Chargers O-Line Thread

[boltnut]

May 19, 2019 21:35:38 GMT -7 cthommes said:

May 19, 2019 20:02:47 GMT -7 moekid said:

Your point is fluid to say the least. So now the biggest challenge is stopping the run with 3 man front? Yet you didn’t want them to draft a DT early?

Two high round OTs would have been ideal to help stop the run.

And yet, the Patriots did just that these past two years.  A 1st round pick in 2018 (a guy they didn't get to use due to injury) and a 3rd round pick this year (a guy who will be depth).  Let me explain how two high round OT's stop the other team's run game...

1)  Protect the franchise.  Stack your OT's 4 deep if you need to.  Hide them as your backups.  Hide them on your Practice squad.  Hide them in broom closets...
2)  Have your franchise QB toss the ball to your new 1st round WR... or all the cast off WR's you can accumulate... or the 1st/3rd/4th round RB's.  Take your time, choose wisely... there's no rush...
3)  Get the lead
4)  Use your antiquated, anti-modern-day defense to keep the lead
5)  Rinse, repeat on offense
6)  Watch opponents run game magically disappear.... 

[moekid]

Boltnut, you should join nmpatsfan (formerly nmchargersfan) over on the Pats board where you guys can salivate together.

[Chargeroo]

The Bucs just released Gerald McCoy. We could use a player ilke him but he'd probably brake the bank.

[headtrip]

The cheaters cut their camera man yet?

[headtrip]

May 20, 2019 17:30:31 GMT -7 Chargeroo said:

The Bucs just released Gerald McCoy. We could use a player ilke him but he'd probably brake the bank.

Now is the time of year guys aren't going to be getting fat contracts. If ever we could afford him, it's now.

[frozendisc]

May 20, 2019 17:55:18 GMT -7 headtrip said:

May 20, 2019 17:30:31 GMT -7 Chargeroo said:

The Bucs just released Gerald McCoy. We could use a player ilke him but he'd probably brake the bank.

Now is the time of year guys aren't going to be getting fat contracts. If ever we could afford him, it's now.

Yep.......he might come to a team heading to the Super Bowl real cheap....

[headtrip]

May 20, 2019 18:21:06 GMT -7 frozendisc said:

May 20, 2019 17:55:18 GMT -7 headtrip said:

Now is the time of year guys aren't going to be getting fat contracts. If ever we could afford him, it's now.

Yep.......he might come to a team heading to the Super Bowl real cheap....

Our interior Dline rotation would go from promising to strong. I'd be stoked by the signing. Oline would be the only weakness left.

[xenos]

May 18, 2019 21:11:21 GMT -7 boltnut said:

Someone will need to notify BB. They look to be changing to a 4-3 and have Adam Butler (undrafted), David Parry (5th round, waived multiple times), Mike Pennel (undrafted 330 lb fatty), and 7th round Lawrence Guy (remember him) as their DT's. Maybe they didn't get the memo...

Not only that, but it appears they wasted their 2018 first round pick on an outdated LT. Silly Billy!

<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 24.200000000000045px; height: 3.8799999999999955px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none;left: 15px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_43204250" scrolling="no" width="24.200000000000045" height="3.8799999999999955"></iframe>

<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 24.2px; height: 3.88px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1149px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_89840666" scrolling="no" width="24.200000000000045" height="3.8799999999999955"></iframe>

<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 24.2px; height: 3.88px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 134px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_16250356" scrolling="no" width="24.200000000000045" height="3.8799999999999955"></iframe>

<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 24.2px; height: 3.88px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1149px; top: 134px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_58229408" scrolling="no" width="24.200000000000045" height="3.8799999999999955"></iframe>

Are you sure they drafted an LT Boltnut? Would he be the first 6'3 LT in the NFL?

[xenos]

May 20, 2019 17:30:31 GMT -7 Chargeroo said:

The Bucs just released Gerald McCoy. We could use a player ilke him but he'd probably brake the bank.

He can't play NT as far as I know.

[xenos]

We all need to pray to the football gods that Tevi pulls a Dielman this year, and that Lamp becomes what I and others think he can be.

www.ocregister.com/2019/05/18/chargers-super-bowl-hopes-might-hinge-on-third-year-offensive-linemen/

Chargers' Super Bowl hopes might hinge on third-year offensive linemen

Forrest Lamp and fellow members of 2017 draft class may hold the keys to the team's success

It's hard to find a set of NFL offseason power rankings that doesn't include the Chargers inside the top five, or a shade outside. Few teams possess the type of talent the Chargers do, which has led to pundits calling them contenders with a Super Bowl-ready roster.

But ... there's always a "but" when the Chargers' name comes up in prognostication pieces.

