College inside linebacker prospects to watch

Illinois' Jonathan Brown

Given what they currently have on their depth chart, it’s definitely not out of the question the San Diego Chargers will be looking to add an inside linebacker prospect early in next April’s NFL draft. Although the rotation of starters Takeo Spikes and Donald Butler and backups Jonas Mouton and Demorrio Williams looks promising for the 2012 season, Spikes is 35 years old and not too far away from retirement, Williams is a career backup, and Mouton, a 2011 second-round pick, is no guarantee to be the long-term starter alongside Butler, who has the potential to make a few Pro Bowls in what will hopefully be a long career.

So, just in case Spikes is done after this season and Mouton doesn’t show any signs of developing into a future starter, San Diego general manager A.J. Smith and his scouts should keep their eyes on the following prospects this season:

1.      Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o: Projected as a first-round pick after last season, this 6-2, 255-pound monster opted to return for his senior year instead. In 2011 he had 128 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, five sacks, four quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. An effort such as that, or even improved play, will most likely lead to Te’o getting selected early in next April’s draft.

2.      Illinois middle linebacker Jonathan Brown: This 6-1, 235-pound junior is considered one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten. In 2011 he posted 108 tackles, 19.5 tackles for losses, and six sacks. He also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and recovered two fumbles. He played on the outside last year but will be the man in the middle in 2012.

3.      Wisconsin middle linebacker Chris Borland: Considered a throwback, this 5-11, 250-pound senior had 143 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 2011. He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009 and made first-team All-Big Ten last season.

4.      Kansas State middle linebacker Arthur Brown: A bit undersized at 6-1, 228 pounds, this senior had 101 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, and an interception last season. He’s on the Bednarik Award watch list.

5.      Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein: This 6-2, 244-pound senior had 116 tackles, six sacks, two pass breakups, and a pick-six last year. He’s about to be a third-year starter.

6.      North Carolina middle linebacker Kevin Reddick: This 6-3, 240-pound senior is entering his fourth year as a starter. He has 190 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups thus far in his college career. He has developed into one of the top run-stuffers in the nation.

7.      Rutgers outside linebacker Kahseem Greene: A 6-1, 230-pound senior, he was the Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 after collecting 141 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He hasn’t always played linebacker for Rutgers; in 2010 he started the entire season at free safety and led the team with three interceptions.

8.      Mississippi State outside linebacker Cameron Lawrence: A 6-3, 230-pound senior, he had 123 tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles last season.

9.     Bowling Green inside linebacker Dwayne Woods: A 6-1, 227-pound senior, he’s heading into his third year as a starter. He had 111 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception last season. He was also named first-team All-MAC.

10.  Ball State middle linebacker Travis Freeman: About to be a fourth-year starter, this 6-0, 235-pound senior had 134 tackles, six tackles for losses, four sacks, and an interception in 2011. His efforts led to him being named to the All-MAC second team.

11.  Florida Atlantic linebackers Randell Johnson and David Hinds: A 6-2, 234-pound senior inside linebacker, Hinds had 110 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, and two sacks last season. Johnson, a 6-4, 230-pound redshirt junior outside linebacker, had 92 tackles, 14.5 tackles for losses, five sacks, and four forced fumbles in 2011. These two certainly make quite the tandem.

12.  South Florida outside linebackers Sam Barrington and DeDe Lattimore: About to head into his third year as a starter, the 6-1, 230-pound Barrington had 72 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble last season. Lattimore, a 6-1, 232-pound redshirt junior, is also going into this third year as a starter, and he had 94 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception in 2011.

13.  Michigan State middle linebacker Max Bullough: About to enter his third year as a starter, this 6-3, 252-pound junior had 89 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 2011. He was also voted second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches.

14.  Stanford inside linebacker Shayne Skov: A 6-3, 242-pound senior, he missed most of last season with a torn ACL but is looking to bounce back strong this fall. In 2010 he had 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, and five pass breakups. He will miss the season-opener against San Jose State due to a suspension for a DUI offense.

