No. 18 Pick in 2011 Reader Mock: Chargers on the Clock

[Walter]

Voting for the No. 18 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Who will be the pick?

Results and some comments will be posted here.


http://walterfootball.com/draft2011reader.php


1. Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
2. Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Bills - Cam Newton, QB, Bengals
4. Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Cardinals - Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
7. 49ers - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
8. Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Cowboys - Tyron Smith, OT, USC
10. Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
11. Texans - Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
12. Vikings - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
13. Lions - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
14. Rams - Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
15. Dolphins - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
17. Patriots - Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California


Akeem Ayers
Jonathan Baldwin
Gabe Carimi
Cameron Heyward
Justin Houston
Mike Pouncey
Brooks Reed
Nate Solder
J.J. Watt
Muhammad Wilkerson

[Walter]

Sorry for listing Anthony Castonzo yesterday. That was bound to happen.

[whatdoyouwant711]

3-4 DE is the biggest need and Watt is the BPA by a mile.

Shouldn't be too difficult.

[rphx88]

A.J. Smith will poo his pants in excitement if J.J. Watt falls to the Chargers. I don't think it will happen but the Chargers will jump all over Watt if given the chance. Watt is probably best suited to play 3-4 end at the next level. The player who seems most like Watt is Trevor Pryce in my book. Both have similar builds and seem fit for the 3-4 end. Ultimately, the Chargers will get a guy who won't be a cancer in a locker room that had more head cases than it needed.

[RazorStar]

JJ Watt is the perfect 3-4 defensive end, probably the highest player on most everyone's boards at this point and fills a need for the Chargers. This pick just makes too much sense. They don't even need to settle for a Wilkerson or Heyward at this point.

[JoeLegend]

Man everyone is JJ Watt crazy. I went OT Carimi can come in start at RT and protect the bread winner Philip Rivers I could be wrong but wasn't this Defense top 5 last year i dont see how a 3-4 DE is a big need. But who knows we all know who the Chargers GM is.

[Blazedestin]

Chargers can use some more talent up front; their front three isn't bad by any means, but it hasn't been a dominant force since Jamal Williams declined. That being said, Watt is an excellent player who in a 3-4, will truly shine. He looks to be a player who can hold up vs. the run, while generating a modest pass rush. Unlike Cameron Jordan though, who I have rated a bit higher, Watt isn't experienced in the 3-4. That being said, the 5-tech has a relatively similar job; engage the offensive tackle and possibly a guard, and eat up space so your rush linebackers can exploit mismatches against Tight Ends and Running Backs. I think Watt will excel at that role in the NFL.

[SanchoPanza]

The Chargers electrify with an increase in their wattage

[aaah]

The Chargers were number 1 in Yards on Offense and Defense. Didn't run the ball very well. So i voted for Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
to run behind. They simple had to many turn overs and sacks.

[BobLoblaw]

Chargers. Watt. It's an electric combination.

[Manu Ginobli's Bald Spot]

Cam Heyward. I'm not sure if J.J. Watt fits what the Chargers look for and need, and that leaves it between Heyward and Muhammad Wilkerson. Since the Chargers seem to love Heyward, I'll vote him over Wilkerson.

[Finnegans Wake]

Watt and Cameron Jordan were, IMO, very close in terms of value for 3-4 defenses; figure if both are on the board for the Pats and Bolts, they won't be afterward.

Some talk here of getting a RT, as though you can't find a solid RT in value rounds. No Watt puns here: you get the BPA who fits your scheme and you don't look back.

[Phatal]

With the loss of Shaun Merriman, I believe the Chargers have a larger linebacker need than previously. Justin Houston is my highest rated player who fills that need so I voted for him. Reed is an option, but I see him purely as a pass rusher, while Houston is more versatile in my eyes.

[NYJETS80]

Although it seems at times that AJ Smith doesn't know Watt he is doing, the pick here is simple enough for even him, J.J.'s the pick here.

[stevenlourie]

How is Watt still here? The Chargers won't think twice about this one.

[Classic Silver and Black]

This is going to be a defensive pick. As long as the Chargers have Philip Rivers at the helm, they can get their offense going even with stonehanded receivers and polystyrene tackles.
Their most glaring holes are in the non-kicking positions of the special teams, but obviously nr 18 overall is not the spot to fill such needs.

By default, defense is where AJ 'lord of no rings' Smith will direct his attention. As many noted, a 5 technique DE is San Diego weakest defensive spot.
But which 3-4 DE is Smith going to choose? After surprise reaches in 2009 (Larry English) and 2010 (Ryan Matthews) I think he will raise eyebrows once again. In clutch moments of important divisional match-ups, the Chargers defensive front wasn't able to stop the running game of the Chiefs and Raiders. Smith will overreact to that, ranking his prospects only on run-stuffing skills and size. He's never been afraid of reaching for future potential when more experienced, readier players were available at the same position.
It happened before, it will happen again. The San Diego front office calls Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple (MAC) over JJ Watt from Wisconsin (big 10).

[pheltzbahr]

Watt is the discussion? Its pretty obviously JJ.

[vikingsteve26]

Voted JJ Watt. Good fit for a 3-4 and BPA.

[rossfelhofer]

id be "shocked" if watt falls any further

[SwAg Dynasty]

J.J. Watt, Wisconsin Badgers.

This pick isn't really that hard. They need a 3-4 DE and J.J. Watt happens to be a very good one, the best of the remaining 3 that are considered "1st Round Prospects", in my opinion. There really isn't too many other directions to go in at this point for San Diego. I mean, they could do something stupid and trade up for a RB or something like last year, but let's assume they got all that stupidity out of their system.

They won't take Akeem Ayers and the other 3-4 OLBs because they selected Larry English in the 2009 Draft and A.J. Smith isn't going to give-up on his 1st Rounders! ...Unless your name is Shawn Merriman, Ladainian Tomlinson, Junior Seau, Eli Manning, Antonio Cromartie, etc. But seriously, he won't give up on English this soon.

They could use another WR, but this is way too early for Jonathan Baldwin. All that's left outside of those already mentioned are O-Lineman, which I doubt the Chargers will take because they have a good LT in Marcus McNeill and don't want a good RT for whatever reason, also Mike Pouncey is a very good Guard prospect, but I will paraphrase something that Walt said, that I agree with, in his draft grades from last year whenever the 49ers took Iupati - "You don't need to spend the 17th Overall selection on a Guard. You can find stud guards in later rounds, there is no need to spend such an early pick on one".

That is why this pick is J.J. Watt.