Chargers Linebackers Starting 2009: A-

The Chargers are strong at linebacker, but they only get an A- because we still can't be sure their most important piece, outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, will be 100% this season until he is 100%. He says he's making "progress" every week, but can he again be that disruptive force that makes everyone else better? Thinking back to two and three years ago, it becomes obvious that Merriman makes defensive end Luis Castillo and linebacker Shaun Phillips better pass rushers because they get one on one blocking. He makes the defensive backs better because quarterbacks will fling the ball out there a bit too quickly. The quarterbacks in this league are tough professionals, but it seems like many of them show fear in their trembling passes when Merriman is rushing...think opponent "x" against Mike Tyson in his prime.

If he can get back to 100% the Chargers have a good shot at the Super Bowl. If not...?

On the other side is the "other guy," Shaun Phillips who probably can't wait to get back to being the "other guy" so he can draw more one-on-one blocking situations. He showed a lot of growth and leadership last year, making plays all over the field and stopping the run. He will have a career year in tackles and sacks this season.

In the middle is the solid Stephen Cooper, who was slowed by a four game suspension at the start of last season. It took him a couple more games to get into the flow of the regular season. This was a key part of the Chargers' slow start last year. Cooper also showed growth in confidence by the end of last season. Look for a fast and aggressive start from him this year.

The other inside linebacker, Kevin Burnett, picked up from the Dallas Cowboys, looks like the Chargers' biggest upgrade of the season. His rangy speed and aggressiveness in the preseason seems to have surprised even the coaches and management who brought him here. Fans will be praising AJ Smith as a genius again by mid season when the Chargers are winning and Burnett has multiple interceptions.

The wild-card this season is first-round draft choice, Larry English. He's been slowed by injuries in camp, but he showed flashes of supreme speed and strength in last Saturday's game. He needs some more playing time to get comfortable on the NFL gridiron, but I don't think it will take long before folks realize he's a great player. The question then becomes, how do the Chargers use him? You can't really sit Merriman, Phillips, Cooper or Bennett. Look for Ron Rivera to introduce some new looks to get English involved .

Tim Dobbins is just barely a "back-up" as he will get a lot of playing time. He's a bit short for the position, but plays big, hitting like a heat-seeking missile. He's one of my favorite players on the team because he plays so mean.

Antwan Applewhite, who was the SDSU's Aztec's best player for a couple years, is an amazing athlete who has had a great preseason. Sometimes it seems there's just a talent log jam on this team. The Broncos or Chiefs would love to have this guy starting in their 3-4 defenses.

Jyles Tucker and Brandon Siler both made strong plays last season (remember Siler stuffing people in goal line situations?) and got a lot of playing time due to the injuries of others. I can't help but wonder if one of these guys is on the chopping block though because of running back Michael Bennett's amazing play last week (the guy has world class speed) and today's pick-up of defensive tackle Travis Johnson out from the Houston Texans (Maybe the Chargers are planning on dropping another defensive lineman that no one expected? Stay tuned).

Lastly, the most important ingredient to this group may be defensive coordinator, Ron Rivera, who is a creative guy new to the 3-4, who came in halfway through the season last year. He's going to put his spin on this defense this year. I'm not sure the opposing offenses are going to be ready for his schemes. Look for some surprising aggressive moves we haven't seen in the preseason or last year.

Chargers vs. Falcons Post-Game Analysis

The pass blocking of the Charger's offensive line was improved, with the only sacks coming on all out blitzes with corner backs and the whole kitchen sink. The blocking on screens was phenomenal. Right guard Louis Vasquez seemed especially nasty on the edge. There's still something wrong with the run game. Sproles did have two nice holes, but overall the blocking was inconsistent. Maybe we can just forgo the run and throw screen passes to LT, Bennett, and Sproles all season?

