Chargers 2010 Draft Review

Source: Chargers.com

The San Diego Chargers opened the 2010 NFL Draft with a blockbuster trade, moving up 16 spots to select Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews with the 12th pick of the first round.

The San Diego Chargers opened the 2010 NFL Draft with a blockbuster trade, moving up 16 spots to select Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews with the 12th pick of the first round. A 1,808-yard rusher with 19 touchdowns as a junior for the Bulldogs, the 6-0, 218-pound Mathews became the first running back selected by the Chargers in the first round since 2001. The Chargers traded with Miami to move up to the 12th spot to select Mathews and also received the Dolphins’ fourth-round pick (No. 110) and their sixth-round pick (No. 173). Miami received the Chargers’ first (No. 28), second (No. 40) and fourth-round (No. 126) picks, as well as inside linebacker Tim Dobbins.

Without a pick in the second round because of the Mathews trade, General Manager A.J. Smith made another move in the third, trading with San Francisco to move up 12 spots to select inside linebacker Donald Butler from the University of Washington at No. 79 overall. A two-year starter for the resurgent Huskies, the 6-1, 245-pound Butler racked up 238 tackles during his UW career, including 28 tackles for loss and four sacks. In the trade, the 49ers received the Chargers’ third-round pick in this year’s draft (No. 91), the sixth-round pick that was acquired from Miami in the Mathews trade (No. 173), and the Chargers’ fourth-round pick in 2011.

To open the third and final day of the draft, the Chargers selected strong safety Darrell Stuckey of Kansas with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round. The 5-11, 205-pounder played both safety spots for the Jayhawks but the Chargers envision him as a strong safety. He is comfortable playing down in the box as evidenced by his 295 career tackles, including 11 behind the line of scrimmage. Stuckey was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 choice at KU.

There was more trade movement for the Chargers in the fifth-round as Smith swapped picks with Philadelphia, moving up 13 spots to select massive defensive tackle Cam Thomas from North Carolina at pick No. 146. The 6-4, 330-pound Thomas anchored the ACC’s top-ranked and the NCAA’s 10th-ranked run defense in 2010. In exchange for the 146th pick, the Eagles received the Chargers fifth-rounder (No. 159) and the Bolts’ fifth in 2011.

The Chargers were awarded a compensatory pick by the NFL in the fifth round and used that pick to select quarterback Jonathan Crompton, a 6-3, 222-pounder from the University of Tennessee. As a senior in 2009, Crompton passed for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions for the Volunteers. The Chargers needed a third quarterback to replace Charlie Whitehurst, who was traded to Seattle on March 18.

With their sixth and final pick in the weekend’s NFL Draft, the Chargers selected tight end Dedrick (DEE-drick) Epps from the University of Miami in the seventh round (235th overall). A two-year starter and a four-year contributor, Epps lined up at tight end, H-back and fullback for the ’Canes and finished his career with 49 catches, 634 yards and six touchdowns.

Vasher signs 2-year deal

Source: ESPN

Cornerback Nathan Vasher has signed a two-year deal to join the San Diego Chargers' secondary,the team announced Monday.

Vasher, who has played his entire six-year career with the Chicago Bears, will sign for $4.5 millionover two seasons, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

"In Nathan Vasher, we're adding a proven NFL player with experience in the league," said general manager A.J. Smith. "Having played in Chicago under Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera [2004-06] and secondary coach Steve Wilks [2006-08] is an added bonus."

Vasher played in 15 games last season for the Bears, with one interception. He has 19 career picks in 73 career games. He made the NFC Pro Bowl team in 2005, when he had eight interceptions.

Vasher, 28, played collegiately at Texas, where he was a teammate of Quentin Jammer, who also plays cornerback for the Chargers.

RB Toby Gerhart to visit Chargers

Source: NFL Post

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart is scheduled to visit the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, according to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation.

Gerhart ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, registered a 38-inch vertical leap, scored the highest Wonderlic score among the running backs with a 30 and bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times.

Gerhart has been mentioned as a fullback candidate, but he envisions himself playing running back in the NFL.

