SB Nation - Darry Beckwith

Fans Will Be Watching LSU Defense

Richard Pittman — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:30:18 -0000

With the season fast approaching, I was trying to think of good topics to discuss to help you, the viewer, watch the right things and know what you're watching. Yesterday, I talked about the defensive line. Billy Gomilla helped me out and posted a nice piece on our wide receivers that actually used [gasp!] data. I was trying to come up with the next topic in this little pseudo-series, and I was thinking about the linebackers and the defensive backs, and the special teams units, and the reserves, and it finally occurred to me that the entire defense is one giant, barely differentiated topic of conversation that has been sadly neglected.

The whole defense is changing. Not only do we have a new defensive coordinator, but it is possible that literally none of the opening night starters from the 2008 season will be opening night starters at the same position in 2009. All four defensive line starters are gone, as are middle linebacker Darry Beckwith and free safety Curtis Taylor. Starting strong safety Harry Coleman is now starting strongside linebacker Harry Coleman. Former strongside linebacker Perry Riley is now weakside linebacker Perry Riley. Former weakside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is battling Jacob Cutrera for the middle linebacker job and is backing up Harry Coleman at strongside. The two starting cornerbacks against Appalachian State in 2008 are now battling each other to start on the other side of Patrick Peterson in 2009. Former dime-back/linebacker/rover Chad Jones is now just a free safety. No one knows who the strong safety will be.

It's massive wholesale changes in personnel and in scheme. It's like starting over, and that's not a bad thing given the results last year, which were miserable on the defensive side of the ball.

I wish I knew what to tell you to expect. It's all a mystery for right now. I'll tell you what I'm looking for, but it seems so basic, like any fan could make the same list if they just sat and thought about it.

1. The pass rush, both in a base set and in a blitz. Last season, despite having one of the best sack artists in the conference along with a top 5 overall NFL draft pick on the defensive line, we pretty much failed to get any sort of a pass rush except when we sold out and brought in our "Express" package of 4 defensive ends, and we were still only 6th in the league in tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. Even blitzes seemed to consistently fail to disrupt the opponent's passing game. This was a contributing factor to a miserable pass defense. This year, with [all together now] an entirely new defensive coaching staff, the most obvious place to look for immediate dividends is at the pass rush. You don't have to get sacks to have an effective pass rush. Making a quarterback throw the ball away is almost as good as a sack. A good pass rush can contribute to an interception or a tipped pass. A good pass rush can help you in so many ways, that it's no wonder our defense was so ineffective without one. I'm interested to see how we do in obvious passing situations, as well as how we do in less obvious passing situations.

2. Zone or Man? And who are the blitzers? John Chavis is definitely known as a zone guy, and I see no indication that he is going to change his general tendencies. The man knows zone. He has made his name on zone. Like most fans, I have a hard time getting excited about zone, but you don't go out and buy a Cadillac so you take it off-roading. Bringing in Chavis to run an aggressive man-to-man scheme unlike what he's had success with in the past would be foolish. Let the man run zone, but mix it up a bit too.

People misconstrue a zone. They think that playing a zone means playing passively, and that just isn't true. In a Chavis zone, the idea is to get the ball into the air and then to go get the ball. Chavis's defense picked off 17 passes last year and scored 4 defensive touchdowns off of interceptions. LSU's picked off 8, and did not score. Man defense is aggressive in the secondary before the ball is thrown. Zone defense is aggressive after it is thrown.

Plus, playing zone does not preclude blitzing. It merely changes how you do a blitz. Sometimes, you pull a defensive end back into a zone and overload the opposite side with rushers. That is, obviously, a "zone blitz" and if it works right you will have one offensive lineman not blocking anyone (essentially taking him off the field and forcing the offense to play with 10 players) while one or more rusher on the other side of the field comes free. If that's a speedy safety or a corner, all the better. With more speed on the field, I expect to see blitzes coming from a lot of directions.

3. Will we punish receivers? In a year that was frustrating in a lot of ways, one of the frustrating things that went relatively unnoticed was the fact that opposing receivers, and in particular the tight ends, could catch passes over the middle without any fear of taking a big hit. Case in point, the first play of this highlight reel of the game against South Carolina:

I think that's something that's going to change. The zone defense, with its aggressive-after-the-ball-is-in-the-air philosophy will make sure that receivers who go over the middle to catch passes have to pay a price for it. The linebackers and the safeties will be looking to light up some receivers. And if you watched Demetrius Byrd towards the end of last year, you know what getting hit hard can do to a receiver. It can make him not want to catch passes. Not all will actually act on that impulse, but the thought affects some receivers. Plus, it looks cool on TV.

