that so why not give Barnes feature starter snaps?

He’s not an every down player and playing as many snaps as he did hurt his production. I don’t know what about this you find offensive.

15 years into his carrer Spikes is the player who should not have been an every down player.

Spikes played more snaps than was ideal for the same reason Barnes did: injuries and lack of better options.

Focus is on an Aging Mathis for pass rush when we need to take a chance on a player like Burfict, who could benefit from splitting time with Spikes grooming him for the future.

Who is focusing on Robert Mathis? You’re the first person in this comment section to bring up his name. Also, in what world does signing a free agent defensive end to play outside linebacker preclude drafting an amateur player to play inside linebacker? Please explain what these things have to do with one another.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 3:38 PM PST up reply actions

Acee is in love with Mathis

I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s starting to get into people’s mindset that he is the focus for the offseason.

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by Wonko on Jan 12, 2012 4:05 PM PST up reply actions

I guess.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 4:13 PM PST up reply actions

i would rather get someone thats used to a 3-4 defense already

or a SS that can help right away in free agency

by chargerclipperfan on Jan 12, 2012 4:14 PM PST up reply actions

Please, no more Colt castoffs

Although I suppose Tommie Harris and Dante Hughes played decent at times.

We all know Sanders was a complete bust.

by SDBear on Jan 12, 2012 7:14 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Keep in mind we are all arm chair GM's and head coaching pundits. IMO is the stanza.

If Barnes production was hurt for playing too many snaps then 11 sacks is an indicator he can handle more.

Spikes lived up to expectation. Mouton was the back up plan but given Norv’s unwillingness to trust rookies with a heavy work load. I doubt Spikes would have played any less snaps.

I brought Mathis up because I hear his name in correlation with improving our pass rush. In our 3-4 scheme LB’s were the pass rush specialist in the past, Merriman, Phillips, Applewhite, Barnes, always injured English, Burnett & Siler all had the bulk of our sacks. Garay is the only D-lineman to register more than 3 sacks in our scheme over the past couple of years. 2010 pass rush was not an issue with 47 (tied for second in the league) as a team under Rivera. MLB and SS is the constant soft spot that’s why Burfict is in my help for Weddle rant.

by Daryl Peek on Jan 12, 2012 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

I feel like you don't know what the word "stanza" means.

Spikes lived up to expectation. Mouton was the back up plan but given Norv’s unwillingness to trust rookies with a heavy work load. I doubt Spikes would have played any less snaps.

Norv is unwilling to trust rookies? Liuget played a ton. Also, Spikes definitely would have played fewer snaps.

2010 pass rush was not an issue with 47 (tied for second in the league) as a team under Rivera.

That’s simply untrue. The pass rush was, in fact, an issue in 2010. They got very little consistent pressure.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 6:56 PM PST up reply actions

Pass rush

Second most sacks in the NFL, how is pass rush a problem when you get to the QB more than 28-30 other teams?

by Daryl Peek on Jan 12, 2012 9:08 PM PST up reply actions

Because

The majority of those sacks came in blowout games. Games where piling on the sacks were flashy, but not exactly the differences between wins and losses. This is why he used the word “consistent”.

Also, the Chargers had the benefit of multiple (already bad) teams last year losing QBs midgame. Attacking these really helped the sack totals, but didn’t translate to games where the pressure would have helped the defense win a close game against a good opponent.

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by Wonko on Jan 13, 2012 12:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Or even a game against a bad opponent, as it turned out in late December.

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by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 13, 2012 12:46 PM PST up reply actions

Thank you.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 13, 2012 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

3 sacks per game last year

he’s got a point. There were a few games where pressure wasn’t there, but admit it, that happens to even the best teams: (Baltimore sacked Rivers how many times?)

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say sh-- or fu-- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."
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by Superduperboltman on Jan 13, 2012 5:38 AM PST up reply actions

Pressure is more than sacks.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 13, 2012 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

Barnes

Yes Barnes can rush the passer I give him mad props for his skills. But he is horrible against the run vanishes completely.

by Nicky Mac on Jan 12, 2012 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

Barnes is so average to me as a linebacker

I feel like he has a really limited ceiling as specifically a pass rusher. His primary tools are a non-stop motor and an average speed rush. I guess this means he’ll eventually get a sack, but it certainly doesn’t generate instant pressure that Larry English was beginning to show before his season ending injury…again. And that’s what the team needs(helps create more mis-throws and what-not). Also, yes, his run defense sucks, because he can’t defend a point of attack well. As it stands, our dbs have to create coverage sacks which Barnes revels in…but the dbs aren’t getting anything back.

by Falawful on Jan 12, 2012 8:00 PM PST up reply actions

Barnes

Is any one on our D-line not named Castillo or Jamal Williams helping in run support? How about coaching up LB run support? We have been extremely soft against the run as a team since Jamal was let go. IJS

by Daryl Peek on Jan 12, 2012 5:04 PM PST reply actions

They were well above average against the run in 2010.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2012 6:58 PM PST up reply actions

Gotta love the old "Told you so" article

I’ll admit, I knew that Weddle was going to be better this season than he was last season, and that he was going to have his best season as a Charger…But there’s no way I saw him getting more interceptions than Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu…combined!

by jkvandal on Jan 12, 2012 6:56 PM PST reply actions

I was one of the few who were not on the Weddle bandwagon

before this season and by week 3 or 4 it was becoming quite obvious to me that I was wrong. He proved that he is a top safety and I am glad that he is locked up for the next few years.

by JeromeB on Jan 13, 2012 10:25 AM PST reply actions

Definitely Worth the Money

I gotta say… I’ve pretty much been on the Weddle bandwagon since January of 2008 when he effectively ended Peyton’s (potentially) game winning drive. I won’t say that he has been SPECTACULAR every week, but he has been consistent and reliable every time he’s been on the field.

by Bolts_Fan_in_TX on Jan 13, 2012 10:39 PM PST reply actions