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I don't know. Jordan allowed 9 sacks in a half-season last year, which is pretty bad, so I guess there's nowhere to go but up. On the other hand, after playing poorly in the Packers game, he played one of the worst games I've ever seen an offensive lineman play against the Bears. He played LT in the first quarter and RT in the second quarter, and was terrible at both.He did look much better against the Seahawks, which is encouraging. But with two bad games and one good game so far, I'm not holding out hope that he'll be an average-quality starter.
I haven't seen anything that should make you move LT from where he has been on your list, whether it be 1,2, or 3.
He is for me, but not because of Oben. I had LJ and LT really close, but since the 3% chance that Priest would come back and steal carries from LJ has now been reduced to below 1%, I've pushed LJ back in front.TinHat said:
LT has proven he can put up great stats with a terrible OL, worse than the one he has not. LJ has proven he can put up spectacular stats in a spectacular situation for RB's. He has a lot more to prove imo. Alexander seems like the safe bet, and was before all the KC/SD shuffling.TinHat said:
AJ used a 1st round pick to shore up the weakest area on the team so I don't know how you can fault him for not trying to do anything. It pretty obvious that he wanted to limit free agents so they can get guess the best comp picks they can next year and by doing so he left the OL with very little depth. McNeil is going to make or break the OL this year because Jordan flat out sucks.bicycle_seat_sniffer said:
But if AJ thinks this team is as close to being a team that should make noise in the playoffs as he has eluded to in the past why is he more worried about compensatory draft picks than filling glaring holes that are sure to hold this team back?
Having a rookie backed up by someone who shouldn't even be in the NFL protecting your rookie QBs blindside is flat out stupid. They had a ton of money to spend in free agency when they dropped Drew. They were cheap. Hopefully Rivers doesn't pay the price.
get the best comp picks?? next year? thats the solution to a horrid oline? Meh
I dont think this will effect LT that much, It will effect Rivers,badly. the bears owned that awful line. They are gonna have to keep Brandon Manu anchored next to McNeil/Jordan.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Who do you suggest AJ should have signed? He used the Bolts 2nd round pick on the position, I'm not sure what more you expected him to do. A McNeil/Oben combination would have been a significant upgrade from last year, unfortunately Oben hasn't recovered in time to start the season.AJ hit the jackpot when McNeil fell to the Bolts in the 2nd. He'll be the LT for the next 6-8 years, only now he'll be starting from week 1 unstead of being eased into the job around week 8-9.
I know that's kind of the catch22 the bolts were in. But two years ago, AJ traded for Oben. So there has to be something he could have/should have done.
BSShaffer(CLE) is MUCH better than McNeil right now. McNeil has the potential to be a better LT one day than Shaffer but it's not even a contest right now. Not that the comparison even really needs to be made. The $ move would have been to overpay for Shaffer(they have the $ so why not?) AND draft McNeil, giving McNeil a rookie season to adjust/learn the NFL. That would have given them Olivea/Shaffer/Oben on the depth chart when healthy and when injuries come up McNeil would be able to fill in this year and replace Oben in the rotation next year. Instead you have the cluster #### you see right now and McNiel is going to be pushed into a situation he's not ready for and Leander Jordan will be eventually be put in a position that has proven thus far to be his weakness(the field of play).I've defended AJ in the past but this has all the makings of a debacle if poor OT play gets Rivers injured. At the very least he could have gotten a better backup QB like Griese. Now they are poised to have their entire season end on a single play if a DE takes advantage of a rookie LT who has missed reps due to a broken hand. If Rivers gets hurt we may as well just turn our attention to Jeff Fisher and other possible new coaches for next season.tommyGunZ said:
between that and gets just a comp pick for Brees. Add in no Gates week 1 last year = Not so good. AJ is setting Rivers and more so Marty up to fail with this Oline. I would love to get Fisher in here after Marty gets fired this off season. But It's gonna be Wade Phillips, who would be AJ's puppet.
Didn't SD bring in Brandon Manumaleuna to fill that role?
