Scouting the 2013 draft

I don't know if we are only talking about the first few rounds or not but I like this guy  for the later rounds...but one guy intrigues me as a guy the Cahrgers should look at and the next and up coming Sproles part 2....

Robbie Rouse,rb from Fresno State...he is very speedy and same  mold of a Darren Sproles....I think its something the Chargers have been missing  the last few years since Sproles left for NO....the speedy rb/wr  for screen passes...


[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLc45gf9unQ]


Heres a small highlight reel if anyone hasn't heard of him or what he can do on the field....

There is no question that we need to target Fisher with the 1st pick. After that if we go RB by chance I like Lacy but he will be gone. Next on my list would be:

Stephan Taylor, Stanford - He has the total package
Jawan Jamison, Rutgers - Ray Rice type.   
Rex Burkhead, Nebraska - Yep, I said Rex. Great balance, runs low, quick and tough as they come. He could be a steal.
 
  

Jawan Jamison, Rutgers - Ray Rice type

Maybe. I don't see it, personally. I don't think he has Rice's durability. If this were an average year for RBs, he'd be a 5th round pick at best, probably even later. However, you'll probably see him go off around the 3rd or 4th round once teams start plucking RBs due to it being such a poor RB class. There's really only a handful of truly good prospects in this year's draft at the RB position, and I don't see Jamison as one of them. That being said, once RBs start disappearing, teams with RB needs will start pulling them off the board fairly quickly. I could be wrong, but he's no Ray Rice in my book. If you want to call him a poor man's Ray Rice, okay, I get it, but I think it's highly doubtful he'll enjoy anywhere near the success that Rice has in the NFL.

Rex Burkhead, Nebraska - Yep, I said Rex. Great balance, runs low, quick and tough as they come. He could be a steal.

I don't like him. If he goes undrafted and the Chargers brought him in for a look see as a UDFA, I'd be okay with that, but I wouldn't waste a draft pick on him. Too slow and takes too many hits, and really doesn't have a NFL wiggle to him for someone with no speed. Good college RB who won't do much in the pros, and won't have a very long career. Already has suffered a MCL injury, so the writing's on the wall for this guy, IMO. He's also a Nebraska product, so he'll need 5 years to learn how to pass block.

I'll give you a name of a RB who could surprise despite not having blazing speed. Miguel Maysonet of Stony Brook. Just a good RB who does most everything well. He's not someone I take before the 5th for sure, and I'd like to take him later, say the 6th or 7th. May not make it to us in the 7th though.

Two TEs have gotten all the limelight, Ertz and Eifert. The Chargers need a TE. I don't know if we draft one this year, but if we do, the two I really like are Travis Kelce and Vance McDonald.

Everyone sees something different in players. We all like to play scout but there are only a handfull of guarantees that anyone can see. Its trying to find that next diamond in the rough that makes it fun. I also like for RB Zac Stacy, Vandy. What do you think of him? And I do see good things in Jamison. IMO

Boltdacious...don't get me wrong on Jamison. I do like him. I just have a hard time believing he'll duplicate what Rice has done in the NFL. He'd be very solid if we got him say in the 5th, but to use a higher pick I'd be a little cautious. That's where I have the problem with him. I think he's drafted a couple of rounds early due to the lack of top RB talent in this draft. The reality is, this draft has no APs, LTs, Dickersons, or Thurmon Thomas type RBs in it. It has some solid prospects who the best of the best will probably give you 5-8 years of solid play. I think with Jaimison or Stacy, who I also like, you have to get a really good reading by your medical staff. RBs of that stature who look good in college normally do not transpose their production to the NFL for long periods of time. Asking our medical staff for their opinion is also akin to playing Russian roulette, so bring a quarter, you'll do just as having it predict their long-term production for you. Rice and Sproles are two exceptions, along with others of the past who've overcome their size disadvantage and thrived in the NFL. Is that the case with Jaimison and Stacy? That's my question. On Jaimison you're also asking for lightening to strike twice at the same school. On the other hand, perhaps there's someone at that school who has an eye for these types of RBs. However, I do stand by my remarks on Burkhead. I don't like him at all.

Boltdacious. I did mean to tell you I do like the idea of drafting one of these smaller RBs to mainly use as a 3rd down and change of pace RB. I think Rice actually started out that way before his talent became apparent, which allowed the Ravens to move their other RBs to make way for him. I have no problems going into the season with Mathews, Battle, and McClain, along with one of these smaller guys to change the tempo with and for receiving purposes. Rouse, as Psycobolt mentioned, along with Jaimison and Stacy all fit this category. All are good RBs in their own right, and all have good hands out of the backfield as well. If they can learn to pass protect at the next level they would have a better chance of seeing the field more.

Ray Rice was highly regarded coming out of Rutgers.  He was durable and sturdy... he was ranked much higher than Sproles.  I don't think Jamison will approach either player's NFL production.  If you want a speedster (3rd down RB) Kenyon Barner is a better choice... and could be had in the 4th or 5th round.

Ray Rice was highly regarded coming out of Rutgers.  He was durable and sturdy... he was ranked much higher than Sproles.  I don't think Jamison will approach either player's NFL production.  If you want a speedster (3rd down RB) Kenyon Barner is a better choice... and could be had in the 4th or 5th round.

Completely slipped my mind, but you're right. I think he'd give us a Sproles-like RB that we've been missing since Sproles left, and he does have the ability to regularly leave defenders grasping air. My problem with him is the propensity to fumble. Other than that, he's a nice 3rd down type of RB.

