If I had to guess, I'd think that many of you probably are more inclined to think about future Chargers than current Chargers after that Thursday Night loss to the Raiders. Whether you believe that the team needs more depth to withstand these type of injury issues or you just think that the current players aren't cutting it, then the draft is probably the answer to these concerns. The other thing that comes out of the realities of this loss and the others before it is that there is much more of a possibility that the Chargers will be picking high. That means we might focus a little more on those impact top of the 1st type players that the Bolts may get a shot to draft. For my money, I hope that next impact player is a pass rusher. Elite pass rushers are game changers and can prevent those deep bombs we saw the Chargers get burned by.
Injuries are another thing that came out of this last game. I'm very, very concerned about Marcus McNeill's injury. Perhaps it was a little knock to his neck that required more precaution than concern, but who knows? The Chargers might be in the market for a new blind side protector sooner rather than later. We'll have to wait and see. Kris Dielman's concussion and Shaun Phillips' foot are also concerns, but also still in wait-and-see mode. For now, the team needs chart stays the same.
| 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, TE, OLB |
S, ILB, WR, RB, TE, CB |
QB, K, OG, OLB, DT, DE, TE |
Last week we covered a big game that didn't live up to the hype on an entertainment level, but gave some good looks at some of the top defensive talent. This week we'll go a little lighter with a rivalry game that doesn't have near the national significance. One team we covered way back in Week 3 and the other has been a tough one to find on local television after a scandal put a scarlet letter on their program.
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The state of Florida has become well known for producing football talent. Both these schools have produce a number of good NFL players of the past few decades. Miami perhaps more famously so with their players simply referring to their school as The U and having a number of perennial Pro Bowlers and future Hall of Famers in the NFL right now. I'm not sure any of these players will live up to that, but they will get their chance since there's talent in this game and some of it could be very interesting to the Chargers. |
I'll go over the individual players after the jump.
| BFTB Scouting Targets: | |||||
| Player | School | Pos. | Class | Height | Weight |
| Brandon Jenkins |
Florida St. |
DE | Jr. | 6'3 | 255 lbs |
| Excellent pass rusher, but only a junior so he may not come out. He's considered undersized for a 4-3 DE so a move to 3-4 OLB will be necessary, which is fine by the Chargers. This game is not the toughest test for him. He's got something to prove against the run, but he's not facing the greatest run offense. It'll be a chance to show off how good of a pass rusher he is, but Oklahoma's OTs are experience, but are only fringe NFL prospects. Landry Jones is pretty savvy, so that could be the biggest challenge for him. (2nd Round) |
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| Ray Ray Armstrong | Miami | S | Jr. | 6'3 | 212 lbs |
| Tall, well built safety who still has some speed with that size. Many scouts look to the hips for what a safety will become and his are fluid and seem NFL worthy. His strong suit is coverage, but has a little trouble concentrating when he could get an interception. He can provide good backup when it comes to tackling, but he's only a decent in-the-box safety. Despite Miami's reputation, he's not a troublemaker. He's mature and does well in school. (2nd round) | |||||
| Adewale Ojomo | Miami | DE | Jr. | 6'3 | 258 lbs |
| You should know by now that a DE with that body type is an OLB in the Chargers defense. Unfortunately, his strength seems to be run defense and is thought to not be an elite pass rusher. However, he's very good at stopping the run and has a lot of football smarts and a high motor. He works hard to get to the QB, but speed and closing burst are the real question. Had a locker room fight in 2009 that result in a broken jaw. (3rd round) | |||||
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Nigel Bradham |
Florida St. |
OLB |
Sr. | 6'2 | 238 lbs |
| Smallish OLB that would be a 3-4 ILB candidate like Jonas Mouton. (3rd round) |
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| Sean Spence | Miami | OLB | Sr. | 5'11 | 222 lbs |
| Another candidate to change positions since he'd be an ILB to the Chargers. His lack of bulk is a big question mark. However, he's well conditioned and put in the hard work to try to add bulk. Smart football player with good instincts. Reads QBs well and can identify routes quckly. There may not be a better college football player at this kind of recognition. He plays tough and will get in the mix in the run game, but might just be at best a nickel linebacker in the NFL. (3rd round) | |||||
| Travis Benjamin | Miami | WR/KR | Sr. | 5'9 | 164 lbs |
| At his size, the best he can hope for in the NFL is to return kicks and be a situational playmaker. Combine will be huge for him because scouts will be curious how his speed, which grades as elite, times out. Ball skills are still improving and will be a big issue even if he's able to get consistent separation in the NFL. (5th round) | |||||
| Laron Byrd | Miami | WR | Sr. | 6'3 | 216 lbs |
| Unlike Benjamin, who is as far away as you can be from ideal receiver size, Byrd has prototypical size. He's also got much better hands and can be counted on to make tough catches. Also, has good body technique to help make those catches. Speed and burst are question marks and he'll need to prove he can get open at the next level (late rounds) | |||||
| NFL Prospects: | |||||
| Player | School | Pos. | Class | Height | Weight |
| Andrew Datko | Florida St. | OT | Sr. | 6'6 | 314 lbs |
| Good prospect, not a need for the Chargers. (2nd round) | |||||
| Zebrie Sanders | Florida St. | OT | Sr. | 6'5 | 295 lbs |
| Another good OT prospect. This a great opportunity for a pass rushing prospect to emerge from Oklahoma if he can beat one or both of these guys. I'm not sure who that would be though. (2nd round) |
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| Player | School | Pos. | Class | Height | Weight |
| Beau Reliford | Florida St. | TE | Sr. | 6'5 | 255 lbs |
| Big target. Same note applies her as it did for Hanna above. (UDFA) | |||||
| David Spurlock | Florida St. | OG | Sr. | 6'4 | 296 lbs |
| Chargers could need some depth at OG. (UDFA) | |||||
| Terrence Parks | Florida St. | S | Sr. | 6'1 | 215 lbs |
| Big bodied sleeper prospect as Safety. (UDFA) | |||||
| Micanor Regis | Miami | DT | Sr. | 6'3 | 302 lbs |
| He'd be a 3-4 DE. (UDFA) | |||||
| Blake Ayles | Miami | TE | Sr. | 6'4 | 258 lbs |
| Miami's produced plenty of great NFL TEs. Could this sleeper prospect surprise people by ending up a part of that tradition. (UDFA) | |||||
| Ramon Buchanon | Miami | OLB | Sr. | 6'1 | 216 lbs |
| Small LB could make up for it with speed and a frame to add bulk. (UDFA) | |||||
| Tyler Horn | Miami | OC | Sr. | 6'3 | 299 lbs |
| You typically don't spend high picks on Centers so any sleeper could be a future starter or backup. (UDFA) | |||||
| Harland Gunn | Miami | OG | Sr. | 6'2 | 304 lbs |
| Chargers can't afford to overlook any sleepers at OG. (UDFA) | |||||
| Joel Figueroa | Miami | OG | Sr. | 6'5 | 325 lbs |
| Size makes him worth taking a look at a need position. (UDFA) | |||||
| Chase Ford | Miami | TE | Sr. | 6'6 | 253 lbs |
| Miami stacks them deep at TE. Got to find out who is more worthy of the NFL. (UDFA) | |||||
| Jojo Nicolas | Miami | S | Sr. | 6'0 | 198 lbs |
| Miami's lesser safety prospect. (UDFA) | |||||
| Aldarius Johnson | Miami | WR | Sr. | 6'3 | 222 lbs |
| Big target at WR. (UDFA) | |||||