by James Fedewa 3/9/14

Pre-Free Agency begins on Tuesday (3/11/14) but this weekend is open and “talks” can start with all pending free agents and any NFL Team. It is an open collusion period.  Rumors are swirling of potential acquisitions, and the The Baltimore Sun is posting that several of the top tier left tackles have already reached agreements with new teams.

1. The Miami Dolphins are expected to sign Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert for an average of $9.5 million per year.
   
2. The Oakland Raiders are in negotiations with St. Louis Rams Tackle/Guard Rodger Saffold for about $8 million per year, but Tampa Bay is in the bidding too.
   
3. The Arizona Cardinals are expected to sign Oakland Raiders left tackle Jared Veldheer for around $7 to $7.5 million per year.
   
4. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Anthony Collins for about $6.5 to $7 million per year (if Collins does not resign with Cincinnati)
   

Looks San Diego will rely on left tackle King Dunlap (or a rookie draft pick) for 2014.

3/6/2014 – by James Fedewa

The gray area… The dip, purgatory, gap-ville. Hurry up and wait… It’s the term between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft (the area where football fans dread). Its three long months of boiling, and a good time to predict.

So what does a football fan do to ride the boil, other than avoid the NBA and read about spring training? These fans look to the NFL Draft. And if you like the draft, like thousands of other Americans, you are a DRAFTNIK. So assuming who would make NFL teams better, by watching hundreds of clips of on-line player video footage, is within this gray area.

Here my latest NFL Mock Draft of 2014. I’m not going to write stories about every selection (yet), but I will say that Jadeveon Clowney is clearly the number player in this draft and Houston should not reach with their number one overall selection. Houston does need a quarterback, and Teddy Bridgewater could be that choice, but he is just not a prototypical QB, so therefor he is not an A.) #1 selection. Blake Bortals has the tools and the body, but he was virtually unknown three months ago. Bortles stock is currently at its peak, but he is very raw and success may be a reach (and that equals gamble). Johnny Manziel is a huge wild card (and crazy talented), but Manziel’s rock-star attitude, reckless play and small size could lead him to a crash and burn. All three top tier quarterbacks have too much of a gamble to be a #1 overall pick.

Read the rest of this entry →

3/4/14 – by James Fedewa

The San Diego Chargers kept one of their own and resigned/extended 26 year old inside linebacker Donald Butler to a new 7 year contract. The details of the contract are very detailed, with $12 million guaranteed and in $48 million over seven years. In reality, the contact looks like two contacts; 3 year/$20 million, followed by 4 years (with a lot of incentive bonuses).

Looks like General Manager Tom Telesco had to get creative to get the Chargers Defensive Captain Butler signed. Butler wanted $6 million per, with $12 million guaranteed, and it looks like Butler got what he was asking for. Paying young players and keeping your own players sets great examples for motivation in a locker room. The franchise tag on Butler (linebackers) would have cost the Chargers $11.5 million for one season.

The Charges inside linebacker combination of Butler and Manti Te’o looks to grow and flourish, for at least the next three years.

(one BIG man) OT Morgan Moses, LT, Virginia Tech

2/27/14 – by James Fedewa

The Post Season is here and just after the 2014 NFL Combine, the NFL Draft looms. So what will the San Diego Chargers do with this new draft?  Last year, rookie General Manager Tom Telesco struck gold with his first draft in San Diego. The Chargers first three draft picks of 2013 were all solid contributors and starters. Grading last year’s draft is still premature, but the Chargers made it to the playoffs and had a playoff win (with additional help with a new coaching staff, new free agent additions, good fortune, new offensive philosophy and definitely play calling).

Predicting who the Chargers will draft is always a guesstimate. It is not an art, and it’s definitely not a science. It is mirage wrapped in mystery, mixed with the unknown: it’s Mirag-unknow-stery!

