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2007 Team Report: San Diego Chargers
Quarterbacks
Starter: Philip RiversBackup(s): Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst Starting QB: Philip Rivers parlayed his first season as a starter into a Pro Bowl invitation last year. Rivers is known for his quick release and accuracy, but he also showed fine leadership skills last season. His surrounding talent makes things easier on him since opposing teams have to focus on containing LaDainian Tomlinson. Rivers has an unorthodox throwing motion with a low release point, but it didn't seem to present any problems for him last year. Rivers does a particularly good job of recognizing the blitz and making quick decisions. Backup QB: The Chargers traded for Billy Volek early during the 2006 regular season and he rose to No. 2 on the depth chart shortly thereafter. Volek has started 10 games in his NFL career and has averaged 279 passing yards per game in those starts. Volek has decent, but not elite, arm strength and accuracy. He has above-average experience and past production for a backup quarterback. Whitehurst was the Chargers third-string quarterback for most of last season, but he has a good arm, mechanics and mobility.
Running Backs
Starter: LaDainian TomlinsonBackup(s): Michael Turner, Darren Sproles
Fullback(s): Lorenzo Neal, Andrew Pinnock Starting RB: As Lorenzo Neal put it, LaDainian Tomlinson is Superman without the cape. In 2006, Tomlinson led the league in rushing with 1,815 yards, set NFL records for rushing touchdowns (28) and total touchdowns (31), and was named league MVP. He also racked up 2,323 total yards from scrimmage, the sixth-highest single-season total in league history. Tomlinson heads into the 2007 season in full health and has the benefit of an offensive line that returns all five starters. As a runner, he has excellent vision, lateral quickness, acceleration, body control, patience, power, speed, balance and toughness. Backup RBs: Michael Turner, who will become an unrestricted free agent in 2008, returns to the Chargers for at least one more year. He has been fantastic in relief of Tomlinson in each of the past two seasons. On only 157 career rushing attempts, he has averaged 6.0 yards per carry and has produced a surprisingly large number of highlight reel-worthy runs. Turner suffered a high ankle sprain in the Chargers' third preseason game, but may be ready to play by the start of the regular season. Behind Turner is Darren Sproles, a nifty, undersized runner with great acceleration and quickness. Sproles spent 2006 on the injured reserve list, but is fully recovered and has looked fast and quick during training camp and the preseason. The Chargers may try to find a way to get Sproles the ball in the open field in certain personnel packages. Fullback: Lorenzo Neal was brought in four seasons ago to spring LaDainian Tomlinson for big gains and has performed up to expectations. The 14-year veteran is still one of the better run-blocking fullbacks in the league. Neal does not have great rushing or receiving skills though, so his fantasy relevance is indirect.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Vincent Jackson, Malcom FloydBackups: Craig Davis [R], Eric Parker [inj], Kassim Osgood Starting WRs: Vincent Jackson emerged as San Diego's best wide receiver down the stretch of the 2006 season. He has an outstanding combination of size and speed, and may approach double-digit touchdowns this season since he is both a red-zone threat and a deep threat. The other starting job is open to competition. Eric Parker would have been the incumbent heading into the preseason, but a toe injury will keep him out of action during the first six games of the regular season. That opens the door for Malcom Floyd. Floyd is a big receiver with excellent hands and overall athleticism. He adjusts well to the ball in the air, and like Vincent Jackson, is both a red-zone threat and a deep threat. Backup WRs: Rookie Craig "Buster" Davis acquitted himself well in camp and has the makings of a starter sooner rather than later. He is a smooth route-runner and has an uncanny knack for getting off the line unabated. Eric Parker is a small, quick receiver with a great work ethic and generally reliable hands. He ended the 2006 season on a rough note though with two bad drops and a muffed punt in the playoff game against the Patriots. Moreover, he is not much of a red-zone target and was pulled from the lineup in goal-line situations last year. It is unclear whether he will be under consideration to start once he returns from his toe injury in mid-October.
Tight Ends
Starters: Antonio GatesBackups: Brandon Manumaleuna, Scott Chandler [R], Legedu Naanee [R] An undrafted free agent in 2003, Gates has developed into one of the finest tight ends ever to play in the NFL. He has good size at 6'4" and 260 pounds with outstanding athleticism, and he regularly beats any double-teams he faces. He is very quick on underneath routes and has a knack for shielding defenders from the ball with his body. Over the past three seasons, Gates has caught 241 passes for 2,989 yards and 32 touchdowns. Manumaleuna is a strong run-blocking TE who gets good movement in his blocks. He has decent hands, but lacks speed as a receiver. Rookie Scott Chandler was converted from WR to TE at Iowa and led the team with 47 receptions in 2005 before finishing second on the team with 46 receptions in 2006. Legedu Naanee has an outstanding combination of size and speed, and can line up in the backfield or at tight end as well as in the slot.
