San Diego Chargers Daily Links: January 20, 2012

by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 6:01 AM PST in San Diego Chargers Daily Links

Chargers Interview Three Players at Shrine Practices - Ernie Padaon
The San Diego Chargers are present during the East-West Shrine practices. Yesterday we shared that the Bolts were eyeing Alabama WR Darius Hanks. Today we found a few more prospects that the Chargers have made contacts with.

Spanos Looks To Rebuild Chargers In Off-Season - Paul Mahan
It was a unique experience to see and hear about. It took heart and some courage to stand up to the firing line. But you wonder if the community really believes him?

Kickoff: Madden NFL and the Future of Video Game Sports - Tom Bissell
Sport-based video games occupy an odd space within the sphere of modern home entertainment. Reliably enjoyed by millions, the sport-based video game stands at what sometimes feels like an oblique angle from the larger medium, and in ways that can be hard to articulate.

L.T. wishes Ryan would pipe down, says Sanchez is pampered - Dan Hanzus
The more LaDainian Tomlinson talks, the more it becomes clear he won't be a Jet next season. That would explain the candidness in which Tomlinson has discussed the recent ills that have befallen the franchise. The future Hall of Fame running back hasn't trashed Gang Green, but he's also unafraid to answer questions other Jets will only touch using the cloak of anonymity after an 8-8, playoff-free season.

The Bark Side: 2012 Volkswagen Game Day Commercial Teaser - YouTube
A canine chorus barks a familiar tune. Keep an eye out for our 2012 Game Day commercial—it will all make sense.

Qualcomm Stadium Renaming Controversy Lingers - Chris Moore
The City Council can retroactively ratify the agreement that temporarily changed the name of Qualcomm Stadium but doesn't have to, the City Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

San Diego Mayoral Candidates’ Opinions on the New Chargers’ Stadium Issue - Esther Rubio-Sheffrey
Despite the Chargers' losing season, negotiations over a new stadium (the results of which may or may not see the team leave the city) remain at the forefront of San Diego's political discussions.

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Despite the Chargers’ losing season ,negotiations over a new stadium (the results of which may or may not see the team leave the city) remain at the forefront of San Diego’s political discussions.

Losing season? Did they just recycle this article from 2003?

by CABurrito on Jan 20, 2012 6:54 AM PST reply actions

you'd be surprised how much article recycling happens...

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by Superduperboltman on Jan 20, 2012 7:32 AM PST up reply actions

Probably.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 8:23 AM PST up reply actions

Richard

where’s the cheerleader pic?

Don't get excited when it's Wheelie time...
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Join my 4,554 other followers on twitter. @poyzinous

by Superduperboltman on Jan 20, 2012 7:33 AM PST reply actions

There will be plenty this off season.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 8:22 AM PST up reply actions

Also, I hate Volkswagen

though the commercial is pretty cute.

Don't get excited when it's Wheelie time...
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Join my 4,554 other followers on twitter. @poyzinous

by Superduperboltman on Jan 20, 2012 7:34 AM PST reply actions

I love that commercial so much. I'm going to make it my ringtone (because honestly I could stand to have fewer friends).

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Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 8:22 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I had never seen that commercial before

but I like it very much

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

Why you gotta hate on VW?

"The only thing I hate more than Raiders fans is Chargers fans." - A Chargers fan

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Bolts from the Blue

by creanium on Jan 20, 2012 10:18 AM PST up reply actions

#nazireasons

but seriously, I’ve always hated them. They’re mostly driven by the “everything else is so mainstream” hipsters, people who hate normal, functioning cup holders, bathe-once-a-week college girls that live in social obscurity, people who buy it as if it was their halfway car to a porsche, geriatric ex-child molesters, Apple freaks, twilight fans, bacon haters (vegetarians period), and people who wear black socks under their crocs when they go to church.
while all that is just silly personal reasons, I just hated working on VW’s (and Saabs) when I was a Mechanic because of all their illogical and unconventional designs that make fixing and diagnosing them a pain in the face.

Don't get excited when it's Wheelie time...
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by Superduperboltman on Jan 20, 2012 1:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

That's some quality hate.

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Bloody Elbow // "I think we're poking fun at Leland's 'boner.'" - Michael Fagan

by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 1:13 PM PST up reply actions

thanks

Don't get excited when it's Wheelie time...
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Join my 4,554 other followers on twitter. @poyzinous

by Superduperboltman on Jan 20, 2012 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Good to see the Chargers are looking at some Tight Ends

it’s time to get a guy in here that can sit behind Gates for a few seasons and be ready for when Gates decides to hang up the cleats. There’s not question this offense is much less explosive without that playmaker at TE.

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 10:33 AM PST reply actions

There are some really solid TEs in the draft

They aren’t at the Shrine Game, but I like a bunch and they’d be available in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Dwayne Allen, Orson Charles, Coby Fleener and Tyler Eifert (Tower).

Eddy Rodriguez and David Paulson are in that next group of TEs with a little less playmaker ability. But them, Michael Egnew and George Bryan (who is an the Shrine Game) can be offensive weapons. Ladarius Green is also interesting (he was on the team that beat SDSU in the bowl game).

