Maize's Chargers | Finding A Home, Building A Contender

[Maize08]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tearz49ers

Can you edit coaches in Madden? Im guessing not but thought id ask?

You can't edit information about the coach. So I'm stuck with a generic coach named "Demetrius Turner" - You can edit the playbook and strategy part of it, but not anything about the coach.

[Maize08]

[Maize08]

Chargers Sign Quarterback Geno Smith | March 10, 2017
The Los Angeles Chargers opened free agency by signing a replacement for backup Quarterback Kellen Clemens. The team announced the signing of 26 year-old Geno Smith.

Smith, the second round pick of the Jets in 2013, spent his first four years in the NFL in New York. The Miami native played his college football at West Virginia. The leader of a prolific passing offense, Smith burst onto the scene after a dominant senior season in 2012. In 2012 for the Mountaineers, Geno put up 4,000 passing yards, 42 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions and a 71% completion percentage.

His size, mobility and arm strength made him an attractive player to the Chargers. While his time in New York was marred by injuries and inconsistent play, Smith showed flashes but often made too many mistakes.

Turnovers took away from some of his better games as a starter for the Jets. Starting 30 games in four seasons, he was the team's starter in his rookie and sophomore years in the NFL. In that time, he accumulated 34 interceptions and lost 7 fumbles.

Excited about a new start in L.A., Smith mentioned his growth working behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. More than that, he credits Chan Gailey for helping his development as a Quarterback.

His best game as a starter likely came this year, his lone start in the last two seasons. Week 15 against the Dolphins, Smith started in place of the injured Fitzpatrick. He put up 284 yards and two touchdowns to earn the Jets a win.

Geno will sign a two year contract with the Chargers. Included in Smith's contract are numerous incentives 'if' Smith plays and plays well. Beyond the incentives, he will earn $1.75 million per season and an added $2 million dollar signing bonus.

Smith will wear #7 for the Chargers. He is the first free agent signing for Terry McDonough, Vince Newsome and the new coaching staff.

[Maize08]

[Maize08]

Chargers Sign Safety Shamarko Thomas | March 13, 2017
After a busy first weekend of free agency, it seemed the Chargers were one of the losers of the first 72 hours of the new NFL season. After watching Danny Woodhead walk, the team struck out on finding an immediate replacement. Shane Vereen immediately signed in Philly, not even taking a meeting in Los Angeles.

Woodhead would end up signing a lucrative, mostly guaranteed, new contract with the Packers. While the team could be banking on Branden Oliver to return fully healthy, he is still recovering after tearing his achilles last preseason.

On the defensive side of the ball, the team targeted an upgrade at the safety position. Chris Conte met with both the LA Chargers and Rams, instead opting to sign with Detroit after his meeting with the Lions. The team then considered two players: Duke Ihenacho and Shamarko Thomas.

In the end, Shamarko Thomas would sign a two year deal with the Chargers. The deal is reportedly worth $6.82 million, less than the deal Ihenacho would sign in Minnesota.

Thomas, 26, was heralded as Troy Polamalu's replacement when he was drafted out of Syracuse in 2013. A fourth round pick for the Steelers; he was seen as a developmental talent with a high ceiling.

His talent never came to fruition in Pittsburgh. A former track star in high school, his measurables caught the attention of many NFL teams. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.42 40 Time, had a 40 inch vertical, an 11 foot broad jump and put up 28 reps on the bench press. On the field, he had started 43 of 48 career games with the Orange, recording 263 tackles.

As for Shamarko's time in Pittsburgh, he rarely saw the field in his first two seasons. He started getting reps on special teams, but then came the retirement of Troy Polamalu. Thomas had worked in the 2014 and 2015 offseason with Polamalu in California. He was expected to be the starter for the 2015 season.

Instead, his erratic play (particularly in coverage) led to the Steelers signing veteran Will Allen. In the last two seasons, Thomas did not make a start and saw most of his action on special teams.

Looking for a new start, he was thrilled to sign in Los Angeles. Considering it "a destination," he knows that he will have to work if he wants to get on the field. The Chargers return Jahleel Addae, but the team is hoping that Thomas will create some competition for the starting strong safety position.