Larry English came out and got to quarterback Matt Ryan right away, but then missed the tackle. He looked a bit uncomfortable and lost out there the rest of the time...like a rookie. The injury has held back his development and he simply needs more time on the field. He has amazing strength and speed though. I have no doubt he'll turn out to be a great long term player for San Diego.

The defensive backs didn't get any picks like last week, but did make some good plays. This unit looks immensely improved and simply more confident than last year. Matt Ryan did complete some passes, but the Chargers were not throwing out crazy blitzes like Atlanta and seemingly everyone else in the NFL this preseason, so the pressure wasn't there. Jammer should have had two picks, but he still has hands like Roberto Duran. Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera is smart not to reveal his hand. I think he'll have a plethora of surprises of his sleeve for offenses once the regular season starts.

The most promising performance of the night came from Michael Bennett, who just took off on a screen pass, scoring from about fifty yards out. He seems to have his speed and confidence back. Look for him to make a few big plays this season.

Another possible piece of good news was the play of wide receiver Buster Davis. I was as ready as many fans to throw the "bust" label on Buster, but he showed some play making ability in a game, not practice, tonight. He may surprise this season.

The soon-to-be-cut scrubs lost the game at the end.

Chargers vs. Falcons Preseason Preview

The Chargers will face the Falcons tonight in the 3rd preseason game. Here are the big questions that still need to be answered:

Can the offensive line block? The run game has been horrible so far and the pass blocking revealed itself as a problem as well last week. I'll be watching right tackle Jeromey Clary for any sign of improvement. I'll also be looking for any push at the line of scrimmage on run plays. It doesn't look like LaDanian Tomlinson will go so we'll have to see what the other backs can do.

The UT reports that the right guard competition is still open between Kynan Forney and Louis Vasquez although Vasquez did not look stellar last week. He will get the start tonight, see if he can show growth in his 2nd NFL game.

On defense, we finally get to see Larry English make his debut. They used to call him "Darth Vader" because of his asthma and the evil things he would do to quarterbacks. Can he get to the quarterback in the NFL? Can he diagnose run plays, react, get off blocks, and stop a ball carrier at the line of scrimmage? If he can, and Merriman can truly recover from his injuries, the Chargers may suddenly become one of the most feared defenses in the NFL.

Will the secondary be able to ball hawk like it did last week with Kurt Warner? Matt Ryan is an excellent young quarterback with great passing options in Roddy White (pick this guy for your fantasy squad) and free agent acquisition Tony Gonzales (who just kills the Chargers). Safety Clinton Hart made some horrible plays and some good plays last week. Can he be consistent? Steve Gregory is in competition for that safety position, but he's been out for a week with the flu. He needs to get some playing time if he's going to have a chance.

San Diego Chargers Offensive Line 2009: C+

The Chargers' line has struggled in run blocking the past two years, while being above average to very good pass blocking. Last year, the trouble started on the right side with Mike Goff, who seemed to have lost a step (not LT!). At right tackle, Jeromey Clary struggled to show he deserved to be a starter in the NFL.

On the positive side, center Nick Hardwick, left guard Kris Dielman, and left tackle Marcus MacNeill are poised to have strong seasons. Hardwick came back from a serious injury last year and was slow to start. MacNeill had a severe neck injury that limited him all season.

So far this preseason, the run blocking has not clicked and is looking much like last year. The team has made some excuses: the other teams were blitzing and stunting, the rookie Louis Vasquez started last week, the full backs are still learning their positions...Whatever the problems, the Chargers have not achieved that special synergy of moving parts needed to make the run game work. They'd better figure it out soon or once again we'll all be wonder why "the most talented team in football" is losing games they "should" win.

It seems like the offensive line is the area where AJ Smith saves money, gambling on lower round guys more often instead of paying more for talent or choosing guys higher up in the draft. There may be something to this strategy; it's harder for a late-round lineman to prove his individual worth years later than a late-round running back whose talents become obvious (see Darren Sproles). However, when you gamble on late-rounders, sometimes you lose. Will the gamble on Clary turn out to be a fatal flaw for the Chargers in 2009?