15.  Maryland middle/outside linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield: About to enter his fourth year as a starter, this 6-2, 240-pound senior had 108 tackles, seven tackles for losses, a sack, and a fumble recovery in 2011—despite missing three games. His efforts led to him being voted All-ACC third team by Phil Steele.

16.  Arkansas outside linebacker Alonzo Highsmith: A 6-1, 233-pound senior, he 80 tackles, 12.5 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year.

17.  Florida outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins: A 6-0, 237-pound junior, he had 75 tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks, six pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble last year.

18.  Tulane middle linebacker Trent Mackey: A little undersized at 5-11, 223 pounds, this senior had 145 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery last year.

19.  Connecticut outside linebacker Sio Moore: Entering his third season as a starter, this 6-2, 229-pound senior had 86 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, nine passes defended, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2011.

20.  Alabama inside linebacker C.J. Mosley: Although this 6-2, 232-pound junior didn’t put up great numbers last season (37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, and an interception), he’s expected to take on a bigger role in 2012.

21.  Virginia inside linebacker Steve Greer: A 6-1, 230-pound senior, he had 103 tackles, six tackles for losses, two sacks, and a fumble recovery last season.

22.  Boston College outside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis: Very undersized at 6-1, 215 pounds, this junior had 74 tackles, six tackles for losses, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year.

23.  Alabama-Birmingham inside linebacker Marvin Burdette: A 5-11, 230-pound senior, he had 92 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery last season.

24.  Air Force outside linebacker Alex Means: A 6-5, 240-pound senior, he had 77 tackles, 9 ½ tackles for losses, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2011.

25.  South Florida middle linebacker Michael Lanaris: This 6-0, 236-pound senior had 87 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, a sack, two fumble recoveries, and an interception last season. He’s heading into his second year as a starter.

26.  Mississippi middle linebacker Mike Marry: A 6-2, 248-pound junior, he was voted to the All-SEC third team by Phil Steele and was named Sophomore All-America honorable mention in 2011 after recording 81 tackles, five tackles for losses, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

27.  Western Kentucky linebacker Andrew Jackson: This 6-1, 265-pound junior had 109 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011. He also made first-team All-Sun Belt Conference.

28.  San Jose State outside linebacker Keith Smith: This 6-1, 229-pound junior is entering his third season as a starter. In 2011 he had 104 tackles, 3.5 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

29.  UT-San Antonio middle linebacker Steven Kurfehs: This 6-2, 225-pound junior had 61 tackles, four tackles for losses, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a sack despite missing three games with an injury in 2011.

Inside linebacker isn't considered a premium position in a 3-4 defense, but it's still very important. Hopefully at least one of the prospects mentioned above will be selected by the Chargers at some point in next April's draft.

College defensive line prospects to watch in 2012




Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has invested draft picks on four defensive linemen over the last four years—defensive end Vaughn Martin (2009 fourth round), nose tackle Cam Thomas (2010 fifth round), defensive end Corey Liuget (2011 first round), and defensive end Kendall Reyes (2012 second round). After making those picks, some may believe that Smith is in no rush to take another defensive lineman in next April’s draft. But after the disastrous six-game losing streak last season, Smith has learned the importance of depth in the trenches, and he’d be wise to take serious looks at the following prospects this fall:

1.      Utah nose tackle Star Lotulelei: A massive senior listed at 6-4, 320 pounds, he had 44 tackles, nine tackles for losses, and 1.5 sacks last season. With supreme athleticism for a man his size, he appears to be the complete package as a nose tackle prospect. He could be the man to take on double-teams during a long NFL career.

2.      Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Donald: At 6-0, 275 pounds, this junior has experience playing the 5-technique in a 3-4 scheme, and there are those who believe he’s the best defensive lineman in the nation. In 2011 he had 47 tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 12 sacks, and a forced fumble. As a result of that outstanding effort, he was named second-team All-America by FoxSports.com.  