4. Will players be rotated in and out as much? More? In 2008 and in previous years, LSU has fairly extensively rotated defensive linemen in and out of the game, but except for bringing in nickel- and dime-packages, linebackers and defensive backs remained more-or-less constant unless injury required a shift. I wonder if that will change. Will we see Brandon Taylor and Karnell Hatcher rotate at safety? Will we see Ryan Baker get an opportunity to play in the base defense in meaningful snaps?

5. Will Patrick Peterson, Perry Riley, and Chad Jones be as good as advertised? The question pretty much says it all, there.

San Diego Chargers Links 8/4

John (obviousman) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:44:59 -0000

Bolts Win Their 1st Super Bowl!
Yep. That’s right. We are all about to enjoy what will no doubt go down in history as the greatest football season ever witnessed.

"Wilhelm to Eagles" by Chargers Blog
Linebacker Matt Wilhelm, released by the Chargers the week before camp, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

AFC West news and notes - AFC West - ESPN
San Diego coach Norv Turner was excited Monday, saying that the team "added playmakers."

Just call him Mr. Patience
To Rivers, it sometimes appears Jackson can catch anything he throws. At 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds, Jackson is tall and physical and also blessed with an ability to hang in the air and seemingly weave his body and hands through defenders.

But it wasn't until Jackson assimilated the difficulties of precise route running, reading defenses and understanding what his quarterback sees that he became what he is now.

RB Bennett may be a luxury the Bolts can afford
Chargers coach Norv Turner appreciates what Bennett brings. If LaDainian Tomlinson were to go down, backup Darren Sproles is not the typical every-down running back, and Gartrell Johnson is a rookie. Bennett, acquired on waivers last November, could be a luxury the Chargers can afford, depending on how the rest of the roster numbers shake out in the beginning of September.

(Don't miss in the note at the bottom saying that Buster Davis is out with "a really tight quad." Somewhere, Wonko just won $10.)

"Getting physical" by Chargers Blog
Antwan Applewhite, who is making a real push to unseat Jyles Tucker as the fourth outside linebacker, jumped up to intercept a Charlie Whitehurst pass.

After the jump, Twitter and music. You know the drill.

Twitter Updates

SD U-T Chargers (SDUTChargers) on Twitter
Last play of day, Darry Beckwith levels Gartrell Johnson. 3rd team RB always gets it. Tell u what tho, Johnson has been strong in pads -- ka

Shawne Merriman (shawnemerriman) on Twitter
We are looking sharp but its kind of weird to not have the fans out there during camp

Antonio Cromartie (crimetime31) on Twitter
The only catch of the day. It was a great pass by 17 only the WR couldve caught it. Time 2 bounce back n Grab 2 picks n the evening practice

Legedu Naanee (LA_Naanee) on Twitter
Eatn a snack with some teammates and its funny how phone illeterate some ppl are! One of my teammates doesn't even know how to save #'s LOL

Shaun Phillips (ShaunPhillips95) on Twitter
Just finished working out with @shawnemerriman now its time to go sharpen our skills on the field. Go Bolts.

kassim osgood (kassimosgood) on Twitter
Jamal Williams is my hero! Hardest working vet in the building. As long as he's playin on the field I feel confident!

Marcus McNeill (MarcusMcNeill73) on Twitter
good practice today... no rust ova here. I do this n my sleep. 12 days until gameday..

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

San Diego Chargers Links 7/29

John (obviousman) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:11:27 -0000

Talks sour with sixth-round pick
According to sources, the sides differ on contract length and both appear firm in their position. The Chargers have offered a four-year deal commensurate with the contracts signed by the picks directly preceding and following Ellison. Those pacts were for four years and $1.85 million with signing bonuses of $101,750 and $100,600. Ellison, one of four sixth-rounders who remain unsigned, is asking for three years with a smaller signing bonus.

Rivers is looking to fine-tune his short passing game
"The running back route, by far, was the route I missed more than any others," he said Monday after the Chargers' first training camp workout. " I'm working on being more efficient with our running backs."

NFL's finest roster should finally produce NFL's finest team
The Chargers have the most talented roster in the National Football League, one that includes an elite, efficient quarterback, and athletic pedigree covering most every blade of grass. If the key components to their engine remain serviceable (which hasn't happened lately), they should win the Super Bowl.

Returning to school proved costly for linebacker Beckwith
The night of the draft, when he felt at his lowest, Beckwith received a text message from a guy he'd never met. It was Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, welcoming him into the team family.

Dawkins, Rivera release statements on Johnson - AFC West - ESPN
"I remember just after I was hired in Philadelphia, I had just finished signing my contract and he walked into my office and closed the door. He said, 'Listen. I'm an old linebacker coach. Don't take anything personal when I come in and take over your meetings, when I take over your drills. I can't help myself. Don't take it personal when I'm hard on you because I'm just trying to teach you.' That's exactly what he did."

