Tag: Jack Conklin

Perfect offseason gift for Chargers at each position of need

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez has the perfect offseason gift for the Los Angeles Chargers at each position of need.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

In the spirit of the holiday season and the offseason coming up, we decided to gift the Los Angeles with the most ideal acquisition at each position of need, using the 2020 NFL draft and free agency as our outlets.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Quarterback — Tua Tagavailoa

Some fans are going to view this as a gift, while others will consider it coal because of the durability concerns with Tua. With teams in front of them like the Dolphins that will be in the market for the quarterback, it’s not guaranteed that he will be there when they are picking. But if he is, it should almost be a no-brainer.

Tagavailoa is a perfect fit for the Bolts as they start a new journey in SoFi Stadium. With the desire to bring fans to the stadium, Tua would do just that since he has been one of the most polarizing players in college football. Since he probably won’t be able to play much in his rookie campaign, he would be able to sit in Year 1, whether that be behind Philip Rivers or Tyrod Taylor and then take the reins in his second season.

Offensive tackle — Jack Conklin

The Chargers will be looking to add a long-term option at the right tackle position to replace Sam Tevi. Tom Telesco has a track record of finding gems along offensive line via free agency, and this would be an absolute home run.

Conklin, who is in the prime of his career, has allowed just 9.5 sacks in his four-year stint since being selected in the first-round of the 2016 NFL draft. In 2019, he’s allowed two sacks, but is currently on a streak of 11-straight games without one allowed.

Cornerback — James Bradberry

The Chargers could shore up their secondary by adding a stud opposite of CB Casey Hayward. Hayward was acquired via free agency and Telesco could make another splash by looking in the pool to find one of the league’s most underrated corners.

At the age of 26, Bradberry is entering his prime. He has defended nine passes along with a career-high three interceptions this season. His best season came in 2018 when he defended 15 passes, posted two interceptions, forced a fumble and recorded a sack.

Wide receiver — Brandon Aiyuk

Let’s say the Chargers are able to cross off the offensive tackle and cornerback position with those two acquisitions, they would then be able to find a talented wideout in the draft as early as Round 2. Insert the yards after the catch king.

Aiyuk, the 6-foot and 203 pounder is a speedster who is able to create when the ball is in his hands. He possesses the breakaway skills and balance to zip right past defenders that are in pursuit, which is exactly the type of player Los Angeles would love to add to an already talented wide receiver corps.

Defensive tackle — Leki Fotu

Nose tackle Brandon Mebane is close to calling it quits, which means that they will have to find his successor. Fotu would be a solid addition in the mid-rounds to add to an interior defensive line that’s still a work in progress.

Fotu, the 6-foot-5 and 325 pound defensive tackle has the speed, power, length, body control and mismatch ability to cause fits for NFL interior offensive linemen, where he would aid in the run defense department.

Interior offensive line — Calvin Throckmorton

The Chargers love to find athletic offensive linemen that have the ability to play both inside and outside. Throckmorton, the 6-foot-5 and 318 pounder, would be the perfect mid-round addition to an offensive line that will be under construction.

Throckmorton, who has played every single position except left guard for the Ducks, is a powerful player who has solid pass protection technique, an anchor and the toughness to be a consistent starter in the league by Year 2.

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Studs and duds from Titans’ 24-21 loss to Texans

Here’s a look at some players who stood out, and others who would like to have a play or two back.

The Tennessee Titans’ four-game winning streak came to a heartbreaking end as the team fell, 24-21 to the division rival Houston Texans in Nissan Stadium on Sunday.

With the loss, the Titans sit at the No. 2 spot in the AFC South, and will face a rough road making it into the playoffs.

Here’s a look at some players who stood out, and others who would like to have a play or two back.

Stud: TE Jonnu Smith

What can’t Smith do at this point? One of his biggest plays came on a 57-yard rush in the fourth quarter to help give the Titans some momentum.

He finished the game with five receptions for 60 yards, in addition to the rushing play.