Thomas is the second former Pittsburgh Steeler to sign with the Chargers. The first, lineman Chris Hubbard, was praised by new Offensive Coordinator Randy Fichtner. Hubbard's versatility could make him a utility lineman to shore up the team's depth.

Both players add depth and come from a successful franchise. That fits what GM Vince Newsome said he would be targeting throughout the offseason.

[Maize08]

Free Agent Signings
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - 2 year deal with LAR
Case Keenum, QB - 3 year deal with NYJ
Geno Smith, QB - 2 year deal with LAC
Kellen Clemens, QB - 2 year deal with SEA
Shane Vereen, RB - 3 year deal with PHI
Dion Lewis, RB - 3 year deal with NYG
Danny Woodhead, RB - 2 year deal with GB
Matt Jones, RB - 4 year deal with CAR
Isaiah Crowell, RB - 2 year deal with BAL
Bilal Powell, RB - 2 year deal with IND
Steve Smith, WR - 1 year deal with KC
Vincent Jackson, WR - 2 year deal with ATL
Kamar Aiken, WR - 3 year deal with PIT
Markus Wheaton, WR - 3 year deal with TEN
Rueben Randle, WR - 3 year deal with OAK
Terrelle Pryor, WR - 3 year deal with ARI
Charles Johnson, WR - 3 year deal with CLE
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR - 2 year deal with SF
Martellus Bennett, TE - 4 year deal with LAR
Jacob Tamme, TE - 3 year deal with CHI
Jared Cook, TE - 4 year deal with ATL
Eugene Monroe, LT - 3 year deal with CHI
Tom Compton, LT - 3 year deal with MIA
Ronald Leary, LG - 3 year deal with WAS
Earl Watford, LG - 3 year deal with KC
J.C. Tretter, C - 4 year deal with BUF
Dalton Freeman, C - 4 year deal with SF
Jonathan Harrison, C - 4 year deal with DET
Jermon Bushrod, RG - 1 year deal with IND
Michael Harris, RG - 3 year deal with CLE
Jon Asamoah, RG - 3 year deal with NYG
Menelik Watson, RT - 4 year deal with BUF
Mike Remmers, RT - 4 year deal with DEN
Bobbie Massie, RT - 4 year deal with NYG
Quinton Coples, LE - 4 year deal with WAS
Devin Taylor, LE - 2 year deal with ATL
Terrance Knighton, DT - 1 year deal with MIA
Jelani Jenkins, DT - 3 year deal with ARI
Alan Branch, DT - 1 year deal with TEN
Akeem Spence, DT - 4 year deal with OAK
Trent Cole, RE - 2 year deal with STL
Greg Hardy, RE - 3 year deal with CLE
Chris Long, RE - 3 year deal with BAL
Michael Johnson, RE - 3 year deal with BUF
Junior Galette, OLB - 4 year deal with TB
Barkevious Mingo, OLB - 5 year deal with STL
Josh Bynes, OLB - 3 year deal with LAR
Mike Smith, OLB - 3 year deal with IND
Samuel Acho, OLB - 3 year deal with NYG
Joplo Bartu, OLB - 3 year deal with SEA
Alex Okafor, OLB - 2 year deal with IND
Sio Moore, MLB - 3 year deal with DEN
Nate Irving, MLB - 3 year deal with NE
Patrick Robinson, CB - 1 year deal with LAR
K’Waun Williams, CB - 3 year deal with KC
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB - 3 year deal with ARI
Alterraun Verner, CB - 1 year deal with TEN
Chris Conte, FS - 3 year deal with DET
Nate Allen, FS - 3 year deal with LAR
Stevie Brown, FS - 3 year deal with WAS
D.J. Swearinger, FS - 2 year deal with MIA
Barry Church, SS - 3 year deal with JAC
Micah Hyde, SS - 3 year deal with DET
Jonathan Cyprien, SS - 4 year deal with CHI
Kemal Ishmael, SS - 2 year deal with WAS
Duke Ihenacho, SS - 2 year deal with MIN
Shamarko Thomas, SS - 2 year deal with LAC
Blair Walsh, K - 5 year deal with TB
Ryan Succop, K - 3 year deal with DET
Brandon Fields, P - 1 year deal with CLE

[Maize08]

[Maize08]

Chargers Add Four Coaches to Staff
The Los Angeles Chargers are now "in the bunker," as General Manager Vince Newsome put it recently to the media. In preparation for the draft, Newsome is constantly meeting with team scouts, front office members and the brain trust that will likely find themselves running the Chargers' war room.