Chargers Rookie Guard Vasquez Fighting To Start - cbs11tv.com
Rookie guard Louis Vasquez is in a spirited battle for the San Diego Chargers opening at right guard. If Vasquez earns it, the third-round pick from Texas Tech will do something he never envisioned: open holes for a Texas Christian running back. That ex-TCU running back is -- LaDainian Tomlinson.

Twitter updates and a music video after the jump.

Twitter Updates

Shawne Merriman (shawnemerriman) on Twitter
Love the early morning workout sets the tone for the rest of the day time for meetings

Shaun Phillips (ShaunPhillips95) on Twitter
Back on cali soil and you know what that means one day closer to work. I can feel it in the air let's go bolts.

Antonio Cromartie (crimetime31) on Twitter
look for I one I have kids my kids love my dogs so I wouldn't put my dogs or by kids in harm way. I could careless what sum1 does with there dog if they fight them they fight them. Watching dogs fight was experience I had when going up.

kassim osgood (kassimosgood) on Twitter
My segment on Sports Science on Fox Sports Net is finally airing right now!!! Been so long!

Marcus McNeill (MarcusMcNeill73) on Twitter
thx for all the support. Thts all the motivation I need today to go whoop som ASS.

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

5 Keys To A Successful Season, Part 1: Veterans Step Up

Richard Pittman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:50:48 -0000

In particular, veterans on defense step up. In more particular, veteran former role players increase their production. In extra-particular, I am thinking of linebackers Jacob Cutrera and Perry Riley, and defensive end Pep Levingston.

These three players, two seniors and a 4th year junior, are all going to be counted on to make plays this year. Cutrera and Levingston have been the consummate role players in their careers. Both have waited their turn behind good players who were ahead of them: Cutrera's been behind Darry Beckwith and Levingston has been behind Tyson Jackson, Tremaine Johnson, and Kirston Pittman. The way is cleared for these two to stake a claim to a starting spot and both are reportedly having great offseasons.

In particular, people are saying Jacob Cutrera has really increased his level of play. He has always been a solid backup, but now people are saying he's one of the best players on the defense. It might surprise you to learn that Cutrera has actually started in 5 games; one in his freshman season, two in his sophomore season, and two in his junior season, and he has 91 tackles on his career, including a career high 11 tackle game in his freshman season. His junior year was actually less productive than his freshman season from a tackles standpoint, even though he filled in for an injured Darry Beckwith for part of the season and played significant reps in every game.

They are saying that he is a man among boys this year, and really ready to increase his production. In particular, Cutrera will have to improve against the pass, and will have to make more "big" stops, i.e. stops for losses or for short gains.

Lazarius "Pep" Levingston has always looked like a good player at his defensive end spot. When he gets into the game, he always gets penetration into the backfield and makes plays. He has only made 17 tackles on his career, but 5.5 have been for a loss, which I think is a very good ratio for a defensive end. He has simply been behind a very deep and very veteran defensive line corps led by the likes of Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman. The opportunity just has not been there. Pep is probably the player who will most benefit from having 5 of our top 8 defensive linemen graduate or leave early.

The coaches expect Pep to step right into Tyson Jackson's spot and be a playmaker on defense.

Riley has been a starter, and I for one expressed surprise at how much offseason hype he is getting. Perhaps I shouldn't though. However, CFN was not the only accolade he received, as he was also 3rd Team Pre-Season All-SEC as chosen by the coaches. He was a Butkus Award Finalist last year, an honor that came as a big surprise to me.

Riley has a surprising 88 career tackles including a surprising 60 last year. He was the defensive MVP of the Peach Bowl (still refusing to call it by its official name) with 11 tackles and an interception, his second interception of the season. Was that performance in the Peach Bowl the start of something great? Is this a guy who should have redshirted in his freshman year? I would love to think that Riley is due for a breakout year under the tutelage of master linebacker coach John Chavis. In particular, you have to love what he was able to do in pass defense at the end of last year, picking off a pass in each of his last two games.

Like with Cutrera, we will want to see more big plays from Riley. More plays being made at the line of scrimmage or behind it. We would like for him to continue being productive in pass defense.

The LSU defense certainly looks to be improved over the nightmare that was last season. If these three guys show themselves to be impact players rather than just role players, they could take a defense from good to great and help put us on the road to a special season.

Tomorrow: Special Teams.

Class of 2009: OG Carneal Ainsworth

Richard Pittman — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:00:10 -0000

via media.scout.com

While West Monroe High School has been a very reliable feeder school for LSU, Parkview Baptist High School is quickly challenging its supremacy as the state's greatest feeder school. Parkview has given LSU Darry Beckwith and Clay Spencer, a redshirt freshman offensive guard, and now you can add Carneal Ainsworth to the list of players at LSU from across town.