But we can guess (and guessing makes mock-drafts fun), so let’s try to predict the General Manager: Mr. Telesco

Telesco’s mentor was Bill Polian, a leader and master at building an NFL franchise through the NFL Draft. Polian has been extremely effective at constructing an NFL team, and keeping that team successful for extended times. Polian has his draft philosophy on how to grade player and if we can look at Polian’s previous drafts, we then can estimate Telesco’s drafting style of players and positional importance. Polian was a little predictable, just ask most Colts fan (similar to AJ Smith, ask Chargers fans).  Polian has a thick history of drafting offensive lineman and defensive backs in the first round; two positions the Chargers are currently in desperate need of.

Rounds 1 to 7

1.)    Morgan Moses, LT, Virginia – Finally, San Diego drafts a first round left tackle, who the Chargers have missed since Marcus McNeil. Moses is massively huge man with above average dexterity. He has a very similar body type to DJ Fluker, but he is quicker and San Diego will have two giant anchors on the offensive line to protect Phillip Rivers and road grade in the run game for the next decade. One man improves the run game and the pass game. (Other possibilities:  NT, Louis Nix III could possibly slide in the first round, and if he is available, Telesco might have a tough decision to make. CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State would be a great addition, but with his amazing performance at the combine, he might have elevated himself to a top 15 pick and the number one cornerback)

2.)    Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech – San Diego desperately needs more depth and talent at cornerback, and might be their biggest area of need. Fuller has the height, speed and strength to be a star CB in the NFL, but it will all be decided on how Fuller can respond to NFL coaching, maintaining  assignments and his health. Fuller is a bit of a wildcard as he likes to freelance to find a big play, which can get him out of proper position. Fuller has first round talent, but a midseason injury could have him slide to the second round. This year’s CB rookie draft class is loaded, so finding a quality CB in the second round is a good possibility (Other possibilities:  OLB, Trent Murphy, Stanford is another possibility as pass rushers are always needed on every team / OG Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLA is a great interior lineman selection, if OT is not selected in the 1^st round)

3.)    Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina – Here comes the burner wide receiver and return specialist. Ellington ran a 4.35 forty.  Not tall (at 5’ 9”) but not small (197 lbs.). He adds team speed the Chargers desperately need. A good hands catcher, Ellington looks to be a very good offensive and special teams prospect. His performance at the combine may have pushed him from the 5^th round to the 3^rd round overnight with his sub 4 forty. (Other possibilities: Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State may lack size to play SS, but he may be a perfect complement to play alongside Eric Weddle. Brooks can hit, has good range and speed, with some coverage ability; a good well rounded safety. Brooks is not not just a FS or just a SS, he can do both / DE, Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina – D-Line Depth is desperately needed in San Diego and Quarles was lost in the Clowney shadow, yet led the Gamecocks with sacks)

4.)    Daniel McCullers, NT, Tennessee – NT is an open wound in the Chargers 3=4 front. If this position is not tended with Louis Nix III in the first round, it must be addressed somewhere in this draft (Other Possibilities: WR, Josh Huff, Oregon can be a deep threat and a possible replacement to Eddie Royal, and can also be a return specialist / WR, Mike Davis, Texas – with the rash of injuries at WR and the possible retirement of Malcolm Floyd, WR depth is mandatory)

5.)    Brent Urban, DE, Virginia – good strength and hustle with prototype height and weight for 3-4 DE. Solid project player and good depth (Other possibilities: NT, Justin Ellis, Louisiana Tech as a backup nose tackle depth, a big body with potential)

6.)    Devon Kennard, ILB, USC – if Donald Butler leaves in free agency, Kennard could be a late round gem. Good inside linebackers can be found in later rounds and Kennard could be that solid player and leader that could help the Chargers quickly.

7.)    Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford – Gaffney has been projected as a 7^th round selection, or even undrafted rookie free agent, but at the combine, his stock increase with his 4.47 forty.  He should slide to the Chargers and might be would be a decent backup to Ryan Matthews, with little investment.