The biggest concern for the Chargers is on the offensive line. For the first three months last season, that offensive line defied low Pro Football Focus numbers by doing just enough to allow Philip Rivers to operate one of the league's top offenses. Then it fell apart on a December Saturday night in Carson, when the Baltimore Ravens' defense dominated the trenches in a game that cost the Chargers the No. 1 seed. That was followed by three more underwhelming performances from the offensive line before the Chargers' 2018 season ended with a whimper against the New England Patriots in the divisional round.

Ask mostly anyone associated with the Chargers and they'll admit the offensive line struggled down the stretch. They're aware. So why no drastic changes? Teams often revamp their offensive line by overpaying top free agents or search for veterans who could benefit from a change of scenery. Others spend high draft picks to address the need.

The Chargers didn't do any of that. Outside of using a third-round pick in last month's draft to select offensive tackle Trey Pipkins, who's considered a project, the Chargers will trot out nearly the same cast for the 2019 season, and they're content with that.

For every criticism the Chargers' offensive line has received this offseason, the organization has countered with a rebuttal.

Sam Tevi, the starting right tackle in 2018, allowed the third-most pressures among tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Yeah, but it was Tevi's first year as a starter, the Chargers would contend.

One reason the Chargers didn't seek outside help at offensive line is because Forrest Lamp is expected to compete for a starting job.

But why trust an offensive guard with only 17 career snaps since being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft?

"His best shot now is he's finally healthy going into an offseason," Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer said of Lamp.

In a way, the Chargers' 2017 draft class could determine their Super Bowl chances for the upcoming season.

Two years ago, the Chargers planted the seeds for an offensive line rebuild by signing left tackle Russell Okung and drafting Lamp, Tevi in the sixth round and offensive guard Dan Feeney in the third round. They added to it last year with the signing of former Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey.

Now, the organization is banking on Year 3 being when they reap the rewards on their long-term offensive line vision.

The PFF numbers and many disgruntled fans say the Chargers are making a mistake by putting their chips behind Lamp, Tevi and Feeney, the least criticized of the 2017 trio, mainly because he was sandwiched between former Pro Bowlers Okung and Pouncey on the left side last year.


Meyer, who's entering his third year as the team's offensive line coach, has heard the complaints and concerns. He's confident the narrative on the third-year offensive linemen will change after the 2019 season.

"I 100 percent believe all three of those 2017 picks are going to end up being good football players at this level," Meyer said. "None of the guys that we have in this room, we're not even close to saying we're giving up on them. I think all of them are going to end up being really good football players."

Pouncey recently called Lamp the strongest offensive lineman on the team, and he wants to see the former Western Kentucky standout use that strength on the field in 2019.

Lamp has spent plenty of time in the weight room the past two years because of a torn ACL he sustained in the 2017 preseason that cost him his entire rookie season. The rehab from the injury also didn't allow him to participate in offseason activities last season.

With organized team activities starting Monday, Lamp is finally healthy to compete for a job in 2019.

"He's going to have every opportunity to compete for a job like everyone else," Meyer said of Lamp. "Obviously, he's a talented kid. We drafted him a couple years ago, he just hasn't been available, and when he was available by that point it was a little bit too late."

A healthy Lamp watched Feeney and veteran Michael Schofield fill the guard positions in 2018. By the time Lamp was cleared to play, the Chargers didn't want to disrupt team chemistry.

The team was winning, but the offensive line's struggles from September to November were masked by Rivers' quick release and the ability of running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to break tackles.

Pouncey is hoping Lamp could help them improve in 2019.

He looks awesome," Pouncey said. "We hope that he can come in and play. This is a guy that came in with a lot of expectations. ... He's a guy that we're going to need to play. He was a talented football player coming out of Western Kentucky.

"I know he had (an) injury over his first couple of years. To see the way that he has come in this offseason, how strong he is, how ready he is to be on the football field, I'm hoping for him. I hope he can go out there, win a starting job and help our football team get to where we want to be."

The Chargers have flirted with the idea of playing Lamp at tackle, but Meyer isn't ready to go that route.

"I see Forrest as a solid guard prospect," Meyer said. "If he can't figure it out, which I don't think that will be the case ... we would toy around with moving him inside or outside to compete."

As for Tevi, it's his job to lose at right tackle. Pipkins could be the wild card to push him, but the Chargers have said they want him to play left tackle and learn behind Okung.

"Sam was thrown into the fire last year," Pouncey said. "He's our starting right tackle and we're happy for it."

Time will tell if last year's growing pains will benefit the 2017 draft picks.

[xenos]

And not to sound too much like I'm being unfair to Boltnut, here's a shout out to the Pat's model. And yes, I am envious of their OL coach as well as how they can get key guys to step it up for Brady without missing a beat.

www.patriots.com/news/are-we-there-yet-taking-a-mid-offseason-temperature-reading-on-the-patriots-stra

Q: So lesson learned when it comes to reports of the Patriots’ demise being greatly exaggerated?

