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San Diego Chargers: Ladarius Green deserves bigger role in 2015

By Keith Demolder

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For 12 long and prosperous years, Antonio Gates has been the San Diego Chargers franchise tight end, catching 788 passes for 10,014 yards and 99 touchdowns (all franchise records). He was originally an undrafted free agent out of Kent State who mastered both basketball and football, but eventually chose football as his career path.

Gates is currently 34 years young, going on his 13th season in the NFL and with the Chargers. With Gates’ body and speed in decline though, it is time for back-up tight end Ladarius Green to step into the spotlight.

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Because of Gates’s contract (which happens to end at the end of this 2015 season), I believe that unless the Chargers are going to restructure or sign Gates to another contract after 2015, they should start playing Ladarius Green. By playing Green in a two-tight end set, they will allow him to showcase his skills and prepare for a potential starting role in 2016.

In an article written by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken, “Ladarius Green ran six routes all of last December and was on the field 296 offensive snaps compared to 450 the year prior. He had fewer explosive plays, averaging 11.9 yards per reception without a score after 23.5 and three in 2013, respectively. He still caught 19 of 24 passes his way while staying busy on special teams.”

In that same article, head coach Mike McCoy praised Green for his work ethic and explains why Green wasn’t on the field as much as he was in 2013.

“There are things we can do more with him,” McCoy said. “He worked extremely hard. I don’t think it was anything he was physically doing out there. I think it was a matter of philosophically what we were doing with the players we had. We got into the 11 personnel game a lot, three receivers and a tight end. When you have the three receivers we had, and you’ve got (tight end) Antonio Gates, (you’d have to) take the back out of the game. We need to use him more.”

With that stated, I believe that Green could have a tremendous impact in 2015 if given the opportunity. I think that often times teams go to the draft or free agency to fix their position problems. With the Chargers, the TE position could be without a future hall-of-famer after the 2015 season. If Gates does leave, I think Green is a pretty satisfactory replacement.

As it stands, the Chargers have way too many tight ends. From the likes of John Phillips to David Johnson, David Paulson, Kyle Miller (picked up after being waived by Atlanta), Brian Parker (rookie from Albany) and Eric Frohnapfel (rookie from Marshall), the Chargers are definitely overstocked with tight ends.

And out of the current eight TEs that are on the team, Phillips, Gates and Green are really the only ones needed. Phillips is the backup long snapper and also comes in on important blocking packages.

All in all though, Green has got talent. In interviews, QB Philip Rivers has praised Green on how hard he works and how underrated of a receiver he can be.

It is no wonder why Rivers feels that way, the guy has a huge body at 6’6″, 240 pounds and can utilize it to the best of his advantage (as demonstrated in his college days).

During his junior season at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Green was “one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award…Six-time John Mackey TE of the Week runner-up…Led all tight ends nationally in receiving yardage (794), receiving yards-per-game (79.4), receiving yards-per-catch (18.0), games with 80 yards or more receiving (7) and receiving touchdowns (7)…Made a catch of 20 yards or longer in all but one game, despite being double-teamed on over 90 percent of his routes” (according to Green’s ULL bio).

Many people may not know, but Green had a greatly productive junior season despite having three different starting QBs. Excelling as a tight end in college is already a huge deal, but to be productive all the while catching passes from three different arms, now that deserves serious recognition.

Green was then drafted in the fourth round (surprisingly) in the 2012 NFL Draft and had a minimal impact in his rookie year, catching four passes for 56 yards.

During the 2013 season, Green had a great campaign that included a playoff touchdown reception against the Cincinnati Bengals and over 300 yards receiving during the regular season. 2014 was not so great (as mentioned above).

Regardless of the past though, Green deserves a chance to flourish in 2015 regardless of what Antonio Gates is able to do or not to do. Gates has reached the prime of his career and will most likely retire in the coming three or four seasons. How productive he will be, nobody knows.

What I do know is that he has the skill set and body to make 2015 productive as ever. With a revamped offensive line and more receiving weapons receiving attention, perhaps Green could be the Bolts secret weapon.

Perhaps Ladarius could make other teams jealous they didn’t go green sooner.

Next: Could Justin Blalock help out the offensive line?

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