"I see myself as a running back at the next level," Gerhart said ."If (fullback) is asked of me I'll do it. The team's above all else. But I firmly believe that I have the skill set to play running back at the next level."

Vasher headed to San Diego

Source: Chicigobreakigsports.com

Former Pro Bowl cornerback Nathan Vasher is close to signing a contract with the San Diego Chargers, according to a source close to the player. The Bears released Vasher 10 days ago after general manager Jerry Angelo said at the combine that the team would take him to training camp.

In San Diego, Vasher will be able to reunite with former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2005 after his second season with the Bears playing under Rivera.

There are more familiar faces with the Chargers. Their secondary coach is Steve Wilks, who previously was on Lovie Smith's staff, along with defensive line coach Don Johnson. Vasher will find former teammates Alfonso Boone and Ian Scott on the defensive line there.

The Chargers are in need of depth at cornerback after trading Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets. The Bears released Vasher after signing free agent Tim Jennings.

Both Brown, who the Bears are seeking to trade, and Vasher were fourth-round draft picks by Angelo. At the time, Angelo had routine success finding starters in the middle rounds of the draft. But injuries derailed Vasher's career with the Bears, starting with a torn groin muscle in 2007 just months after he had signed a $28 million, five-year extension. Later, he needed wrist surgery during the middle of the 2008 season. The injuries limited him to 11 starts over the last three seasons, a period in which he earned just more than $18 million in his new contract.

Vasher was considered a solid teammate and he never aired public grievances about losing his starting job to Zack Bowman. However, the Bears couldn't keep him as a backup this season with a base salary of $2.95 million. Releasing him when they did, as opposed to taking him to camp as Angelo originally suggested, provided him with a better opportunity to find a job. It looks like he's close to making that happen.

Chargers Team Report 3-27-10

By: Scott Yoffe at Chargers.com

Classy move: Chargers President Dean Spanos recently surprised every member of the Chargers’ staff with a customized “Game Ball” from the team’s AFC West clinching win over Cincinnati on Dec. 20. The ball marks a memorable day for all as Nate Kaeding kicked a 52-yard field goal to win the game, 27-24, and moments later Oakland upset Denver at Invesco Field to officially crown the Bolts as AFC West champs for the fourth-consecutive season and fifth in the last six years.

Classy move II: The locker in the south-east corner of the team’s locker room at Chargers Park has been occupied by a future Hall of Fame running back. Before the team’s equipment staff could assign the locker to a newcomer, Quentin Jammer texted his good friend, LaDainian Tomlinson, to ask his approval to move into his former locker. Tomlinson responded immediately with a message that read: “I couldn’t think of anyone better.” Tomlinson and Jammer, the team’s first-round choices in 2001 and ’02, respectively, are close friends. Both were selected with the fifth-overall choice in the draft; both are Texas natives and even played in the same high school all-star game.

Tying the knot: A couple of Charger offensive linemen recently said “I do.” Both center Scott Mruczkowski and tackle Corey Clark got married on Feb. 20. Mruczkowski married his longtime girlfriend, Kate, in Costa Rica, while Clark wed the former Darla Donaldson in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Several Chargers were in Costa Rica for the Mruczkowski wedding, including center Nick Hardwick, guard Kris Dielman and safety Steve Gregory. Donaldson is from Temecula, Calif., but she and Clark met while attending school at Texas A&M.

Center ice: Hardwick and Dielman were in the stands at the March 21 hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche. Turns out that Hardwick played youth hockey with Colorado defenseman John-Michael Liles while they were growing up in Indianapolis. A former goalie and right wing, Hardwick said the team was a traveling squad that played games throughout the United States and Canada. The Ducks ended up winning the game, 5-2.

Pros vs. Joes: Antonio Gates recently took part in a filming of the Spike TV show Pros vs. Joes. It’s a show where amateur athletes do battle against professionals in a chosen sport. For this episode, Gates, Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb, all former college basketball players, took on three former NBA stars. Gates of course played basketball at Kent State, while Owens played football and basketball at Tennessee-Chattanooga and McNabb was a two-sport star at Syracuse. With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, it’s worth noting that Gates took KSU to the “Elite 8” in 2002, Owens’ UTC squad made the tourney in ’95 and McNabb was a reserve on SU’s 1995-96 team that lost to Kentucky in the National Championship game.

