San Diego Chargers: Life Without Marcus McNeill
by John Gennaro on Feb 8, 2012 3:00 PM PST
in BFTB Editorials
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PrintYesterday, our favorite Silver Fox went and posted an article that he absolutely didn't copy the idea of from Wonko. In the article, he said that San Diego Chargers fans should probably prepare for the team to waive/release Left Tackle Marcus McNeill. In addition, he said that the team will try and restructure the contract of longtime DE Luis Castillo, might consider cutting veteran ILB Takeo Spikes and still don't know if Kris Dielman will ever play again.
If all of these things were to happen, A.J. Smith would be left with an awful lot of cash to use on the 2012 team (possibly his last season with the team). However, he'd also be opening up some large holes on his roster that he would need production from immediately. Namely, he would need to replace McNeill and Dielman by the beginning of the season while hoping that Jonas Mouton is about to become the next Donald Butler. A tall task, and one that will probably eat up most of that money.
The one thing that scenario would allow for is for Smith to shift money to different parts of his roster. If he could free up the $15 million or so from McNeill and Dielman coming off the books and replace them with a first-round OT (about $2 million) and Jared Gaither (let's say $5 million), moving Jeromey Clary to Guard, that would free up $8 million right there that could be moved to the defensive side of the ball to pick up a free agent pass-rusher.
That would be a good amount of change on the offensive line, with it going from McNeill / Dielman / Hardwick / Vasquez / Clary to something like Gaither / Vasquez / Hardwick / Clary / rookie, but if Gaither can perform as he did in 2011 the plan would work and free up plenty of money.
Another key is signing will be Nick Hardwick, but Acee estimated that through all of the cuts and restructures that the team could end up with about $23 million in leftover cash. That should be more than enough to bring back Hardwick, sign a pass-rusher, bring back Jacob Hester and either re-sign or replace Mike Tolbert. The team could even sign Vincent Jackson to a long-term deal that is friendlier for the 2012 cap to help Norv and A.J. make a run this season and keep their jobs.
After complaining yesterday that the team needed to make a decision on Darrell Stuckey, the Chargers announced Stuckey will be the starting Strong Safety in 2012. It seems they're making decisions now, not playing the "let's see how things look in training camp" card, and getting ready to reshape the team into a playoff contender in one offseason. It will take some heartbreak (like McNeill getting cut) and some risky decisions (like trusting Gaither to hold up at LT), but it looks like A.J. and Company are ready for it. I like it.
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I like this! But how would Clary do at Guard?
Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.
Nick Diaz was robbed. UFC 143.
works
this could work…or do you start Gaithers/rookie/Hardwick/Vasquez/Clary instead of having a Rookie play with Clary playing a new position?
This sounds more like the AJ Smith and Norv Turner I know.
Or maybe flip Vasquez to LG and put a rookie at RG. I wouldn’t guess mgmt would move Clary.
by Orz on Feb 8, 2012 3:54 PM PST up reply actions
Here's the reason for getting an OT instead of a OG
You don’t really want to dedicate too high of a pick for a Guard, and getting an OT in the first round let’s you get someone who could one day play LT and letting him learn the league a bit playing RT. Similar to what the Ravens tried to do with Gaither/Oher. This way you don’t have to sign Gaither too long-term or can move him when he starts slowing down.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."
I'm not sure
But he has been better at run blocking than pass blocking. So that seems to point to guard. If memory serves, he gets beat by speed rushers usually.
This is all true
but a guard has to be able to pull, especially in a power-o offense like the Chargers do. I suspect Clary’s too big to effectively fulfill those roles. Also, because of his height there could be issues with passing lanes.
Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.
Nick Diaz was robbed. UFC 143.
When did they ever say Stuckey would start?
I just heard he would get more of an opportunity.
Also, what about cutting Clary (who I do like) and just sticking with Tyronne Green (cheaper) at LG (he played with a busted arm and still played well)
Nobody is cutting clary anytime soon...they JUST paid him!
by Orz on Feb 8, 2012 3:57 PM PST up reply actions
It costs more to cut him than retain him cap-wise.
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 Feb 8, 2012 4:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
starter
yes, this is new to me?? maybe they didnt have to announce it?? isnt gregory a FA anyway?
Someone emailed me yesterday with the news
I guess all they said was that he’d get an opportunity there. Still sounds like “starter until he screws up” to me.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."