Watch Clary this Saturday in Atlanta to see he shows any improvement over last season. If he has another bad outing, how can the coaches and GM keep defending him and not admit their mistake?

At right guard, AJ Smith brought in a free agent from Atlanta, Kynan Forney. The coaches have raved about him in practice. I didn't see a great deal from him in the first preseason game against the Seahawks. The Chargers appeared to get dominated in the trenches that game. Forney was injured and didn't play last week against Arizona. He should play this week. See what he does on running plays. So far he seems like just a "guy" though, nothing special.

The Chargers drafted rookie Louis Vasquez in the 3rd round from the run-n-shoot offense of Texas Tech. He looks like a strong and talented athlete, but starting last week, he also looked like a rookie, getting confused and beat badly a few times. The jury is still out.

This unit must show drastic improvement for the Chargers to push to the Super Bowl this season.

Chargers vs. Cardinals Post-Game Analysis

Answers to questions from last night's game:

Offense-

Will Philip Rivers continue to look sharp like he has mastered Norv Turner's passing offense?

Philip looked good when he wasn't being sacked. He is still on track to have a Pro Bowl season.

Will the offensive line look crisp in the run game or sloppy and weak like the last preseason game? Did you realize the Chargers ranked 32nd in rushing after week one of the preseason?
Rookie, Louis Vasquez, out Texas Tech will start at guard. After playing in a mostly quick passing offense in college where you just have to get in the way of the defense for a few seconds, will he be able to run block effectively in the NFL?

The run game, once again, failed to consistently open holes. The Arizona Cardinal front seven frankly dominated them in the trenches. Even more discouraging, Jeromey Clary gave up two sacks right away. I'm not convinced this guy deserves to be a starting at tackle in the NFL. Louis Vasquez also gave up a sack, but that can be forgiven since it was the rookie's first NFL game. The line is still a major area of concern going into this season. Antonio Gates seemed to recognize this while being interviewed on the sideline. I hope Norv Turner does.

Will LaDanian Tomlinson look more like the 2006 version or the 2008 version?

LaDanian Tomlinson looked good in space when he caught some screen passes. The line did not give him a chance to show what he can do on basic run plays. LT is ready to go.

How well can Antonio Gates run after he catches the ball? Will the toe injury fully heal?

Antonio Gates made a huge 3rd down catch for a 1st down, showing again what a key weapon he is for the Chargers. It's still not clear if he's back to his old self in terms of running after the catch.

Can full back Jacob Hestor knock linebackers back at the point of attack?

Not yet! He made some nice blocks on DB's on the corners, but looks hesitant inside against the big guys. Is he big and powerful enough to be an effective NFL full back?

Rookie running back Gartrell Johnson did not show much burst in the first game. Was it just nerves and inexperience or were the concerns out of the combines about his lack of speed correct?

Gartrell looks like a tough guy. He took some huge hits and didn't fumble. He still doesn't show that special burst a good NFL running back needs. At this point, he seems like a journeyman or career backup at best.

Defense-

As noted in the Union Tribune yesterday morning, this will be a strong test for the Charger corners and safeties, as the first string is expected to play the entire first half. Has Antonio Cromartie healed and is his head in the right place this season to return to 2007 form?

Antonio Cromartie looks ready to go. The break on the ball he made on his end zone interception of Kurt Warner was a thing of beauty that only a few athletes in the world could have accomplished. I did see him whiff on a tackle of the Cardinals tight end though. Tackling folks head-on seems to be his biggest weakness.

Who will emerge as the favorite at safety in the battle between Clinton Hart, Steve Gregory, and rookie Kevin Ellison? As of now, it appears Gregory has the advantage even though Hart was the starter last year.

Clinton Hart had some horrible mis-tackles and missed assignments early on, but seemed to redeem himself with some nice plays against the run and an interception later in the game. Can the Chargers become a top defense with his inconsistent play?

