[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”]
[et_pb_row admin_label=”row”]
[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]
With the uncertainties at the interior of the OL, it’s hard not to ignore who the guards and center will go up against this year. Ten games feature top interior defenders to provide the biggest tests for Zion, Bozeman and Pipkins (assuming Pipkins locked up the RG position).
Here is how they go up against the top 30 interior defenders (per PFF) this year with 13 out of 17 games are against top interior defenders. The biggest tests will come in the first four games, and if they can hold their own before the bye week, the OL could be off to a very productive season.
Week 1 vs Raiders – Christian Wilkens #9
Week 2 vs Panthers away – Derrick Brown #4
Week 3 vs Steelers away – Cameron Heyward #6 and Keeanu Benton #29
Week 4 vs Chiefs - Chris Jones #1
Week 5 – Bye
Week 6 vs Broncos away
Week 7 vs Cardinals away
Week 8 vs Saints
Week 9 vs Browns away – Shelby Harris #25, D. Tomlinson #26, and Maurice Hurst #27
Week 10 vs Titans – Jeffery Simmons #5
Week 11 vs Bengals – Sheldon Rankins #30
Week 12 vs Ravens – Justin Madubuike #11 and Michael Pierce #17
Week 13 vs Falcons away – David Onyemata #16 and Grady Garrett #28
Week 14 vs Chiefs away – Chris Jones #1
Week 15 vs Buccaneers – Vita Vea #13
Week 16 vs Broncos
Week 17 vs Patriots away – Christian Barmore #10
Week 18 vs Raiders – Christian Wilkens #9
This is a great breakdown. But I also feel like this is how people look at strength of schedule. There is always variability around how effective they will be at disruption when we actually play them. Plus this doesnt account for simply playing away from them - plenty of coaches will just not throw to the CBs side, for example
Nevertheless a lot will hinge on the trenches as always and ours are certainly unproven
Those interior guys can really wreak havoc on the offense. This is the year that Zion really needs to step up and play at a first round level. And the Trey Pipkins move into the interior is a big ask/risk. The middle three could be a weakness that is potentially more impactful than we think to Roman’s offensive plans. There is no doubt that with the competition mentioned above that the Chargers will clearly see how they measure up.
@spanos-must-go I'm still not sold on Bozeman at center, a critical position, and with Jaimes as his backup? Bozeman's 62.2 overall PFF grade does not move the needle for me. His 71.6 run-blocking grade is better but still his pass-blocking grade needs to drastically improve. Going up against top interior defenses could be a problem for him. With Pipkins at a new position at guard and Zion who hasn't lived up to the hype yet for a first-round draft pick, Bozeman would probably not get much help from them in pass blocking situations. The opponents would see it as an advantage to attack the interior of this OL, for the reason I posted the interior defenses this OL is going up against.
Is Conner Williams 100% out of the picture?
@bolt-up I believe Conner Williams' torn ACL late season is the reason why he hasn't signed with a team yet. Such an injury takes a long time usually 9 to 12 months to heal up, and no team is willing to pick him up if he can't play until late season, if he plays at all this year. He was a top rated center in 2022 and 2023 before his season ending injury. He's a better center than Bozeman for sure, and he could be someone this team would sign after the season if the experiment with Bozeman at center didn't pan out.
@bolt-up Connor was visiting Seattle last week and rumored to be negotiating a contract.
[/et_pb_row]
[/et_pb_section]