On the recruiting trail: Philip Rivers’ younger brother, Stephen, a senior-to-be quarterback at Athens (Ala.) High School, is one of the hottest quarterback prospects in the nation. Already drawing interest from schools like Tennessee, UCLA, Mississippi State and Stanford, Stephen was recently in San Diego to visit his brother during his Spring break. While he was here, the Rivers boys drove up to Los Angeles and made an “unofficial” visit to the Westwood campus since Stephen had never been to UCLA. Some Chargers fans may not remember, but Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel actually played quarterback for the Bolts in three games as a “Re-Charger” replacement player during the 1987 strike-shortened season.

Gone but not forgotten: Rivers is using the Chargers’ 17-14 loss to the Jets in the Divisional Playoffs as his motivation for this season. He is driving around with a decal of the final score from that game on the rear windshield of his truck.

Tolbert re-signs: Exclusive rights free agent fullback Mike Tolbert signed his one-year tender on Thursday, March 25. Tolbert is in his third season in San Diego out of Coastal Carolina.

Staff honors: Director of Community Relations Kimberley Layton was honored recently for her work with youth football. On March 19, she was presented with the Contribution to Amateur Football Award from the Walter J. Zable/San Diego Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. She joins Equipment Manager Bob Wick, who received the Whitey Zimmerman Memorial Award as Equipment Manager of the Year at the recently-concluded equipment manager’s meetings in Dallas, and the athletic training staff of James Collins, Damon Mitchell and Will Rogers was named the 2009 NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year by the Professional Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS).

Is Ryan Mathews the next RB for the Chargers?

By: Todd Kaufmann

"With the 28th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select Ryan Mathews out of Fresno State."

Those are words that a lot of people are wondering if they're going to hear, especially Mathews himself. There's no question that San Diego would be a great place for Ryan to play, and it's not far from the central California valley where he grew up. But where does Ryan want to go?

There are those that think he could be off the board long before the Chargers even get to pick. According to the Houston Chronicle , the Texans have already discussed the drafting Mathews with the 20th pick, making Ryan the second Bulldog to be taken in draft history by Houston. The first was David Carr as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. Unfortunately for Carr, his tenure in Houston didn't go as well as he would have liked.

If the Texas do pass on Mathews and he's still on the board, would the Chargers even consider taking him? And if so, is there already pressure to replace the recently departed LaDainian Tomlinson?

When asked by ESPN.com, Mathews admitted that he took notice when the Chargers cut Tomlinson and said he would love to get the opportunity to play in San Diego.

“I’m a homegrown California guy, it would be great,” Mathews told Bill Williamson of ESPN.com . “They have an opening there. I hope it works out and I can go there.”

There's no question that Ryan can come in and be a first year starter anywhere he's drafted: he's that good of a running back. Not only did he lead the nation in rushing in high school but he also led the nation in rushing as a junior at Fresno State.

Mathews missed most of the game against Nevada, and didn't play against Louisiana Tech after suffering a concussion against the Wolf Pack. Though he missed those games, Mathews still finished second in the nation in rushing (1,808), losing out to Stanford's Toby Gerhardt (1,871). Interestingly enough, Mathews trailed Gerhardt at the end of the season by just 63 yards, not to mention he carried the ball 67 fewer times than the Stanford back.

Even knowing that, however, there are a lot of people who didn't give Mathews his due credit or respect for no other reason than where he played. It didn't matter that he put up a 234-yard, three touchdown performance against Boise State on national television. A Boise State team that was giving up less than 100 yards rushing per game, by the way.

Even after coming back from a concussion and putting up 173 yards and three scores against Illinois, it still wasn't good enough for the critics to say anything good about him.

Entering the draft combine, Mathews started to open a lot of eyes among NFL teams, especially after running a 4.45-40 and benching 225 pounds 19 times.

