Last Year: 9-7, third in the AFC West
Key Acquisitions: WR Stevie Johnson, KR Jacoby Jones, RB Melvin Gordon
Key Losses: RB Ryan Mathews, WR Eddie Royal, C Nick Hardwick, DE/OLB Dwight Freeney,
The Chargers are stuck in a position much like the Rams. There is potential for a decent football team here, maybe just a few pieces from being a true competitor, but everyone is instead focused on what might happen in Los Angeles. To most people, the Chargers going from SD to LA isn’t a big deal. The cities are right next to each other, it makes sense, right? They are both in the godless tan space known as Southern California.
West coasters know that SD and LA are very different places, and that most San Diego residents don’t particularly care for LA. But the Chargers have been trying to screw San Diego over to get the new stadium, and San Diego residents aren’t having it. On one hand, good for them, the way the NFL exploits taxpayers for these giant luxury stadiums people can’t even afford is BS. On the other hand, there is now a very solid chance the Chargers are gone.
In the meantime, the Chargers have hovered around mediocre to good for the past two years, and things look more optimistic this season as hopefully they won’t go through 5 different centers because of bad injury luck. The injuries were likely the biggest setback for the Bolts last season, so if they can stay on target now, we’ll have a playoff contender. Probably not a SB contender, but at least a playoff threat. The Bolts added Stevie Johnson, who is good when he’s not being dumb. They added Jacoby Jones, who still has his occasional moment. They also drafted Melvin Gordon and got rid of Ryan Matthews, which should bolster the run game. They also get Danny Woodhead back, and everyone loves little Woody.
The defense was actually pretty solid last season, thanks to star safety and lumberjack Eric Weddle, and there were no big changes either way here, so I’d expect them to be solid again.
For the fan perspective I go to lifelong Chargers fan Ross Hester, who gives a better preview then I ever could:
Amid the constant threat of relocation, in terms of actual football prowess, there’s reason to be optimistic in San Diego.
Let’s start with the major issue that prevented the Chargers from succeeding last year: The lack of a running game. If you’ll remember, last year saw the complete implosion of the Chargers offensive line. The team went through five different starting centers, and lost two of its three main running backs in Danny Woodhead and Ryan Mathews. This left a platoon of Donald Brown and Branden Oliver to run behind a patchwork offensive line. The results were fairly predictable. This year, the Chargers have rid themselves of Ryan Mathews and drafted Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon in the first round, who is one of two RBs taken in the first this year. In addition, the Chargers have revamped their offensive line by re-signing their left tackle, King Dunlap, traded out Chad Rhinehart for free agent acquisition Orlando Franklin at left guard, have installed Chris Watt at center and gotten him a full offseason as the starting center, kicked last year’s right tackle DJ Fluker in to right guard, and bookended the line with another free agent, Joe Barksdale, at right tackle. A clear upgrade of the line and the running backs should lead to a more consistent running game. And you know who a consistent running game will help out?
Philip Rivers. He’ll never get the accolades that his 2004 draft day compatriots Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning get, because Rivers has never been to the Super Bowl. In actuality, one could make the argument that Rivers is the best statistical quarterback of the three. Where Ben and Eli have had stable organizations around them, and defenses that have stepped up in the last (2007 Giants, anyone?) Rivers has been asked to shoulder the load all himself. Sure, he had a year of MVP Caliber LaDainian Tomlinson, but the very next year, Marty Schottenheimer was replaced by Norv Turner, and I’m not going to recount the next seven years because it’ll make me too goddamn angry. As far as 2015 is concerned, Rivers is in a fantastic position. He just inked a 4 year extension worth 84 million dollars, meaning that he’ll be a Charger for life. As far as his weapons go, it’s a very underrated cast. Antonio Gates is part of the old guard of tight ends, but had a resurgent year in 2014. Malcom Floyd is a very good deep threat, playing in his final year. Keenan Allen is a young WR bursting with talent. Free agent acquisition Stevie Johnson will finally be able to play with a good quarterback. Backup tight end LaDarius Green has all the physical potential in the world. Not to mention Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver coming out of the backfield as receivers. And considering how Rivers will spread the ball around, this team is going to score points.
Now, we come to the defense. It’s an extremely young group, with 10 of 11 starters being home grown players. Eight of the 11 are first, second, or third round picks. The problem this unit has had over the past few years is simply health. The potential is there, this group just needs to play up to it. The defensive line is anchored by Corey Liuget, another recipient of a long term deal this offseason. The linebackers are all young and hungry. Donald Butler and Manti Teo are penciled in as the starters, but are quickly being pushed by rookie Denzel Perryman. On the outside, Jerry Attoachu takes over for retired veteran Jarret Johnson, and Melvin Ingram will start opposite him. In the backfield, one of the top safeties in the game in Eric Weddle is playing perhaps his last season in San Diego. Jahleel Addai starts at strong safety, and will probably only have a three or four year career considering how he likes to launch himself at ball carriers. At the corner spots, Jason Verrett shined last year in limited action before a shoulder injury forced him off the field, and Brandon Flowers is an all pro corner.
So yes, it might very well be the last season of the SAN DIEGO Chargers, but wherever they play, they’ve got just as good a shot as anyone in the AFC.