I am in the habit of heavily weighting my project label towards offensive linemen, simply because it is rare for an offensive lineman to be ready to contribute immediately. For whatever reason, except for the Andre Smiths of the world, it is just not common at all for a true freshman offensive lineman to be a significant contributor. I will call Ainsworth a project as well, but I think he is not nearly as raw as Josh Williford. He also does not have that enormous body. He's pretty big himself, at 6'4" and 300#, but looking at that picture I'm not sure he can add any more bulk, while Williford could probably play at 360# and not have a problem with it. Ainsworth just doesn't have nearly as far to go to be ready. He plays aggressively and uses his weight effectively. He is surprisingly quick for a man his size.

The big concern about Ainsworth is his ability to maintain his health. He suffered multiple knee injuries in high school, including a torn ACL. I'm not a doctor or an expert, but to me he just looks like he has the kind of body that is hell on the knees.

Of all of our offensive lineman prospects, he may be the one most likely to be a contributor if he avoids further injury. I just don't know what his upside is. Is this a kid who is going to be like a Lyle Hitt, whose steadiness has made him a 3-year starter? Or will he get stuck behind players whose upsides might be higher and end up as a backup?

I wish I had the answers to those questions. With 15 scholarship offensive linemen currently on the roster after the 2009 class is added, I am sure the coaches don't know either. Ainsworth will be competing with his former high school teammate Clay Spencer (among others) for a spot replacing the senior offensive guard Lyle Hitt when he finishes his eligibility. It will be one of the more interesting position battles to watch, because there are a lot of players trying to win that spot. Ainsworth looks like he could be right in the thick of that battle.

2009 CFN LSU Preview, Part 3

Richard Pittman — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:17:07 -0000

I swear this will be the last installment of this series, as I think we've milked it about as much as the audience will tolerate. Yesterday, we talked about the 10 best players on the team and the schedule. The day before, we talked about Jordan Jefferson, the defensive coaches, and the high-profile incoming freshmen. Today, let's get into some other topics. Again, the links are preview, offense, defense.

On Charles Scott:

Senior Charles Scott broke free from the running-back-by-committee backfield to rush for 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns averaging 5.4 yards per carry. The 5-11, 233-pound senior is extremely quick with a great burst and excellent power. He ran for 95 yards or more in eight of the first ten games, and then everyone loaded up on him and the production tailed off. Even so, he's plugger who's always falling forward and is unstoppable around the goal line. He can also catch a bit with eight grabs for 67 yards, and he's not a bad blocker.

...

Watch Out For ... Scott to score 25 times. While there's enough talent in the backfield to keep a steady rotation going, Scott is the star of the show and he's the proven producer who can can control games and take the pressure off the passing game. He's also tremendous when it comes to getting into the end zone, and he'll be one of the nation's leading scorers.

I don't see 25 touchdowns happening. I actually think Scott will get fewer carries this year than he got last year, because I think we will distribute the ball a lot more between the top 4 running backs than we did last year. Keiland Williams was supposed to share the load with Scott early in the year, but he really struggled and his carries did not come. He did not run very hard it seemed; he was too tentative. Later in the season, he came on pretty strong, averaging over 7 yards per carry against Arkansas and Georgia Tech, and having a really good game against Bama. I think Keiland's going to earn more carries this year than last year.

Richard Murphy is another that could earn more carries. A proposed breakout star for the last two years running, no one is really talking about Murphy after his very weak season last year, but this is the same kid who showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, averaging about 7 yards per touch.

The coaches love Stevan Ridley, and he got some garbage-time carries last year. He is not healthy right now, and who knows if he will get healthy, but if he is at 100% at the start of the season, his workload is likely to increase at least a little, taking more carries away from Charles Scott.

Then there are the quarterbacks, Jordan Jefferson and Russell Shepard. We know that they liked to run with Jefferson when he was in the game, and while they may cut down on his rate of planned running plays, he is not going to be a part-time player this year. He's going to be playing full time, and I would expect them to probably call about 5 planned runs per game with him. We're still not sure how they're going to use Shepard, but his wheels are just going to be too good not to use.

My tentative prediction is that, barring injuries, the coaches will give the ball to Charles Scott about 170 times, down from 217 last year. What they may do as well is give him the ball more in the passing game. Scott's a pretty good pass-catcher. He caught 12 passes in 2007, when he was a much smaller part of the offense than he was in 2008, when he only caught 8 passes.

On Linebackers:

Step one is replacing Darry Beckwith in the middle, and the Tigers have their man in Jacob Cutrera, a 6-4, 236-pound senior who was a key backup over the last few years and got two starts finishing with 33 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss. He had a tremendous spring showing great toughness and enough range to be the leader and the anchor of the corps to work around. He has been groomed for this job for the last three years and he appears to be ready.

Is Harry Coleman really going to be the starter on the outside? The team's leading tackler, who made 71 tackles with seven broken up passes, was tried out in the linebacking corps this spring and he might be the main man after showing tremendous toughness on the strongside and good range on the weakside. A monster hitter and strong enough to handle the job despite being 6-2 and 205 pounds, he's not starting from scratch having played linebacker in high school. As good as he is, he might move back to safety from time to time just to get all the linebacker prospects on the field.