The question becomes, if Mathews is on the board and still available when the Chargers pick comes up at No. 28, do they take a chance on him or do they wait for the later rounds when they can pick up a guy like Toby Gerhardt?

If I'm San Diego, I think you can not pass on a guy like Ryan Mathews. A guy that can make an immediate impact on your team and can be an every down back in the NFL. He has the speed that L.T. brought to San Diego and the strength to hit the holes and break tackles in the process.

We're just a few weeks away from the draft, and though Mathews is among a list of running backs that San Diego is interested in, he's the best choice they have. Though he doesn't come from a big school like USC, Cal, or Florida, it doesn't mean he can't make a bigger impact than any other running back in the draft.

Most critics said he wouldn't be a first round pick. Now, everyone's wondering if he'll even be on the board midway through the first round.

How quickly things change.

Chargers will keep Sproles

Source: SD Tribune

The Chargers have changed their minds.

The team is placing a first-and-third tender on running back Darren Sproles, sources said Thursday morning.

Sproles had been notified last week the Chargers would not tender him as a restricted free agent and would allow him to test the market as an unrestricted free agent.

The move guarantees Sproles a salary of $7.27 million if he stays with the Chargers, unless the club can sign him to a long-term deal. He made $6.62 million last season as the Chargers' franchise player and is entitled to a 10 percent raise.

The Chargers' initial thinking in not tendering Sproles was that they couldn't justify paying a kick returner and third-down back that much. They had hoped to continue talking to him about a multiyear contract even as he tested the market.

A source said Sproles was scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend and also St. Louis, Philadelphia and Washington.

It is unlikely he will take those trips now. Any team signing him would have to give the Chargers a first-round and third-round pick.

Earlier Thursday, before the Chargers decided to tender him, Sproles said he was excited about free agency.

“I’m just ready to see who wants me,” Sproles said.

Sproles reiterated several times that his “first choice” was to remain a Charger.

“First, it’s San Diego,” he said. “Then it’s my teammates. The people in the locker room, that’s who I’m comfortable with. They know what I like to do; I know what they like to do.”

Sproles carried 93 times for 343 yards (3.7 average) and caught 45 passes for 497 yards in 2009. He has over the past two-plus seasons shown himself to be among the most dynamic runners in the NFL.

The Chargers clearly see the 5-foot-6, 185-pound Sproles as a kick returner and third-down back.

“It’s always been on my mind — how do other teams want to use me?” he said. “Is it just on third down and returning? Or do some people want to use me more? That’s what I’ve always wondered?”

Sproles and the Chargers had agreed to talk again. But first he was going to find out what other teams were willing to give him — in both playing time and money.

“I’m still thinking I can still be a Charger,” Sproles said. “That’s what I feel … This is where I want to be, so we’ll try to get something worked out. But if not, we’ll see … ”

Chargers will non-tender Sproles

Source: Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP)—First LaDainian Tomlinson, and now Darren Sproles.
The San Diego Chargers have decided not to tender a contract to Sproles, allowing the speedy running back to test the free agent market, a person with knowledge of the situation said Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made an official announcement.
The move came four days after the team released Tomlinson, who ranks eighth on the all-time rushing list with 12,490 yards.
If the Chargers wanted to keep Sproles, they’d have to make him an offer of about $7.3 million.
The Chargers have always valued Sproles as a multiple threat. While they can still talk with Sproles about a long-term deal, other teams might want to give him a shot as a featured back.
Sproles has said he believes he can be an every-down back. The Chargers have used him as a backup running back, return man and as a receiver out of the backfield.
He made about $6.6 million last season after being tagged as a franchise player. Tomlinson made about $6 million. Still, the Chargers’ running game ranked second-to-last in the league.
Sproles was second to Tomlinson last year with 343 yards and three touchdowns on 93 carries, an average of 3.7 yards per carry. He was fourth with 45 catches for 497 yards and four TDs. He was also the primary kickoff and punt returner and scored on a punt return.
Two seasons ago, Sproles had 328 all-purpose yards in a wild-card playoff game against Indianapolis, including the winning 22-yard touchdown run in overtime.
The next week, though, with Tomlinson sidelined by a groin injury, Pittsburgh held him to 15 yards on 11 carries. He did have a 63-yard kickoff return and a 62-yard TD catch in the game’s final two minutes after Pittsburgh had opened a 35-17 lead.
Tomlinson, 30, believes he can play three or four more seasons.

