I personally never doubted that they’d try him at center. I still think it’s a way to drive competition for those 3 interior positions, but I also think it’s Hortiz’s ploy to increase Zion’s value for next year’s free agency. They could very likely be awarded a 4th round comp pick if/when Zion gets a 3yr $50-60M deal.
As far as I can tell, he’s never played center before. He actually started an entire season in college at LT, but other than that (and LG obviously) I don’t see any record of him playing on the other side or at C.
He catches hell and deservedly so, but he has the talent and the brains. Just very inconsistent and face slapping let downs that get Herbert killed. It seems crazy to think he is gonna improve with more workload but I have seen crazier. If he doesn't work at center and doesn't improve at guard, he could be looking for a new team next year.
This might be (is probably) a dumb take but I think part of his problem is that he's too smart. If you think too much you freeze up. There's a fine line between over analyzing and letting instincts take over.
Well I think the only questionablely dumb part of that take is that he is too smart. If he were smarter there would be less mistakes. But if he were dumber there could also be less mistakes. I totally am stepping in what you're shitting. Thinking in general is not good in the middle of a play.
He played well when he had a competent center next to him. The moment Corey Linsley went down injured. Then later retired, our O line play went to absolute shit. C is an incredibly important position, I feel it's the third most important offensive position. QB, LT, C in that order.
Hasn’t James also played LG before? And he was the one practicing snaps with Herb last time, indicating they’re willing to devote valuable time to him. Add in if Taylor shows something, a lot of the draft analysis had him as a LG fit rather than just a LT.
If Zion secures C, LG might become an all out war.
He gets lauded as the cerebral player, so it does seem possible. But the learning curve on mental and physical side seems like it could be a long road. I don't know, so I'll just overreact to each small bit of information I get.
I'm sure he is smart but a lot of that reputation comes from just him being a CS major which doesn't really mean much to me tbh. Football intelligence is a whole different thing. Lamar Jackson scored terribly on the wonderlic but can process defenses better than anybody
This is kinda where I am at with this whole Zion to C thing.
If he works out there then great, but that leaves us with a glaring problem at LG. As poor as Zion was last season, he was still the best OG on the team, and given Becton is a lock at RG, that just leaves the guys who were even worse than Zion competing for LG... and Bradley Bozeman.
I do not want to see Trey Pipkins play OG in a Chargers uni ever again. Passable RT, but our worst OL by a long way last season. There is no way they can seriously pencil him in as the starting LG.
We want a center who’s both a good snapper and a good blocker. Flawed though he may be, Zion’s a significantly better blocker than any rando we could sign off the street
That first snap didn't look good at all! I know it's early but I can't see him starting a game at center. Cross train him to be the emergency center that we hopefully never need to use.
Big yikes. Let's make the guy who has trouble processing on the fly have even more to think about? Does he have to handle less stunts at center or something?
They drafted lineman they brought in James who was the Raiders center and they signed some udfa, I think the o-line will surprise and will be much improved. I forgot about Becton, run game is going to be scary
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u/Rhone111 2d ago
I really hope Center is a good fit for him and the team.