It's the same line except that Dielman and Hardwick look better, Olivea looks a bit better, and Goff doesn't look as good IMO. The only change in personnel is at LT. Last year Oben played the first half of the season and Jordan played the second half. This year, McNeill will replace Jordan.The difference between McNeill and Jordan, based on what I've seen, is that McNeill is a much better pass-blocker but Jordan is a better run-blocker. Jordan can drive his man back several yards, while McNeill seems to be more of a position blocker. He uses his size to get in the way, but isn't going to get any pancakes. I'd like to see him get more aggressive. The team has been effective running to his side of the field during the preseason, though.
So was Oben even expected to start week 1 for the Chargers prior to his injury??
His injury occurred around week 8 of last year. At first they were saying he was day-to-day or week-to-week or some nonsense like that, but apparently it is career-threatening. He has worked hard to try to come back, but he hasn't yet been cleared to play (obviously). I don't know whether he ever will be.But before his injury mid-way through last season, yes, I would think he'd have been expected to start this year.
I would hope so, but articles like this combined with O-line issues, inexperienced QB, no QB depth, make me more and more nervous about burning the high pick necessary for getting Gates. Gonzo has been used more as a blocker than "pass catching specialist" in recent years, and we've seen what that's done to his numbers even with Dunn there. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...16chargers.html
that being said, LT's pre-season projections were likely based on an o-line that did or did not include Oben starting?
Mine were based on an O-Line that did not include Oben. I'd heard before the draft that Oben's career may be over. The Chargers had been downplaying it, but word had leaked out very quietly.
I hear you. But losing Roman Oben isn't quite the same as losing Steve Hutchinson or Willie Roaf.
That's what I figured. And I agree with your post below that this isnt like losing Roaf, Richardson, Huchinson, etc. when it comes to the importance of good run blocking. I'm leaving LT as my #1 rated RB.
... and Aaron Shea.
Shea hasn't played a down yet in the preseason. I'm starting to think maybe neither he nor Krause will make the team. But if one does, I'd give the edge to Krause right now.
That's fine, but keep in mind that Tomlinson had back-to back 1,600+ yard/15+ TD seasons with a worse line and a less-talented QB.
You mean at OT? No.
I've heard: Bollinger/Ramsey (whoever doesn't make it with the Jets), or Cleo Lemon if he's cut by Miami.Edit: I don't see a problem with standing pat with Whitehurst as the number two, though. He's a rookie, but he's played well in the preseason and in training camp. (His preseason stats aren't great because there have been some bad dropped balls, but he's put the ball on the money.) If people aren't overly worried about Rookie Leinart being the backup in Arizona, or Rookie Cutler being the backup in Denver, I don't think people should worry about Rookie Whitehurst being the backup in SD. He's earned the job by playing well.
Isn't Cleo currently #2 in Miami?Another name I heard floating (although I don't take it seriously)... Flutie.
No, Harrington is.
Ah yes, I see that he is. I had heard he was seriously pushing Joey though. It seems odd that he might get cut.
Why would Marty get fired? Are you that pessimistic regarding the Chargers hopes in 2006? I strongly disagree with your perception of AJ Smith's job performance. The Bolts will get a 3rd round compensation pick for Brees; he was not under contract so AJ's hands were tied. The only other option was to franchise tag him and pay him $10MM to back up Rivers. IMO, that wasn't a realistic option.Gates missing a game last year supports a "not so good" case? What about Smith signing Gates as a free agent off the street a few years ago and now having him under contract for 6 more years at a reasonable salary?AJ Smith has hit home run after home run the last 3 years.
Yes I am Tommy. (pessimistic) I think a 8-8 / 7-9 season is very likely and they are not gonna make playoffs in the AFC. Hence Marty is gone. That doesn't bother me, per se, cause I think he's not really gonna take this team much further than first round/second round playoff exits anyway. But I think AJ will replace him with someone not even as good as Marty. (bumms son)I like AJ's drafts so far, but he seems to make too few and very small free agent moves. Almost scared to make another David Boston type mistake. This team is sitting on a decent amount of cap room, and they are not gonna use it. Two years ago SD got McCardell and Oben from Tampa in trades. They need to make one Oline move like that, before the season.
I was under the impression that most of that cap room was being used locking up the core players to long term deals. I know Hardwick, Jammer, and Cooper all recently re-upped for a long time.
