Free Agent Spotlight: Rashad Jennings

Among the items on Tom Telesco's offseason to-do list is landing a quality running back. Ryan Mathews is unreliable, at best, and the run game must improve to balance the offense and take pressure off of Philip Rivers. A player to watch is Rashad Jennings, whose power and versatility make him intriguing. Read More...

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The Chargers won't be able to solve all their problems via the draft, so Tom Telesco will have to be more active than he would prefer during free agency. Jennings would be a good pickup and an excellent No. 2 behind Ryan Mathews. I'd still like to see Ronnie Brown and/or Jackie Battle return, as well.

MikeLombardo wrote: Free Agent Spotlight: Rashad Jennings

Among the items on Tom Telesco's offseason to-do list is landing a quality running back. Ryan Mathews is unreliable, at best, and the run game must improve to balance the offense and take pressure off of Philip Rivers. A player to watch is Rashad Jennings, whose power and versatility make him intriguing. Read More...

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The Chargers won't be able to solve all their problems via the draft, so Tom Telesco will have to be more active than he would prefer during free agency. Jennings would be a good pickup and an excellent No. 2 behind Ryan Mathews. I'd still like to see Ronnie Brown and/or Jackie Battle return, as well.

Know little about Jennings...but I agree ML. TT has to plug some holes and get some roster depth in FA right now. 

The map for the future must also include two high draft picks that are OLineman for the next two years with a FA or two to get us by. The FO also needs to throw some darts at UFA's to see if they stick. Having a good young OLine that stays together for awhile is paramount to any Offensive success.

Nothing against RJ but I would prefer someone I think could carry the load as a full time starter.  Jennings is a big boy but I'm not particularly fond of his upright running style for someone of his size.  

Personally I would prefer someone that could be a legitimate starter.  I'm thinking Rashard Mendenhall.  Now there are plenty of potential landing spots for Mendenhall but if Ryno can't stay healthy, I have no doubts that Mendenhall could easily step in and be the full time primary back as well as be a 3 down back. 

I know it's not a likely choice.  I'm just saying what I would prefer.

Personally I've got my eye on Houston's Justin Forsett to compliment, not replace Mathews.   averaged 5.9 ypc last season.

Problem with Mendenhall is he also has never been able to stay healthy.  No thanks to another injury prone player for me.

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Nothing against RJ but I would prefer someone I think could carry the load as a full time starter.  Jennings is a big boy but I'm not particularly fond of his upright running style for someone of his size.  

Personally I would prefer someone that could be a legitimate starter.  I'm thinking Rashard Mendenhall.  Now there are plenty of potential landing spots for Mendenhall but if Ryno can't stay healthy, I have no doubts that Mendenhall could easily step in and be the full time primary back as well as be a 3 down back. 

I know it's not a likely choice.  I'm just saying what I would prefer.

Injury prone?  The guys has three seasons where he's played at least 15 of 16 games.  If that's injury prone, I must be missing something.  2011 he tore his ACL in the 15th game and was place on IR for the rest of that season hence him not making a full 16 games that year.  This past season he was coming off that same ACL tear.  He had inconsistent play this past season and was basically benched the majority of the season after purposely missing the Charger game after he and Coach Tomlin had a dispute over Mendenhall playing time.  

Again, I might be missing something here but I'm not aware of Mendenhall being very injury prone.  He, unlike Mathews has at least finished a season or two and came up one game shy of having 3 seasons straight of playing 3 full seasons.    

SanDiegosFinest wrote: Problem with Mendenhall is he also has never been able to stay healthy.  No thanks to another injury prone player for me.

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Nothing against RJ but I would prefer someone I think could carry the load as a full time starter.  Jennings is a big boy but I'm not particularly fond of his upright running style for someone of his size.  

Personally I would prefer someone that could be a legitimate starter.  I'm thinking Rashard Mendenhall.  Now there are plenty of potential landing spots for Mendenhall but if Ryno can't stay healthy, I have no doubts that Mendenhall could easily step in and be the full time primary back as well as be a 3 down back. 

I know it's not a likely choice.  I'm just saying what I would prefer.

I wouldn't have a problem with Jennings.  I'll leave it to TT to decide who is the best RB to bring in for the $$$

IMO Mathews gets another year with guys that actually block and with his new steel plated collarbones along with a little stick-em.  I also would like to see the kid Baker play.  We are in bad need of two starting CBs and OTs and we cant draft them both so not sure how much FA money we have for an RB.