Place Kicker
Nate Kaeding : After connecting on 80.0% on FGs in his rookie season, Kaeding improved to 87.5% in his second year, and improved again to 89.7% (26 of 29) last year. He has missed only one FG from under 40 yards over the last two years. His 26 FGs and 58 PATs added up to the second most kicking points in the NFL last year. After struggling on kickoffs his first two years, the team drafted kickoff specialist Kurt Smith last year. Kaeding had worked on that aspect of his game during the off-season, held off Smith for that role, and ended 2006 with career highs of 65.2 yards and 11 touchbacks. CAMP UPDATE: Nate Kaeding made a 22 yard field goal in the game at St. Louis, and made 3-of-4 PATs. The missed extra point was short, as it skidded across the turf after a poor snap and a bad hold.Kick and Punt Returners
Kick Returners: Michael Turner; Darren Sproles; Cletis Gordon As a rookie in 2005, Darren Sproles emerged as the Chargers' return specialist. He handled 63 of their 69 kickoff returns, and averaged 24.3 yards. He did not get a chance to follow that up in 2006, as a preseason broken fibula sidelined him for the year. In his absence, RB Michael Turner stepped in (36 returns, 26.5 avg.). CB Cletis Gordon scored twice on punt returns and twice on kickoff returns while at Jackson State. He only played in two games for the Chargers last year, averaging 27.5 yards on two kickoff returns. Punt Returners: Darren Sproles; Cletis Gordon; Craig Davis; Eric Parker [inj] Darren Sproles also began 2005 as the primary punt returner (18 returns, 6.0 avg.); but he eventually lost the job after having problems handling the ball. He spent the off-season working on fielding punts, and looked better before the injury last summer. He was replaced by WR Eric Parker in 2005 and again last year (37 returns, 8.9 avg.). Sproles and Parker will be joined in the competition for the PR role this year by Craig Davis and Cletis Gordon. During his senior year at LSU, Davis averaged 12.9 yards on eleven punt returns and scored once.Offensive Line
Projected Starters: LT Marcus McNeill, LG Kris Dielman, C Nick Hardwick, RG Mike Goff, RT Shane OliveaKey Backups: T Jeromey Carey, G Scott Mruczkowski, C Cory Withrow, T Roman Oben Heading into the preseason a year ago, rookie Marcus McNeill was a big question mark due to his problematic back. He had a sensational rookie season though and was the NFL's best rookie offensive tackle. Right guard Mike Goff is your stereotypical mucker. Kris Dielman was almost lost to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, but the Chargers had the right to match the offer and they did so. With veteran backups in place, expect another strong season from this group in 2007.
Team Defense
Eight of eleven starters from last year return to try to build on what was a statistically average 2006 season. The Chargers were ranked 11th in yards per pass attempt allowed and 20th in yards per rush allowed, but were at less than full strength during much of the season. Starters Shaun Phillips, Luis Castillo, Igor Olshansky, and Marlon McCree all missed multiple games due to injury, and Shawne Merriman was suspended for four games after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. The Chargers gave up 27 points per game with Merriman out of the lineup, compared to 16 points per game with Merriman in the lineup. The starters along the defensive line -- Luis Castillo, Jamal Williams, and Igor Olshansky -- are solid and consistent players, although the 3-4 scheme played by the Chargers does not allow them to accumulate a lot of box score stats. Outside linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips are athletic pass-rushers who each had double-digit sacks last year. The inside linebacker positions will be manned by two new starters, as Matt Wilhelm and Stephen Cooper replace Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey. Both players are four-year Charger veterans who are familiar with the system and have looked impressive in limited playing time so far in their careers. In the secondary, a couple of starting jobs are open to competition. Quentin Jammer and Drayton Florence will start at cornerback, while last year's first-round pick Antonio Cromartie push hard for playing time. At safety, Marlon McCree will return to man one safety spot, while Clinton Hart will have to work hard to hold off rookie Eric Weddle.Defensive Line
Starters: DE Luis Castillo, DE Igor Olshansky, NT Jamal WilliamsBackups: DE Jacques Cesaire, DE Brandon McKinney, NT Ryon Bingham Starting DL: Olshansky is a prototypical 3-4 end. He is big (6'6", 309 lbs) and stout at the point of attack versus the run but provides little in pass rush. His responsibility is to plug his gap and occupy blockers rather than to penetrate and make a lot of tackles himself. Williams is coming off of two consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, and may be the most irreplaceable player on the Chargers' defense. Williams is a monster 348 pound NT with outstanding base strength and surprising quickness. He routinely commands a double team and keeps interior lineman off the linebackers. Castillo, a defensive tackle in college, was a first-round pick two years ago and has already established himself as one of the league's elite 3-4 defensive ends. Despite missing four games with an ankle injury last year, he added 7 sacks to his strong run support and was an alternate selection to the Pro Bowl. Backup DL: Cesaire started nine games last year because of injuries to Olshansky and Castillo. He was productive when called upon, racking up 28 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks. Cesaire is known as being more of a run-stuffer than a pass-rusher, but he showed improved quickness as a pass-rusher last year. Ryon Bingham has a thick, sturdy build that allows him to hold his ground against double-teams, but lacks the overall athleticism to be a playmaker from the NT position.
