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Camp body, practice squad material, or shot fired? Whichever, I like that Hortiz is digging around.
I have high hopes for this kid. Once Colson is healthy and up to speed, I think Perryman will get pushed into more of a role player, largely on obvious rushing downs.
https://www.chargers.com/news/daiyan-henley-unofficial-depth-chart
@buck-melanoma I agree, the job is his if he can fight through all of the health stuff that has caused him to get off to a rough start. He is the long-term answer in the middle as he knows the system and exceled in it. Perryman is a good/tough player to learn from as well. I like the direction in the middle.
@spanos-must-go yeah, I like Perryman as a mentor and stopgap/run defender. I think he’s too one-dimensional for much more but more isn’t why he was brought back.
Not sure if people have been following the ESPN reporting on Harbaugh’s Wolverines and the NCAA “show cause” stuff.
ESPN Article #1: https://www.espn.com.au/college-football/story/_/id/40724577/michigan-football-coach-sherrone-moore-violated-ncaa-rules-noa-draft-says
ESPN Article #2: https://www.espn.com.au/college-football/story/_/id/40764152/ncaa-hands-jim-harbaugh-4-year-show-cause-recruiting-violations
Harbaugh was fairly curt in his Chargers press conference dismissing any wrongdoing and claiming that he was taught not to lie, cheat or steal. Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale also implicated in the articles.
Some quotes from the articles (my emphasis added):
- New HC Sherrone Moore (former OC) is one of seven members from 2023 football program accused of violating NCAA rules.
- Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games in 2023 for the impermissible scouting operation that was run by Michigan staffer Connor Stalions . The draft notice does not provide any evidence that Harbaugh was involved or knew, but states that he failed to actively look for or evaluate ‘red flags’.
- Allegations:
- Moore could face a show-cause penalty and possibly a suspension for allegedly deleting a thread of 52 text messages with former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions in October 2023 on the same day that media reports revealed Stalions was leading an effort to capture the playcalling signals of future opponents.
- Harbaugh, who left Michigan to coach the Los Angeles Chargers after leading the Wolverines to a national title in January, is accused of not cooperating because he denied the NCAA’s request to view relevant messages and phone records from his personal cell phone. The draft says Harbaugh could face a “show-cause” restriction in the next four years if he ever opts to return to college sports.
- The NCAA’s draft obtained by ESPN states that investigators used ticket information, film, photographs and interviews to determined that Stalions had impermissibly scouted at least 13 future Michigan opponents on at least 58 occasions between 2021 and 2023. He directed others to scout some opponents multiple times — including one team that they scouted seven different times in 2022, according to the draft.
- Partridge, Clinkscale and Robinson are all accused of providing impermissible benefits to recruits in 2023, including paying for a recruit’s meal and providing recruits with team gear. Clinkscale (current Chargers DB) is also accused of helping a recruit get verified on Instagram and for writing a $100 check for a golf charity event that was run by a recruit’s father.
- Partridge and former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter are accused of Level 2 violations for sending text messages to a recruit who was a high school sophomore.
@alisterlloyd I have to post, so what?
If your answer has to do with the NCAA in any way, understand that the NCAA is a complete joke, a complete farce. Then answer.
@tau837 Just posting something topical/newsworthy that some might be interested to read.
My opinion…I think it’s kinda cool that we have a coaching staff that sought to gain a competitive advantage in this way (even if it’s approaching the borderline of what was within the NCAA rules). Belichick did this for years in the NFL to great effect.
The other angle I guess relates to Harbaugh’s honesty and character. I don’t really care so much about that in this context. But did he know about it all? How involved was he? Was he telling a bald-faced lie during his press conference the other day when he implied he wasn’t at fault? Those are all questions some people on this blog might be interested to think about.
@alisterlloyd Fair enough.
The NCAA is a complete joke. There is zero reason to put any stock in anything they do as relates to supposed enforcement of rules, given their enforcement is arbitrary.
Harbaugh has consistently insisted he wasn’t in on the sign stealing. I have seen nothing that leads me to doubt him on that. Others may have different opinions, of course.
@alisterlloyd I started to post an article from The Athletic about this, not for judgment but just as info surrounding the team. I didn’t because I thought, given my initial reluctance in hiring Harbaugh, it would be viewed negatively.
I believe we both made the correct decisions.
I too have little faith in the NCAA. I do have some interest in whether our coach told a bald-faced lie.
@alisterlloyd Similar to others on this site I have been following this and was undecided on whether to start a topic regarding this on Stormcloud.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a life-long Michigan Wolverines fan. I grew up right outside of Ann Arbor. I attended multiple Michigan football camps back in the day and listened to Bo Schembechler talk/motivate me more than once. Family/friends that attended the university and a family member that was a two-time All American at the school in another sport. Interestingly enough, my wife is a lifelong Ohio State Buckeye’s fan and we still are together and love each other, just not on every single day of the year!
