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Another Dallas measuring stick from the AFC is the San Diego Chargers. Both teams have fallen on hard times after not fulfilling the expectations of Super Bowl runs. 3-4 defenses, head coaches that were part of the Triplets era, stat fountains at the quarterback position... you get the similarities. I'd even venture to say that there a quite a few 'Boys fans that root for SD in games of no impact to Dallas. Let's head to the podium and see what our assigned GM does to help the Chargers regain the AFC West crown.
Draft Pick # 18
Team Name: San Diego Chargers
GM: salas88
Selection: (DE) J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Why the pick:
I could of gone different ways but after almost suffering a heart attack, I look up on my board and J.J. Watt is still available. Very surprising that the N.E. Patriots passed on him, however they selected another great DE. Watt has great value at this point, he seems like a great player, with great measurements and could easily fit San Diego's 3-4 defense. However San Diego could also have solidified their O-line by selecting one of the top OTs, but they see a value in Watt that they cannot let pass by. Also, with the headache that Vincent Jackson was for them last season, they could also look for a WR early in the draft, but not in the first round; unless they move up for A.J. Green or Julio Jones.
Watt is an ideal fit as a strong side 4-3 defensive end but some may like him more as a 3-4 end. A hard-working, intelligent, relentless player. Uses his hands extremely well to get off blocks both rushing the passer and against the run. Doesn't possesses great initial quickness but closes hard and fast on the quarterback and has enough straight-lined speed to pursue from the backside. Good height, fast hands and great anticipation allow him to bat down a ton of passes. Watt will give you everything he's got and is certainly a first-round selection.
NFL.com
Follow the jump for analysis of the pick.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com:
-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): 3-4 Defensive End
-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): 3-4 Outside LB, 3-4 Sam MLB, Feature Wide Reciever, Slot Wide Receiver, Free Safety, 3-4 Defensive Tackle, Guard, Center
-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): COP Running Back, Right Tackle, Tight End, Left Tackle, Cornerback
-- Drafttek.com ranked #12 Overall, #2 at the position
-- Wes Bunting, National Football Post: #19 Overall, #2 at the position
Impression: A tall, long-armed physical defensive end who has the versatility to play as either as a DE in a 3-4 and as DE/three-technique in a 4-3. He plays hard, is a natural bender for his size and looks like a solid contributor as a three-down lineman in the NFL in any scheme he plays. Will be on just about every team's draft board.
-- CBSSports.com ranked #15 overall, #2 at the position
-- Scout.com ranked #8 overall, #1 at the position
-- Mike Mayock ranked #12 overall, #1 at the position
I believe this kid is the real deal. He's another prototype of a five-technique, a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. If you don't like him, put the TCU game tape on. The numbers weren't big, but the kid dominated.
Pass rush: Relentless rushing the passer in obvious passing situations whether lined up inside or outside. Gets extra attention from opponents. Most dangerous when anticipating the snap and swimming over guards/centers inside. Spins off blocks to get outside after initial contact or pushes through doubles inside. Gets his hands into throwing lanes, using his height and length to knock down or affect passes. Nimble feet allow him to twist inside. Bounces back after initial contact, keeps his balance to find the ballcarrier. Knocks tight end off route before making his rush. Often lined up outside the tackle, can bull-rush and get corner at times against college right tackles but needs to continue improving his flexibility to beat NFL blockers.
Run defense: Active against the run. Able to stack and shed to get to outside runs, and is strong and agile enough to move down the line to be involved in inside runs. Displays some nice change-of-direction ability for his size to mirror ballcarriers trying to elude. Gives very good effort containing misdirection and bootlegs on the edge, though quicker NFL ballcarriers will beat him to the edge. When inside, has quickness to penetrate and gets his hands up quickly to maintain distance from the blocker but fails to keep his body square to the line and gets pushed out of the play.
Explosion: Flashes quickness off the snap and willingness to pop and knock back opponents. Able to penetrate gaps with a nice first step and works through double-teams with aggressiveness when lined up inside. Has enough closing speed to explode into ballcarriers and force fumbles. Doesn't have the typical explosive first step of most rush ends because of his girth and lack of ideal height. He is considered an explosive player on every down because he has arguably the strongest punch and most effective hands in the class.
Strength: Flashes strength to shed blocks and bull through double teams, but must gain muscle in both his upper and lower body to hold his ground at the next level. Can be pushed off the line by double teams, typically when turned sideways. Works with his hands against blockers, looks to potentially be good in this area. Can play too high when lined up inside to win the leverage battle.
Tackling: High-effort tackler with long arms and growing strength. Gets low despite his height to mirror and wrap up ballcarriers. Quarterbacks do not want to feel his explosive tackling in the backfield. Doesn't leave his feet, though he stretches to make a lot of ankle tackles other linemen couldn't make.
Draft Pick | Team | 2010 Record | Assigned GM | Team Needs | Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Carolina | (2-14) | Alexcomestokill | 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, WR1, WR2, WR3, CB | AJ Green |
2 | Denver | (4-12) | Sean N | 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, FS, SS, 4-3 OLB, 4-3 ILB, TE, ROT | Nick Fairley |
3 | Buffalo | (4-12) | BTB | Everything except RB and WR, Kitchen Sink | Marcel Dareus |
4 | Cincinatti | (4-12) | staubachfan | QB, 4-3 DT, WR, 4-3 DE, FS, 4-3 MLB, OG, OC | Patrick Peterson |
5 | Arizona | (5-11) | howboutdemcowboyz | QB, 3-4 OLB, CB, OG, LOT | Cam Newton |
6 | Cleveland | (5-11) | BlueEyedDevil | 4-3 DE, 4-3 OLB, 4-3 MLB, WR, FS, CB | Robert Quinn |
7 | San Francisco | (6-10) | regaberto | 3-4 DT, 3-4 OLB, CB, OC, QB | Von Miller |
8 | Tennesee | (6-10) | accidentalinnuendo | QB, CB, 4-3 DE, 4-3 OLB, 4-3 MLB | Da'Quan Bowers |
9 | Dallas | (6-10) | ChiaCrack | ROT, FS, OG, SS, CB, SILB, WILB, 3-4 DE, 3-4 OLB | Tyron Smith |
10 | Washington | (6-10) | Creasy729 | QB,RB, WR, OG, OC, 3-4DT, 3-4 OLB, FS, CB | Blaine Gabbert |
11 | Houston | (6-10) | I am Ironman! | 3-4 DE, 3-4 DT, 3-4 OLB, FS, CB | Prince Amukamara |
12 | Minnesota | (6-10) | KJDH2154 | QB, WR, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, FS, LOT, OG, | Jake Locker |
13 | Detroit | (6-10) | DIRE WOLF | CB, 4-3 OLB, MLB, ROT, OG, WR | Anthony Castonzo |
14 | St. Louis | (7-9) | Squishmytomato | WR, 4-3 DR, 4-3 OLB, 4-3 DE, FS, CB, OG, OC, SS | Julio Jones |
15 | Miami | (7-9) | iCoach | QB, 3-4 OLB, SS, OC, OG, 3-4 MLB, RB, WR | Mark Ingram |
16 | Jacksonville | (8-8) | gogokroz | 4-3 DE, 4-3 MLB, CB, QB, WR, OG, | Aldon Smith |
17 | New England | (14-2) | fivetwos | 3-4 DE, 3-4 OLB, CB, RB, WR, OG, OT | Cameron Jordan |
18 | San Diego | (9-7) | salas88 | 3-4 DE, 3-4 OLB, FS, CB, WR, OT | JJ Watt |