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We’ve just released Episode 114 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis for Episode 114 is below:
We welcomed Adam “The Wool Dog” Woolley from Charger Chat today to chat about the Bolts’ offseason! How excited are we for 2025? Has the team repaired any holes from last year’s roster? Are they ready to challenge the Chiefs? And who made our Mount Rushmore of underrated players? Join us to find out!”
You can also listen on Spotify below (or download on audio wherever you like to listen to podcasts):
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Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening 
Alister (@TDU_Alister)
Solid show. Never heard of “Wool Dog” but, as he said, he definitely comes across as “shamelessly positive.”
IMO the concept of the 2025 Mt. Rushmore of underrated players needs some refinement. I don’t really see most of the players mentioned in this segment as being underrated. Most are appropriately rated IMO. I thought the discussion about the players was all fine and interesting, though, and that was the important part.
Unsurprisingly, I disagreed with much of the discussion on Davis. I would hate to see him given snaps over the significantly upgraded set of targets the Chargers have for 2025.
A few Q&A answers:
- Most important signing: RG Becton, easy
- Surprise player to make the team: RB Sanders
- If Harbaugh had to replace a coach: OL coach Devlin
- Al mentioned Trestman, but he is not listed as being on the Chargers coaching staff this year, although I can’t find anything definitive showing he retired or left the staff.
Look forward to the next one.
@tau837 Thanks mate.
The Charger Chat guys have an interesting MO. They look to counterbalance what they perceive as negative talk from other Chargers podcasts, while connecting Bolts fans across the country (and the world) through their affiliation with the Die Hard Bolts Club (which has chapters in most US states). They organise fan meet and greets, and their podcast also has a dedicated segment each week where they do a Q&A with a randomly chosen online Bolts fan. It’s good fun. They don’t major in data analysis (or much critical analysis of the team), so they may not be your cup of tea..
IMO the concept of the 2025 Mt. Rushmore of underrated players needs some refinement. I don’t really see most of the players mentioned in this segment as being underrated. Most are appropriately rated IMO. I thought the discussion about the players was all fine and interesting, though, and that was the important part.
Yeah, wasn’t quite sure how this one was going to land. Jack came up with the show agenda this week and, keeping with Charger Chat’s preferred flavour, designed segments that were intentionally positive. With only 53 (or so) players to choose from I found it difficult to select truly under-rated candidates. In retrospect, I’m fairly please with the list of players we came up with (especially Fisk, Leonard, etc). Who would make your Mt Rushmore?
Unsurprisingly, I disagreed with much of the discussion on Davis. I would hate to see him given snaps over the significantly upgraded set of targets the Chargers have for 2025.
Colour me unsurprised :-p I stayed out of that one. I don’t care to see his snaps significantly upgraded. But I also don’t particularly care to see him cut or traded. I like his home-run threat ability in the return game or on jet sweeps, and I like that opposing Defenses probably spend time each week game planning for those handful of Offensive snaps where he takes the field. I know you don’t agree which is fine!
A few Q&A answers:
- Most important signing: RG Becton, easy
- Surprise player to make the team: RB Sanders
- If Harbaugh had to replace a coach: OL coach Devlin
- Al mentioned Trestman, but he is not listed as being on the Chargers coaching staff this year, although I can’t find anything definitive showing he retired or left the staff.
Good responses. I would probably change my answer to Devlin too actually.
Look forward to the next one.
We’ll start our 2025 Opponent Series soon, but we’re hoping to have one more guest on before training camp who, if we can land him, is an exciting one. All shall be revealed /p>
Who would make your Mt Rushmore?
As I understand the exercise:
- Molden – I thought it was a cop out for Jack to just take the safety room… come on, man.
- Tart – As you expressed in the show.
- Dye – Played second most LB snaps on defense last season with a PFF 65.6 grade and higher grades than Henley for run defense, tackling, and pass rush… also played the most snaps on special teams with the 6th highest PFF ST grade. I thought he was a nobrainer for your exercise, but I did not hear him mentioned.
