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A few days ago, we looked back at the scouting report of Larry English going into draft day and noticed that there were worries about his injuries that we seemed to ignore. Now let’s look into the scouting report of Ryan Mathews and see if they were correct in their assessments.

Here is the strengths/weaknesses provided by Walter Football:

Strengths:
Strong frame with great bulk
Patient runner – lets blocks develop
Runs with amazing balance and low center of gravity
Physical blocker
Doesn’t dance in backfield – hits hole with authority
Good straight line speed when given room
Great vision – sees open lanes
Smart and knows how to read linebackers
Punishing stiff arm
Extremely productive
Can handle 20-plus carries per game

Weaknesses:
Strictly a two-down back
Hands of stone – very inconsistent catching the ball
Misses blocking assignments
Not nearly as athletic in games as measureables suggest
Doesn’t break many tackles
Lacks elusiveness to make defenders miss in open field
Had an extremely good offensive line against inferior competition
Durability concerns

What do you think about those weaknesses?

Strictly a two-down back? Sounds pretty accurate. We had to use Darren Sproles in his rookie year on 3rd down and Mike Tolbert last year.

Hands of stone? I think he has gotten better at catching the football, but there is still room for improvement.

Misses blocking assignments? Getting better, but still has work to do.

Doesn’t break tackles, lacks elusiveness? There were a couple of long runs last year in which he got into the open field and he should have scored. He breaks off big runs, but we need him to finish them with 7 points!

Durability concerns? Do we really expect Mathews to get through a season without getting nicked up and missing some games? This looks like it will be a lingering issue.

Seems like this scouting report stayed pretty true on the strengths and the weaknesses side. They did fail to tell us one minor detail…

Matthews can’t keep a cobra clutch on that football! He fumbles it left and right! The turnovers are killing us and he needs to fix that issue first.

We have FIVE players representing the San Diego Chargers out in Hawaii for this weekend’s Pro Bowl festivities. Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Ryan Mathews and Eric Weddle are all enjoying the beautiful beaches and the awesome sun. Here are a few pics from yesterday’s practice:

Jan 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI, USA; PIttsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass in front of an airplane as Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee (23), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (17), San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17), Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (52) watch at AFC practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIREJan 26, 2012; Honolulu, HI, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is interviewed by NFL Network broadcasters Fran Charles (left) and Marshall Faulk (center) at AFC practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; AFC free safety Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers (32) signs autographs for fans during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; AFC running back Ryan Mathews of the San Diego Chargers (left) signs an autograph for Air Force senior master sergeant Mark Avery (right) during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; AFC tight end Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers (left) runs a route against AFC free safety Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers (32) during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Jan 26, 2012, Honolulu, HI, USA; AFC quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers (17) passes the ball during practice for the 2012 Pro Bowl at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Dec 18, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker

Here is a little description on the requirements of making it onto the All-Joe Team:

Our Joes are not average or even sloppy, but rather unheralded, unloved and, sometimes, underpaid since the one prerequisite for being an All-Joe is that you cannot have a Pro Bowl on your résumé. USA Today

For the 2011 All-Joe Team, San Diego Chargers LB Antwan Barnes  was selected as one of the Outside Linebackers. Barnes had 9 sacks in the final 10 games of the season and was one of the few players on the Chargers that could put pressure on the opposing quarterback.

Last season, Mike Tolbert and Quentin Jammer were named to the roster for their efforts. Hopefully Antwan will be given more opportunities to get after the quarterback and hopefully we can get more playmakers with him on the field. For some reason, Travis LaGirl kept getting the starting nod over Barnes, but it didn’t stop Barnes from having a pretty good season.

Congrats to Antwan Barnes

Finally it’s Friday!! Senior Bowl and Pro Bowl are this weekend.
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November 27, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Harrison Smith (22) on the ground after intercepting a pass in the closing minutes against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

We have a couple of posts about the Chargers meeting up with Ryan Lindley and Courtney Upshaw. Here are a few more players that the Chargers met with after Wednesday’s Senior Bowl practice (Draft Countdown): Continue reading this post »

December 5, 2010; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) and members of the offensive line walk off the field after not converting on fourth down late in the game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers lost 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

The offensive line is primarily responsible for blocking. During normal play, offensive linemen do not handle the ball, unless the ball is fumbled by a ball carrier, or when a player who is normally an offensive lineman takes a different position on the field.

