December 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) is sacked during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

So, the Chargers did not pick a left tackle in this year´s NFL draft and Bryant McKinnie fooled us all by signing a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens after going out to dinner with our front office staff, taking a physical and texting stuff like “It´s nice out here (in San Diego)”. But whatever – in the end it´s all about business; he wanted to test the market in order to get a better deal with the Ravens. Well done, party boy!

For us this means, we have to try to get another guy for the left side of the offensive line or we´re okay with the player personnel we´ve got on the roster right now.

OPTIONS ON THE ROSTER

Mike Harris
We´ve all seen what Mike Harris could do…or what he couldn´t do last year: protecting Philip Rivers´ blind side. But I want to be fair; he had some decent performances and is willing to learn. As an undrafted rookie last season he was thrown in at the deep end. The guy gained some experience as starter and probably will do a better job next season when given the chance.

King Dunlap
Would King Dunlap be the better option than Harris at left tackle? Well, according to Philadelphia Eagles fans, he´s not. Most of them hated him; they hated him – and probably still hate him although he´s gone. But there are some facts that should be considered when talking about Dunlap. Philly fans were used to watching 5-time Pro-Bowler and 4-time All-Pro Jason Peters protecting their quarterback´s blind side. The stud tackle ruptured his Achilles tendon during an offseason workout and missed the complete 2012 season. King Dunlap was far from consistent, but also if he would´ve done a better job last year, the fans would´ve hated him as he had to step into that great man´s shoes which he never was able to fill. And I want to add, that it might be a little bit harder to block for a mobile quarterback than for a classic drop-back passer, as you´ll never know where they´re going to be. I´ll let you decide in which of those quarterback categories Philip Rivers fits the best.

If we´re not too pleased with any of those guys as starters, then what are the options for the Chargers to address the left tackle position?

FREE AGENCY

Max Starks
The whole BoltNation seems to talk about free agent Max Starks right now. Starks has been on the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2004 and started all 16 games last season. He won two championships with the team, one as starting left tackle and one as starting right tackle. One of those Super Bowl rings came with Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt as their play caller. He probably (or surely) is the best blind side protector available at this point in free agency – although his play tailed off last season after returning from ACL surgery. At the age of 31, he has a ton of experience under his belt but still some fuel left in the tank. Starks was a $890,000 cap hit for the Steelers last year (i.e. relatively “cap space friendly”) and so the veteran left tackle could be a very interesting option for the Lightning Bolts.

Demetress Bell
Yes I´m doing it; I´m listing Demetress Bell here. Why? Because he is available and lines up as left tackle. I already mentioned that King Dunlap got bashed pretty hard by Philadelphia Eagles fans; guess I don´t have to tell you that they were coming twice as hard at Bell. Demetress Bell, 29, struggled in Howard Mudd’s system and actually was worse than Dunlap in 2012. He was given a 5 year, $34.5 million contract in 2012, but was released after just one year. In my opinion it´s not an impossibility that he might rebound on an other team. But he definitely would be nothing more than an addition for depth purpose.

TRADES

If Tom Telesco decides that none of these free agents are worth a pick-up, then trades can save us from watching King Dunlap or Mike Harris starting at left tackle.

Jason Peters
Well, I´m mentioning Jason Peters here, because the Philadelphia Eagles just drafted top tier tackle Lane Johnson and Peters is set to be $11 million cap hit in 2013; but the release of the 31-year old stud would only create about $800,000 in dead money! As mentioned above he is recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture and did not see any on-field action in 2012. The Eagles acquired Peters (undrafted in 2004) from the Buffalo Bills for the 28th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. They also gave up a fourth-round pick (121st overall) in the same year and a late sixth round conditional pick in 2010. Although the 4-time All-Pro and 5-time Pro-Bowler was injured last season, I don´t expect him to come in significantly cheaper than that. So, after all it´s not very likely that trade will happen.

Branden Albert
The Kansas City Chiefs used their franchise tag on Branden Albert; this means he´s about to get 9.8 million guaranteed money this year. After making left tackle Eric Fisher the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, they are still open to trade the veteran left tackle for a second round pick in return. Albert, 28, surely would demand around $9 million per year and, just like Jason Peters, he might be too expensive for the Chargers. His history of back problems doesn´t make this option too attractive for me either.