A projected UDFA that interests me that I wouldn't mind seeing the Chargers bring in is Utah's WR/KR Reggie Dunn. Could be special on ST.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPBCPxYjgrI

The Chargers are not likely to get any comp picks from losing VJ due to the FA signings we brought in that didn't work out. Here's a site that does pretty good work when it comes to predicting the comp picks...read it and weep.

http://bloggingthebeast.com/2013/01
/27/2013-nfl-compensatory-pick-proj
ections/

AJ isn't done screwing us yet. I would have loved for us to have that extra 3rd round pick.

AJ isn't done screwing us yet. I would have loved for us to have that extra 3rd round pick.

Most people follow this line of thought. I on the other hand wonder why he had a couple of years to sign VJ but didn't? I've maintained all along it wasn't AJ's money to spend, and that he has a boss too. Last year was the first year that boss finally opened up his pocketbook and told AJ to go get someone, and AJ did. Unfortunately, that came too little and too late for us to retain VJ. That being said, I don't remember very many former players, coaches, scouts, and GMs saying anything but praising AJ for his FA moves once VJ had signed.

Let's revisit that statement you made and see if we can't correct it.

"AJ isn't done screwing us yet. I would have loved for us to have that extra 3rd round pick."

Royand and Meachem really screwed us last year. We should have signed VJ instead of them.

Two TEs have gotten all the limelight, Ertz and Eifert. The Chargers need a TE. I don't know if we draft one this year, but if we do, the two I really like are Travis Kelce and Vance McDonald.

Love Kelce.  However, you must see something in McDonald that I don't.  He's one of the slowest TE's in the draft; He drops balls; and he can't block.  You've probably watched more of him than I have, but I didn't even have him on my radar.

What about Reed from Florida?  My board has Reed #3 and Kelce #4.  Would love to be able to get one of those guys in the 3rd or 4th round.


Also, as far as the hybrid type that you guys have been discussing...  There are 2 players coming out of Texas who fit that mold.  Goodwin and Monroe.  Goodwin will likely go off the board faster - but we could likely get Monroe with one of our last picks.  Crazy fast; Strong; Unbelievable kickoff and return specialist; Can play RB or WR. 

Assuming we don't trade up to get Milliner or Fisher;  Assuming Milliner, Fisher, and Mingo are all gone at 11:

Why not trade down at that point and get two late first round picks?  With two late 1st round picks, we could get:

1) Trufant/Banks/Poyer, and
2) Ertz

Then use our 2nd and 3rd round picks to get O-line help. 

Why not trade down at that point and get two late first round picks?

Tell me who you're trading with? Nobody has 2 No. 1 picks other than the Rams...and that's a stupid trade for them. If they make a move, it will be in front of us for the OLT, and it won't cost them BOTH No. 1 picks to do so. You, like most, have a very inflated value of what these picks are worth to someone.

It's an interesting debate.  While Jones is right... we won't get two 1st round picks; we could trade with the Rams at either the 16th spot or the 22nd spot. 

Trading to the 16th spot would allow us to go in a number of different directions.  Could be Trufant, could be Ezekiel Ansah.  It would net us the Rams third round pick, also.  The third rounder could allow us to draft a RB (Franklin).

Trading to the 22nd spot would allow us to also get the Rams 2nd rounder.  At 22, we could get Xavier Rhodes, or Zach Ertz... maybe even Dion Jordan.  The 2nd rounder could net us Aday Aboushi...

Curiously, Lane Johnson is slotted in the 11th spot (our current position) by many Draftniks.  Maybe it's because they predict we'll take him there... or maybe they think he is that good.  If the Rams were desperate for a OLT (which they are), they would probably trade us either the 16th or the 22nd... which ever we want.

Personally, I'd take Lane Johnson at 11.  I think he is that good.

Personally, I'd take Lane Johnson at 11.  I think he is that good.

Let me ask you this...seriously, LightsOut. Had Lewan and Matthews both remained in the draft, where would you have drafted Johnson?

I ask you this, because prior to them dropping out of the draft, Johnson was clearly seen as at best a late 1st round pick, but more likely a top half of the 2nd round. Now, you and a lot of people suddenly want to take what is actually a 2nd round pick and make him the 11th pick of the draft. You do that, and I'm here to tell you you're going to be bypassing a huge number of players who are rated higher. I actually believe he's going to get overdrafted, but I'm hoping to heck it's not us doing the overdrafting.

Trading to the 22nd spot would allow us to also get the Rams 2nd rounder.  At 22, we could get Xavier Rhodes, or Zach Ertz... maybe even Dion Jordan.

Jordan is who I'm hoping we take if Fisher is not there. It's either Jordan, who I think is a rare talent, or Mingo.

Absolutely did not mean 2 first round picks.  Just read that back and while my mind was thinking my hands were typing something else. 

Obviously we could trade down and get two 2nd round picks plus a first.

With that we could still get the players I was referring to:  Ertz, and Banks/Poyer - and still have a 2nd and 3rd to pick up O-line.

 

Let me ask you this...seriously, LightsOut. Had Lewan and Matthews both remained in the draft, where would you have drafted Johnson?

Had Lewan and Mathews opted to enter the draft, then I believe Johnson would have gone in the latter half of the 1st round.  He would have gone there because the position would have been deep at that position.  Now it's not.  It doesn't change the fact that our greatest need is at OT... both RT AND LT.  If you pass on OT in the 1st, who is your LT?  Better yet, who is your RT in the 3rd?  Ultimately, who is protecting your most important player on the field... your QB...?  We already know what that looks like. 

All you had to do was watch the SB.  Both teams got there because the offensive tackles nuetralized their pass-rushing opponents.  Lane Johnson is the third best OT in the draft.  And he is versatile.