Steve Gregory had the flu and did not make the trip. Kevin Ellison made some good run stopping tackles, but his ball recognition on passing plays needs to develop. I don't think the Chargers would feel comfortable putting him in the starting lineup in the regular season. I would say the battle is down to Gregory and Hart.

Will Shawne Merriman look improved over his slow and gimpy performance last week? Hint: Watch him and don't be swayed by the overly hopeful analysis of Billy Ray and Ron Pitts, who were very excited by Merriman's phantom "burst" off the line last week that simply was not there.

Shawne Merriman did look powerful and made a crushing hit at the line on a run play where he shed an offensive lineman and popped the running back. It still doesn't look like the speed is quite back yet in the pass rushing phase.

Can Jamaican/Canadian rookie, Vaughn Martin, not only push his blocker into the backfield(as he did with regularity last week), but detach from him and make a play on the ball carrier or quarterback?

Martin did not get to play as much as last week, but he still seemed to get locked-up with blockers. Hopefully, the use of his hands will develop so he get off these blocks.

Can Kevin Burnett turn in another strong performance and win himself a permanent place at inside linebacker? Last week he was all over the field making tackles. I did not see him stick his nose in and make a play on a run up the middle though and I'll be looking for that this week.

Kevin Burnett was the highlight of the game for me. He did stick his nose in there and make plays at the point of attack. I think he's won the starting spot and will really help the Chargers both in run and pass defense this season. I predict that by mid-season, the fans and press will be proclaiming this pick-up another AJ Smith coup.

Overall: The defense looks much improved and will again have some swagger back in 2009. The offense may be held back from poor offensive line play. Kickoff coverage obviously has to improve, giving up an opening touchdown and another big run back.

Tonight's Preseason Game at the Arizona Cardinals

Here's what I'm looking for in tonight's game:

Offense-

• Will Philip Rivers continue to look sharp like he has mastered Norv Turner's passing offense?


• Will the offensive line look crisp in the run game or sloppy and weak like the last preseason game? Did you realize the Chargers ranked 32nd in rushing after week one of the preseason?


• Rookie, Louis Vasquez, out Texas Tech will start at guard. After playing in a mostly quick passing offense in college where you just have to get in the way of the defense for a few seconds, will he be able to run block effectively in the NFL?


• Will LaDanian Tomlinson look more like the 2006 version or the 2008 version?


• How well can Antonio Gates run after he catches the ball? Will the toe injury fully heal?


• Can full back Jacob Hestor knock linebackers back at the point of attack?


• Rookie running back Gartrell Johnson did not show much burst in the first game. Was it just nerves and inexperience or were the concerns out of the combines about his lack of speed correct?

Defense-

• As noted in the Union Tribune this morning, this will be a strong test for the Charger corners and safeties, as the first string is expected to play the entire first half. Has Antonio Cromartie healed and is his head in the right place this season to return to 2007 form?


• Who will emerge as the favorite at safety in the battle between Clinton Hart, Steve Gregory, and rookie Kevin Ellison? As of now, it appears Gregory has the advantage even though Hart was the starter last year.


• Will Shawne Merriman look improved over his slow and gimpy performance last week? Hint: Watch him and don't be swayed by the overly hopeful analysis of Billy Ray and Ron Pitts, who were very excited by Merriman's phantom "burst" off the line last week that simply was not there.


• Can Jamaican/Canadian rookie, Vaughn Martin, not only push his blocker into the backfield(as he did with regularity last week), but detach from him and make a play on the ball carrier or quarterback?


• Can Kevin Burnett turn in another strong performance and win himself a permanent place at inside linebacker? Last week he was all over the field making tackles. I did not see him stick his nose in and make a play on a run up the middle though and I'll be looking for that this week.

Sadly, we still don't get to see top draft choice, Larry English, play for another week because of a balky hamstring. This injury is starting to look more serious as it limits more and more of his invaluable time out on the field learning how to play defense in the NFL.