A: Orlovsky: “Yes, and here’s the thing: This team, this organization, for the longest time everyone has thought to be a chameleon, where they can just change their colors. But that’s not who they are. They’re a shape-shifter. They change who they are. They can literally change their identity. Watching that team go from what they were at the beginning of the year to what they were at the end of the year, and take football back in time 20 years, it hasn’t gotten the appreciation that it should have.

“And they’ve only added to that identity. Their offensive line is going be freakin’ ridiculous. Their secondary? We talk about Baltimore’s secondary, and it’s very good. We talk about Kansas City’s secondary. (But) New England has the best secondary in football. I don’t see anyone chasing them, not in that division.

“It’s remarkable to see this team work. I’ve said this for about four years now: New England really doesn’t have position players, outside of players like Gronk and Randy Moss. Their running backs are receivers. You mean to tell me that Rex Burkhead couldn’t play slot receiver? They don’t really have running backs and they don’t really have receivers. They have football players and they move them all over the place.

“So they’re going to get into what they’re going to get into to, and they’re going to force you to get into what you don’t want to get into. And they will strategically gut you, because that’s what they are. They don’t play by positions, they just play with 11 players.’’

[frozendisc]

May 20, 2019 18:58:20 GMT -7 xenos said:

We all need to pray to the football gods that Tevi pulls a Dielman this year, and that Lamp becomes what I and others think he can be.

www.ocregister.com/2019/05/18/chargers-super-bowl-hopes-might-hinge-on-third-year-offensive-linemen/

Chargers' Super Bowl hopes might hinge on third-year offensive linemen

Forrest Lamp and fellow members of 2017 draft class may hold the keys to the team's success

It's hard to find a set of NFL offseason power rankings that doesn't include the Chargers inside the top five, or a shade outside. Few teams possess the type of talent the Chargers do, which has led to pundits calling them contenders with a Super Bowl-ready roster.

But ... there's always a "but" when the Chargers' name comes up in prognostication pieces.

The biggest concern for the Chargers is on the offensive line. For the first three months last season, that offensive line defied low Pro Football Focus numbers by doing just enough to allow Philip Rivers to operate one of the league's top offenses. Then it fell apart on a December Saturday night in Carson, when the Baltimore Ravens' defense dominated the trenches in a game that cost the Chargers the No. 1 seed. That was followed by three more underwhelming performances from the offensive line before the Chargers' 2018 season ended with a whimper against the New England Patriots in the divisional round.

Ask mostly anyone associated with the Chargers and they'll admit the offensive line struggled down the stretch. They're aware. So why no drastic changes? Teams often revamp their offensive line by overpaying top free agents or search for veterans who could benefit from a change of scenery. Others spend high draft picks to address the need.

The Chargers didn't do any of that. Outside of using a third-round pick in last month's draft to select offensive tackle Trey Pipkins, who's considered a project, the Chargers will trot out nearly the same cast for the 2019 season, and they're content with that.

For every criticism the Chargers' offensive line has received this offseason, the organization has countered with a rebuttal.

Sam Tevi, the starting right tackle in 2018, allowed the third-most pressures among tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Yeah, but it was Tevi's first year as a starter, the Chargers would contend.

One reason the Chargers didn't seek outside help at offensive line is because Forrest Lamp is expected to compete for a starting job.

But why trust an offensive guard with only 17 career snaps since being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft?

"His best shot now is he's finally healthy going into an offseason," Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer said of Lamp.

In a way, the Chargers' 2017 draft class could determine their Super Bowl chances for the upcoming season.

Two years ago, the Chargers planted the seeds for an offensive line rebuild by signing left tackle Russell Okung and drafting Lamp, Tevi in the sixth round and offensive guard Dan Feeney in the third round. They added to it last year with the signing of former Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey.

Now, the organization is banking on Year 3 being when they reap the rewards on their long-term offensive line vision.

The PFF numbers and many disgruntled fans say the Chargers are making a mistake by putting their chips behind Lamp, Tevi and Feeney, the least criticized of the 2017 trio, mainly because he was sandwiched between former Pro Bowlers Okung and Pouncey on the left side last year.


Meyer, who's entering his third year as the team's offensive line coach, has heard the complaints and concerns. He's confident the narrative on the third-year offensive linemen will change after the 2019 season.

"I 100 percent believe all three of those 2017 picks are going to end up being good football players at this level," Meyer said. "None of the guys that we have in this room, we're not even close to saying we're giving up on them. I think all of them are going to end up being really good football players."

Pouncey recently called Lamp the strongest offensive lineman on the team, and he wants to see the former Western Kentucky standout use that strength on the field in 2019.

Lamp has spent plenty of time in the weight room the past two years because of a torn ACL he sustained in the 2017 preseason that cost him his entire rookie season. The rehab from the injury also didn't allow him to participate in offseason activities last season.