Top RBs in the 2010 Draft

Source: Chargers.com

The Chargers will be in search of a running back this spring and NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says the 2010 draft is a good place to find one.

After speaking for nearly 10 minutes Monday about the vast accomplishment and contributions of LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers President Dean Spanos was asked how he planned to go about replacing the future Hall of Fame running back.

“You can’t,” Spanos said. “Those are big shoes to fill obviously.”

Not to mention RB Darren Sproles future with team is still questionable.

Spanos then said that the organization would explore all avenues when it comes to fortifying the running back position. The NFL draft is just one avenue where NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock believes the Chargers will find some strong options.

“From a running back perspective, I think it’s a great (draft) year,” Mayock said Tuesday. “This is one of the deepest running back classes I’ve seen in a while and you don’t necessarily have to pull the trigger in the first round.”

Clemson’s C.J. Spiller tops Mayock’s list of running back prospects, although it doesn’t appear likely that Spiller will still be on the board when the Chargers select at the 28^th spot in the first round. Spiller’s skills as a runner, receiver and returner have him ranked as the 11^th best player in the draft in Mayock’s mind.

“He’s a three-phase guy,” Mayock said. “He can play running back, he catches the ball and he’s a killer in the return game.”

Below Spiller, Mayock has a group of running backs clustered close together. One player he’s high on is Ryan Matthews from Fresno State.

“I think he’s got as good balance as any running back I’ve seen in this year’s draft,” Mayock said. “He’s highly productive. This year he had some injury and durability issues. Some people think he’s a late first-round pick. I’d put a second-round grade on him because I’m not sure he’s got elite burst and acceleration, but I’m anxious to see what he runs at 220 (pounds). He could end up running 4.38 or 4.40 (in the 40-yard dash) and that would be pretty interesting because he’s a very talented kid.”

Another running back prospect that intrigues Mayock is Cal’s Jahvid Best, who missed some time late in the season last year after suffering a concussion. Mayock believes that could affect Best’s draft status.

“I’ve got him with a second-round grade because of the concussion and some of the uncertainties around that and his size,” Mayock said. “That’s probably the only reason anyone has him with a second-round grade because he’s got first-round ability. He makes people miss. He’s a home-run hitter.”

Mayock is anxious to see what kind of shape Jonathan Dwyer from Georgia Tech shows up in at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. The 2008 ACC player of the year is listed on Tech’s website at 6-2, 235 and while the production has been there, Mayock is curious about his size.

“I thought he played a little heavy this year around 240,” Mayock said. “Rumors are that he’s lost close to 20 pounds and he’s going to be down there in that 220-225 range. If he runs in the 4.4’s at 225, you’re going to see some people pushing him up boards very quickly.”

After Spiller, Matthews, Best and Dwyer, Mayock lists USC’s Joe McKnight and Dexter McCluster from Ole Miss. At 5-8, 165 pounds, some people believe McCluster will be a player in the mold of Darren Sproles.

If teams are in search of a bigger running back, there are options there as well.

“Again, this is a deep, deep class,” Mayock said. “There are some bigger backs you can get in the second or third round. Anthony Dixon from Mississippi State is 240 pounds. He’s got better feet than you think. Toby Gerhart from Stanford might be a third round pick (He’s) another 235-pound guy. Then there’s Ben Tate from Auburn, Montario Hardesty from Tennessee and LeGarrette Blount from Oregon, who’s got some off-the-field issues as we all know but had a heck of a Senior Bowl week.”

Other prospects Mayock mentioned as candidates to be selected later in the draft include Charles Scott from LSU, Chris Brown from Oklahoma and Javarris James from Miami.