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

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by Wonko on Jan 20, 2012 10:56 AM PST up reply actions

I hope we don't draft a TE early in this draft

Antonio Gates has proved he’s still functional…that aside, I do hope we draft Devan Wylie, plays like an animal in the highlight package.

Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.

by Falawful on Jan 20, 2012 11:03 AM PST up reply actions

I don't want a Gates replacement

I expect Gates to be here a while. I want to make the offense unstoppable, like the Patriots with Hernandez and Gronkowski.

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

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by Wonko on Jan 20, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions

This is what I want.

A pirate I was meant to be!
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scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 20, 2012 4:04 PM PST up reply actions

I'd argue that when Gates, Jackson, Floyd, and Mathews are healthy

and Rivers plays like he usually does, this offense is pretty unstoppable.

The Patriots have good TE’s like Hernandez and Gronkowski, but their weapons on the outside at WR aren’t as good as Jackson and Floyd…although they have a great slot WR.

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 8:35 PM PST up reply actions

All four of those guys spend most of the season injured.

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by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

From what I read

the Chargers seem to agree that they feel they need to draft a tight end high. I think it’s vital because 1) we’re going to need to replace Gates eventually and 2) we need to catch up with New England.

A pirate I was meant to be!
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From what I've seen I tell you
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by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 20, 2012 11:45 AM PST up reply actions

I hate giving NE credit for anything

but those two TE’s that they drafted make that offense even harder to stop without needing premier talent at WR or at RB. Those two TE’s give them a huge amount of flexibility out of 12 personnel…they can line up in a power run formation or flex out both guys and be in a 4 wide formation. Seems like half the time they have one play called in the huddle, but see how the defense lines up and shifts before the snap to attack the vulnerability.

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 11:58 AM PST up reply actions

Imagine if the Chargers had stayed at #28 in 2010

and chosen Gronkowski there. A bit of an overdraft, but look what it would have done for the offense in 2010 and 2011.

A pirate I was meant to be!
"You say you're nasty pirates,
scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 20, 2012 12:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I dunno

I’ll take Mathews over Gronkowski any day. Gronkowski is a monster, no doubt, in that New England offense. I’m just not sure that Gronkowski would have had that same role in San Diego. First off, he would be riding the pine when Gates was healthy, and remember the team had just let LT go so there was a huge hole at RB. As much as some people publicly say that they disliked the Mathews pick because of all that AJ gave up, they would have disliked a first round pick spent on a backup tight end even more.

I’ll say again, Gronkowski is very good, and he’s playing at his peak right now. I think Mathews is still rising and hasn’t yet seen his peak. With the threats that this offense has at WR, we needed a starter at RB more than we needed a backup TE.

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 12:58 PM PST up reply actions

You'd have had that expect 2nd round pick though to address the RB position.

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

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by Wonko on Jan 20, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions

this is true

but I still maintain that Ryan Mathews >> Ben Tate, Montario Hardesty, or Toby Gerhart

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 8:31 PM PST up reply actions

I could be convinced that a TE would be worth taking the 2nd or 3rd round, IF...

1. Pass rusher was taken care of (either through Free Agency or draft)
2. Offensive like was taken care of (questions with Dielman and McNeill answered)
3. Strong Safety was taken care of

Looking at the 2012 season, the list above are all greater needs than a backup tight end. Depending on what happens with Dielman and/or McNeill, the team may be in need of two starting OL. We also all know we need better starters at OLB and SS.

If there is not a good option at any of those positions in the 2nd or 3rd when we pick I would be okay with taking a playmaking TE.

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

The McNeill question is as answered as it's gonna get

He’s rehabbing in order to be playing this next season. That will still be the case on draft day.

The Chargers aren’t going to find a starting SS in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft. They may find someone who can start down the line, but that doesn’t seem to be what you are requiring.

The same most likely goes for the OG position. I doubt a 2nd or 3rd round OG will be better than Vasquez/Green.

"second base is the bizness." -jbox

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by Wonko on Jan 20, 2012 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

The Chargers could address the starting SS in free agency though

maybe, I haven’t really looked at the list of free agents available.

It’s nice to live by the concept that you can draft on best available player, but not when you are trying to keep your job as Norv and AJ are. They will be drafting to fill needs

by jkvandal on Jan 20, 2012 8:33 PM PST up reply actions

Tyvon Branch!

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Bolts from the Blue // "At least when Wade is spewing vitriol he does so with an intellectual flair." - insanebolt21
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by Richard Wade on Jan 20, 2012 9:30 PM PST up reply actions

Please Lord

let this come to pass.

A pirate I was meant to be!
"You say you're nasty pirates,
scheming, thieving, bad bushwackers?
From what I've seen I tell you
You're not pirates, you're just slackers!"

by Zach (maestro876) on Jan 20, 2012 11:57 PM PST via Android app up reply actions

Eifert is going back to Notre Dame, but the rest are good picks.

I’d be happy with the guy from Temple (Rodriguez, correct?) or Josh Chichester out of Louisville. The latter is a late-round pick who would probably require a few years of grooming to be at Gates’s level, but I can’t get over the fact that he’s got good hands and he’s six-foot-eight.

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by StrangeBroP25 on Jan 21, 2012 8:28 PM PST up reply actions