Eugene Monroe
This is a trade some Chargers fans are begging for; which makes sense as the Jacksonville Jaguars just selected top tackle Luke Joeckel in the draft last week. The former first round pick Eugene Monroe, is one of the league´s best tackles and surely would cost us at least a second round pick, if not a first rounder in 2014. Monroe, 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will demand big-time money when signing his extension. So, just like for the other trade options; this move might eat up too much cap space.

So, Bolt Family, now it´s your turn – Tom Telesco needs your help!

Oct 2, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens tackle Bryant McKinnie (78) prior to the game against the New York Jets at M

Well, the NFL draft 2013 is in the books. The Chargers upgraded the right tackle position by selecting D.J. Fluker from Alabama in the first round of the draft; with their second round pick they grabbed Notre Dame´s star linebacker Manti Te´o. With the next two picks they brought in wide receiver Kennan Allen and defensive back Steve Williams. Furthermore, they added depth at outside linebacker (Tourek Williams) and quarterback (Brad Sorenson). But they did not address the position the Chargers are in biggest need of an upgrade: the left tackle spot.

The top three offensive tackle prospects already were off the board after the Philadelphia Eagles snagged away Lane Johnson at No. 4. And with only six draft picks and countless holes in the roster, General Manager Tom Telesco wasn´t able to bring in a guy for the left side of the offensive line. So the question now is, how can we make sure, Philip Rivers´ blind side will be better protected than it was last year?

That´s when the name Bryant McKinnie comes in.

McKinnie, 33 (turns 34 in September), gets linked to the Chargers since weeks and yesterday he had a meeting with the new Chargers´ brass here in San Diego. The former seventh overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft is a member of this year´s Super Bowl winning squad from the Baltimore Ravens. He backed up starting left tackle Michael Oher in all 16 regular games last year, but was inserted into the starting lineup for the postseason after the line struggled down the stretch. He had a stellar postseason and protected Joe Flacco´s blind side very well in all four playoff games.

But I guess it´s fair to question if Bryant McKinnie is the right fit for San Diego.

Being a starter for most of his career, McKinnie got benched in 2012 after showing up to training camp out of shape due to some excess weight. He had some injury issues over the last years and his teammates already began to question his motivation. Ugh! This sounds awfully familiar, doesn´t it? We just got rid of Big Lazy Jared Gaither weeks ago, and now we´re trying to replace him with a guy who obviously has a hard time to stay disciplined and in shape?

Alright, maybe I´m overdoing this. The 33-year old veteran surely isn´t committed to the same level of slothfulness as the former Chargers´ bench warmer who wore the #78 jersey. But players don´t start questioning a teammates´ motivation for no reason. In his two seasons in Baltimore he has been trapped in Harbaugh’s doghouse a couple of times for a poor work ethic and an inability to keep his weight down. Unfortunately, he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 for the same reasons. But McKinnie made it clear that he wants to play at least another year, but only if he is guaranteed the opportunity to compete for a starting spot:

“I definitely want a starting job,” the 6´8” giant said. “I want it to be fair for somebody to beat me out of my position instead of saying you want to try something new. Give me the opportunity to actually be fair and let somebody beat me out for the position.”

Well, there´s not much competition in San Diego at left tackle (King Dunlap, Mike Harris), he definitely could be in pole position right from the start.

Another issue is that he´s coming off a Championship season. So he already had problems finding his commitment to this ball game before he won the coveted trophy; now that he is a world champion, will it be easier for him to find his motivation? And I´m afraid money will be an issue too. He was a $4.2 million cap hit for the Ravens last year. With a Super Bowl ring on his finger, I´m not too sure he´ll come in cheap. But if he does, then he would be a nice solution for the left tackle spot on the offensive line for the 2013 season. We surely would have to try to fix that spot in 2014 by using a high draft pick on a great left tackle prospect.

So, I have my doubts about this big man. But if the price is right, then get him in! We´re pretty desperate for an upgrade at that position on the left side of the offensive line.

What are your thoughts Bolt Family?

Thank you for reading.

BoltnRoll!