2/20/14  by James Fedewa

New Logo / New Helmet for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the New Age of designer football teams, logos and  brands can generate millions of dollars in revenue for an NFL franchise. New merchandise and apparel equals more Sales and Dollars).   Tampa Bay is this years newest model of an updated brand and look. The Buccaneers unveiled this new-look helmet with over-sized logo and chrome face mask.

NFL traditionalist and the “old-school” NFL brands prefer specifics styles of uniform, based on a conservative standard and throw-back brands, but as people evolve, so do tastes and fads. So with time (and age), preferences and styles grow. Good for Tampa Bay for adopting new looks in a positive brand and good looking logos.

Last year the Miami Dolphins evolved their logo and helmet, but were very conservative in their approach. This Tampa Bay new look took a big jump in a great way.

2/11/14 – by James Fedewa @jamfed

Based on 2014 Chargers TEAM NEEDS, there are many holes on San Diego’s roster. Drafting a roster by TEAM NEEDS is a whole different team building philosophy versus drafting the Best Player Available (BPA). Typically, 1^st round draft picks are selected primarily with the best player available method, but when San Diego drafted DJ Fluker in the 1^st round in 2013, that selection was clearly a TEAM NEED selection, not BPA. Most NFL Mock Drafts are based solely on TEAM NEED, not best player. Fluker played better than the 5 other offensive linemen selected before him, so maybe he was drafted as BPA.

The Chargers offensive line was, and has been, a weakness in years past, but the 2013 Chargers offensive line played very well together, considering a rash of injuries and positional switching. And when I mean GOOD, I mean better than the 2012 o-line, so “average” seems good. San Diego saw four different left tackles last year (King Dunlop, Mike Harris, DJ Fluker & a moment of Mike Remmers), all in the shadows of former Chargers left tackles Jared Gaither / Marcus McNeil (all gone with injures, leaving HOLES on the O-Line).

Chargers 1st Round (MOCK DRAFT)

Antonio Richardson, LT, Tennessee: San Diego need offensive line help, and needs it now. This team runs through Phillip Rivers and if Rivers is properly protected, then the Charger can win any given Sunday. Adding a top-tier huge left tackle in the draft is the least expensive left tackle option for the Chargers, who are a little tight on with the salary cap. Richardson is a mammoth of a man with surprising dexterity, and can shore up the left tackle spot for the next decade. Current left tackle King Dunlop did very well in 2013, but Dunlop and backup Mike Harris are injury liabilities. DJ Fluker played well filling in at left tackle for a few games (as the 4^th string left tackle option) but talent, youth and depth needs to be addressed on the offensive line immediately. (other possible 1^st round options: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan / Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama / Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame / Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State)

Chargers 2nd Round

Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: The Chargers secondary is probably the team’s largest weakness. Fuller has great size and aggressiveness to shine in the Pagano zone defense. He also has the ability to be a very good press-corner. Fuller is an aggressive tackler and likes to hit people, but he does tend to be a “free spirit” and can be found out of position “free lancing.” Fuller could be a 1^st round selection, but with his recent injury and not playing in the Senior Bowl, he could slide to the Chargers in the 2^nd round. Chargers free agent addition CB Derek Cox flopped in his inaugural season with San Diego. Cox has one more year to prove to see playing time, but he is already on a short leash. Kyle Fuller could possibly start at CB in San Diego. (other possible 2^nd round options: Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn / Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas / Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska)

Chargers 3rd Round

Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State: Continuing improving the Chargers Secondary, a rangy and savvy strong safety should be included. Brooks does not have the prototypical size of BIG strong safety, but his aggressive ability could be a prefect compliment to Eric Weddle at free safety. With Eric Weddle’s ability to freelance and seek interceptions, a quicker/more diverse strong safety is needed, as Brooks looks like a nice combination of a SS and FS. Marcus Gilchrist was decent at times, but he was the weakest link to a week secondary. Gilchrist will be improved in 2014, since he was play a brand new SS position, but he should be moved to corner/nickel. Youngster Brandon Taylor cannot seem to find the field because of injuries and Jahleel Addae might be the starter next season. Brooks could take Darrell Stucky’s roster spot, as special team’s captain Stucky will probably be leaving free agency. (other possible 3^rd round options: Kelcy Quarles, DT, South Carolina / Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State)

