Prime Beef

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chance Warmack (65) in action against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Prime Beef. I love this term used for the big uglies in the interior. I owe it to a Twitter follower who first used it when we were talking during BCS Championship game, I apologize as I can’t remember who it was. We’re not talking about some low-grade Army beef here (trust me, I did my time eating MRE’s…that beef is not good), we’re talking about choice Grade-A Prime Beef. I am specifically talking about the massive side of beef with the gut hanging out in the picture above: Alabama’s OG Chance Warmack.

I am actually a person (and in the minority) who believes that the Chargers should NOT draft a LT with the No. 11 pick. The teams above us also have needs at LT and looking at several different draft scenarios, we would be drafting the 3rd best LT in the draft. Joeckel and Fisher will be gone which leaves us with Lane Johnson of Oklahoma. A prospect who has only played at LT for 1 season, and has only been an OL for the last 2 years. I understand he has possible long-term value but he is not an immediate plug and play LT right now.

There is another reason why I wouldn’t draft a LT at no. 11 and that is due to the amount of solid FA LT’s available. According to ESPN’s very helpful FA Draft Tracker, there are 8 UFA Offensive Tackles with a grade of 75 or higher. These are veteran players who could immediately be put into place over the Big Lazy.

Someone like Jermon Bushrod of the Saints. The Saints are currently over the cap and would have trouble signing Bushrod unless they start releasing several players. Bushrod has played in 62 of a possible 66 career games. And we know durability at LT is a strong desire.

Back to my point about the Prime Beef. Chance Warmack most likely will be available at the no. 11 pick and he is “…the best OG I’ve evaluated in the last decade” as Todd McShay said. He has paved the way over the last 3 years for the run-heavy Crimson Tide.  Just check out these stats:

– Played in all 40 games over the last 3 seasons

– This last season only penalized 2 times in 805 possible snaps

– Allowed only 3 sacks this last season in 315 pass attempts

– Led Alabama with 37 pancake blocks this past season

– Blocked for Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy over last 3 seasons

– Alabama averaged nearly 225 yards rushing per game last season, with about 60% of rushing attempts to left side.

– And was a Unanimous First Team All-American

Chance is a plug and play starter at LG on day one. Also, if new HC McCoy sticks with his zone-blocking scheme that he used in Denver to great success, that will fit in perfectly for Warmack.

We need help on the left-side of our line. Now, you can go to Applebee’s and get a decent steak that will do the job….or you can go to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and get that Prime Beef that will blow your mind-hole.

Oh yeah, and a guy like Warmack will have a direct impact on no. 24 and opening some holes for him. I still believe. #Free24

Dan Locke