Tolbert's departure creates hole in San Diego's backfield

With do-everything running back Mike Tolbert now a Carolina Panther, the San Diego Chargers are in need of backup to 2010 first-round pick Ryan Mathews. The question: Where does general manager A.J. Smith turn to?

U-T San Diego has mentioned Kansas City Chiefs unrestricted running back Jackie Battle. In spite of Smith making logical moves in free agency this offseason, one has to believe he's due for a head-scratcher, and bringing Battle in as Tolbert's replacement would certainly qualify as a ridiculous move. Battle gained 597 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Chiefs last year, but he received increased time only because stud running back Jamaal Charles went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2. In the 2009 and 2010 seasons combined, Battle rushed for 71 yards on 27 carries, equating to a 2.6 average. Clearly, unless there was a serious injury, the Chiefs didn't think Battle was worthy enough to be a regular in the ball-carrier rotation on game days, so why should the Chargers?

There are appealing options on the unresticted free agent market, most notably the just-released Joseph Addai and Brandon Jacobs, along with the Oakland Raiders' Michael Bush. Those backs are probably too pricey for San Diego at this point in time, however, so expect the Chargers to look for a running back during the mid-to-late rounds of April's NFL draft.

Here are some prospects' names to think of as the draft approaches:

1. Washington's Chris Polk
2. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead
3. Oregon's LaMichael James
4. Utah State's Robert Turbin

Polk, Pead, James, and Turbin are all selected in the third round of Walter Football's latest mock draft.

5. Temple's Bernard Pierce
6. San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman

Pierce and Hillman are both selected in the fourth round of Walter Football's latest mock draft. The site has Hillman going to the Chargers in that round.

7. Tennessee's Tauren Poole

Poole is the lone running back selected in the fifth round of Walter Football's latest mock draft.


The hope is the Chargers will get a running back with more overall talent than Tolbert possesses. If Mathews could remain healthy and receive the proper blocking in front of him, he has the ability to gain between 1,200 and 1,500 yards, but the team could definitely use a complement that Oakland has enjoyed with Bush over the last few years. It's now up to A.J. to acquire that player.