Aug. 27, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Diego Chargers center Nick Hardwick prepares to snap the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

by James Fedewa

Tackle or Guard. Tuard or Gackle. Who will San Diego select in the first round?

75% of Chargers fans and Draft Experts have San Diego choosing an offensive tackle or an offensive guard with their first round pick. Obviously, it’s the biggest need in San Diego has to be the offensive line (since releasing Jared Gaither, losing Luis Vasquez and watching Tyronne Green find someone else to let down) . Since money & salary cap are very limited, there is not a lot the Chargers can do with new free agents. So GM Tom Telesco must revamp a bad offensive line and find three new starters and he wants to build through the draft.

Telesco has signed three “under the radar” types of offensive linemen in King Dunlap, Rich Ohrnberger and Chad Rinehart. All three additions seem like “depth” (and better than last season) but maybe one or two can turn into a quality every day starter. Rinehart and Dunlap both have ties with San Diego’s new offensive line coach Joe D’alessandris (“Coach Joe-D”). D’alessandris is an offensive line mastermind specializing in the zone blocking scheme, yet playing within the teams strengths (mixing zone and power blocking). Coach D’ is really going to have to start from scratch in San Diego since the only two starters from last years team are center Nick Hardwick and right tackle Jeremy Clary (both were below average last season, nor experienced in zone blocking). Coach D’s three years prior with the Buffalo Bills produce quality offensive linemen and with later round draft picks. So it’s safe to say San Diego’s biggest free agent offensive lineman (so far) is Coach Joe D’alessandris.

Current NFL draft projections could have the Chargers missing out of the top three left tackle prospects Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson. So the most logical thing to do is draft the next best position, a guard: either Chance Warmack or Jonathan Cooper. Both prospects look super on game tape and both are very unique with great qualities. But drafting either guard still leaves San Diego with a glaring need at left tackle, and the Chargers need a starter. So drafting a guard in the first round, San Diego would start Cooper or Warmack and still have to look for a starting left tackle with their second or third round pick. .

If Chance Warmack is selected in the first round, he’s a left guard. So Chargers fans can nearly guarantee two rookies starting on the left side of the o-line 2013, which is not necessarily desirable.

Now who will that starting left tackle be?

• Left Tackle: King Dunlap (or Terron Armstead, Justin Pugh, Kyle Long, Dallas Thomas, Menelik Watson)
• Left Guard: Chance Warmack, Troutman
• Center: Hardwick, Molk, Baxter
• Right Guard: Rinehart, Ohrnberger
• Right Tackle: Jeromey Clary, Mike Harris

Typically, cohesiveness is the best quality about a starting five offensive line, which takes time, familiarity and practice. Starting two rookies within a starting five is a very large gamble and the odds do not favor rookie duos. Second or third round left tackles usually are very raw, and should not start immediately as rookies. However, even with King Dunlap starting, the offensive line is still an improvement from last year’s M.Harris, T.Green, Hardwick, Rinehart & Clary, especially with the addition of Coach Joe D’alessandris and his blocking scheme.

There are also trade options for a veteran left tackle, but San Diego is very limited within their small salary cap. The left tackle trading block isn’t typically big either. Some names floating around Chargers fans are:

• Chiefs Branden Albert would cost too much, especially within the division.
• Rams Rodger Saffold is in his final year of his rookie contract so he’s inexpensive (good for the Rams) but he’ll demand a lot more money in 2014 as a left tackle free agent and the Rams will not resign him (since signing Jake Long in free agency).
• J’Marcus Webb has been replaced in Chicago. May be available in trade.
• Doug Free may be on the chopping block in Dallas, and he has left tackle experience.
• Levi Brown is making left tackle money in Arizona this year. If the decide to draft a left tackle in the draft, cutting Brown could save a lot of money for the Cardinals.
• 33 year old Bryant McKinnie just won a Super Bowl in Baltimore and is still could be an inexpensive free agent.
• Demetress Bell is a free agent, with ties with Coach D’. He’s an injury risk, but talented & probably too unreliable.
• Jason Smith may be worth a shot at training camp fodder, as Coach D’ has a great reputation of making linemen look good.

If San Diego does miss out on blue chippers Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher or Lane Johnson, it’s not the end of the world for San Diego fans. Good coaching, new schemes, and new looks can fix holes.