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Bobby, Bobby, Bobby - The main position the Chargers needed to address in the draft was running back, so thats the selection they made when they drafted for the first time at #46? Well if you said yes then you don't know Bobby Beathard that well. He used their first selection to draft a tight end, Freddie Jones out of the University of North Carolina. However, this was a very good choice. He ranked behind Tony Gonzales and David LaFleur, but he is athletic and should help Alfred Pupunnu. Jones needs to work on staying on his block but he will help open up the offense. Then Beathard took a running back with their second pick you may ask? Wrong. Sedrick Shaw, Darnell Autry and George Jones were available but Beathard selected LB MIchael Hamiltion from North Carolina A&T. This is not a sign of approval for last year's second selection Patrick Sapp, also a a linebacker. Hamilton will challenge Sapp for the starting outside backer position since Lew Bush will not be re-signed as a free-agent. Beathard's picks all followed the same and questionable trend - players from small colleges mostly in the Carolinas.
4 - Raleigh Roundtree ot - South Carolina State 5 - Kenny Bynum rb - South Carolina State 5 - Paul Bradford db - Portland State 6 - Daniel Palmer c - Air Force 7 - Toran James lb - North Carolina A&T 7 - Tony Corbin qb - Sacramento State Please feel free to ask - Who the hell are these guys and where did they go to school? Beathard has outdone himself with his status as a genius. The guys were the best players available according to Beathard, however their obscurity and schools make it smell of Bobby wanting to show the league he is still Bobby. The odds of all or some of these players making an impact are extremely small. Only so many draft picks make the team and only so many small school players on top of that succeed, however all of them are now with the Chargers. Beathard is the one who has scouted them and he has won more SuperBowls than all of his critics combined. So I do not doubt him, I just question these choices. The man has a very large ego and I hope this did not dictate his picks. As he said, he could have made the safe picks by choosing guys from large schools, but he feels that these were the best picks. I don't know and either do you so lets hold back on final judgement. How many SuperBowls has Mel Kiper Jr. won??????? As for the running back position. Beathard is looking to make an acquisition outside the draft. The names of Charlie Garner, Erric Rhett and Marshall Faulk are very viable options. Also, he likes the improvement of Aaron Hayden so far this offseason. Bynum has great speed but lacks size to be an every down back. The Chargers main running back for 1997 is not yet on the roster so stay alert. Roundtree will be the third tackle on the squad (Vaughan Parker and Tony Betri). Palmer has the size but may not play next year because of his military obligation. Bradford is a 5'6" defensive back which leads one to wonder how he can play in the NFL. Corbin is a late round flier Beathard is looking at. The picks are questionable. The free-agent signing of William Fuller will help the defense, but it is still questionable if this team will challenge in 1997. Coach Kevin Gilbride said they are rebuilding and the picks do not look like they will give an immediate impact. However, a softer schedule and different approach on both sides of the ball could allow them a possible wild card berth.
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