Thoughts/Opinions on this matter:
- The NCAA is a corrupt and laughable organization. It has made immeasurable amounts of money on the backs of kids/young men for many many decades.
- The NCAA’s compliance requirements are massive and entire teams of compliance staff run around like idiots trying to follow the guidelines.
- Paul Finebaum, a big Harbaugh detractor went on a 60-second diatribe a couple of days ago just blistering and laughing at the NCAA over this joke of a 4-year investigation known as BurgerGate.
- Do I think that Michigan broke minor rules during Covid-19 restrictions? Yes I do.
- Do I think that many many schools did during that time? Yes I do.
- Do I think that the time and resources spent on this investigation are ludicrous and personal? Yes I do.
- Do I think that Harbaugh was flippant, arrogant, and basically told the NCAA to “fuck off”? Yes I do.
- Did this hurt him and the University and cause those NCAA douchebags to target him and Michigan even more? Yes I do.
- Michigan self-imposed a three-game suspension for the Covid violations. That should have been plenty, but the NCAA wants to nail Harbaugh to the cross and then some.
- As a Michigan fan do I support and like all of this? No, I do not.
- Do I think that Michigan was the best team in college football last year? Yes I do.
- Do I think that any of this has anything to do with the Los Angeles Chargers football team? Maybe.
- Will the NFL crack down on Harbaugh and fellow Michigan staff? Pete Carroll did a lot worse and did not receive NFL sanctions. Fact check me on this as I just don’t remember it.
- What will the “sign-stealing” investigation uncover and how many years will that investigation go on?
- Will any/all of this be a distraction for Harbaugh and his staff?
- Did the Spanos family consider all of this in their interviews and due diligence?
- Did the Spanos family sign off on this knowing that a media storm could come from this and negatively impact the franchise?
- Does this negatively impact the franchise?
- Will the Netflix documentary on the sign stealing reveal something worse?
- How will the Spanos family feel about the Netflix documentary?
- Has Harbaugh answered questions to the Spanos family that were less than truthful? Will that erode the relationship?
- Do the Charger players care about this? Joey Bosa, a Buckeye, seems totally committed to Harbaugh.
- The last time a college coach “escaped” to the NFL (Pete Carroll) his team won a Super Bowl and should have won a second Super Bowl.
I have a lot to say and have thought about this topic a ton as I am a passionate fan of the Chargers and the Wolverines.
And in yet another “fuck you” to the NCAA, Michigan will have Jim Harbaugh as the honorary captain at their opening home game against Fresno State.
Harbaugh would be banned from all team-related activities including practice, travel, video study, recruiting and team meetings at any school that employed him through that date, on top of a one-year suspension.
The NCAA might need to expand their definition of “suspension”.
@spanos-must-go Great posts – you asked pretty much every question & I am pretty aligned on your answers. I took a stab at the questions you did not answer:
- Will the NFL crack down on Harbaugh and fellow Michigan staff? Pete Carroll did a lot worse and did not receive NFL sanctions. Fact check me on this as I just don’t remember it.
-> Nope.
- What will the “sign-stealing” investigation uncover and how many years will that investigation go on?
-> Just like baseball, “sign-stealing” has been going on in sports for a very long time. Don Coryell very famously thought the Raiders were filming their practices. AJ Smith used to sign players off an opponent’s practice squad the week before the Chargers played that team. I’m reasonably confident that every successful team looks for advantages in every corner possible and bends the rules whenever possible. I think Jim’s personality rubbed some arrogant ass-hat at the NCAA the wrong way and said ass-hat decided to show him who’s boss.
- Will any/all of this be a distraction for Harbaugh and his staff?
> Doubtful. This staff is too good and Jim has flipped the bird to the NCAA and put them squarely in the rear-view mirror. The opposite of love is indifference. I think the best path for Jim is to be indifferent
- Did the Spanos family consider all of this in their interviews and due diligence?
-> I imagine it came up. I also think it didn’t matter.
- Did the Spanos family sign off on this knowing that a media storm could come from this and negatively impact the franchise?
-> I really don’t think there’s going to be a media-storm
- Does this negatively impact the franchise?
-> Losing has negatively impacted this franchise. Hiring cheap, in-experienced coaches has negatively impacted this franchise. My opinion is that Harbaugh will be the most positive move for this franchise since hiring Bobby Ross and drafting Junior Seau.
- Will the Netflix documentary on the sign stealing reveal something worse?
-> This is one of three stories (I’m more interested in the Steve McNair story). Don’t think there’s going to be any earth-shattering news
- How will the Spanos family feel about the Netflix documentary?
-> My guess is they won’t care
- Has Harbaugh answered questions to the Spanos family that were less than truthful? Will that erode the relationship?
-> This is an interesting question. Jim doesn’t strike me as a liar. More a quirky, arrogant guy that can rub people the wrong way.
- Do the Charger players care about this? Joey Bosa, a Buckeye, seems totally committed to Harbaugh.
-> Unless their Michigan fans, I think the players will care more about what Jim can do for the Chargers in 2024.
