We’ve just released Episode 152 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis is below:
#BoltUp! Join us today as we break down the Chargers’ barely competitive Week 2 Preseason loss over the San Francisco 49ers!
What we cover today:
🚑 Injury Strikes! How the season-ending loss of Center Tyler Biadasz impacts the Chargers’ season prospects?
⚡ Preseason Wk 2 Recap: Standouts & Takeaways from the Chargers’ loss vs. 49ers.
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Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Long time team fan, podcaster (with Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast), husband to a beautiful wife, friend to all fellow Chargers fanatics, and father-to-be!
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If the Chargers had to lose one of their top 3 OL, I think Biadasz was preferable to lose over Slater or Alt, given that Hortiz used the 2nd round pick on Slaughter. It seemed like the team’s plan was to have Slaughter split camp and preseason reps between C and LG, expecting he would win the starting LG job while also serving as the backup C. I never liked that plan, which led me to see him as being overdrafted. Now at least he can exclusively focus on the C position and may deliver short term value on that draft capital.
To your reference to my Hortiz comment last week, it turns out it is good that the Chargers seemingly overdrafted him, but I can’t give Hortiz full credit here. He didn’t draft him to start at center in 2026, he drafted him to start at LG, which IMO was a very questionable choice at his draft position. As you pointed out on the show, it may be true that the center position is now Slaughter’s indefinitely, and maybe Biadasz won’t be back. So it might work out okay, we just need to see the season play out to see what caliber play he delivers.
With regard to LB, I agree with you that the Chargers should keep only 5 LBs. Henley is obviously a lock. It would be a surprise if Dye is not also a lock. Both Wax and Phillips should be core special teamers, so IMO both should be roster locks if healthy. Plus, Wax looks like a starting caliber LB on defense. I don’t think Wax makes it through waivers if he is waived. Not worth the risk IMO. I have posted before that I did not think the team should have brought back Perryman so as to leave an actual 5th LB position open for competition for Colson to try to earn. So my opinion if Colson warrants keeping is to trade or release Perryman.
Why is Davis not returning punts? I assume you are right, he is viewed by the coaches as a roster lock. You know I disagree with it.
If I had to lose one of my heart, liver or kidney, I think kidney would be preferable….
Agree with all of this. The 49ers rolled out their starters on Defense (Osa + Alfred Collins) which was a good test for our IOL to start the game. The 49ers will have come away claiming victory from these reps, so maybe my bar for Slaughter is too low. He was pushed back into Lance’s lap a couple times and Osa crossed his face with elite athleticism to blow up one of Keaton Mitchell’s run plays. Valuable snaps for the rookie ahead of a long campaign that will test him. I am expecting similar results to Bozeman from Wks 1-4. My hope is that by middle of the year, Slaughter can hit 65.0+ PFF Grading.
FWIW, Ryan posted this excellent tweet breaking down the O’Leary run defense: https://x.com/RyanWatkins20/status/2091597305669369987
He thinks Wax is executing his role on strong side runs well but is still a work in progress on the back side of zone concepts.
He thinks Colson is showcasing some reading/reacting skills, coverage ability and blitzing skill that is heartening. Perhaps he can deliver on his draft pedigree after all. I still think it would be a shame to cut him just as he appears to be turning the corner. I’m not sosure that Wax wouldn’t clear waivers. Are we overvaluing our own? But maybe you’re right.
Good comment about Perryman’s roster spot. A “progress stopper” to quote Parcells.
And at this point, so do I! Late to the party but better late than never.
Yeah, I think you pretty much have to go with kidney there… 🙂
With regard to Wax and Phillips, consider the following:
Phillips:
Last season, Phillips led the Chargers with 371 special teams snaps in a “core four” special teams role. He also led the Chargers in PFF special teams grade (82.2) and was 3rd in the NFL with 18 special teams tackles (plus 4 assists).
That is why they signed him to a 2 year, $7.5M contract with $4M guaranteed. To waive him means taking a dead money charge for that $4M. Sadly, they can afford that, since Hortiz has not used so much cap space, but that is not smart cap space management. Also, from Phillips’ standpoint, if they waive him, he gets the $4M but has no contract for 2026 or 2027.
If he makes it through waivers, which I doubt, he would presumably sign a practice squad contract with the Chargers, but he would be primed to get poached off the Chargers practice squad and actually get an NFL level contract from another team.
Wax:
Last season, Wax was 2nd on the Chargers with 341 special teams snaps in a “core four” special teams role. He was also 2nd on the Chargers in PFF special teams grade (80.7) and tied for 20th in the NFL with 13 special teams tackles (plus 3 assists).
In addition, in his one game on defense last season, he earned a 69.1 PFF grade on defense. It was only 39 snaps, but it is worth pointing out that the next highest graded Chargers LB on the season was Dye at 59.7.
On top of that, Wax has the 2nd highest PFF defense grade (92.1) among all LBs to play this preseason To hear that Ryan is seeing positive growth from him on defense is also encouraging and seems to at least somewhat validate that PFF positivity.
Summary:
I just don’t see why the team would take a chance with either of these guys. Furthermore, I don’t know why Davis would be seen as a “Ficken lock for the roster” so he can return ~20 punts but these two guys wouldn’t get the exact same status to play 300+ snaps each.
(To clarify, those special teams PFF grade ranks exclude PK and P.)
Not looking to pile on to Hortiz nor say that Slaughter won’t be a good center, but I’m certainly not going to jump on the “Hortiz is a genius!” bandwagon that I’ve seen some fans/pundits espousing. It remains a headscratcher pick that, due to an unfortunate and unforeseen injury, may be fortuitous. Like you, Tau, I still question the choice without the addition of the Biadasz injury .
Hopefully Slaughter becomes a stud at the position quickly and is the long term answer we’ve needed there. But it hasn’t been a clear-cut or particularly savvy process IMO.