Quick hits on new Chargers center Matt Slauson...

1) A mauler, Slauson represents a stylistic shift in the Mike McCoy Era.

2) Joe D’Alessandris, the team’s offensive line coach from 2013-15, liked speedier centers. He flanked the pivot with four huge blockers who were either tackles or former tackles. With hulks at guard and tackle, the Bolts went with lighter, faster centers.

3) Slauson, 6-foot-5 and 316 pounds, is heavier and a more stout performer than either Trevor Robinson or Chris Watt, the primary Chargers centers over 2014-15.


4) Though a probable upgrade over the recent centers, it’s not likely he’ll match Nick Hardwick’s stellar 2013 season that Tom Telesco rated Pro Bowl-caliber. Hardwick, who retired in 2014, had mastered the nuances of the position and had a special rapport with Philip Rivers, a colleague since 2004. Slauson has spent most of his career at guard.

5) Slauson, 30, anchors better than either Watt or Robinson. So, Rivers should have more step-up space than he did last year.

6) With 85 careers starts, including 81 at guard, Slauson holds a big edge in experience over Watt and Robinson. His know-how should benefit right guard D.J. Fluker, who’d never played guard before last August.

7) On screens and draws, Hardwick and Watt showed good range. So did Robinson, at times. To my eye, Slauson has less “long” speed than any of those three. He’s fairly heavy-legged at this stage.


8) Slauson should improve the run blocking at the interior point of attack. The Bears had more success running the ball last year when either Slauson or Will Montgomery was the center. The difference was nearly half a yard, found the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, compared to when rookie Hroniss Grasu was the pivot.

9) Chicago’s run-oriented offense suited Slauson. Where the Bears’ run percentage of 45.7 percent ranked sixth in the NFL, the pass-happy Chargers were at 35.7 percent, which was 26th.

10) Playcaller Ken Whisenhunt likes to run the ball. In his lone season with San Diego, the Bolts’ run rate was 46.6 percent.

11) Shopping for bargains after the draft is a Telesco niche. Smart strategy. Once teams load up on young players, veterans are more vulnerable. Post-draft, Telesco has signed a few vets who were starters the previous season.


12) Tackle Max Starks arrived in May 2013 after the Steelers cooled on him. Cut by the Chiefs in June 2014, cornerback Brandon Flowers joined the Chargers a week later. Telesco landed tackle Joe Barksdale last May after the Rams drafted two blockers.

13) Flowers and Barksdale outperformed their first contracts with San Diego. Starks was cut after training camp at minimal cost.

14) Slauson, who got a two-year deal, looks like a placeholder to rookie Max Tuerk. A third-round pick, Tuerk tore his ACL last October and could stand to gain strength. Watt, who may be better off at guard, has to show he can stay healthy. The savvy Robinson, lauded by Rivers last season as the best fit at center since Hardwick, appears too expensive to fill a backup role.

15) Two of McCoy’s friends in coaching, John Fox and Adam Gase, oversaw the Bears’ offense last season. Also, the Chargers went against Slauson last season. Chargers director of player personnel JoJo Wooden was with the Jets when they drafted Slauson out of Nebraska in 2009.


16) Will he stay healthy? For many Bolts blockers, that’s been the rub. Durable so far, Slauson has started all 16 games in five seasons. The only time he didn’t start every game, in 2014, a torn pectoral limited him to five outings.