Can Shawne Merriman Make the 2009 San Diego Chargers a Super Bowl Contender?

The San Diego Chargers have established themselves as one of the top teams in the AFC, they are often tagged as the most talented team in football and have won the AFC west three times in a row, but what about 2009? What should we expect from the 2009-10 San Diego Chargers?

I'll give it to you straight. The Chargers will be dissapointed by anything less than a final four appearance, with any luck they should be in the Super Bowl.

Last year they were projected by many to represent the AFC in the NFL's final game. That was before they lost Shawne Merriman. The San Diego defense fell apart without their leader.  This year Shawne Merriman by all accounts should be back to his usual nightmare-for-quarterbacks self.

Add to that first round selection Larry English and this defense could be back to the terror it was in 2007 when they picked off Tom Brady and Peyton Manning a combined total of 15 times in four games. 

Another problem last season was the Chargers' running game. LaDainian Tomlinson suffered a toe injury that apparently hampered his performance most of the season, though he still finished with over 1,000 yards.

Darren Sproles did raise some eyebrows but questions linger about this duo that is now the highest paid two running backs on any team in the NFL.

The problem is that they have smaller (LT) and smallest (Sproles) as their running back combo. Jacob Hester will have a hard time filling the role of bruising fullback they could use.

Mike Tolbert and rookie Gartrell Johnson are the glimmer of hope for the bulldozer they need. This will likely be the determining factor if the Chargers can make the impact they want to make. 

While the Chargers did have a dissappointing running offense last year, Philip Rivers and the passing game was one of the top in the NFL. Rivers, though snubbed as a Pro-Bowl selection, was statistically the best QB in the NFL and managed the 2nd highest scoring offense. This is likely to continue especially if the run game can become dominant like it once was.

The Chargers' journey to the playoffs should not be a problem as the AFC West is in shambles. Kansas City will likely be the biggest competition as they lost many games last year by slim margins, the addition of Matt Cassel may produce a couple extra win, but I see them struggling without Tony Gonzalez to make .500.

The Denver Broncos are a big question mark but without the explosiveness of Jay Cutler it will be tough for them to make as much of a splash as they did last year.

Al Davis and his Oakland Raiders will continue to beat themselves, last I checked Vegas's odds on Janikowski making a 76 yard field goal are still pretty slim, I guess it is one way to up the entertainment value of a football club.

The Chargers should have no problem being one of the most explosive and exciting teams to watch this year between the reinstatement of their turnover heavy defense and top scoring offense. I'm predicting a 12-4 season taking them all the way to the AFC championship.