4th Round

Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech: Outside Linebacker and pass rush is probably more of a concern in San Diego than drafting one in the 4^th round, but finding an immediate OLB rookie starter is rare. Georgia Tech does operate a 3-4 defense, so he not a DE to OLB convert. Attaochu can be a potential 2nd or 3rd round pick, but most of his BIG stats came within the last two or three games of this last season. He can develop as a solid pass rusher and is very versital with good speed, but overall he is a 4th round project. Attaochu will only be needed in sub packages in his rookie campaign, as Melvin Ingram, Dwight Freeney, Jarret Johnson will be relied on the main guys next season. Promising youngsters Thomas Keiser and Tourek Williams will look to improve this offseason too. (other possible 4^th round options: Daniel McCullers, NT, Tennessee / Josh Huff, WR, Oregon)

5th Round: Justin Ellis, NT, Louisiana Tech

6th Round: Devon Kennard, LB, USC

7th Round: Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford

***I am a NFL Draftnik. I love the NFL Draft and I love the grading and the mock-drafting process. Maybe because there is not any football to watch at the moment (this time of year), or maybe because I was a San Diego Chargers fan of the 90’s (who always seemed to have a very early draft pick). Never the less, the football season is over (for now) so fans can presume who their next superstar will be in the league. This is where true team building begins.

2/2/2014 – By James Fedewa

The biggest professional game of the year starts today, and I do live in Seattle, so I better write about this matchup. To witness a city with their prized football team in the Super Bowl is something special to be seen. EVERYONE has Seahawks gear on, from silly Seahawks trucker hats, old-school satin puff jackets, to bootlegged NFC Championship T-Shirts sold on every corner within a 100 mile radius of the city… this town is bleeding blue and green.

The lead and the topic: Payton Manning and the Denver Broncos vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Manning is the new face of the Broncos franchise, in his second season in Denver, and really is the MVP of the league. Manning has been amazing, and the Broncos are built around their quarterback, and without Manning, Denver is a 100% average team. Sure, they have a lot of “talent” in some areas, and their wide receivers do play well, but without the main Manning cog, this team is shallow and cannot survive without their precious QB. They just have too many holes in their offensive line (who has been playing well since LT Ryan Clady’s injury) but their secondary and outside pass rush is a mystery.

Seattle has a great overall TEAM, with some (to little) weaknesses. A young, short, yet efficient and charismatic second year quarterback leads the Seahawks offence, with Russell Wilson. And a very powerful and intimidating rusher (powered by Skittles, errr power pills) has been the featured weapon all year long, with Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks prize offseason acquisition, wide receiver Percy Harvin can showcase his talents, but this will be only his third game/appearance of the year. He can be major a factor in special teams. Wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate are not the big name wide-outs you’d expect a Super Bowl team to showcase at their position, but they do play with amazing heart, confidence and bravery.

If Lynch can carry the load, keeping Manning off the field and Russell Wilson gets off to a good start, Seattle should dominate this game. The Seahawks fearsome pass rush will punish Manning. Manning will be forced to throw short quick passes to his talent wide receivers, but Seattle’s secondary can tackle well, shortening Denver’s YAC (yards after the catch).

Denver’s defense comes and goes, and their passing offense has been amazing all year, but I feel with this game Denver will not match up well will with the Seahawks

Predictions:

Seattle: 45

Denver: 27

* This game will be a blowout, with some big Manning stats garbage time in the end of the game.

