Chargers 2015 Preview: Complete San Diego Guide for Preseason, Regular Season
The days of summer have gone by fast, and pretty soon the first preseason game for the San Diego Chargers will be here. Players arrived for training camp last week to begin work on preparing for the upcoming season, and with the exception of losing rotational defensive lineman Tenny Palepoi for the year with a fractured foot, things have gone smoothly at Chargers Park.
Excitement should pick up here in the next week or so as the first exhibition game approaches on August 13 against the Dallas Cowboys, and before you know it the team will be suiting up for Week 1 about a month later against the Detroit Lions. Football is back, people.
So to help introduce the 2015 preseason and regular season for the Bolts, here's a rundown of some things fans should know before it all happens.
Full Schedule
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Preseason
| Date | Opponent | Time (PDT) |
| August 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 7 p.m. |
| August 22 | At Arizona Cardinals | 6 p.m. |
| August 29 | Seattle Seahawks | 5 p.m. |
| September 3 | At San Francisco 49ers | 7 p.m. |
Regular Season
| Date | Opponent | Time (PDT) |
| September 13 | Detroit Lions | 1:05 p.m. |
| September 20 | At Cincinnati Bengals | 10 a.m. |
| September 27 | At Minnesota Vikings | 10 a.m. |
| October 4 | Cleveland Browns | 1:05 p.m. |
| October 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 5:30 p.m. |
| October 18 | At Green Bay Packers | 1:25 p.m. |
| October 25 | Oakland Raiders | 1:05 p.m. |
| November 1 | At Baltimore Ravens | 10 a.m. |
| November 9 | Chicago Bears | 5:30 p.m. |
| BYE WEEK | ||
| November 22 | Kansas City Chiefs | 5:30 p.m. |
| November 29 | At Jacksonville Jaguars | 10 a.m. |
| December 6 | Denver Broncos | 1:05 p.m. |
| December 13 | At Kansas City Chiefs | 10 a.m. |
| December 20 | Miami Dolphins | 1:25 p.m. |
| December 24 | At Oakland Raiders | 5:25 p.m. |
| January 3 | At Denver Broncos | 1:25 p.m. |
What to Watch for During Preseason
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Right Side of the Offensive Line
The Chargers intend to keep third-year man D.J. Fluker at right tackle despite his struggles there last season, but there is still a possibility he could move to guard.
As Eric Williams of ESPN.com reported, Fluker took a few snaps at guard during OTAs, and he is considered an improvement over current starter Johnnie Troutman, who was the lowest-graded right guard by Pro Football Focus in 2014. We'll see how things play out at those two spots in training camp and in the preseason, as there are multiple parties competing for them.
Jimmy Wilson/Jahleel Addae Competition at Strong Safety
Wilson versus Addae for the job of starting strong safety is expected to be one of the team's most heated position battles this summer, and the preseason should help determine the winner. Whoever looks comfortable running with the ones and demonstrates a superior knowledge of defensive coordinator John Pagano's scheme should get the nod.
Preseason Debut for Melvin Gordon, Denzel Perryman
Gordon and Perryman, San Diego's first and second-round picks, are two of the most gifted rookies on the Chargers roster, so much so that both are up for starting roles depending on how they perform leading up to the start of the regular season. Gordon has his sights set on being the featured running back, while Perryman is pushing Donald Butler and Manti Te'o at inside linebacker.
Projected 53-Man Roster
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Quarterback (2): Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens
Running Back (4): Melvin Gordon, Branden Oliver, Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown
Wide Receiver (5): Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Stevie Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Dontrelle Inman
Tight End (4): Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green, John Phillips, David Johnson
Offensive Line (9): King Dunlap, Orlando Franklin, Chris Watt, Johnnie Troutman, D.J. Fluker, Joe Barksdale, Chris Hairston, Trevor Robinson, Jeremiah Sirles
Defensive Line (7): Corey Liuget, Sean Lissemore, Kendall Reyes, Ricardo Mathews, Ryan Carrethers, Mitch Unrein, Luther Robinson
Linebacker (9): Melvin Ingram, Donald Butler, Manti Te'o, Jeremiah Attaochu, Denzel Perryman, Tourek Williams, Kavell Conner, Kyle Emanuel, Cordarro Law
Cornerback (6): Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Patrick Robinson, Steve Williams, Craig Mager, Richard Crawford
Safety (4): Eric Weddle, Jimmy Wilson, Jahleel Addae, Darrell Stuckey
Special Teams (3): Nick Novak, Mike Scifres, Mike Windt
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New Impact Players
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1. RB Melvin Gordon
Gordon took the college football world by storm with his abilities at Wisconsin, and the Chargers hope to get the same out of him as their lead back with Ryan Mathews now in Philadelphia. Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead will be a part of the attack as well in some fashion, but all eyes are on Gordon to perform up to expectations.
2. WR Stevie Johnson
Johnson's brief stint with San Francisco did not bear much fruit, but things will be different in San Diego, as he is set to replace Eddie Royal in the slot. The veteran receiver is already generating some positive buzz in camp, as he made "several fine plays" over the weekend, per Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
3. OL Orlando Franklin
Franklin steps in to play left guard for the Chargers, where he and tackle King Dunlap have banded to make up possibly the most imposing one-two punch on the offensive line. His presence next to the ever-improving Dunlap should allow OC Frank Reich to have some renewed confidence in his run game as well as protection for quarterback Philip Rivers.
4. LB Denzel Perryman
Perryman let ball-carriers have it at the collegiate level with some thumping hits inside the box, and it's pretty safe to say the Chargers won't ask him to change his approach in that regard. He brings a physical demeanor to the way San Diego goes about stopping the run, which it struggled dearly with in 2014.
5. WR/KR Jacoby Jones
Jones could see some occasional snaps on offense, but his real purpose is on special teams, where he is still considered one of the most dangerous return men in the game. Not only can the Chargers count on him for better field position, but he's always a threat to take one back to the house.
Key Regular-Season Matchups
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Week 5 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Return of Antonio Gates
Not only is this a prime-time game for the Chargers, but it also marks the first game back from suspension for Gates, who was served with a four-game ban in July for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. They will most certainly welcome him back with open arms as they go up against one of the worst passing defenses from 2014.
Week 6 at Green Bay Packers: Bolts Defense Faces Reigning MVP
The Chargers defense may be in for its biggest test of the season when it faces the league's reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' high-octane offense. On top of trying to defend Green Bay's receiving duo of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, the Bolts' front seven will have the difficult task of bringing down running back Eddie Lacy, all 230-plus pounds of him.
Week 11 vs. Kansas City Chiefs: AFC West Race Heats Up
The second half of the season features five divisional opponents, beginning with a home game against the troublesome Chiefs, who completed a sweep of the Chargers last season. Here's hoping the offensive line can get in front of linebacker Justin Houston this time instead of allowing him to collect four sacks like he did in the season finale against San Diego.
Week 17 at Denver Broncos: Win or Go Home
The last few games of the season tend to have major importance toward the Chargers' postseason chances, and if that trend continues in 2015, the Broncos may be the last obstacle standing in the way of a playoff bid. Of course, winning in Denver is easier said than done for the Bolts, but as many of us remember from that Thursday night game in 2013, it's feasible.
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