...

Strength: Tacklers. If Coleman is a linebacker, the corps will have the team's top three tacklers from last year in Coleman, Sheppard, and Riley. The linebackers don't miss many plays and they'll be all over the field doing a variety of things under the new coaches.
Weakness: Pass coverage. It's not a glaring problem, but it could stand to be better. The addition of Coleman would help change that up in a real hurry, and it would be nice if there were more broken up passes and tighter coverage on short to midrange plays.
Outlook: The position should be the star of the show. This isn't the most talented linebacking corps LSU has had, but there are producers all across the unit with Curtera about to blossom into a force and with Coleman, Sheppard, and Riley all possible all-stars. This could end up being the team's biggest strength as the season goes on.
Rating: 9

We talked about Perry Riley yesterday, so I omitted the discussion of him here.

Like a lot of people who will read the CFN preview, I think this is gloriously optimistic. The linebacking corps did not make a lot of headlines for LSU last year. Nor did Harry Coleman. Again, it is possible that the coaching situation did not get all that it could out of the group in 2008, but I'm going to have to see it turn around for myself before I'm going to go around rating our linebackers a 9 on a scale of 10.

Just for comparison. CFN rated Alabama's linebacking group as a 9 out of 10, and I just can't see giving LSU's linebackers the same grade.

On the Offensive Line:

Watch Out For ... the battle at center. Lonergan was great this spring and looks the part as a leader and quarterback of the front five. However, Hebert will need to find a space when healthy. It's a good problem to have, considering either one can move to guard, but it should end up being a good battle for the job this fall.
Strength: Durability. LSU didn't have to change its starting five once, with all the starters going from pillar to post. While it's asking a lot to get the same injury luck two years in a row, Black, Hitt, and Barksdale are rocks to build around. However, because of the durability of last year's front five ...
Weakness: Proven depth. This was supposed to be a problem two years ago, and last year, and it wasn't. There are a slew of redshirt freshmen needing to shine and players like Hurst and Parsons have to be productive, but there's a massive drop-off from the ones to the twos.
Outlook: Disappointing last year, the pass protection was mediocre and the run blocking was fine, but nothing special. This year's line has plenty of talent with Black and Barksdale a nice tackle pair, and Hitt a great blocker who should get more attention. This might not be a dominant front five, but it'll be great at times.
Rating: 8

Let me just ask this question. Is there any college football team that has a wealth of proven depth on the offensive line? Teams don't sub out offensive linemen all that much, and it's a position that always suffers a lot of attrition. There aren't a whole lot of teams out there that have multiple offensive linemen with real experience on the bench.

OK, enough of picking on the obvious. I don't really think there's a "battle at center" unless T-Bob Hebert is not healthy yet from his torn ligament suffered in the middle of the 2008 season. By all accounts, Hebert was the #1 guy in Spring despite being slowed by the injury

If there is a real weakness on this unit, it is probably size. Replacing Herman Johnson with Josh Dworaczyk is a big downgrade in size. It may be an upgrade in quickness, and size is not everything in life, but this will be a much smaller unit as a whole than it was last year. T-Bob is also a fair bit smaller than Brett Helms was (I'm not sure I believe LSUsports.net's listing of 282 pounds for him).

This will be a different unit than it has been the last couple years. Who knows? It may be a better unit, but it will not be able to rely strictly on bulk on the left side this year.

That's all for this series. Tune in next time.

Chargers Assign Numbers to Undrafted Free Agents

John (obviousman) — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:00:13 -0000

via cache.daylife.com

View full size photo »

The Chargers have assigned numbers to the eighteen undrafted players they signed following the 2009 NFL Draft. All but three of them are being forced to change their number either due to NFL rules or because their college number is already taken by somebody on the Chargers team.

#64 - Sam Allen (Wore #58 at Grand Valley State)
#46 - Darry Beckwith (Wore #48 at LSU)
#44 - Curtis Brinkley (Wore #22 at Syracuse)
#8 - Greg Carr (Wore #89 at Florida State)
#9 - Jeremy Childs
#58 - Anthony Felder (Wore #15 at Cal)
#71 - Dan Gay
#53 - James Holt (Wore #12 at Kansas)
#77 - Rashaad Jackson (Wore #91 at Clemson)
#13 - Charly Martin (Wore #17 at Texas A&M)
#60 - Ryan McDonald
#72 - Ben Muth (Wore #76 at Stanford)
#38 - Wopamo Osaisai (Wore #6 at Stanford)
#40 - Williams Rentmeester (Wore #34 at Wisconsin)
#3 - Rodgeriqus Smith (Wore #80 at Auburn)
#47 - Kory Sperry (Wore #80 at CSU)
#30 - C.J. Spillman (Wore #4 at Marshall)
#49 - Jerimiah Wurzbacher (Wore #80 at North Dakota State)

