Send us some Questions for our Podcast (in the next 48 hours!)

Hey Stormcloud, we’re doing a #TDUMailbag segment on the show on Monday (ahead of Wk 1).

If you want to ask a question that we’ll answer on the show, comment on this post.

Preseason, regular season, roster construction, season predictions, Chargers, NFL, anything, FIRE AWAY! FOOTBALL IS ALMOST BACK! 🤩

Cheers!

Alister

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TDU_Alister

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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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6 Comments

Buck Melanoma(@buck-melanoma)

#9057

Member

20 hours ago

Couple of questions….

What do you think is the sticking point with Tuli’s extension and how important is he to the future of the team?

What is your opinion of the possibility/intent to “platoon” the LG position? Keep in mind one of the players platooned will be Pipkins and they’ll be next to a rookie center.

What do you think Herbert’s #s will look like in this offense? I’m thinking 5k+ yards, 35-40 TD’s, 60+% completion rate, <10 interceptions. Those could be MVP #s but I expect a snub there because it’s the Chargers.

Prediction on Messidoor’s #s. I think it’s possible he hits double digit sacks with half lining up inside.

Thanks! Looking forward to the next show. Enjoy the game!!!

TDU_Alister(@alisterlloyd)

Author

#9061

Reply to Buck Melanoma

8 hours ago

Excellent question, Buck! We’ll get through all of thse.

(And thank you! We’re so excited about Friday (our time))

LALBOLTS(@lalbolts)

#9054

Member

1 day ago

Punter. Is there any recently cut punter who can come in and challenge for the Chargers job? I have grown a bit tired of the untimely shank. They should have went after Matt Ariza when he was available yet the Chiefs went out and signed him. Perhaps they tried but I wish they had used one of those late round picks on one of the college kickers to at least try out for the team….anyone available?

KevDiego(@kevdiego)

#9049

Member

1 day ago

Hey Al – I don’t always have time to post, but I do want the three of you to know that I listen to and enjoy every show.

I disagreed a bit with some of your positional analysis on the last show. I thought you guys were a bit pessimistic (or I have early September optimism). It’s probably the latter… Questions:

How much value do you believe quality positional coaches add to team success? I think having a quality staff is an under-appreciated advantage. I look at the player development this staff has achieved on the defensive side over the last 3 years (especially in the DL and DB rooms) and the improvement on the OL this year and believe the Chargers have one of the best staffs in the NFL. I think this year, they have built a much better offensive staff, which will serve them well
How much value do you believe coordinators add to team success. I think this may be a bit over-valued, but is still critically important. I am super excited to see what McDaniel can do with Herbert
Where do you think Herbert ranks among current QBs? Most “experts” put Mahomes first, which I guessed he earned with all the success, but the dude turns 31 next week and is coming off major knee surgery. Similar to Russell Wilson, Pat’s strength is his mobility and ability to keep his eyes downfield while maneuvering out of trouble. While I don’t expect him to fall off a cliff, I think Pat’s best ball is behind him. I think Justin is top-5, maybe Top-3. This should be the year we find out what Herbert really is.
If you were starting the Melbourne expansion team and could pick any one NFL player, who would it be? Mahomes is 31, Allen is 30. Burrow and Jackson can’t stay on the field. I think it would be between Herbert, Drake Maye or maybe Sam Darnold.
Who scores the Chargers first TD? My guess: Hampton
What do you make of all the pundent Charger pessimism. I saw someone the other day predicting 9 wins and no playoffs. Jim is 144-52 in college and 66-31 in the NFL. In his NFL tenure, he won less than 11 games once (8 wins in his last year in SF – bad situation, bad GM – that team won 5 games the year after Harbaugh). This roster is deep. This coaching staff is talented. I know the guard situation is not ideal, but the team won 11 games last year with Deculus and Hart playing tackle. I think 11 wins is the floor for this team, with the ceiling being a championship.
Who has the best and worst record in the NFL? My guess: Cleveland 1-16, Rams 14-2

TDU_Alister(@alisterlloyd)

Author

#9050

Reply to KevDiego

1 day ago

Thanks for these thoughtful questions, Kev! We’ll try answer all of them.

Interestingly, I posted a poll on X asking fans where they think the Chargers’ roster ranks heading into the season (1-8, 9-16, 17-24, 25-32). The results were 34.8%, 63.8%, 0%, 1.4%.

I agree with the majority position and I would probably rank us somwhere between 10-15. I think that’s a shame given the $100m cap space Hortiz had to worth with heading into the offseason with Herbert as QB1 and two All-Pro calibre tackles returning. He should’ve been able to create a Top 8 roster IMO.

What that means is my season expectations have shifted from ‘genuine SB contender’ to ‘team could win a SB but almost everything will have to go right, including no real injuries, and a lot falls on McDaniel and O’Leary’s shoulders as playcallers”.

I trust McDaniel to create a Top 8 NFL Offense.

I don’t trust O’Leary yet and he will have to earn my trust because I’m concerned about the aggression he’s shown in the preseason. If he carries it into the regular season, I think it will lead to higher variance play from that side of the ball, which isn’t the approach I would personally favour given our Offense could be a difference-maker. I see Ryan has posted an article about this topic though which I haven’t read yet. It could shift my mindset.

Right now I’m expecting an ‘exciting’ start to the season because we’ll beat the pants off the Cardinals and should beat the Raiders. Then the real test of our roster and coaching comes over that next 8 game stretch.

Still can’t wait to watch it!

KevDiego(@kevdiego)

Member

#9053

Reply to TDU_Alister

1 day ago

So, every quarter, our club hosts a wine event where 12 different distributors bring 10-15 different wines for members to taste – our latest was last Thursday. At the end of the night, all the distributors go home and leave any wine that hasn’t been finished on their tables. Those of us still standing (which always includes me) grab the left-over bottles and take them home. They’re all open. I ended up with 15 bottles – My wife and I have been trying to work through them over the long weekend. Down to 2 left, so take the next comment in that context.

I think the Chargers roster is top-5. I think the Chargers staff is top-5. I think the Chargers front office is top-5.

I know IOL is consistently rated as the weakest position group on the team – I don’t disagree. However, I think Slaughter is going to be a very good NFL center, Strange improved down the stretch, which means that LG is the weak link. What this group lacks in quality starters, it makes up for with depth. There are a lot of good players that can play on the interior. This is the deepest OL I’ve seen on a Charger team
While guard play may be the weak link, getting back 2 all-pro tackles (likely the best tackle duo in the NFL) + the addition of Burke means the Chargers should have above average to elite tackle play, which is night/day better than last year
The WR room has speed and depth
I am not in love with the TE room, but think it’s definitely upgraded
The RB room, with Hampton healthy, should be good. Also upgraded
The DL is going to be the strength of this defense. Been a long time since that’s been the case for a Charger team
The Edge group is strong – If Mesidor is the shit, this could be a better room than last year.
I also like the LB room. Glad they got Colson on the PS
Overall, I like the top of the DB room and trust the coaches can elevate the play of those on the bottom of the roster.

Agree that we will know what we have after week 10. Get to that point with 7 or more wins, and this will be a team that can do damage in the post-season

Also agree that the team should have done more with the cap space. I am willing to see what other cards Hortiz is going to play as the season unfolds. Having that much cap space in-season gives the Chargers the ability to add salary in-season. I could see a trade for a piece that could make a difference down the stretch. Hortiz has earned some grace.