San Diego Chargers 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up
Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas State defensive back Craig Mager catches a pass in a work out drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Third round, pick #83: CB Craig Mager, Texas State University
Out of Texas State, Craig Mager was definitely a surprise pick in the third round. In his four years as a starter, Mager amassed a pretty solid record as a Bobcat.
According to Mager’s Texas State bio, he was a “2014 All-Sun Belt Conference Second-Team...tallied two sacks and 63 tackles, including 46 solo tackles and 6.0 tackles for losses of 23 yards as a senior…led the Sun Belt Conference with 13 passes defended and 10 pass breakups … tied for ninth among SBC leaders with three interceptions … averaged 12.3 yards on 10 punt returns.”
When looking at his overall play though, Mager is a very physically gifted athlete, weighing in at 201 pounds and standing tall at 5-11″.
It has been said by many that Mager has all of the tools (lightning-quick reaction speed, relentless effort, press coverage capabilities), the problem lies in his technique.
It is interesting because there are truly two sides to this pick with Mager.
On one hand, Mager is very, very raw: like Salmonella raw. He has had problems with penalties (excessive hands) and “his anticipation in off-coverage, allowing too much underneath…inconsistent tackling mechanics and his break down skills need tweaked…play speed doesn’t match his timed speed, often finding himself a step behind, struggling to close” (according to CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler).
Mager has tendencies to be aggressive which can come back to bite him in the NFL if he incurs too many penalties while in coverage. Also, Mager has shown to get beaten long and has trouble backpedaling.
But, on the other hand, Mage has been through a lot during his life, losing his mother Cathy when he was just 15 years old.
According to ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams, “a single mother, Cathy Mager died from an unintentional overdose with a Fentanyl patch that had been prescribed to treat her headache, just four days after Craig Mager’s 15th birthday. Mager’s grandmother, Sue Ellis, took over care of the children. But Mager served as a father figure for his younger sisters, providing help around the house, cooking dinner when he could and taking his sister to basketball practice.”
Considering that he had to basically raise his sisters by himself, Mager surely has the maturity and drive to make it in the NFL. He has too much to lose to not work his hardest in a Charger uniform.
In terms of position, Mager fits into the Chargers secondary well. I would have liked for the Bolts to have gotten a strong safety to backup Jahleel Addae, but Mager still helps out the secondary. Last year Jason Verrett’s absence was felt all around the Chargers outfield. One of the most important things to success of a football team is depth, depth, depth.
Mager will most likely be relegated to special teams considering the depth with Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Patrick Robinson and Chris Davis already playing corner. Telesco and this coaching staff has seen worst situations.
The way I see it, Mager is like the finest clay, just waiting to be molded into a shut-down masterpiece. Perhaps this 2015 San Diego team can be his sculptor.
Next: Four-time FCS Champion helps LB corps