I think if we upgrade the OL significantly, the running game will take care of itself. I never thought Priest Holmes was a great RB, but he ran behind an all-pro line in KC when he had some big years. I'm not saying any scrub can tote the rock, but I don't think we have to waste a high draft pick, or sign an elite FA RB either.

One thing I do hope we get is another Sproles clone though. I hoped for LaMichael James last year. I haven't studied up on what kinds of backs are available in this draft, but hopefully a speed guy will be there in the middle rounds since the O-line and CB positions are higher needs.

2008 Broke his shoulder in his first start, game 4, missed the rest of the season
2009-2010 Solid stats, between 1100 and 1300 yrds each year
2011 900 Yards, then tore his ACL as you said...
2012 6 total games, 182 yards total.  Terrible year, never really was healthy.  Benched for quitting on his team.

3 out of 5 years with some sort of injury, 2 years with under 200 yards rushing, and when the going gets tough, he quits.  As I said, no thank you.  We really need a DURABLE back with no sensitiveity issues that we can pair with Mathews, not another very talented back with baggage.  I always thought highly of Mendenhall when healthy and motivated, just not sure he fits what we need right now.. 

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Injury prone?  The guys has three seasons where he's played at least 15 of 16 games.  If that's injury prone, I must be missing something.  2011 he tore his ACL in the 15th game and was place on IR for the rest of that season hence him not making a full 16 games that year.  This past season he was coming off that same ACL tear.  He had inconsistent play this past season and was basically benched the majority of the season after purposely missing the Charger game after he and Coach Tomlin had a dispute over Mendenhall playing time.  

Again, I might be missing something here but I'm not aware of Mendenhall being very injury prone.  He, unlike Mathews has at least finished a season or two and came up one game shy of having 3 seasons straight of playing 3 full seasons.    

SanDiegosFinest wrote: Problem with Mendenhall is he also has never been able to stay healthy.  No thanks to another injury prone player for me.

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Nothing against RJ but I would prefer someone I think could carry the load as a full time starter.  Jennings is a big boy but I'm not particularly fond of his upright running style for someone of his size.  

Personally I would prefer someone that could be a legitimate starter.  I'm thinking Rashard Mendenhall.  Now there are plenty of potential landing spots for Mendenhall but if Ryno can't stay healthy, I have no doubts that Mendenhall could easily step in and be the full time primary back as well as be a 3 down back. 

I know it's not a likely choice.  I'm just saying what I would prefer.

It isn't a bad suggestion bringing back a thunder and lightning combo backfield, although the Bama kid Eddie Lacy really impresses me and the more that I see of him the more that I like.

No offense brutha but the ACL tear has effected every RB in the league not named Adrain Peterson in a negative way.  Not to mention that that particular injury occurred during the last regular season game. Which means he played in all 16 games. 

As for quitting, well that is all dependent upon how you view things.  From what I've heard the MIA during the SD game was due to the dispute between him and Coach Tomlin over the lack of his playing time.  I find it somewhat odd that for a so called quitter that he would be arguing with his HC over the fact that he felt that he wasn't getting enough carries.  And that was with him coming off of that same ACL inury.  

As for 3 of 5, well 2 of that 3 stem from the same injury (missing a whopping 3 quarters worth of the 2011 season) spilling over to the next season (last season) from that injury occurring at the end of the previous season.  I believe it happened early January and he had surgery late January, early February.  Considering last season started in September.  That's not exactly a whole lot of time to rehab an ACL tear and be in tip top form nor be at the same physical fitness level that he was at prior to the injury.  

But I have no quarrels with your view point.  Just thought I'd share mine as well. 

PS: Reading back I noticed I put 15th game.  That should have read the end of the 1st quarter of the 16th game.  

SanDiegosFinest wrote: 2008 Broke his shoulder in his first start, game 4, missed the rest of the season
2009-2010 Solid stats, between 1100 and 1300 yrds each year
2011 900 Yards, then tore his ACL as you said...
2012 6 total games, 182 yards total.  Terrible year, never really was healthy.  Benched for quitting on his team.

3 out of 5 years with some sort of injury, 2 years with under 200 yards rushing, and when the going gets tough, he quits.  As I said, no thank you.  We really need a DURABLE back with no sensitiveity issues that we can pair with Mathews, not another very talented back with baggage.  I always thought highly of Mendenhall when healthy and motivated, just not sure he fits what we need right now.. 

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Injury prone?  The guys has three seasons where he's played at least 15 of 16 games.  If that's injury prone, I must be missing something.  2011 he tore his ACL in the 15th game and was place on IR for the rest of that season hence him not making a full 16 games that year.  This past season he was coming off that same ACL tear.  He had inconsistent play this past season and was basically benched the majority of the season after purposely missing the Charger game after he and Coach Tomlin had a dispute over Mendenhall playing time.  