San Diego Chargers Tight Ends Starting 2009: A

Of course the incomparable superhuman pass catching freak, Antonio Gates leads up this strong crew. Hopefully, the toe is healed up and ready to go in 2009. As I mentioned in my last post, it was an encouraging sign to see them go to him so many times in the first preseason game. Last year, the toe didn't seem to hinder his ability to use his body to get open or make great catches, but it did severely limit his yards after the catch. Remember the days when he would catch an out pass, break one tackle, then sneak down the sidelines for 40 yards? The Cleveland snow game? Some folks thought this toe injury, even though it sounds minor, could be much more career limiting, as other players have in the past not been able to come back from this kind of thing. Watch him in the next preseason games to see if he can run with the ball.

Brandon Manumaleuna is the perfect compliment to Antonio Gates with his strong blocking ability, offensive lineman-like size at 6'2 295, and surprisingly good hands and feet. I'd like to see the Chargers surprise some teams by running the double tight end set more often. Maybe if the defense is better and we can actually get some leads this year, we'll be afforded that luxury. It's also a strong passing set when you have Gates, Manumaleuna, Tomlinson, Jackson, and Hestor on the field...all strong pass catchers.

An intriguing player, Kris Wilson(#88), actually listed as a full back, who started 12 games last season for the Kansas City Chiefs, made some great catches and special teams plays for the Chargers against the Seattle Seahawks last Saturday. Listed at 6'2, 245 he's a bit smaller, but seems like a talented athelete who can back up at tight end or full back. Look for him in the 3rd and 4th quarter of Saturday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Chargers vs. Seahawks Preseason Evaluation

Overall, the Chargers looked good in this game and there are a lot of positives to point to, but still a few areas of concern.

On the the plus side:

• Philip Rivers looked good and ready to go, although Norv kept the passing game very simple
• The coaches were confident enough in the health of tight end Antonio Gates to involve him in several plays early on. His pass catching ability has not changed. I'd still like to see that old burst down field that was missing due to the toe injury last year.
• Free agent acquisition from Dallas, Kevin Burnett, was all over the field at inside linebacker. He appears to be a huge upgrade from the timid Matt Wilhelm released in the off season. Burnett is tall, athletic and speedy getting to the ball. He should have some picks this season. Only one concern here and thing I did NOT see: Is he able to fill the hole at the line of scrimmage on run plays? You need to have tough run stopping middle linebackers in the 3-4 defense.
• 3rd round draft pick Jamaican/Canadian force of nature Vaughn Martin played for the majority of the game at defensive end, picking up some of the experience he needs. He consistently and easily knocked offensive linemen into the backfield on running plays. He seems to still need to work on his ball awareness and pass rushing technique, but this guy could be AJ Smith's find of the year.

On the "jury is still out" side:

• The running game: It was great that LT got some carries and is working on his timing. This will help the team start faster. The run blocking was not crisp, efficient, or forceful. You might say that this is only preseason, however, in years past, when the run game was strong, under Marty, or even back to the Bobby Ross days, you could see that something was different even in the first games of preseason. Kris Dielman, Nick Hardwick, and Marcus McNiell are some of the best in the game, but on the other side, Jeromey Clary and Kynan Forney are unproven. Is this a problem of personnel or coaching? Does Norv Turner put too much emphasis on the passing game, neglecting to practice and stick with the run? If you don't think this is important, think about what the Steelers did to us last year in the playoffs, controlling the clock and confidently wearing us down with the running game. Think about the New York Giants and how they won the Super Bowl the year before...It was not because of Eli Manning. This is a key area of concern that I have a feeling will come up again in the course of this season.
• Shawne Merriman limping? Merriman said he felt great, but he did not seem to have a great burst, despite the optimistic telecast of Billy Ray Smith and Ron Pitts. In fact, he seemed to be limping and a bit tentative. Everyone has assumed Merriman will be back at 100% of his old disruptive self when the regular season starts, but will this injury hold him back this year? Watch him in the upcoming preseason games.
• Rookie running back Gartrell Johnson did not show that burst or instinct for the hole I mentioned in my last post. He did have a bit of that "deer in the headlights" look when he was on the field. Watch to see if he can calm down and progress in the remaining preseason games.

