San Diego has a track record for finding late-round talent on the offensive line. Continue reading...
First sentence of the article blew me away: "The Chargers have a track record for finding late-round talent on the offensive line." Huh? What the hell are you talking about? Last two paragraphs are his supporting argument: "Guards Tyronne Green (fourth round), Louis Vasquez (third) and Stephen Schilling (sixth) have been added since 2009 and started at least two games last year. All-Pro left guard Kris Dielman, who retired this offseason due to medical issues, went undrafted. In 2004, the Bolts took center Nick Hardwick in the third round and right tackle Jeromey Clary in the sixth. Center Scott Mruczkowski, now a free agent, was a seventh-round pick in 2005." Really? Third-round is not late-round. It is a bit of a stretch to call fourth-round late-round. When someone says, "late-round," I think of 6th and 7th. Possibly mid- to end of 5th round. But whatever. What "talent" is he refering to? I like Schilling and think he could well, but he is still learning. Clary is one of the bottom 5 starting right tackles in the NFL. Green has been a backup and only started due to injuries. He has been thrust into games, not earning his way pnto the field. Mruckowski is a serviceable backup, but nothing more. Vasquez is a decent starter and does a nice job, but he is by no means elite. The only true talent there is Dielman, who retired, and Hardwick, who was seriously thinking about retiring. Maybe I am a complete idiot and way out of my depth here, because the coaching staff and front office and scouts see something else than I do in regards to the offensive line.
And I'm more than a little concerned the Chargers are "hoping to find a gem." I understand the draft is an inexact science and even the Colts are "hoping" Andrew Luck produces, but it does not sound good when the franchise is "hoping" to polish a piece of turd into a piece of turquoise.
I agree Devo. Someone has to start, right? If we actually drafted an OL in an early round they would start ahead of our late round dreck.
