Showing posts with label Chargers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chargers. Show all posts

2.15 Indianapolis Hoosier Daddy's — TE Ladarius Green

In the real world: Undersized for a tight end at 237 lb., too big to be a wideout. Question marks include durability (reports have been floating around that he has tendinitis in both knees, according to Todd McShay) and whether he can add bulk and strength to his frame and still be as quick and athletic as he had been in college (which would be hard if he does have knee tendinitis). I've read reports that the San Diego Chargers drafted him because they considered him to be the "heir apparent" to veteran Antonio Gates. But I don't buy that because Gates has a few years to go yet at age 31, and his performance in the final 10 weeks of the 2011 season showed that he isn't exactly slowing down.
In the TUFF world: OK, I'm puzzled. Not by the position Joe and Mark picked—Indy needed depth at tight end—but by who he picked. In fairness to Indy, they took Green about about where he has been going in MFL 16-team rookie keeper drafts. It's not a reach. But let me indulge in a little "alternate history" exercise. Michael Egnew of Missouri is going much later in rookie drafts than Green (or, for that matter, Dwayne Allen), and Indy had Anthony Fasano to handcuff Egnew to. This could have enabled Indy to use this pick on someone else (maybe a wideout like T.Y. Hilton) and put off taking Egnew until after Allen went off the board. Another reason I like Egnew: Joe Philbin is Miami's new head coach, and when he was the Packers' offensive coordinator, he found ways to get the ball to their tight end, Jermichael Finley, who is about the same size as Egnew.

3.16 Minnesota Fats — RB Edwin Baker

In the real world: Baker went pro a year early because he had nothing to gain from staying at Michigan State. Le'Veon Bell had already replaced him as the starting running back. Baker averaged 3.9 yards per carry in his final season at MSU, just one year after getting 1,201 yards and 13 TDs on 207 carries. The San Diego Chargers took him in Round 7. Steve Muench thought they got a steal: "It’s incredible he lasted until the seventh round."
In the TUFF world: Scouts, Inc. gave him a fairly good grade (68), and at the moment, he is the Chargers' #2 running back (barring any veteran free agent signings), so this could be a steal by the defending TUFF Bowl champs.