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

Bolts From The Blue Week In Review: Draft Reviews and Mini Camp

John (obviousman) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:01:17 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

7 months ago: San Diego Chargers' Shawne Merriman, who missed the entire season in 2008, jogs with a weighted vest during a workout at the Chargers minicamp in San Diego, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Browse more photos »

The popular X's and O's series returned, this time with it's telescope pointed squarely at RB/FB Jacob Hester. The results? Not unexpected, but I wonder if the Chargers will simply let Hester be the starting FB in 2009. His skills as a RB and wide receiver make him a double-threat out of the backfield, but his lack of size make him a risk as a blocker even though he's gotten better. I don't know that he has to body to do it, but Hester needs more muscle and weight if he's going to be driving linebackers backwards.

We posted Mini Camp photos of the new Chargers rookies. I've heard the same responses over and over when talking about the look of these guys: Vasquez is huge, Vasquez is scary, finally we have some guys with dreadlocks! These guys will be a hit with San Diego's large Rastafarian population.

shaynes41 gave us the rundown of Mike Riley's interview on XX 1090, which revolved mostly around peculiar 5th round draft pick Brandon Hughes. I used to have a strong hatred for Riley but I no longer blame him for being a bad NFL coach. Some guys just can't do it. There was lots of praise for Brandon Hughes, but none of it really excited me. I think this is a "worry pick", as in "what the heck are we going to do at corner if Cromartie isn't as good as we think?" I'm okay with that and I always like to hear that we've picked up another hard worker in the secondary.

We took an in-depth look at the depth chart and possible position battles at the most important part of the defense, the defensive line. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I think Vaughn Martin and Jacques Cesaire will be splitting time at Defensive End by week 1. I think Martin will be the full-time starter there by week 6. The Defensive End position in the 3-4 defense is much more reliant on size and strength than any other position in football. Olshansky was a little too slim and although he was impressive in a weightroom he didn't play with strength (or fire). If Martin plays with fire and has a willingness to learn, he could take over that position quickly.

Grey Suit looked at the Chargers 2009 draft class and laid out which picks he thought were steals (Johnson, Ellison) and which he thought were reaches (Martin, Hughes). I don't know that I really agree with any of these, but it's still a very interesting read. I don't see Johnson ever becoming a number 1 running back, but I do think he will serve a much-needed purpose in our offense for a short-yardage back. Ellison may be a steal, but I'm of the mindset that the big, bruising Strong Safety cannot start anymore. In a league that relies more on passing than ever, it's important that your safeties are great in coverage first and big hitters second. Also, brusing safeties with injury problems don't usually work out. Martin and Hughes were touched on above, but once you get to the 4th round I think it becomes more important that you get the guys you really want and it becomes less important when you get them. AJ obviously wanted Hughes and Martin and made sure he got them. I think Byrd is the biggest steal of the draft, car crash or not. When doctors say he'll make a full recovery, which they already have, he immediately goes back to being the player he was in my eyes. And Byrd is a very good WR.

We were one of the first places to learn and post the jersey numbers for the incoming draft class. I don't know why but I've always had a facination with jerseys and numbers. Some mixtures I just love, such as an OLB who wears a number in the 90s. The only one I really like in our draft class is Gartrell Johnson wearing 33, because it's a number that speed guys typically like to wear. Maybe I'm just playing favorites. The rest are good, but like most of the fans I'm not going to love a jersey until the player wearing it gives me a reason to.

shaynes41 gets in here again, this time for writing a great post about the potential impact players in the group of eighteen undrafted free agents that were signed by the Chargers following the draft. I like the four guys he highlighted, but I feel that Spillman and Beckwith are probably competing against each other for a spot on special teams and time to develop as a backup at their position. If we kept Spillman, that would give the Chargers a whopping six safeties. If we kept Beckwith, that would again leave team with six players and two starting spots at Inside Linebacker.

Finally, one week ago I ran through each draft pick made by the Chargers and handed out grades for each. Now that it's been a week, I'd probably change some of these actually. I think I'd move Vasquez up to an A, because it's rare you find a player in the third round that can come in and compete with a former Pro Bowler for a starting spot. I love his potential as a big, nasty mauler to balance our line. Vaughn Martin deserves a B or a C+ for now, especially since I've been reading article after article that says other teams were targeting him in the 4th round as well. Hughes I might slide up to a C-, if only because I understand the pick a little bit more today. The rest are fine. With almost a thousand votes on the poll attached to this post, it may be the most popuar post in the short history of Bolts From The Blue.