Stuckey seems like a reach as the starter to me
but maybe he will work out. I would like to see a safety added in the off season.
Mark Barron of Alabama?
what do you think him as SS?
I would love to see the Chargers get Barron
He seems to make big plays in every game that I have watched.
I think Wonko noted that it'd be more expensive to cut Clary
than it is to keep him. And why all the hate? Clary’s not too bad, and he’s fairly stout against the run. He just has to work on his feet quickness against speed rushers. The point is, the Chargers could do worse at RT.
Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.
Nick Diaz was robbed. UFC 143.
by Falawful on Feb 8, 2012 4:15 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
speed rushers
if that’s the case, then i guess moving him into RG might not be a bad idea.
Exactly
This is the main reason Clary is known as getting false starts. He has everything but a quick first step (meaning speed rushers have the advantage) and tries to make up for it by getting back as fast as possible. At guard, you don’t really need a quick first step. This is why they typically get paid less.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."
Hmm, okay.
Well, we’ll see what goes down in the next few months from the management. With that argument, I can understand the switch though.
Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.
Nick Diaz was robbed. UFC 143.
Are we sure Clary had that many false starts this year?
I thought that was more of a 2009 season problem for him.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
Actually
It was 2008 where he set his career high with 5 false starts. He had 4 in 2011. So he gets one about every 4 games.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
It's not a ton
I’m aware of that. But it’s more than the rest of the line, methinks.
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."
McNeill had 6 last year
Career high. But, he’s had years with 4 and 5 as well (and 3, which is very close to 4).
Hardwick has had 4 in his whole career. Vasquez has had 1 in his whole career. Dielman is usually good for 1 or 2 a year. Gaither has had as many as 6 in one season where he started 15 games and never less than 2 in the other seasons (which were seasons where he didn’t get a ton of starts).
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
The reference is to this article on Chargers.com
Stuckey to get chance on defense.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
Hey Everyone: Clary is not getting cut
As much as a lot of people hate him, he isn’t so bad that its worth an extra 5 million in dead cap space for him NOT to be on the Chargers.
Accept that fact right now and lets all try to move on with our lives.
didnt know that
i wasnt saying he should be cut because he is bad (as i said i like him) i just thought he was expensive
He's not
Bolts from the Blue - Destroying your opinions with facts.
Richard Wade - "I feel like me from four years ago would punch present me in the face. I like to think that's because I've grown as a person."
well then thank you for clearing that up
and I never said i didn’t like him, iv always supported Clary, calm down people
From now on, you'll be known as that Clary-hater...
Not changing this signature until John Gennaro eats his hat.
Nick Diaz was robbed. UFC 143.
Clary hater!
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
Probably.
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
Hasn't. He's going to.
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 Feb 12, 2012 8:46 PM PST up reply actions
Farewell Big Mac, you goofy giant
In my life I have owned one Charger Jersey: his powder blue #73. I guess I’ll have to get some tape and turn it a 78 and sharpie in “Gaither” over the nameplate.
Best of luck to McNeill and thanks for all the blocks.
One more time for the Jeromey Clary discussers
Clary signed a 4 year, $20 million contract with a $6.8 million signing bonus before last season.
The way the cap works is that signing bonus counts against the cap in equal pieces over the course of the deal. In a 4 year deal at $6.8 million, that means it counts $1.7 million each year.
If you cut the player, you immediately get hit with the amount of the signing bonus that hasn’t counted against the cap yet. Since the Chargers have only counted $1.7 million, that means the cap hit is $6.8M – $1.7M = $5.1M.
Clary’s salary for 2012 is $2.85M. His cap number if he stays is ($2.85M + $1.7M =) $4.55M. And, as mentioned, the cap number to cut him is $5.1M.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
by Wonko on Feb 8, 2012 4:22 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
clarification
thanks for the breakdown…thats why i asked on your article.
Hahaha
Clary-fication.
"second base is the bizness." -jbox
Bolts from the Blue - San Diego Chargers Blog Created By The Fans, For The Fans
by Wonko on Feb 8, 2012 4:25 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
They"ll live
McNeill has been just above average / good since his 3rd year anyway. Free up that money and do something drastic…Mario Williams. Gaither will do fine. Dielman needs to retire. With the way he plays there will be more concussions. Mario Williams. Green is solid as longs as he has two hands. A 2-3 year contract for Hardwick sounds good to me. Thoughts on Baxter though? Oh yeah and…Mario Williams.
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