Offensive line positions are as follows:

The Center (C)
The center is the player who begins the play by snapping the ball to the quarterback (or directly to a back as you see in the “wildcat”).  As the name implies, the center usually plays in the middle of the offensive line, though some teams may employ an unbalanced line where the center is offset to one side or another. Like all offensive lineman, the center has the responsibility to block defensive players. The center often also has the responsibility to call out blocking assignments and make last second adjustments depending on the defensive alignment.

Offensive Guard (G)
Two guards line up directly on either side of the center. Like all interior linemen, their function is to block on both running and passing plays. On some plays, rather than blocking straight ahead, a guard will “pull”, whereby the guard comes out of his position in line to lead block for a ball carrier, on plays known as “traps” (for inside runs), or “sweeps” (for outside runs), or “screens” (for passing plays)

Offensive Tackle (T)
Two tackles play outside of the guards. Their role is primarily to block on both running and passing plays. The area from one tackle to the other is an area of “close line play” in which blocks from behind, which are prohibited elsewhere on the field, are allowed. For a right-handed quarterback, the left tackle is charged with protecting the quarterback from being hit from behind (known as his “blind side”), and this is usually the most skilled player on the offensive line. Like a guard, the tackle may have to “pull,” on a running play, when there is a tight end on his side.

So, when you are looking at the line, the positions line up (T) (G) (C) (G) (T).  The line is a huge factor in the quarterbacks ability to perform.  It’s like that old saying, behind every good man is a good woman.  Protecting every good quarterback is a good offensive line.  Next time you see your favorite running back bust out a big play or your teams quarterback throw a great pass know they could not do it without the offensive line heroes.

ChargerGirl Cindi

December 17, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) prior to kickoff of the New Orleans Bowl against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Add another quarterback to our list of players that we have interviewed. We already talked with Brandon Weeden and Russell Wilson and yesterday we talked to local boy, Ryan Lindley (Draft Countdown).

Here is his scouting report from Pro Football Weekly: Continue reading this post »

Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Courtney Upshaw (41) reacts during the second half of the 2012 BCS National Championship game against the LSU Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE

Now here is a name that the draft geeks like to hear. The San Diego Chargers met with Courtney Upshaw yesterday during Senior Bowl practice (Draft Countdown).

Here is his scouting report off of Pro Football Weekly:

A tough, competitive, relentless defender with a professional makeup, Upshaw is thickly muscled and NFL-strong — jolts blockers, gets extension and plays with leverage to stack the run. Was impactful late in his junior season, flashing disruptive ability, closing speed and strong tackling. Is an average athlete, and short arms and small hands are concerning, but is a solid, winning player who projects best as a left outside ’backer in a 3-4 scheme.

Upshaw is climbing up the draft boards and it seems unlikely that he will be available with the 18th pick in the draft. We would have to make a trade up to select him OR his stock would have to start to decline.

Upshaw would be a perfect compliment to Shaun Phillips lining up at outside linebacker and attacking quarterbacks. He also plays the run well and teams that are looking for an outside linebacker for their 3-4 system will have their eyes set on Upshaw.

Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; A general view as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the number thirty overall pick to the New York Jets during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Time to clean up last week’s mock draft with players moving up and down the draft because of the Senior Bowl.

Each Bolt Beat Report mock draft is featured in the DC Pro Sports Report, WalterFootball.com, Sports Jabber, hailredskins.com and fftoolbox.com mock draft databases. Each site keeps track of a huge number mock drafts all over the web.

Also be sure to check out NFL Mocks and With the First Pick for comprehensive NFL draft coverage year-round.

Here is our latest Mock Draft:

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Sorry for some of the formatting issues with the pictures on the site recently, we will be having a whole new layout released soon and this is part of the transition stage for it.

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