What Merriman Means For The Chargers

San Diego's 8-8 season had to be a disappointment to some fans despite making it through the first round of the playoffs. This is a team that one 14 and 11 games the previous two seasons respectively. The team didn't really add a big name free agent of the spring but... well, maybe it did. The return to outside linebacker Shawn Merriman from injury has to feel like getting a All-Pro in a position where there wasn't one last year, because that's what they're doing. 

Much of the coaching staff's difficulties last year on defense centered around replacing Merriman's substantial contributions. This year, the coaching staff has the happy problem of putting "Lights Out" back into the picture. It doesn't take a football savant to figure out why the finished last in the League in pass defense last year. Adding a piece like Merriman will help rectify that. 

To be sure, Merriman won't fix everything. The staff has already placed a premium on this area of their defensive scheme by selecting Outside Linebacker Larry English in the first round of this year's draft. If English can be replacement level at the position right off the bat than the coach's job will be easy, if he struggles (as rookie's are sometimes found to be doing) than they'll have to play doctor in the position opposite Merriman. 

Until, English is able to prove himself, however, Shaun Phillips could share time with the rookie. But with a wealth of OLB on the roster, the coaches could get creative to best use their talents. Rush defense was also a bit of a whole last year and if the coaches are smart they can use the talents of the three pass rushers to help shore up the front seven. 

If English can play with the pros, he and Merriman could hit the outside holes hard (does Merriman hit any other way?) and Philips could spend more time in the middle, blitzing when necessary. With more to play with Coach Turner could have a field day coming up with schemes to best drain the most juice from his linebackers.

When it comes to the Chargers linebackers, more is definitely more if Turner and his coaches can maximize their talent.