San Diego Chargers: Week 2 MVP, LVP and Top Rookie

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The San Diego Chargers are 2-0 for the first time since 2006.  Matching that year’s win total is irrelevant.  This team needs to get into January and do something while there.  The competition will step up immensely with Atlanta coming to town.

But the Chargers have never needed another team to succeed or fail.  They’ve often decided their fortune all by themselves.  That being said, there is a lot to be optimistic about thus far.

It hasn’t always been pretty, but they haven’t shot themselves in the foot as they have so often in years past.  They’ve shown some moxie as key parts have suffered injuries.

Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the rookies.

MVP: Dante Rosario or Jackie Battle

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Like in 2010, there will be some who argue that Philip Rivers “made” these guys look good.

The Chargers needed someone to step up in the passing game besides Vincent Jackson.  Randy McMichael still looks good and bulled ahead for a “statement” first down.  However, Rosario scored three touchdowns.

Boltheads will now forgive Rosario for his last-second game-winner against the Chargers on opening day of 2008.

Jackie Battle can now be officially welcomed into the fold. On a day when no one looked to be able to reach the line of scrimmage before sundown, Battle stepped up in the end.

He scored a touchdown (and launched into quite a celebration) on Halloween last year against the Chargers.  On Sunday, he showed power and gave the offense an attitude that was lacking for a while.  A.J. Smith deserves credit for bringing in his “depth guys,” and Norv Turner showed enough smarts not to stick with the Brown/Brinkley backfield when it clearly wasn’t working.

Least Valuable Player: Jeromey Clary or Ronnie Brown

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Clary has always been a target for the ire of fans like myself.  Others might suggest that he's a sometimes scapegoat.

However, Clary still gets beat or flagged more often than anyone else on the offensive line.  Yes, Mike Harris drew two penalties, but he’s an undrafted rookie.  

Brown did finally reach the end zone—although the officials seemingly made the right call and reversed it—but he lacked any kind of burst whatsoever for the second week in a row.  Norv and A.J. raved about this guy all summer, and he looks older than dirt.

Top Rookie: Melvin Ingram or Mike Harris

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There weren’t a lot of first-year accomplishments to choose from here.  Ledarius Green did have a big reception, although he might have been the beneficiary of an illegal screen by Eddie Royal.

Ingram should have had both a punt block and a roughing penalty on the same play.  If he’d put his hands on the ball, there would have been no chance of a flag.  Regardless, he still looks extremely strong and gets the heat on the quarterback that was sorely missing last year.

Harris gets a mention, even with two penalties.  The fact that he’s not being completely dominated is a welcome relief and means that we can stop talking about Jared Gaither for another week.  Bring on the Falcons for Week 3.