With training camp just under way, and the preseason right around the corner, hopes have never been higher in sunny San Diego.
And why shouldn't they be? The Chargers are coming off a season that saw them advance further than they had ever done since their Super Bowl season of '94 and they won their first playoff game in over a decade.
But like all teams around the league, the Chargers need to address certain questions about their team if they hope to be making a February visit to Tampa Bay.
Here my five burning questions the Chargers need to answer before the start of the season, if they hope to make this season as "Super" as they hope to.
1. Who will be the third cornerback?
The Situation
With the departure of talented, but mistake prone, CB Drayton Florence to Jacksonville, and the two starting CB jobs locked up by Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie, the Chargers need to find out who will be the third CB early on, so that they can get as much time with the first team as possible, in preparation for the season.
Why It Matters
The Chargers have established themselves as part of the NFL's elite, joining New England and Indianapolis, respectively. It is these two teams that make the need to find the third CB so urgent. Both of these teams have a trio of talented receivers and like to use them as often as they can.
If the Chargers hope to advance to the big game, they will need to beat at least one, if not both, of these teams to get there. The right corner will go a long way to accomplishing that.
The Candidates
Antoine Cason
Cason, the big-play corner from Arizona, was the Chargers' first-round pick in last April's draft, and he has really impressed the coaching staff in offseason workouts. Cason just ended a short holdout and was there for the first full-team practice. He figures to run with the first-team defense and is the lead candidate for the job. If he does win the battle, the Chargers' defense will feature three first-round cornerbacks.
Paul Oliver
Oliver was a fourth-round supplemental draft pick for the Chargers in 2007. Oliver saw limited time in preseason and was relegated to the practice squad. Oliver has made strides this offseason, while impressing the coaches. Oliver is also seeing time as the backup safety.
Cletis Gordon
Gordon, a three-year undrafted veteran saw the most playing time of his career last season, as he contributed on special teams and saw time at corner in certain situations last year. Gordon, whose nickname is "Flash", has the ideal size and speed to play corner, though his lack of experience hurts him.
The Winner: Antoine Cason
The Chargers didn't draft him in the first round if they weren't going to play him. Expect for him to see a lot of time in preseason and be the third corner on opening day.
2. Who is backing up L.T.?
The Situation
With "the best backup in the NFL" Michael Turner gone to Atlanta, the Chargers have a large void to fill behind the human cyborg that is LaDainian Tomlinson.
Why It Matters
11 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Raider Revenge Payback 11 months ago
Question 6: Has the window of opportunity come and gone. Turner is a team killer. LT will soon pout.
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Ian Philip 11 months ago
Turner is a team killer? Nah, that would be such classy pros as Tim Brown and Jerry Porter.
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Eddie Jackman 11 months ago
If you think Rivers is at 100% after having knee reconstruction where they drilled his patella tendon into where his ACL used to be...your crazy.
Rivers knee will affect his game this season...it takes most pros a year plus for that ligament to totally cement itslef and strengthen itself in place and for the athlete to get his confidence back. Rivers is only 6 months off of surgery...I would expect this to be a challenge for the offense.
Luckily you have LT who he just hand off to and may do more so this season...but then you risk LT getting injured.
Do not discount Rivers knee surgery - it was not a small affair.
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Jordan Lee 11 months ago
all of the reports i am hearing is that Rivers is back to 100%. Rivers has said himself that sometimes he forgets what knee was injured. now whether the knee will affect him come gameday remains to be seen. but everything i have to go by says he is healed.
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William Berry 11 months ago
Um just a small comment. I think SD plays a 3-4 base and there are no MLBs just ILBs. I could be waaaay of about what defense they use though.
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Jordan Lee 11 months ago
thank you for toe comment. you are indeed correct that the chargers run the 3-4 and that the 3-4 uses ILB's not MLB's. thank you for the correction.
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Brett Lissenden 11 months ago
nice article. funny to see a raiders fan talking negative about the chargers.