With organized team activities starting Monday, Lamp is finally healthy to compete for a job in 2019.

"He's going to have every opportunity to compete for a job like everyone else," Meyer said of Lamp. "Obviously, he's a talented kid. We drafted him a couple years ago, he just hasn't been available, and when he was available by that point it was a little bit too late."

A healthy Lamp watched Feeney and veteran Michael Schofield fill the guard positions in 2018. By the time Lamp was cleared to play, the Chargers didn't want to disrupt team chemistry.

The team was winning, but the offensive line's struggles from September to November were masked by Rivers' quick release and the ability of running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to break tackles.

Pouncey is hoping Lamp could help them improve in 2019.

He looks awesome," Pouncey said. "We hope that he can come in and play. This is a guy that came in with a lot of expectations. ... He's a guy that we're going to need to play. He was a talented football player coming out of Western Kentucky.

"I know he had (an) injury over his first couple of years. To see the way that he has come in this offseason, how strong he is, how ready he is to be on the football field, I'm hoping for him. I hope he can go out there, win a starting job and help our football team get to where we want to be."

The Chargers have flirted with the idea of playing Lamp at tackle, but Meyer isn't ready to go that route.

"I see Forrest as a solid guard prospect," Meyer said. "If he can't figure it out, which I don't think that will be the case ... we would toy around with moving him inside or outside to compete."

As for Tevi, it's his job to lose at right tackle. Pipkins could be the wild card to push him, but the Chargers have said they want him to play left tackle and learn behind Okung.

"Sam was thrown into the fire last year," Pouncey said. "He's our starting right tackle and we're happy for it."

Time will tell if last year's growing pains will benefit the 2017 draft picks.

Typical article for this time of year....all positive with sweet smelling flowers......but what if:  Okung is injured and lost for the season in TC 2019 ?   Or Lamp sucks...... Or Tevi is the starting ROT, and sucks at it.......again ? on and on.....there is plenty to be concerned about. No doubt the Bolts have serious talent, but all that gets you is pundits writing articles like this one.

[xenos]

May 20, 2019 19:37:48 GMT -7 frozendisc said:

May 20, 2019 18:58:20 GMT -7 xenos said:

We all need to pray to the football gods that Tevi pulls a Dielman this year, and that Lamp becomes what I and others think he can be.

www.ocregister.com/2019/05/18/chargers-super-bowl-hopes-might-hinge-on-third-year-offensive-linemen/

Typical article for this time of year....all positive with sweet smelling flowers......but what if:  Okung is injured and lost for the season in TC 2019 ?   Or Lamp sucks...... Or Tevi is the starting ROT, and sucks at it.......again ? on and on.....there is plenty to be concerned about. No doubt the Bolts have serious talent, but all that gets you is pundits writing articles like this one.

There's a lot of things that could go wrong. Based on everything that has happened this offseason, the FO and coaching staff obviously feel strongly enough about both Lamp and Tevi to not get more OL help. We'll just have to trust that they're right. Obviously, Lamp's injury did not yet sap him of his physical talent like you believed

[frozendisc]

May 20, 2019 20:03:10 GMT -7 xenos said:

May 20, 2019 19:37:48 GMT -7 frozendisc said:

Typical article for this time of year....all positive with sweet smelling flowers......but what if:  Okung is injured and lost for the season in TC 2019 ?   Or Lamp sucks...... Or Tevi is the starting ROT, and sucks at it.......again ? on and on.....there is plenty to be concerned about. No doubt the Bolts have serious talent, but all that gets you is pundits writing articles like this one.

There's a lot of things that could go wrong. Based on everything that has happened this offseason, the FO and coaching staff obviously feel strongly enough about both Lamp and Tevi to not get more OL help. We'll just have to trust that they're right. Obviously, Lamp's injury did not yet sap him of his physical talent like you believed

You know Lamp is going to be what exactly ?   Yea, you don't know, you are hoping. I have said it for quite some time now, TC 2019 will decide Lamp's future as a player. I say he is a reserve, at best, with being released outright a possibility. Do I know this, nope.....simply a guess.

[moekid]

May 20, 2019 20:24:59 GMT -7 frozendisc said:

May 20, 2019 20:03:10 GMT -7 xenos said:

There's a lot of things that could go wrong. Based on everything that has happened this offseason, the FO and coaching staff obviously feel strongly enough about both Lamp and Tevi to not get more OL help. We'll just have to trust that they're right. Obviously, Lamp's injury did not yet sap him of his physical talent like you believed

You know Lamp is going to be what exactly ?   Yea, you don't know, you are hoping. I have said it for quite some time now, TC 2019 will decide Lamp's future as a player. I say he is a reserve, at best, with being released outright a possibility. Do I know this, nope.....simply a guess.

Your posts are like a flu virus or something. I recommend quarantine