Manning will throw 3 interceptions (two from tips, one a pick 6 by SS Kam Chancellor)

Russell Wilson will throw 2 TD passes, but have less than 200 yards passing

MVP: Marshawn Lynch with 205 rushing yards, 2 TD’s

12/30/2013 by James Fedewa

Nine days ago, the San Diego Chargers had a 1.6% chance of making the playoffs, and they made it in, with a four game winning streak. Salute to chance, a toast for fortune, fate with a flip of the coin, with botched calls by NFL referees, missed chip-shot field goals, unreviewable fakes and 4^th down gambles. Plus, thank the Ravens loss (x2), the Dolphins loss (x2) and overall The San Diego Chargers! Credit the football GODS that granted San Diego’s entry to the post season, which seems like an eternity ago since they were last in it, considering it used to be such a regular thing…

San Diego faces an extremely tough football team this Sunday in the Cincinnati Bengals and it’s up to Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews to find a simple weakness and exploit this fierce Bengal defense. Powered by a powerful defensive line, savvy secondary and sound linebacker corps that play with a ‘chip on their shoulder’, the Bengals defense is top notch and one of the best and most intimidating in the league (even with their best player Geno Atkins out with injury). If O-tackles King Dunlop and DJ Fluker can protect Rivers, a short yard passing strike may be the best way to attack Cincinnati. Quick strikes to Woodhead and Gates can be the 1-2 punch for this game plan, with some intermediate passes to Green and Allen. But if it’s cold and wet, San Diego is going to lean heavy on Ryan Mathews rushing, as he’s having a career year and a primetime player on this team. Bold Prediction: WR Vincent Brown sneaks under the radar and has a huge game.

The Bengals offense is a little bipolar, as they can dominate one game or toss multiple interceptions the next. What makes this unit flourish is their youth. Their top offensive playmakers are all under 26 years old (Dalton 26, Green 25, Bernard 22). And with youth comes inexperience, and with inexperience, comes errors. Overall, Cincinnati will be an very difficult challenge for the Bolts. If San Diego can stir up continuous pressure on Andy Dalton, with some tropical and unique pass rushing (just to cause a little tiny bit of confusion) the Chargers defense may have a chance. Look for D-Ends Kendal Reyes and Corey Luiget to have explosive games, and with OLB Melvin Ingram playing more (and angry) to provide a spark for this defensive pass rushing unit. If Gilchrist (or Addae) can have a decent/sold game, then Eric Weddle can freelance more and create unpredicted turnovers. Bold Prediction: CB Shareece Wright stays glued to AJ Green all game long and gets a big interception.

And with one of the largest factors in this game, San Diego is playing on the road in cold WET Cincinnati. It will be a very difficult task to find a win, but Chargers fans are optimistic and are staying positive. The Chargers haven’t had a chance all season long (within the national media), but somehow a 9-7 team, and the third AFC West team, squeaked into the playoffs with the “One game at a time, one play at a time” mentality. There might be a better than 1.6% for San Diego to win this game in Cincinnati (than for them getting into the playoffs).

If they can play like they can play, a victory should not be so farfetched.

11/19/13 – by James Fedewa

The San Diego Chargers lose to the Miami Dolphins this week in a game that went to the last play of the game, again. This put San Diego in a three game losing streak (all close games); losing to the Redskins by 6 points, Broncos by 8 points and now the Dolphins by 4 points. Each game has gone to the wire, to the last minute and to the last play. San Diego failed again to score the points at the end of the game.

Chargers fans would expect a better record and better performance, but with the third year in a row, the Chargers offensive line has been annihilated with injuries. Shuffling healthy bodies around the O-line seems to be the blocking norm over the last few years. The Chargers offensive line is like a Texas Holdem card game; The flop (Jeromey Clary & DJ Fluker getting shuffled around); the TURN (New Guys filling in the holes); and the shuffling all these linemen around effects: The RIVERS (and the passing game).

Chargers starting O-line have been a revolving door for the last few years, and this year is no different. How quarterback Phillip Rivers remains in one-piece is a miracle. With these massive O-line injuries, Chargers fans should be grateful for already possessing 4 wins out of 10 games. This unit is relying solely on scheme and play calling, which is fundamentally a cornerstone, but the offensive line needs a shimmer of luck with some timely healing.

