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.