- The last time a college coach “escaped” to the NFL (Pete Carroll) his team won a Super Bowl and should have won a second Super Bowl.
-> Let’s hope Jim beat’s Pete’s record for SB wins!
Yeah, I don’t think the Spanos gave a damn thing about what the NCAA would think or anyone. The hiring of Jim Harbaugh was by far the most positive move by any NFL team made this year. As you answered your own questions, the hiring has done more positive for the Spanos’ reputation and be more profitable for them.
Was Jim less truthful with Spanos during the hiring process? Jim was too smart to hide anything it would later come out to hurt himself. Plus, the NFL is too powerful with good resources to gather all needed information on someone like Jim Harbaugh with NCAA violations or lack of for the Spanos to access prior the interviewing process.
@kylededi The other part that is really hurting the Chargers is that the number one defense is getting its reps against Stick, Duggan, and Perez. That is a million miles away from “steel sharpening steel”. This is another reason that a QB like Tannehill might be a bit pricey, but the Charger defense is not getting tested. They are building up confidence against subpar QB play and feasting.
I don’t put too much into that since the offensive alignments, looks, blocking, routes, etc. are still the same for defensive fits, alignments, etc. It showed in the first preseason game. Minter executed the defense very well and it was impressive. The receivers and TE still run the same routes they would have run for Justin w/ Stick behind center. While Stick and others can’t hit targets like Herbert can, the coverage still has to be there. But the bigger concern still at large with Justin not practicing to sharpen his timing with his receivers especially the new receivers (WRs, TEs & RBs) and a new offense.
@tui1hit We are going to have to disagree on this one. If you don’t think that practicing against Easton Stick versus Justin Herbert changes everything I just can’t subscribe to that. Guys are open on every play and good/great QBs diagnose and deliver accurate passes. Yesterday’s practice alone had a bunch of picks and dropped picks. Our defense looked solid against Seattle as it should since they played backup QBs, RBs, WRs, etc.
Chargers signed Tucker Fisk and UDFA TE. He was last with Atlanta. He is a big boy at 6’4″ 285lbs. He ran a 5.22 40 which may make him the slowest player on the roster. Maybe McFadden is moving into the starting offensive line and Fisk will be the backfield hammer that McFadden was looking like. With that said, they still have Zach Heins for that.
5.22 / 40 speed? Might as well line up CJ Okoye at that TE spot who is bigger and faster. :))
Is Rumph done?
What’s up with Bozeman? This is concerning.
Being cautious with Bosa or more to it?
I really don’t care what Stick showed last year. This is a new year and he’s not showing improvement….or even status quo.
- I’m afraid if Rumph reinjured the same foot, he could be done for the season. Feel bad for the guy. Injury can easily check you into some dark places quickly, which why coaches absolutely hate it to be needled about a player’s injury. Let’s hope it isn’t the case for Rumph.
- Bozeman is probably sitting on a rocking chair plugged into Corey Linsley. Obviously working thru something none of us know. The interior OL is still a big question mark and with him at center does not give me much to hold on.
- Bosa? He was on the sideline with his left wrist wrapped at the game last weekend. My guess, he’ll play on week 1 even with his wrist in a cast. While his bull-rush move could be affected by an injured wrist, his signature hand swipe-and-rip move he can still manage with a wrist in a cast. But let’s hope the wrist injury isn’t that severe.
- Stick? Someone here thinks we “hate” Stick after the criticisms after a letdown performance by him considering Herbert’s health status with Stick’s possibility as QB1 once the regular season starts in 2 weeks. If Herbert was healthy, what would everyone have thought of Stick’s game performance? Probably very little or nothing at all, right? The season in on the line here with him potentially as QB1. There is a reason why fans are freaking out especially after a very poor performance from him. Four games played does not make a player proven. Plus, “hate” should never be associated with criticisms given for players’ performances.
My quick swipe at your questions, Buck.
@tui1hit agree about Rumph re: injury but it’s not just that. He hasn’t shown much growth and this new regime isn’t likely to keep underperformers.
Boseman, healthy or not, needs to be plugged into Linsley’s knowledge if that’s available. Any advantage.
Bosa likely will play but it’s still disappointing, IMO, to see a guy who was recently the highest paid defensive player in the league continue to struggle to stay healthy. I questioned keeping him initially and still do for this reason. Availability is an ability too.
I said my piece about the “hate” remark regarding Stick earlier. I have no such feeling for him. I just continue to question his place on this roster.
Falcons signed Justin Simmons to a 1-year $8MM deal.
Gee….it took this long to give Woods a serious look at corner? Another indictment, IMO, against the previous coaching and scouting staff.
@buck-melanoma Credit must also be given to the current coaching staff. I’ve been both surprised and delighted to see a different approach in trying to give players down on the depth chart a look at different positions to give them a chance. It must be difficult to learn several positions simultaneously, but they get a fighting chance to make the roster at new positions.
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