Left Tackle King Dunlap was out again with a neck injury this week, and was swapped by right tackle DJ Fluker, who played admirably with the emergency fill-in role, again. Right Guard Jeromey Clary slid over to take back his old right tackle position and did a decent job. In fact, keeping Clary on the roster this year has been a nice surprise, as he can play multiple positions (even if at average).

On the bright side, San Diego’s rookie offensive tackle DJ Fluker is improving greatly every week, but still has his rookie moments and blocking mistakes. Yet Fluker could be arguably the best O-linemen on the team. He is clearly not a left tackle, but he should be a Chargers force on the right side for the next decade. Looking back at the draft, San Diego made the correct decision by selecting the Missing-Link Tackle.

San Diego did play well at times, but only managed to score two field goals in the second half (and one touchdown for the game). San Diego has always been considered a “second half team” (within games and seasons), yet over the last three games, old Chargers fads and habits have failed.

San Diego has the tools and the weapons to be a high powered offense, but take away a quarterbacks protection and offensive line, no team will score points. The San Diego Chargers have not folded yet. 6 loses does not eliminate them from the playoffs and the fans are still All-In.

11/2/13 – by James Fedewa

The Chargers travel to Washington DC this week with an early AM battle against the Redskins. San Diego is coming off a bye week, so the media attention has been a little quite this week. Whereas the Redskins primary media topic this week seems to be more about their politically incorrect teams name vs. their actual poor play (and their 2-5 record). Imagine the Redskins changing their name to the “Bravehearts” and visualize the cute logos that come with a name that has a HEART in it…

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III is gradually improving every week since last season’s major knee surgery. RGIII’s season stats look good on paper and in the FF box score, but in reality he is not carrying his team like he did last year. Control RGIII, control the game, but the Redskins are a scheme oriented team, with Mike Shanahan’s football methodology. Shanahan relies heavy on a quality mobile quarterback and if RGIII’s mobility is limited (or if he gets knocked down and gets rattled), Griffin can get scared, guard his bad knee and psyche himself out. Shanahan’s other main offensive focus is the zone blocking scheme. Running backs Alfred Morris and Roy Helu will be the other offensive threats.

San Diego needs to stuff the run first with the defensive line and inside linebackers. Expect a big game from Chargers Linebackers Manti Te’o, Jarret Johnson & Reggie Walker in containing the Redskins run game, as Donald Butler will probably sit out this week. If Cam Thomas can contribute well this week, San Diego’s defense will continue to thrive for the 4^th consecutive weeks. The Chargers D needs to apply pass rush on RGIII, so Corey Luiget, Kendell Reyes and Larry English need to bring the pressure. Look for OLB Thomas Keiser to surprise the Redskins QB a few times.

The Chargers offense has been the biggest surprise of the NFL this year. SD is back to their normal offensive standards: scoring a lot of points and controlling the clock. Ryan Matthews could have his 3^rd consecutive 100 yard game, and Phillip Rivers will carry the offense as usual. TE Antonio Gates will be Rivers primary target, so expect a huge game from Gates. Gates will be on the lookout for headhunter safety Brandon Meriwether. With Gates in longer passing routes, Gates can take Meriwether out of the game and capitalize on Meriwether’s over-aggressiveness. A fun rookie matchup to watch this week will be SD’s wide receiver Keneen Allen vs. Redskins cornerback David Amerson (both from the same hometown in NC, similar sizes and childhood friends). If Amerson starts and mirrors Allen this week, then the Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall will be on Vincent Brown, which might be a quite matchup. Plus the OT Fluker + Dunlap vs. OLB Orakpo + Kerrigan could actually favor San Diego (but will be a tough task).

). The Chargers defense has not allowed a touchdown in the last 11 consecutive quarters, and it could continue. Prediction: San Diego, 27 – 19