Leading that brain trust is Newsome, President of Football Operations Terry McDonough, Director of College Scouting Kevin Kelly and two former members from the Ravens front office: George Kokinis and Malik Boyd. Newsome and McDonough are working side-by-side, surrounding by trusted people they have worked with in the past.

That has continued with the coaching staff. Filling out the coaching staff, Head Coach Harold Goodwin turned to the Ravens staff, much like Newsome with the front office. Hiring Thomas Hammock as Running Backs Coach, it also reunites Melvin Gordon with his college position coach.

Hammock has spent the last three years with the Ravens. Prior to that, he was Wisconsin's Running Backs Coach. Coaching the likes of Melvin Gordon, James White, Corey Clement, and Monty Ball - he was one of the architects of a prolific rushing attack in Wisconsin.

During his time (2011-13), the Badgers ranked fourth in rushing touchdowns and seventh in rushing yards. It was the third highest-ranked non-option team in the FBS. His time with Melvin Gordon, prior to Gordon's senior year, helped to complete Gordon's game and make him an all-around threat.

The Chargers have been adamant that they want to run the ball more effectively. By adding Hammock, they're hoping he can help with the team's running game. Also added to help with that is new Tight Ends Coach Mike DeBord.

DeBord is another name familiar in college football coaching circles. Last season, DeBord was the Offensive Coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers. Helping the Volunteers win the SEC East, the Vols ended with a slightly disappointing 9-5 record. That led to his firing and DeBord made the decision to return to the NFL.

A coaching veteran of 30+ years, he was the Offensive Coordinator for the National Champion Michigan Wolverines team in 1997. Head Coach Harold Goodwin was a Graduate Assistant that year, working directly with DeBord on game preparation. DeBord is a seasoned play-caller that was brought into help Goodwin with game-planning and play calling.

Beyond that, DeBord will work directly with the team's Tight Ends. He will also assist the Offensive Line and line coach Jeff Davidson. Davidson is the only holdover from Mike McCoy's staff. Initially, no coach was retained but Davidson was signed to a new contract.

Back on DeBord, he is excited about his return to the NFL. He will work with the offensive coaching staff to aid in the implementation of the zone blocking scheme and power running game. The Chargers want to balance the offense, use more power football, and in turn play at a slower pace.

DeBord is known for stabilizing many offenses, in college and pro, and helping to enfornce emphasis on game management and ball control. This will be a change from McCoy's focus on the passing game, with the offense now destined to be more balanced.

The defensive coaching staff is shaping up as well. Recently, the team hired Joe Woods to coach the secondary and Clyde Simmons to coach the defensive line. Both coaches are familiar with Leslie Frazier and Mike Singletary, having both coached in Minnesota under Coach Frazier.

Starting with Woods, he has spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2015, he was a member of the Broncos' Super Bowl L coaching staff, helping Denver win with a tremendous defensive effort throughout the playoffs.

This past season, the team struggled early but finished strong. In both seasons, the team ranked in the top ten in passing defense. That is usually credited to the pass rush, but Woods has coached up a top secondary unit in Denver. He will look to do the same with talent like Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward in Los Angeles.

Woods was the defensive backs coach for the Vikings from 2006 to 2013. Originally hired by Brad Childress, he stayed on the staff when Leslie Frazier came to Minnesota. Woods and Frazier will help the Chargers use more zone techniques, and will install a base Cover 2 defense.

Clyde Simmons was named Defensive Line Coach after spending the last three seasons with the Rams. Simmons was a defensive end in the NFL for 15 seasons, from 1986 to 2000. Loved by players, his tough demeanor and deep understanding of the game caught the attention of Mike Singletary.

Both Singletary and Simmons coached in Los Angeles and now will change teams, working with the Chargers. Simmons and Singletary are expecting the Chargers to generate more of a pass rush, hoping to do so with four down lineman.

In total, the Chargers brought in recent playing experience, many years of coaching experience, and coaches that fit what the team wants to do. Attitude and toughness are becoming the moniker for a team that has been known for big plays and finesse. That is changing, and should continue as the brain trust prepares for their first NFL Draft.