- Mike Williams – I think he will open the season starting at X and may hold that role all season if he stays healthy; I feel I am clearly in the minority on that and I see common narratives everywhere that he is washed… I don’t agree.
@tau837 I considered Dye too but ultimately chose Perryman. And I did so as a deliberate attempt to challenge myself (and listeners) about the way we use and rely on PFF Grades on the show. Dye was impressive last season though and easily could have made the list.
Mike Williams is another good, under-the-radar, answer. It’s possible that the injuries have caught up with him, but there are compelling competing narratives explaining his relative lack of production since leaving the team. Another year removed from the ACL he suffered at Minnesota, I could see him outperforming expectations. I certainly hope he does!
Listened to this and the previous pod while trekking through Taiwan/Japan with my wife & 2 daughters (and their 37 suitcases – I had one carry-on and a small day-backpack).
I sometimes forget how recently most Charger podcasters came to their fandom. One of my earliest Charger memories was being at a Charger game with my dad/brother when the Chargers were suffering through yet another terrible year. In the middle of a 4-9-1 season, Gene Klein awarded head coach Harland Svare a 5 year contract. In the middle of the next season, the Chargers had won 1 game and were generally a super-shitty team. Someone was flying a plane in circles above the stadium with a banner stating “4 more years!” in reference to Svare’s contract. As the Chargers continued to get pummeled, the crowd started chanting “4 more years!” I remember my dad, brother and I screaming “4 more years!” FYI – Svare got fired mid-season.
My parents were students at San Diego State when Don Coryell was at his Aztec peak (the Aztecs went 41-1-1 in a 4 year period). They were so pissed when the Cardinal’s hired him, especially when the Chargers extended Svare (a mistake they rectified in 1978).
Had a bit of time on my hands, so I ended up reading a bunch of shit Charger articles I normally would not read. It’s surprising how many articles there are in favor of the Chargers trading for Jalen Ramsey. Almost every article states that the Chargers “lost” ASJ & Fulton and added nobody, leaving a gaping hole at CB. I think this is tremendously disrespectful to Cam Hart, so that would be my vote for most underrated Charger.
For coach to replace, I think you could make a case for any of the offensive coaches outside of Shane Day. I think Roman has to be accountable for an under-performing offense and Devlin for an under-performing OL.
Heading for our flight now. 24 hours of travel…
@kevdiego IMO Ramsey would be a mistake. Fortunately, I expect Hortiz, et al. are smart enough to know this.
@tau837 Completely agree. Old, expensive DBs are not the missing piece to a Chargers championship. If he wants to come play with Derwin for the league minimum after the Dolphins release him, fine. Taking that contract? No fucking way. Give up draft capitol for Ramsey? Absolutely no fucking way.
@kevdiego Great little note, Kev! Cam Hart is another nice answer.
Hope you and the family have a terrific time in Nippon. Are you trying to channel your inner Samurai (warrior mindset) or your inner Geisha (tranquil and service-based mindset) ahead of the season? Which is better preparation for Wk 1…and your liver…!!!
In my top 5 as far as episodes definitely the best colab TDU has done the Wool Dog is sharp and you guys leveraged that with the all underrated rushmore. Really thought the Perrryman take was solid. I mean you can’t find what you described in a PFF grade. And Al absolutely pointed out Perryman brings something maybe 2 to 3? plays per game but it seems like it’s a big moment. Dude is a vet and he sometimes knows exactly whats coming. And it turns out to be a run stop in the stat sheet. It aint even a TFL maybe right? But the guys get hyped and that could very well be a turning point a 2nd and 10 and Perryman shoots a gap and now its 3rd and 8 for the opposition. Just a run stop but could have very well gashed us and instead Perryman can come off the field as Minter puts another DB on the field (and rotates the DL). Go back and you can see three things Perryman knows whats coming, the guys get stoked, and he brings the violence. Surely underrated
@ennea Nice of you to let us know you enjoyed this one, Ennea
Also glad that the Perryman praise resonated with you. I appreciate what he brings to the team. And I’m pretty sure his coaches and teammates do too!
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