3.      Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins: A 6-4, 317-pound junior, it will be interesting to see if he’s a possibility to play nose tackle in the NFL. In 2011 he had 67 tackles 14 tackles for losses, and three sacks. He has a very quick first step for a man his size.

4.      Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short: A 6-3, 310-pound senior, he’s heading into his fourth year as a starter. In 2011 he had 54 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

5.      Georgia nose tackles John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers: Jenkins, a 6-3, 351-pound senior, was the Bulldogs’ defensive co-MVP in spring practices this year. Geathers is a 6-6, 350-pound junior who’s also expected to dominate this season. Jenkins started just half the season in 2011 and had 28 tackles, six tackles for losses, three sacks, and 10 quarterback pressurs. Geathers, meanwhile, didn't see much playing time but will probably make a bigger impact in 2012.

"Both are really, really coming on," Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "My thing is I've just got to really stay on them about fundamentals, just being hard on them about steps, pad level, hand placement, just little things. … I don't want them to get any false sense of 'We're here,' and we may not be quite there. But I've been very, very, very pleased with both kids."

6.      Michigan State defensive end William Gholston: This 6-7, 278-pound junior may not have a spot in a 3-4 defense, but he’s certainly an intriguing prospect who’s expected to dominate this fall. In 2011 he had 70 tackles, 16 tackles for losses, five sacks, and a fumble recovery.
 
7.      Arkansas defensive tackles Bryan Jones and Robert Thomas: At 6-2, 312 pounds Jones is considered a hidden gem ready to break out this fall, his junior season. Meanwhile the 6-3, 308-Thomas, another junior, collected four sacks against the first-team offense in the Razorbacks’ spring game.
 
8.      Louisville defensive tackle Roy Philon: At 6-3, 290 pounds he could have a future as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme such as the one the Chargers currently employ. He’ll be a junior this fall and had six tackles for losses in 2011.
 
9.      South Florida defensive tackle Corey Grissom: He had 38 tackles, six tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011. Unfortunately this 6-2, 317-pound senior broke his ankle during a spring practice this past April, so it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to start the season.
 
10.  Vanderbilt defensive tackle Rob Lohr: This 6-4, 290-pound senior possesses the body type to transition to defensive end in a 3-4 defense. In 2011 he had 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses, and five sacks.
 
11.  Michigan defensive tackle Will Campbell: At 6-5, 322 pounds, this fifth-year senior may turn out to be a nose tackle in the NFL. Off-the-field incidents and uninspired play have prevented him from taking advantage of his immense size and talents.
 
     "I know that I loved the improvement he had during the course of the spring," Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke said in Blue Ribbon's preview. "I think there's got to be a consistency with it. But in Will's defense, he's played offense, he's played defense. The guy really has settled in now to being that guy up front. He's taking great pride in how he goes to work every day and where he wants to end up."
 
12.   Alabama nose tackle Jesse Williams: This 6-4, 320-pound senior had 24 tackles, four tackles for losses, a half-a-sack, and three quarterback hurries last season. A native of Australia, he’s one of the strongest college football players in the nation, as evidenced by the fact he can bench press 600 pounds.
 
13.  SMU defensive lineman Margus Hunt: His stats aren’t all that impressive, but this 6-8, 280-pound senior is a physical freak who won gold medals in the shot put and discus at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, becoming the first junior athlete to ever achieve such a double. In 2011 he had 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, and three sacks, with all three quarterback takedowns coming in the Mustangs’ win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The place Hunt, a native of Estonia, has excelled most, however, has been on special teams, where he’s blocked 14 kicks during his career, four of which he recorded last year. Additionally, with a wingspan of 82 inches, he’s able to put up 225 pounds 35 times on the bench press, which is outrageous for his arm length, and his track coach says he runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. To sum it up, Hunt is an amazing athlete, and it will be interesting to see if that translates to success on the gridiron.
 
14.  Maryland defensive tackle Joe Vellano: At 6-2, 285 pounds, this senior could fit as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. In 2011 he had 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His efforts led him to being voted a second-team All-American by both Walter Camp and the Associated Press, and he made the All-ACC first team. 
 