Linebackers
Starters: OLB Shawne Merriman OLB Shaun Phillips, ILB Matt Wilhelm, ILB Stephen CooperBackups: OLB Marques Harris, OLB Carlos Polk, ILB Tim Dobbins, ILB Brandon Siler, ILB Anthony Waters Starting LBs: The Chargers will have two new starters at inside linebacker this year after Donnie Edwards left in free agency and the Chargers chose not to re-sign Randall Godfrey. Matt Wilhelm and Stephen Cooper will take their place. Each is a four-year Charger veteran who is familiar with the system and has looked impressive in limited opportunities so far. Wilhelm will replace Edwards on the weak side and Cooper will replace Godfrey on the strong side. Wilhelm is a smart linebacker (former coach Marty Schottenheimer called him the smartest player on defense) with decent athletic ability. He is solid in run support. He gets good drops in zone coverage, where his 6'4" height is also a benefit, but is mediocre in man coverage. Wilhelm has missed time with a calf strain in camp; Dobbins has been filling in at RILB. Cooper has better range than Wilhelm, but is slightly undersized for an inside linebacker at 235 pounds. On the outside, both Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips are athletic playmakers who specialize in rushing the passer. Merriman is a complete player with elite size and speed who can bull-rush offensive tackles and chase down running backs from behind. He led the league with 17.5 sacks last year despite missing four games due to suspension. Phillips has great quickness as a pass-rusher. Pressed into a starting role last year because of Steve Foley's unavailability, Phillips proved to be more than just a situational pass rusher. He showed surprising effectiveness against the run as well, and finished second among Charger linebackers with 65 total tackles (44 solo). Backup LBs: Dobbins, a rookie fifth-round pick last year, played primarily on special teams in 2006. He impressed coaches and fans with his play in the preseason last year, but was relegated to third-string on defense once the regular season started. This year he enters training camp as the top backup at ILB, but will be pushed by rookies Anthony Waters and Brandon Siler. Dobbins has good size and speed and shows power at the point of attack. He can deliver the big hit, but has limited ability in pass coverage. Siler was a three-year starter at Florida who entered the draft after his junior season. He is a big hitter who can be intimidating against the run, but has limited ability in pass coverage. Waters was a productive player at Clemson (109 tackles, 74 solo as a junior in 2005) before blowing out his knee in the first game of his senior season. He has excellent size and speed, but is not fully recovered from his knee injury and may be a year away from contributing much on defense.
Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Quentin Jammer, CB Drayton Florence, FS Marlon McCree, SS Clinton HartBackups: CB Antonio Cromartie, SS Eric Weddle, CB Paul Oliver, CB Cletis Gordon, CB Steve Gregory Starting DBs: Jammer is a big, physical press corner who plays well in man coverage. He has not been a big play corner, averaging only two interceptions per season in his first five years in the league, but has improved his ability to play the ball in the air. Florence and Cromartie will compete for the other starting job. Florence is a natural athlete with the size and speed to excel in man coverage, but has been plagued by inconsistency and dropped would-be interceptions. He will enter training camp atop the depth chart at right corner, but will have to show continued improvement to hold off a challenge from Cromartie. At safety, Marlon McCree was the leader of the secondary last year. His experience and film-room dedication allow him to avoid making mistakes in coverage. McCree is versatile enough to play either strong or free safety, and in fact there is little distinction between the two positions in the Chargers' defensive scheme. The Chargers released Terrance Kiel this offseason, leaving veterans Clinton Hart and Bhawoh Jue to compete with rookie Eric Weddle for the starting job opposite McCree. Hart entered training camp as the starter but is being pushed hard by rookie Eric Weddle. Clinton Hart has the versatility to play free safety or strong safety, and was also a special teams standout for the Bolts last season. Hart, like Antonio Gates, did not play football in college (he played baseball and basketball), and is still growing into the safety position but has the athleticism to succeed. Backup DBs: Cromartie is the fastest player on the Chargers, and showed flashes of ability in coverage as a rookie last season. He was inconsistent, however, and his big-play ability was somewhat offset by occasional coverage lapses. He has the "short memory" and confidence that coaches like in a cornerback, however, and is expected to present a strong challenge to Drayton Florence for the starting right cornerback position. Cletis Gordon may be the second fastest player on the team. He was a two-way player in college, playing both wide receiver and cornerback at Jackson State, but the one-year veteran is still raw in his coverage technique. Paul Oliver, a fourth-round pick in this year's supplemental draft, is expected to overtake Gordon as the fourth CB on the depth chart. Eric Weddle, a second-round pick out of Utah, was a productive college player known for his intelligence and work ethic, but his combine numbers proved that he has elite quickness as well. He played cornerback at Utah before moving to safety, and will often be expected to match up with slot receivers in the NFL when opposing teams use three-WR sets. Last modified: 2007-09-02 07:58:07