Again, I might be missing something here but I'm not aware of Mendenhall being very injury prone.  He, unlike Mathews has at least finished a season or two and came up one game shy of having 3 seasons straight of playing 3 full seasons.    

SanDiegosFinest wrote: Problem with Mendenhall is he also has never been able to stay healthy.  No thanks to another injury prone player for me.

Thisfrickinguy wrote: Nothing against RJ but I would prefer someone I think could carry the load as a full time starter.  Jennings is a big boy but I'm not particularly fond of his upright running style for someone of his size.  

Personally I would prefer someone that could be a legitimate starter.  I'm thinking Rashard Mendenhall.  Now there are plenty of potential landing spots for Mendenhall but if Ryno can't stay healthy, I have no doubts that Mendenhall could easily step in and be the full time primary back as well as be a 3 down back. 

I know it's not a likely choice.  I'm just saying what I would prefer.

If Mendenhall passes a physical by a REAL doc, then I'd be happy to have him.  He and Mathews in a rotation of sorts would work well.  Play the "hot" player.  RB's these days go through streaks of being hot and cold (unless your name is Peterson)

As for Jennings, I don't like the idea.

yantha wrote: If Mendenhall passes a physical by a REAL doc, then I'd be happy to have him.  He and Mathews in a rotation of sorts would work well.  Play the "hot" player.  RB's these days go through streaks of being hot and cold (unless your name is Peterson)

As for Jennings, I don't like the idea.

Somebody ask for a "real Dr?"      

Ahmad Bradshaw is available provided he passes a physical. He is a gamer.

MikeLombardo wrote: Free Agent Spotlight: Rashad Jennings

Among the items on Tom Telesco's offseason to-do list is landing a quality running back. Ryan Mathews is unreliable, at best, and the run game must improve to balance the offense and take pressure off of Philip Rivers. A player to watch is Rashad Jennings, whose power and versatility make him intriguing. Read More...

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The Chargers won't be able to solve all their problems via the draft, so Tom Telesco will have to be more active than he would prefer during free agency. Jennings would be a good pickup and an excellent No. 2 behind Ryan Mathews. I'd still like to see Ronnie Brown and/or Jackie Battle return, as well.

Don't think Jennings is better than Battle/Brown.  I'd prioritize keeping Battle/Brown over Jennings just for the value added by continuity.

SanDiegoMtneer wrote: Ahmad Bradshaw is available provided he passes a physical. He is a gamer.

If it makes financial sense, Bradshaw would be my absolute number one choice.  I like Forsett, but Bradshaw would be awesome as a 1-2 punch tandem.

Jennings! Really! At that point lets just not sign anyone. How about a 1yr on Saints Ivory. See what he has. Other than him coming to mind I wouldn't waste my time on hardly any others. Bradshaw possibly, but wow, that foot issue just won't go away. Anyone signed shouldn't have a cronic problem. Bad enough to worry about Mathews shoulders now.

Lets see a Ballard/Morris pick from the guys running the show if nothing else. Lets see what they got to show they deserve the job.

FYI ... Sproles is still going. Woulda been real nice to still have the guy.

I personally would rather bring in a smaller back like Rainey or Forsett and draft Le'Veon Bell to be the bruiser. Big bruiser that has soft hands.

I think a flier on Rainy isn't a bad idea. But if we are talking about the Rainy I think we are he has allready gotten himself into a bad rep. by being in trouble and released. And think a more solid looking guy should be added. Not loven' Forsett at all, theres a reason he isn't starting anywhere anymore.This Bell might be interesting to see. But before drafting him I sure hope they fix the O line problems 1st with at lease 1 draft pick. So I guess that would depend on Bell falling to a later round.

How fare off is it to get mathews to be more of a pass catcher and just bring a bruiser in to run between the tackles! I know I seen alot of mis-cues between him and Rivers, but i sure think the out going coach/GM sure had alot to do with Mathews mental state after being benched for 1 fumble at the beginning. That to me broke Mathews following the shoulder issue in preseason. The guys mental state was just in doubt. What scares me about a smallish back too is what if those shoulders give out on mathews again. How do you hand the ball off to then?

Man Reggie Bush could sure be a nice one to add. Of course the owner/GM would have to pony up to get him. And again theres that O line who no one can run behind as is. This is why I think Ivory would work well. Cheap, can catch, can also run between the tackles.


"FYI ... Sproles is still going. Woulda been real nice to still have the guy"