15.  North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams: A 6-3, 320-pound senior, he’s a prospect who may be able to play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme as a pro. He had 54 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception last season.
 
16.  Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins: This 6-3, 304-pound redshirt senior earned All-ACC honorable mention last year after registering 25 tackles, three tackles for losses, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. If he were to join a team running a 3-4 scheme in the NFL, he would most likely play defensive end.
 
17.  Ball State defensive tackle Nathan Ollie: A 6-1, 295-pound junior, he had 42 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, six sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011.
 
18.  Bowling Green defensive tackle Chris Jones: At 6-1, 293 pounds, this senior could be a possibility to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme at the NFL level. In 2011 he earned first-team All-MAC honors after producing 47 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a safety.
 
19.  Middle Tennessee State defensive tackle Jimmy Staten: A 6-4, 300-pound redshirt junior, he had 29 tackles, four tackles for losses, and a sack last season. He has the frame to make the transition to a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.

One must think the Chargers plan on having Liuget and Reyes starting at the defensive end spots for the next several years. Still, as already mentioned, depth is crucial on the defensive line, and there’s no guarantee that Martin, scheduled to be a free agent next offseason, will return to San Diego in 2013. Throw in the fact that the Chargers aren’t exactly set at nose tackle, and one has to believe Smith will be tempted to select one of the mammoth prospects capable of becoming a total disruption in the middle of the defensive line.

Depression kicks in after second preseason game

Vincent Brown being carted off during last night's game

If you ask any NFL head coach what the biggest goal is for a preseason game, he’ll probably tell you to escape without any injuries. Well, among other unsuccessful endeavors so far this summer, the San Diego Chargers have failed to keep several of their key players healthy, particularly on offense.

Nine days after running back Ryan Mathews suffered a broken clavicle in the preseason opener, Vincent Brown, a second-year wide receiver expected to break out this season, fractured his left ankle while making an 18-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter of San Diego’s 28-20 “win” over the Dallas Cowboys last night. Brown is scheduled to have surgery on the ankle today and will most likely be out of action for the next two months.

Although he’s not a household name among NFL fans, Brown’s injury is devastating to us Chargers fans at the moment. Making plays all over the place this preseason, he appeared to be on the verge of becoming a stud in head coach Norv Turner’s offense. Hopefully Brown will return at full strength by Week 6.

San Diego is now 2-0 this preseason, but who really cares? In addition to Brown’s injury, there were other troubling occurrences in last night’s depressing “triumph”, most notably:

 

1.      Philip Rivers threw two more interceptions. One of them really wasn’t his fault, as the ball bounced off Brown’s hands and was juggled by Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr before being hauled in for the pick. The other one, however, was an underthrow on a deep ball to Robert Meachem.

It’s just preseason, but Rivers hasn’t quelled any concerns that he’s over last year’s clumsiness.

.

2.      The run-blocking was wretched once again. Combined, the backs rushed for 51 yards on 18 carries, which equates to a putrid 2.8 average. In order for this team to become a serious contender, it needs better balance on offense. Let’s hope Jared Gaither returns soon and makes a BIG difference.

3.      Quentin Jammer doesn’t look any better than he did last season. He failed to defend a few passes last night, the worst coming on a 35-yard reception by Kevin Ogletree. At this point, one has to wonder if Jammer is still worthy of being a starting cornerback in the NFL.

Believe or not, there were some positive signs from last night’s game, including:

1.      Cornerback Shareece Wright’s continued ascension. He had a sack and an interception he returned 73 yards last night. San Diego’s depth at cornerback is pretty thin, but Wright appears as though he’s developing into a good player who could make a strong contribution this season.

    

2.      Inside linebacker Donald Butler finished the night with six tackles and an interception. One could get the feeling that Butler is emerging into a stud.  

The Chargers’ next useless game is this Friday, August 24, on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. Let’s just hope everybody leaves that contest at full health.