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

Rundown of the Chargers Potential Impact UDFAs

Stephen (shaynes41) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:11:15 -0000

Every year we get a UDFA who makes an impact. Who is it going to be this year? One of the main reason a pretty set team like the Chargers can sign 18 UDFAs is because all these kids know they will be given an honest shot at being the next Dielman, Gates, or Cooper. No one wants to look through 18 guys who didn't get drafted, so let's look at a few of these guys and see if we can find some who seem like they might make an impact:

Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU

via images.athlonsports.com

6-0, 242, 4.79 in the 40

Projected around the 5th round, some projections had him as high as a 3rd rounder. This guy is going to make the team and will probably make an impact. He is a pretty good friend with the WR Byrd who we drafted in the 7th round (the guy in the hospital). Good run stopper, might have some trouble in coverage.

Compares To: GARY BRACKETT, Indianapolis -- Beckwith is a smart, instinctive inside ruin stuffer, the type you want dealing with "inside trash" to free up other quicker defenders, but he lacks range and pass coverage skills to be exposed there as an every-down type of player. He's had several knee issues that will see his stock drop, and unless he gets into a system where his outside men can compensate for his deficiencies, he will be nothing more than a situational player.

nfl.com

more below

C.J. Spillman, FS, Marshall

via media.scout.com

6-0, 197, 4.50 in the 40

Projected to be a 5th rounder or so. Good athlete, good tackler, doesn't play as fast as his times. His dedication to football has been questioned. He is a very good athlete and if he can pull it together, he could be a good project at the Safety position.

Positives: Solid free safety prospect with adequate size and good speed. Good backpedal, stays low and shows quick feet. Has fluid hips and short-area quickness to handle man coverage when needed. Can make a play in the air, high-pointing the ball. Comes downhill to hit receivers coming over the middle. Closes quickly on ballcarriers from the deep defensive backfield. Willing to take on fullback block to force play inside. Forces fumbles by putting a shoulder on the ball or stripping after the ballcarrier is held up. Gunner on special teams due to his size, speed and toughness.

Negatives: Will take false steps on play-action, but recovers adequately. Willing to hit a receiver off the line, but doesn't always use his hands to win the physical battle. Doesn't get off receiver blocks often enough. Must improve his hands for making an interception. More of a hitter than a form tackler, although he can wrap up on occasion. Will freelance, losing discipline to stay deeper than the deepest receiver.

nfl.com

Kory Sperry, TE, Colorado State

via assets.sbnation.com

6-5, 238, 4.77 in the 40

Pass catching tight end who really will need to work hard in order to play on the line in the NFL (rather than in an HBack role). I suspect this guy is one of the reasons we released Chandler today.

Positives: Lanky, athletic build with room for additional muscle mass without a significant loss of quickness. Versatile athlete capable of lining up as a traditional tight end, H-back or even split out wide. Good initial burst to get off the snap. Gains a clean release off the line of scrimmage due to quick hands and agility. Good straight-line speed to challenge the seam. Natural receiver. Big, soft hands to make the secure catch. Rare body control for a player his size. Can contort in space to make the difficult grab. Can track the ball over either shoulder. Good quickness off the snap to get to the second level as a run blocker. Has the lateral agility to remain square to the defender in space.
Negatives: Only lined up in the traditional three-point stance half of the time and may struggle to make the transition to a more traditional pro-style offense. Inconsistent effort as a blocker, ducking his head too often in space and lacks the physical strength and technique to contribute much in this area. Relies on his athleticism, rather than sound route-running, to get open. Has to prove he's 100 percent recovered from the torn ACL that limited him to only two games in 2007.

nfl.com

Dan Gay, OT, Baylor

via static.nfl.com

6-4, 308, 5.41

Converted DL who played every position on the line but center. Versatility. Dielman was a converted DL as well... Also, reminds me a little of a 300 pound Will Smith.. That's gotta count for something.

Positives: Aggressive. Attacks his opponent. Long arms, which he uses well to pop the defender. Good hand placement. Can latch on and take the defender for a ride when he keeps his feet moving. Strong hands and can drive defenders off the ball. Versatile. Has started games at all four exterior positions along the offensive line. Durable. Leaves with 34 consecutive games started.

Negatives: Top-heavy. Bends at the waist too often. Good upper-body strength to latch on, but doesn't keep his feet moving and is forced to lean on the defender. Defenders too easily slip off his blocks or force him to hold. Lacks the speed to consistently get to the second level and is forced to lunge at defenders.

nfl.com

So there you have it, 4 who might make an impact. I think of our crew of 18 UDFAs, 1-3 will make the team. I think Beckwith is one of them right now, so there are maybe two others who will make the team. This is actually one of my favorite parts of the Draft weekend. All these guys with chips on their shoulders getting signed for a pittance and trying to prove everyone wrong. As stated elsewhere, I'm a little disappointed we didn't get an RB with some potential. Curtis Brinkley may prove me wrong, hopefully he comes in angry and in shape. We got some WRs with some potential, but I don't think we have any spots for a WR, but you never know.