Other areas of note:

• Projected 3rd string tight end Kris Wilson made some great plays including a beautiful, twisting catch of a long pass along the sideline, stuttering his feet in bounds like the most skilled of receivers. He was also flying around on special teams.
• The hit of the game by safety Steve Gregory, jarring the ball loose from the receiver.
• Another big hit behind the line of scrimmage on a run play by rookie safety, Kevin Ellison, out of USC. This guy looks like a real NFL player already and may be the starter next year. AJ Smilth can be credited with another sterling late round find.
• Clinton Hart's starting safety job may be in jeopardy with the strong play of the two above.

San Diego Chargers Receivers Starting 2009: B+

The Chargers have a strong, talented and experienced receiving core going into 2009. The two starting wideouts, Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers both know how to get open and have great hands. My biggest knock on both of these guys is their lack of consistent Yards after Catch (YAC). This may be a function of Norv's offense. Notice how many sideline and curl routes Chambers makes? Jackson gets huge chunks on some long bombs, but seems so intent on catching the ball (which is a GOOD thing) that he virtually stops after many catches, getting tackled. I'd like to see a bit more aggressiveness from both guys in terms of breaking that first tackle and getting down field.



The Chargers have also yet to develop a consistent slot reciever (think Wes Welker for the Patriots). Buster Davis, a high draft pick two years ago, was supposed to fill that role, but has been injured for pretty much his whole Charger career. I'd like to see Legedu Naanee get the ball thrown his way much more this year. He seems to have an uncommon burst, toughness and desire to get to the end zone every time he touches the ball. Part of the "problem" here might be that Antonio Gates is such a strong receiving tight end that he gets a lot of catches that might go to the slot on other teams.

Malcolm Floyd at 6'5 is another beast of a tall receiver like Vincent Jackson who can just out "body" and out jump small DB's. ,These guys give us a chance against talented and well coached defenses like the Patriots. Bill Belichick can put his little corner backs in all the right places, but it won't help if Jackson or Floyd simply jumps over them for the ball.



Look for all these guys to have good years as Philip Rivers masters his position. My biggest concern for this squad is the health of the aging Chris Chambers, who battled injury much of last season. Despite all the talent of the other guys, he provides that veteran go-to-guy type of experience when you really need a first down.

A Quick Raiders Aside

Watching JaMarcus Russell throw for the Raiders last night further solidified my opinion that he is not an NFL quarterback. If his first read is open he will hit him with his strong arm, but if not...? He panics and makes poor decisions in the pocket. Even though he was 6 for 9 last night, it seemed like the passing "gameplan" was to build his confidence or mask his flaws with easy passes.

Al Davis found the only coach in the NFL, Tom Cable, willing to ruin his reputation by sticking with Russell no matter what. Davis has ruined this franchise with his stubbornness and long dead football instincts. Charger fans can rest easy as long as these two inept folks head Raider Nation.

Charger Running Backs Starting 2009: A-

One of the lynchpins of my predictions for a San Diego Charger Super Bowl this season rests with the health of LaDanian Tomlinson. He was hurt much of last year and many began to proclaim that he had lost a step. On the contrary, I think it was a key part of our offensive line, guard Mike Goff, who had lost a step. Left Tackle Marcus McNeil was also dealing with a severe neck injury that held him back for the entire season.

Improved line play and a healthy LT will show the league he truly is not just one of the greats of his era, but one of the all-time greats. His superior training, focus, and desire to be great will give him two more years before we see any true erosion of skill. Look for LT’s numbers to be closer to 2006 than 2008 this season.