College pass-rushers to watch in 2012



Jarvis Jones

The start of the college football season is right around the corner. For those of us always thinking about how the San Diego Chargers can improve, it’s never too early to evaluate the best college football players in the country. So, with that in mind, I’ve read several college football preview magazines and Web sites over the last month and have comprised lists of prospects at all the key positions.

Today, I begin by identifying the pass-rushers Chargers’ fans should watch and learn more about as the season progresses.

Some may believe that San Diego’s first-round selection of South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram last April gave everything the Chargers needed in the pass-rushing department. But even if Ingram turns into a stud at the NFL level, San Diego could still very well be in the market for another young pass-rusher next April, as veteran Shaun Phillips is in his thirties and the rest of the bunch haven’t proven to be mainstays.

If Chargers general manager A.J. Smith is looking to grab another future quarterback hunter—which he should be—he would be wise to focus on the following prospects this season:

1.      Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones: He was an All-American and the SEC’s sack leader, with 13.5, last year. Standing 6-3 and weighing 241 pounds, Jones, a junior, also had an astounding 49 hurries, which helped him become a finalist for the Butkus Award. He’s expected to be a top-five pick if he comes out for the 2013 draft.

2.     LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery: This 6-4, 245-pound junior had nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for losses, and a forced fumble in 2012. Expected to make the transition to a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker in the NFL, Montgomery is considered to have great athleticism and a very high motor.

3.     LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo: A 6-5, 240-pound junior, he had eight sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, and 13.5 tackles for losses in 2011, even though he started just three games. With his explosive first step and quickness off the edge, many believe he has a bright future as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.

4.     Ohio State defensive end John Simon: A senior, he had seven sacks and 16 tackles for losses in 2011. At 6-2, 260 pounds, he made first team All-Big Ten last season and is considered to have an excellent first step. This fall he will be the seventh two-time captain in Buckeyes history.

5.     Texas defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat: The son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jim Jeffcoat, this 6-5, 245-pound junior had 21 tackles for losses, eight sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups in 2011. He was also voted second-team All-Big 12. 

6.      Florida State defensive end Brandon Jenkins: This 6-3, 260-pound senior posted 21.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and 104 tackles over the last two seasons, Although he’s improved as a run defender, he’s more renowned as a pass-rusher and could be best-suited as a quarterback-hunting outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

7.      Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier: One of the rising pass-rushing stars in the nation, this 6-4, 240-pound junior posted 9.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, 13.5 tackles for losses, and five forced fumbles last season. He appears to be another defensive end who will convert to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at the NFL level.

8.      Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan: A 6-6, 240-pound senior, he possesses the body type the Chargers could find enticing for a pass-rushing outside linebacker spot in their 3-4 defense. In 2011 he had 64 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, and 7.5 sacks. This year will be huge for him, as he no longer has to be overshadowed by Whitney Mercilus. He suffered a broken jaw in the middle of June but should be ready for the season.

9.      South Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor: This senior from Beaufort, South Carolina, is a freakish athlete at 6-8, 267 pounds. This fall will be his third season as a starter, and he has 15 sacks thus far in his college career. He also defends the run very well.

10.  Stanford defensive end/linebacker Chase Thomas: About to be a fourth-year starter, this 6-4, 245-pound senior had 9.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for losses, and five forced fumbles in 2011. He has 20 sacks and eight forced fumbles thus far in his college career.

11.  Michigan State outside linebacker Denicos Allen: A bit undersized at 5-11, 232 pounds, this junior had a monster year in 2011, registering 11 sacks, 83 tackles, and 18.5 tackles for losses.

12.  Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan: A 6-7, 241-pound senior, he had 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for losses last season, allowing him to earn All-PAC-12 honors. He’s considered a superior athlete with a very quick first step and will probably move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the NFL level.

13.  Texas A&M outside linebacker Sean Porter: This 6-2, 230-pound senior had 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for losses last season. With speed that causes nightmares for opposing offensive linemen, he’s about to enter his third year as a starter for the Aggies.