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Raider Revenge Payback 11 months ago
I'm not negative on chargers. Just pro Raiders. You guys are at the top for now so the bar is set and I believe the Raiders are more hungry than ever. I respect the chargers and I really hope that the AFC west regain our respect as the toughest division in football. I feel that Coach Turner will not get the chargers to be that elite group that everyone is predicting them to be. I also was not aware that rivers knee was that bad. Hmmmmmm.
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Tosten Burks 11 months ago
I don't really think that there's much competition to be the nickel back in San Diego. From what I saw in training camp, Cason was always the guy who lined up with the first team in 11 on 11 drills when the offense went three wide. AJ Smith loves the guy and drafted him specifically to stop Wes Welker, New England's #3 slot guy. Paul and Cletis are definitely in a battle to be 4th on the depth chart though. It should be interesting how that turns out, with Oliver being converted to safety amidst all this.
The running back situation should be interesting. I see Sproles getting playing time even when LDT is healthy. I'd be surprised if San Diego gives Tomlinson 330 carries or whatever it was again this year, with him getting up there in years. I see Darren getting opportunities as a change of pace back throughout games - no matter who is the starter. If Tomlinson goes down, I agree that the offense goes to a timeshare. I think Hester and Sproles will split carries though; I don't see Marcus Thomas being involved that much. The Bolts traded up to get Hester. That's the guy they targeted, the guy they wanted. The Thomas draft pick seems to me more like AJ just choosing him there because he was the best guy available.
With Cooper out the first four weeks, I agree that Derek Smith probably ends up getting the starting role. Brandon Siler seemed like he was getting some hype, but from what I've seen so far in camp, he's not getting the opportunity with the first team. He seems like he has upside, but he's not getting to work with it. Smith will probably get the job.
Clary should be fine. The rest of the offensive line is solid enough that even if he is a bit subpar, the rest of the line should make up for it for the most part.
Rivers, Tomlinson, and Kaeding all don't worry me at all. Philip played fine in the playoffs against the Patriots without any ACL at all, I don't worry about how he'll do with a new one. Hardwick and Gates really scare me though. Hardwick is looking like he'll start the year on the PUP. That's never good. And I'd be surprised if Gates played week 1, although I do think he'll be good to go a few weeks in and the week 1 matchup against the Panthers shouldn't be extremely tough even for a Gates-less Chargers squad. Luis Castillo's extension also makes me a little bit, anxious, I guess is the right word, about Jamal's health. He'll probably be fine, but the locking up of the d-line anchor of the future makes me a bit worried about the d-line anchor of the present.
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Raider Card Addict 11 months ago
The number 5 on the list, is going to be critical. There's a lot of clubs in the NFL right now, that one injury, could cripple a team. Take a look at the Colts. What happens if Peyton Manning went down? Or for the Patriots, and all their high power, without Brady?
The Chargers, without LT aren't the same club, because with him out, the format for the team changes, from a running game, to a passing game with some depth. You can't say you'd rather have Chambers than LT, just because, Chambers isn't going to have 20 plus TDs in a year.
Rivers isn't that much of a loss, as long as the replacement QB can hand the ball off, things will go fine.
If you wanted to throw a number 6 up there, you could label it age....LT's 29 right now, and coming off an injury. If you don't think it's a big deal, ask the owners of Shaun Alexander where his production went, or Marshall Faulk, or even Curtis Martin.
Age isn't a fun thing to fight with.
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Dan Ferranti 11 months ago
So what you are saying is that any team that loses their top player will have a problem competing?!? That is so insightful. Thank you.
I am sitting here trying to figure out who it is on the Raiders that if they went out, the Raiders' season would be over but I can't figure it out. I'm guessing maybe Morrison or Asomugha. Maybe it is because apart from the CB the team really does lack superstars. Hmm, must be why they've only won 19 games in the last 5 seasons.
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