nkful for what we have Denzel Perryman Color Rush Jersey , where we have been, and what the future holds. Although the Chargers have lost their way a bit in recent years, the month of December still holds such incredible promise! This advent calendar is an attempt to hearken back to these days of December joy. Each day will bring a new advent from the Bolts’ history that makes it wonderful to be a Chargers fan.Dec. 23: The Chargers Have Failed to Kickoff...Twice!Kickoffs in football are a pretty common part of the game. I know, there’s been rumbles here and there about getting rid of them or making them safer, but until that day—they are just an ever-present part of the game. Well...almost.Kickoffs are indeed part of the game, but they aren’t necessarily a guaranteed part. We have already delved into the weird truth of the NFL free kick earlier in this Advent Calendar series, but the Chargers have also made their mark with two very rare marks in the record book: failing to kickoff—twice!OK. Sounds silly. How can this be true?Kickoff, noun:A kick that puts a ball in to play in American football and other sports.OK, now that we have re-learned what we likely all already know, we see that kickoffs are an integral part of the game. They MUST kickoff if they score a TD or field goal, and they have a choice if they score a safety. Beyond that, they are offered a choice to kickoff to start one of two halves each game. Thus, each team in each game has at least ONE guaranteed option to have a kickoff.Thanks to Quirky Research.com, we can see exactly how rare this is.The only way a team can be on this list and not be shut out is to score a safety Antonio Gates Color Rush Jersey , to score at the end of the first or second half or, in a nearly impossible scenario, to score the game-winning points in overtime. Highlighted below, the Bengals are the only known team to never kick off in a non-shutout when the Patriots took an intentional safety in the fourth quarter.So, in a very strange set of events, the Chargers are on this very exclusive list twice. Once, in their inaugural season (in the AFL) against the Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs), and again in 1987 against the Denver Broncos.Both times, the Chargers of course lost the game with a grant total of zero points. The wind is almost definitely the reason why the Chargers would take this course of action, but it is still an option that would have watercoolers buzzing the next day.What’s even stranger is that the Chargers did this once representing LA and once representing San Diego. Both were away games, which also factored into the decision making.-Jason “Whew knew!” Michaels Sorry Chargers fans, L.A. will not be drafting a defensive tackle in round 1 and Louis Gorini explains why"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections San Diego Chargers Daily LinksSan Diego Chargers NewsSan Diego Chargers OffseasonSan Diego Chargers HistorySan Diego Chargers HumorThree reasons why the Chargers avoid defensive tackles in round 1 of the NFL DraftNew,90commentsSorry Chargers fans, L.A. will not be drafting a defensive tackle in round 1 and Louis Gorini explains whyPSTShareTweetShareShareThree reasons why the Chargers avoid defensive tackles in round 1 of the NFL DraftMatt Cashore-USA TODAY SportsWith the NFL combine set to kick off later this week Derwin James Color Rush Jersey , it is safe to say we are officially smack dab in the middle of the NFL draft season. The combine is usually where mock drafts eventually start making sense and paint a clearer picture on which positions and players teams will start to focus their attention on. One of the more popular themes in most pre combine mock drafts have had the Los Angeles Chargers selecting a defensive tackle with their first round selection of this years NFL draft. The reasoning is logical, “with the selection of So and So, the Chargers finally fortify the middle of their defensive line...” or “Imagine pairing this defensive tackle prospect up with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa...” Yea yea yea blah blah blah, I have heard this all before the last couple of years from mock draft experts.The Chargers selecting a defensive tackle in round one has officially become the new cliche’ that replaced the old mantra “The Chargers finally replace Eric Weddle at the safety position and get Gus Bradley his center field free safety to be the Earl Thomas in his defense.” Sorry Bolts fans, I am about to let you all in on a secret; Los Angeles will NOT be drafting a defensive tackle in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and here is why:Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports PREVIOUS DRAFT TRENDSChargers GM, Tom Telesco has been with the team for six years now. During his tenure as Los Angeles’ General Manager, it is safe to say he has exhibited certain patterns for his first round selections in each draft he has been a part of. Lets take a look at all the players he took in the first round since 2013: D.J. Fluker, Jason Verrett, Melvin Gordon, Joey Bosa, Mike Williams, and Derwin James. What do all of these players have in common? All of these players played positions of need for the Chargers at that time. Telesco’s draft strategy in the first round tends to be drafting for need instead of best player available. I am not saying these were bad picks, all I am saying is drafting for need is his first round tendency. Some fans might argue about last years selection of Derwin James and how the strong safety position was not that of need. However, if it wasn’t for the Buffalo Bills trading ahead of the Chargers to select Tremaine Edmunds http://www.chargersfanstore.com/Joey-Bosa-Jersey , then we would be having a much different conversation because the former Virginia Tech linebacker would be entering his second year with the Bolts, furthermore proving my point.There is also another trend in L.A.’s first round picks. Since 2013, the Chargers have alternated between offensive and defensive players every other year. While that might be coincidental at first, lets take a look at the last two drafts under Telesco and Lynn. Their first draft together had them selecting three offensive players in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. How did they follow that up in 2018? during a time when teams will opt to draft younger, cheaper options instead of the high priced veterans. Tom Telesco, “The Coupon God” will find a bunch of options to replace the giant whole the Chargers have in the middle of their defensive line. The list of interior defensive line free agents consist of Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Ndamukong Suh, Danny Shelton, and Malcom Brown. That is also not to mention players that are on the verge of becoming cap causalities like Malik Jackson or Marcell Dareus. So even though the 2019 NFL Draft is loaded with high quality interior defensive lineman; it is free agency that will prove to be the better bargain/move for the Chargers to fulfill their defensive tackle needs.Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports THEN WHO?Tom Telesco and the Chargers will be selecting a tackle with the 28th selection of this years draft. However, that tackle will be that of an offensive nature, not a defensive one. With the Chargers looking to free agency to address their need in the middle of the defensive line, I believe Anthony Lynn will look to build upon an improving offensive line that deteriorated towards the end of last season. Now which offensive tackle will they target? That I do not know yet. I guess we all just have to be out on the lookout for the post combine and pro day rumor mills for that answer!