14.  Texas A&M outside linebacker Damontre Moore: At 6-4, 250 pounds he’s played the “Joker” position in the Aggies’ defense. He had 17.5 tackles for losses, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery last season. If he improves on those numbers this fall as a junior, it will be interesting to see if he comes out for the draft a year early.

15.  Duke defensive end Kenny Anunike: A redshirt senior, this 6-5, 260-pounder had five tackles for losses, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just four games last season (he missed eight games with a knee injury). If he can put together a full season, and keep up the pace he had going during his shortened year in 2011, his stock should definitely rise.

16.  Texas defensive end Alex Okafor: A senior, he’s heading into his third season as a starter. At 6-4, 260 pounds he had seven sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, 14 tackles for losses, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 2011. His tremendous effort led to a spot on the All-Big 12 first team.

17.  Mississippi State defensive end Denico Autry: A JUCO transfer, he hasn’t played a down of major college football, but his numbers at East Mississippi Community College lead many to believe he’ll be a force to be reckoned with this fall. In 2011 the 6-5, 255-pound quarterback hunter had 11 sacks, 13.5 tackles for losses, a ridiculous 41 hurries, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

18.  Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner: A 6-4, 272-pound junior, he had seven sacks, eight hurries, and eight pass breakups during his first full year as a starter in 2011. He also had a fumble recovery and a pick-six.

19.  TCU defensive end Stansby Maponga: A first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2011, this 6-2, 265-pound junior had 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, nine sacks, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries during his sophomore year.

20.  San Jose State defensive end Travis Johnson: At 6-3, 244 pounds, this senior has 19 career sacks thus far. He made first-team All-WAC last year after recording 15 tackles for losses, 9.5 sacks, two blocked kicks, a safety, and a fumble recovery.

21.  Western Kentucky defensive end Quanterus Smith: A 6-5, 249-pound senior, he had 11 tackles for losses, 7.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries in 2011. He also made second-team All-Sun Belt.

22.  Southern Mississippi defensive end Jamie Collins: This 6-4, 239-pound senior will most likely have to switch to a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He had 98 tackles, 19.5 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2011.

23.  Florida International defensive end Tourek Williams: A 6-4, 262-pound senior, he had 13 tackles for losses, 4.5 sacks, and nine hurries in 2011. He also made second-team All-Sun Belt and was voted by the league’s coaches and media as the conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

24.  Northern Illinois defensive end Sean Progar: A 6-2, 254-pound redshirt senior, he made second-team All-MAC last season after posting 11 tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

25.  South Florida defensive end Ryne Giddins: A 6-3, 266-pound redshirt junior, he had 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2011.

26.  Marshall defensive end Jeremiah Taylor: A junior, this 6-4, 259-pounder had  7.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery last season. Although his sack number wasn’t all that impressive, he posted 11 hurries, so 2012 could be a breakout year for him.

After reading the magazines and Web sites, it seems as though this is a very deep class of pass-rushers. It wouldn’t be a shocker if at least 10 of them are selected in the first two rounds of next April’s draft. Hopefully Smith is able to get one of them to form a dominant tandem with Ingram for many years to come.

Chargers collect sloppy win in preseason opener

At this time of year, those of us hungry for football are happy to consume any game put in front of us. Luckily enough for ESPN’s ratings, it didn’t matter that the meal served last night wasn’t very flavorful. It was actually a rather sloppy performance by the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers, but at least football is back and the beginning of the regular season is less than a month away.

Obviously, the players who are a lock to make the final roster are trying to get in the flow and reach a comfort zone during these exhibitions. Meanwhile, those fighting for roster spots want to make a good impression on the coaching staff and the front office.

There were some positives and negatives during San Diego’s 21-13 triumph over Green Bay last night. The following is a breakdown on the Chargers who stood out, good or bad.

Players who impressed

1.      Antonio Gates: It’s a bit premature to say he’s back to what he was before—inarguably the best tight end in the NFL—but he looked better than he’s been in a very long time. His touchdown reception was reminiscent to his 2004-through-2007 days, before injuries began to slow him down. Let’s all hope he can continue to feel young and refreshed.