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Behind Enemy Lines: Week 12 Q&A with Titans Wire

Jags Wire managing editor Jame Johnson chopped it with Titans Wire managing editor Crissy Froyd about Thursday night’s Week 12 battle.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will be taking the field for yet another battle in which fans of both fan bases have likely had circled due to the history between both teams. To get a little insight on the current status of the team as they’re coming off their bye week, we did our weekly question exchange with Titans Wire editor Crissy Froyd and here are five burning questions she was kind enough to answer:

Jags Wire: Earlier in the week Doug Marrone praised Ryan Tannehill as an improved player. How has he played since becoming the starter in your eyes? 

Crissy Froyd: Tannehill is very decisive and comfortable in the pocket — two things that Mariota never was. He’s been efficient, but needs to stay consistent. 

JW: The Titans are coming off a bye week which could lead to a playoff push from this point. Who are some key players they got back in the process? 

CF: The Titans overcame a lot of injuries, and tight end Delanie Walker is just one of a few players slowly getting back to full capacity. He was one of two players (alongside OL Kevin Pamphile) still listed as doubtful on this weekend’s injury report.

JW: Aside from a change at quarterback, how has this roster grown since Week 3?

CF: We’re seeing a lot of young receivers step up, and Derrick Henry being put to good use. Henry wasn’t used correctly in the beginning of the season, and that showed. The Jags face a much better put together team this time around.

JW: What would you say has been some of the Titans’ weaknesses throughout the season?

CF: Allowing one big play a game, like Dean Pees said. The Titans have a solid team, but there are things they let slip away from them that cost them the game. Tackling has also been inconsistent at times. 

JW: What are your final score predictions for the game?

CF: The Titans come out on top, 21-17.

Jaguars vs. Titans: 3 matchups to watch

The Jags will need to win some key matchups Sunday to overtake the Titans and one of them is the battle between Fournette and Rashaan Evans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) will clash for their second time in 2019 with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Needless to say, that means neither team can take a loss in Sunday’s matchup, which will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three we’ll be watching in particular:

Edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen vs. offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin

While the Jags aren’t quite where they want to be record-wise, fans who like breaking down the film should at least be happy to see this matchup regardless of the outcome. It’s rare to see two tandems of this magnitude duke it out on the edge and I’ve personally been waiting to see this matchup since Josh Allen was selected by the Jags.

In the Jags’ and Titans’ Week 3 meeting, Taylor Lewan was suspended and his absence showed as quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times. Now he’s back and the playing field is level. With that being the case, it will be interesting to see how Yannick Ngakoue and Allen respond to the tandem as Lewan and Jack Conklin are regarded as one of the NFL’s top bookend duos.

RB Leonard Fournette vs. ILB Rashaan Evans  

Leonard Fournette wants more carries and the Jags want to give him that. That said, if the Jags give him the ball as most suspect he’ll have to deal with the Titans leading tackler in Rashaan Evans. These two are quite familiar with each other after their time in the Southeastern Conference and now the rivalry has followed them to the league due to being selected by the Jags and Titans.

Evans will enter the game with 82 tackles while Fournette will enter the game with 854 rushing yards and one touchdown. As we’ve mentioned in the past, he’s struggled against the Titans. Throughout, four starts against them, he’s garnered 62 carries for 211 yards (good for a 3.4 YPC average) and a touchdown, which is not an impressive stat line. Simply put, that needs to change Sunday if the Jags want to win.

LB Myles Jack vs. RB Derrick Henry

This kind of goes back to what was said in our bold predictions post when I mentioned that Myles Jack is the most criticized player on the Jags’ defense — and rightfully so. He hasn’t played to his contract extension this season and will need to flip the switch quick as he’s played so poorly to the point where many have been wondering if he needs to change positions.

Jack likely understands he’s fallen short of expectations more than anyone and could play with his hair on fire against the Titans. With Derrick Henry expected to lead their offense, he’ll receive ample carries and Jack could make a statement Sunday by holding him in check and acquiring double-digit tackles on the day.