Darren Sproles emerged as a sensation in the league last year, still definitely in his prime, he will electrify fans and gain yards in big chunks. The difference between this season and last will be that Norv now knows what he can do and believes in him, so he’ll get more playing time for the entire season.

Jacob Hester is the biggest question mark at fullback. He has yet to prove that he can be an effective blocker in this league. He is a quick runner, talented pass catcher, and skilled athlete for a fullback, but can he knock a linebacker back at the point of attack? Watch him in the preseason and early in the regular season for a key indicator of how consistent the Charger running game will be this year.

Gartrell Johnson, a big back out of Colorado State, has been the subject of some buzz coming from the San Diego Union Tribune writers. He will get a lot of playing time in the preseason to show what he can do. The knock on him out of the combines was a lack of speed. Take a look during preseason and see how quickly he gets through the holes. If he’s bursting through for two yards then another two after contact, we may have something.

Michael Bennett will have to fight in camp and show he still has something left if he’s going to make this team. He had a couple nice runs in the playoffs last season, but he may be whisked off to a team with a greater need before we know it. Anyone else listed at running back on the team is most likely headed for the practice squad or chopping block.

Quarterbacks Grade Starting 2009: A+

Philip Rivers is one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL and will continue to grow in 2009. He had the highest passer rating in the league last year at 105.5, with a more than 3-1 TD (34-11) to interception ratio. Remember, he accomplished this with a much less than 100% Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers, and LaDanian Tomlinson last year. Only toward the end of the year did the Chargers discover the potential of Darren Sproles as a short and screen pass weapon. Look for Rivers’ stats to be off the charts in 2009 (and put him on your fantasy squad!).

Rivers started all four years at North Carolina State, setting numerous school records for the Wolfpack. This is important to his Charger career, because emerging studies of extreme success show that those who become masters in their fields do it not through innate talent or genius, but by amassing massive hours of practice (see Malcolm Gladwell’s fascinating book, Outliers, for more on this). I think Rivers’ physical traits, including his height, arm strength and undervalued Marino-like quick release, combined with his extreme amount of game experience as a starting quarterback, will put him in the league of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady this year.

Norv Turner is known around the league as a brilliant offensive mind and tutor of quarterbacks, which will contribute to Rivers’ continued growth. Rivers’ father is also a football coach, which shows even more how much the sport is in his blood. He’s a football geek. Notice, he’s not dating Giselle, Jessica or in every other commercial you see during the season. He’s not out at the clubs partying. He’s thinking about, practicing and studying football with his free time. It’s fair to say he’s obsessed with the game and being the best.

Lastly, why does the national media underestimate him? I believe it all goes back to two unfortunate moments caught on video: When upset after the loss to the Patriots, he made the “sorriest corner in the league” comment about Ellis Hobbs, and the taunting of Jay Cutler two seasons ago. These two instances gave the impression of an immature boy without the psychological make-up to lead a team. I think though, Charger fans who have seen much more of Rivers than these two incidents, know this is not an accurate picture of our guy and can be attributed to his football “dorkiness” more than anything else, which in the end is more of an asset than a weakness (and Jay Cutler, the baby, deserves to be taunted…Chicago is now cursed, but that’s another story).

p.s.

Billy Volek and Charlie Whitehurst are both supportive teammates and capable backups.

2009 Chargers Super Bowl

The San Diego Chargers will win the Super Bowl this season. Skeptical Charger fans who've been burned too many times for believing in recent years and most of the national media underestimate this team. I'll break down all the positions and parts of the team in future posts, but here's why the Chargers will win it all this year:

• LaDanian Tomlinson is not done. He will bounce back from injuries and have Walter Peyton-like seasons this year and next.
• Phillip Rivers is better than people think and getting even better. He will force everyone to realize he's on his way to the Hall this season.
• Ron Rivera is a talented and innovative defensive coordinator who now has full control of this defense now back at full strength and then some with Shawne Merriman back and Larry English added.

Check on future posts for more detailed analysis.