San Diego Chargers 2015: Free-Agent Hire and Fire
Nov 30, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; San Diego Chargers defensive end
Dwight Freeney(93) stretches on the sidelines during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
As for the people who the Bolts need to let go, it is because of space and talent that these players have to go. It is not the fact that they are bad players, it is just the fact they didn’t produce give the amount of money they were paid during the time on the team. A football team, like any business, must make sacrifices in order to improve the product as a hole. Free agency is that sacrifice.
Pieces That Have To Go
- WR Seyi Ajirotutu
- RB Ronnie Brown
- OLB Dwight Freeney
- ILB Andrew Gachkar
- OG Doug Legursky
- DE Ricardo Mathews
- OT Willie Smith
- P Mat McBriar
First, let’s start on defense. Supposed sack-master Dwight Freeney was little more than a novelty item in the line backing corps with 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks as inside linebacker Andrew Gachkar recorded 49 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 2014.
With that considered, Freeney and Gachkar were adequate, but not what they should have been (Gachkar showed more value than Freeney, however with his eight tackles for loss). Thus, in order to add better run stoppers, San Diego is going to have to make some cap space for bigger contracts such as those of free agents and draft picks Jason Pierre-Paul and perhaps inside linebacker Bernardrick McKinney.
As well, defensive end Ricardo Mathews (21 tackles and 1.5 sacks) will probably not be missed in 2015 and would most likely be removed to make way for a rookie defensive end or lower-end free agent.
Concerning the Chargers offensive linemen, the Bolts are going to need to get rid of the old and bring in the new. Tackle Willie Smith and of course center Nick Hardwick will be missed. But, there will be younger rookie tackles and centers available and easily ready to take their places.
Free agent punter replacement Mat McBriar is probably one of the best Chargers players that Telesco needs to let go. He averaged 46.9 yards per punt in relief of the injured punter Mike Scifres which was 1.2 more yards per punt than Scifres averaged all season. Unfortunately for McBriar, Scifres is still under contract and has been as solid as they come in the NFL. Look for Scifres to keep the job in San Diego considering his net yards per punt was 3.5 more yards than McBriar (Scifres had 38.9 net, while McBriar had 35.4).
Running back Ronnie Brown (59 yards rushing and 39 receiving yards) and wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu (four receptions for 45 yards), their production simply wasn’t enough to keep them on the roster and under contract any longer.
Overall, the simple truth about the removal of these free agents is money. It is predicted that Telesco is going to have a lot of money to shell out in free agency so there needs to be added cap room as well as roster space for new players to come in. And although we love the players we watch, the Chargers have a duty to put their best foot forward and if that takes letting guys go, it is the hard truth and it is the risk they’re going to have to take in 2015 if they want to make a push for the playoffs.