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San Diego Chargers: Joe Barksdale is the ultimate quick fix

By Keith Demolder

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The San Diego Chargers are known for many things: Antonio Gates, LaDainian Tomlinson and the world’s best nachos. But after the signing of former St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Joe Barksdale, the Chargers are now known for their powerful offensive line. The deal features a minimum base salary with a $350,000 signing bonus and up to $1 million in incentives, a source said,” according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Barksdale, a former St. Louis Ram, Oakland Raider, LSU Tiger and Cass Tech Technician (yes that is the actual mascot of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan), has been anywhere and everywhere during his lifetime playing football.

At Cass Tech, Barksdale “The top defensive tackle prospect in the Midwest who is a consensus five-star recruit by every recruiting publication. Dazzled scouts at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a member of the East team. Named to the Detroit News “Dream Team” after recording 73 tackles (17 for losses), 14 hurries, seven sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles as a senior. Received all-city honors as a junior after making 83 tackles (20 for losses), five forced fumbles, eight sacks and 10 fumble recoveries. Finished with a 3.5 GPA” (according to Barksdale’s LSU bio).

It is interesting to note how Barksdale then made the transition from defensive tackle to offensive tackle despite zero high school experience as an offensive tackle. Often times though, being a former defensive-minded player, defensive tackles have the upper hand in being offensive tackles because they know how a defensive tackle thinks.

The concept is similar to the pitcher-batter complex in baseball where a pitcher can hit better than a regular hitter because he was once a pitcher, too, and knows what to expect.

I think the same could be stated for Barksdale who then went on to be a great offensive tackle while at LSU.

While at LSU, Barksdale was a “Four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 2007-10. Played in 53 games, starting 39 times. Started final 39 games of his career, the longest streak on the team at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game in January of 2011. Was 2010 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP).”

After helping LSU obtain one of the SEC’s best running games with over 160 rushing yards per game, Barksdale was then drafted by the Oakland Raiders 92nd overall in the third round. One uneventful campaign later and Barksdale ended up in St. Louis where he started 30 games at the right tackle position.

Now, Barksdale is currently on the San Diego Chargers as one of their top right tackles.

As it stands, Tom Telesco has stated that the best overall players by the end of training camp will get playing time during the season. Thus far, the Chargers are almost overflowing with talent on offensive line from Orlando Franklin, King Dunlap, D.J. Fluker, Chris Watt, Johnnie Troutman and Michael Huey, Chris Hairston to now Joe Barksdale.

With all of those names up there (including some undrafted free agent prospects), the Chargers are now more than prepared for the 2015 NFL season.

Tom Telesco has truly pulled out all of the stops as of late, especially with the signing of Barksdale who was hailed by cover 32 as “quietly among league’s best right tackles.”

In the article published by Ted Bryant on Cover32.com, Bryant states that Barksdale “checks in with a run blocking grade of 11.0, thanks in part to strong games against Tampa Bay and Dallas. He has yet to grade negatively in run blocking in any game this season. That figure contributes to his overall grade of 10.2, which puts him just a bit lower than Pro Bowlers Joe Thomas of Cleveland, Miami’s Branden Albert, and Washington’s Trent Williams.

A closer look at the Rams’ rushing numbers help provide even more context to Barksdale’s steady emergence as one of the league’s better overall tackles. Running back Zac Stacy, the team’s leading rusher so far in 2014 (although his status is admittedly up in the air at this point), has his highest yards per carry average when running off Barksdale’s right tackle position – a healthy 5.2.”

Considering the fact that Barksdale was one of the league’s best-rated offensive linemen, the Charges are getting him for a total steal at $350,000.

In terms of what the Chargers are going to do, head coach Mike McCoy said that he’s going to play the best guys at the position desired. Therefore it presents a problem for the Chargers who also have the great D.J. Fluker at the right tackle position. Many have speculated for Fluker to go to the right guard position considering there is a big gap in talent when compared to the other positions on this offensive line. Potentially we could see Fluker go to guard and Barksdale going to the right tackle position.

It will be interesting to see what happens here.

In the meant time though, Barksdale gives the Chargers an above average offensive tackle who will most likely help their inconsistent blocking attack in 2015. Hopefully the Bolts won’t be barking up the wrong offensive lineman.

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