Arizona Cardinals Post Draft Coverage: Best Undrafted Free Agents

Hawkwind — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:19:30 -0000

Well the fire from the NFL draft weekend is still smoldering but today, and possibly the next couple of days, will center around the guys who did not get drafted. The Arizona Cardinals signed thirteen undrafted free agents and four of those guys are on the team right now including Ali Highsmith who was a prominent special teams player before hurting his knee midway through the season. The Cardinals could find some very useful pieces on this scrap heap but they'll have to work quickly because they're bidding against every other team in the league. We'll take a look at some of the notable names as well as update when any signings happen:

Here are some names that might ring a bell and will certainly be on the top of quite a few teams' wish list:

Linebackers: The Cardinals didn't draft an ILB for the second consecutive year but there are some notable names still available and with any luck, these guys might turn out even better than Ali Highsmith did last year. There are couple of outside backers at the bottom who might interest the Cardinals considering that they probably stash them on the practice squad and see how they look in a year once they learn the position.

Darry Beckwith (6'0, 234), LSU: Beckwith was thought be a third or fourth round pick at worse but his injury history and lack of great size or athleticism must have hurt him more than scouts thought.
Dannell Ellerbe (6'1 236) Georgia: Teams obviously thought that Ellerbe's breakout season in 2007 was overshadowed by three mediocre seasons. He'll have an uphill battle to make any team but he's got some athleticism and could be a factor on special teams.
Antonio Appleby (6'3 245) Virginia: He's nothing special in terms of production or athletic ability but a 3-4 team will pick him up for depth and his potential as a two down thumper.
Worrell Williams (5'11, 240) California: Williams is undersized but he's got experience in a 3-4 and the athleticism to be an NFL player.
Orion Martin (6'3, 262) Virginia Tech: Another former college DE who is probably best served switching to OLB, he's totaled 14 sacks over the past two seasons but ran a disappointing 4.89 at the combine.

Defensive Line: The Cardinals completely ignored the defensive line in the draft despite some concerns about the depth at defensive end and nose tackle. I'd be surprised if a couple of UDFA's aren't some wide bodied defenders.

Chris Baker (6'2 326) Hampton: Off the field problems forced him to leave Penn State and most likely are the biggest reason that's he field phone calls today instead of packing for an NFL team already. He's got the talent (16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks) to play in this league but will need soem guidance.
Mitch King (6'1, 280) Iowa: King played defensive end, tackle and even linebacker while at Iowa and could project at either end or linebacker in the NFL. His tweener status probably kept him from being drafted by he's a versatile defender who carried a mid-round grade from some scouts.
Everette Pedescleaux (6'5, 305) Northern Iowa: The Cardinals were rumored to have brought Pedescleaux in for a visit before the draft and he'd offer some depth and athleticism at the defensive end spot.

Offensive skill positions: While the Cardinals might be stacked at running back after the selections of Wells and LSH, it wouldn't hurt to add another body to man the practice squad. Any receiver with some return potential might also be intriguing as should any balanced tight end.

Jeremiah Johnson (5'9 209) Oregon: He was never really a featured runner but he totalled over 2,000 yards at Oregon and averaged over six yards per carry. He's also got experience returning kicks.
Ian Johnson (5'11, 212) Boise State: Johnson ran surprisingly fast at the combine (4.46) but his long list of injury is concerning.
Devin Moore (5'9, 191) Wyoming: Moore's size hurts his stock but his athleticism is amazing and he could help a team as a third down back and kick returner.
Kory Sheets (5'11, 208) Purdue: Another smallish back with outstanding speed (4.47) who doubles as a back and return man.
Marlon Lucky and Arian Foster (5'11, 216 & 6'1, 215): Both Lucky and Foster were starting backs who ran disappointing 40's and failed to establish themselves as NFL material but seven rounds of waiting might just be the motivation that they needed.
Quan Cosby (5'9, 196) Texas: He's small and old for an NFL rookie (26) but he is faster than he timed (4.57) and was a successful punt and kick returner at Texas.
Jeremy Gilchrist (5'9 176) Hampton: Gilchrist is tiny and was neutralized by double teams after totaling over a 1,000 yards in 2007 but his six punt return touchdowns in the past two years is hard to ignore.
Ryan Purvis (6'3, 254) Boston College: A physically limited tight end whose senior production drastically dropped off with Matt Ryan gone, but he's physical, willing blocker who had over 50 reception in 2007.
Jared Bronson (6'4, 254) Central Washington: Bronson's a decent in-line blocker who has also shown the ability to stretch the field (17.9 yards per catch in 2008).

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There are countless other guys we could mention but that's a small taste. Who else would you like to see the Cardinals take a look at? What positions still need the most help?