2.      Vincent Brown: Although he showed a lot of promise during his rookie season in 2011, he’s been somewhat of an afterthought following general manager A.J. Smith’s free agent acquisitions of Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal this past spring. Brown made some spectacular catches last night, though, most notably a 27-yard touchdown reception. If he keeps this up it may not be a stretch to say he’ll see a lot of action in Week 1 of the regular season.

3.      Melvin Ingram: He didn’t seem overwhelmed at all during his first preseason game at the pro level. He certainly made an impact, forcing Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers into throwing an interception on one play and causing problems in Green Bay’s backfield throughout the game. It’s certainly far too early to state Ingram’s a star in the making right now, but that was definitely a promising beginning to an NFL career.

4.      Mike Harris: He filled in nicely for an injured Jared Gaither at left tackle. Just a rookie, it would be wise to not get carried away with the praise for Harris, but let’s hope he continues to play well as he develops this preseason. And perhaps he’ll eventually push Jeromey Clary out of the starting right tackle spot.

5.      Curtis Brinkley: Many believe he’s a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he’s not going to make it easy on the coaching staff to release him. Rushing for 25 yards on seven carries, he saw more action and performed better than the other backs he’s competing with.

6.      Jarrett Lee: Clearly, he has immense limits when it comes to the athletic side of the game, but he came through with a good performance while taking the majority of the snaps against the Packers’ defense. He finished with 11 completions out of 17 attempts for 157 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Perhaps he has a future as a career backup.

7.      Shareece Wright: He seemed to be in on nearly every special teams coverage play and showed nice aggression on a blitz. With limited depth at the cornerback position, it was comforting to see him perform the way he did last night.

8.     Darrell Stuckey: Much like Wright, Stuckey was making his presence felt on special teams coverage plays. Although he may not be a starting-caliber safety, he could really help the team by developing into a dominant special teams player.

9.     Atari Bigby: Making the start as he competes with rookie Brandon Taylor for the strong safety spot, Bigby also showed nice aggression. Looking determined to prove he’s not done as a starting safety in the NFL, he recovered a fumble and made two tackles.

 

Players who de-pressed

1.      Ryan Mathews: The man many have projected to break out and become an elite running back this season had one carry for five yards. And now he’s out four-to-six weeks with a shoulder injury. Given his history, Mathews is very close to being labeled an injury-prone player—if not there already. Let’s hope he’s ready for the season-opener in Oakland.

2.     Jeromey Clary: On the first series of the game he was beaten by rookie pass-rusher Nick Perry for a sack. Why exactly does the coaching staff love Clary? It’s amazing that this guy is still in the NFL, let alone starting at right tackle for the Chargers.

3.      Philip Rivers: He completed three of five passes for 37 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. That interception was nasty, a terrible reminder of the struggles he went through during the first 10 games or so of last season. He also missed on a pass to Malcom Floyd that could have been a big play if he had given Floyd a better opportunity to catch the ball. Let’s hope the interception was just an example of working out the kinks as part of the process in preparation for the regular season.

4.      Michael Hayes: After being raved about throughout training camp, he had six carries for 10 yards and a lost fumble. He definitely shouldn’t be ahead of Brinkley on the depth chart. It’s tough to see Hayes making the team now.

5.      Nick Novak: He missed a 35-yard field goal, with the ball clanking off the left upright. Already the underdog in a placekicking duel with Nate Kaeding, missing field goals in preseason games isn’t going to win the job.

6.      Run-blocking: The Chargers’ offensive line has been poor at opening up holes for the running backs in recent years, and last night’s performance didn’t quell any concerns in that area. The backs averaged 2.3 yards on 29 carries. That’s just not going to get it done in the regular season.

The next preseason game is August 18, at home against Dallas. Hopefully we’ll get to see Eddie Royal, Roscoe Parrish, and Jared Gaither in action.