San Diego Chargers' All-Time Underrated Team

Everyone knows the all-time great San Diego Chargers—Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kellen Winslow, to name a few—however, the Chargers have also produced many excellent players that will never make the Hall of Fame or be commonly recognized by NFL fans.

That shouldn’t be, and it’s why we're presenting the San Diego Chargers All-Time Underrated Team to shed some light on the unknown greats the Bolts have produced.

This team will feature the 11 positions on offense and defense, along with a third-down running back, a change-of-pace running back and a nickel cornerback. A kicker and punter are also included.

For a player to make this list, the following criteria was considered:

1. The player must not be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame or be an obvious lock for induction.

2. The player was only considered for what he did with the Chargers.

3. The player must be overlooked by fans outside of San Diego despite their high level of impact, thus being underrated.

After the list, we’ll briefly touch upon how this team would fare in the 2014 NFL season. Since the goal is to construct the best possible roster of underrated Chargers players for today’s league, a slight preference will be given toward those who have played in the NFL more recently, and no fullback will be present on the roster.

Let’s start with the most important position in football—the quarterback.

All statistics are via Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.

Quarterback: Stan Humphries

Associated Press

Key Stat: Led five game-winning drives in 1994 (1st in the NFL), two of which were in the playoffs.

Stan Humphries never matched the longevity or statistical genius of Fouts or Philip Rivers, but he remains the only quarterback to ever take the Chargers to a Super Bowl.

In the 1994 playoffs, Humphries topped Dan Marino’s Dolphins on a fourth quarter touchdown pass to Mark Seay, coming back from a 21-6 halftime deficit. Next week, he helped rally San Diego from a 10-point deficit versus the Steelers in the AFC championship game.

Renowned for his toughness, Humphries played six years with the Chargers, compiling a 47-29 record and a 77.1 quarterback rating. Although never a Pro Bowler, his 1994 season was one of the most memorable in San Diego history. He retired in 1998, and the Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf a few months later.

Running Back: Marion Butts

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Key Stat: Retired with the most carries and the second-most rushing yards in Chargers history.

Marion Butts really had just one great year with San Diego—his sophomore season in 1990, in which he totaled 1,342 yards from scrimmage, 4.6 yards per carry, zero fumbles and his first Pro Bowl berth.

At his best, Butts was a punishing runner in the Larry Csonka/Marshawn Lynch mold. He could bully defensive backs and even linebackers once he got to the second level of the defense.

Butts’ most memorable game came in the 1992 playoffs, where he ran over the Chiefs to the tune of 119 yards and 7.93 yards per carry in a San Diego win.

Being a one-season wonder, memories of Butts are few and far between, however, becoming the Chargers’ all-time leading rusher as a seventh-round pick isn’t an uneventful career by any means. He’ll be the Ryan Mathews of the All-Time Underrated Team’s offense—next is the team’s Danny Woodhead.

3rd Down Running Back: Ronnie Harmon

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Key Stat: Finished his career with 6,076 yards receiving.

Ronnie Harmon went to the West Coast after four years in Buffalo and enjoyed a breakout season in 1992, in which he had 914 receiving yards along with 235 yards rushing. He could also return kicks, totaling 1,415 kickoff return yards in his career.

Harmon was never known as a between-the-tackles grinder, but as a receiver out of the backfield, he was one of the best in the NFL. The Chargers’ strategy was always fairly obvious on third down, tossing it to Harmon whenever possible and having him make defenders look silly. It rarely failed.

Harmon gave Humphries a fail-safe in the early '90s—he will do the same on this team.

Change-of-Pace Running Back: Michael Turner

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Key Stat: 5.5 yards per carry in four years with the Chargers.

Michael Turner started just one game with the Chargers, but he rushed for over 1,200 yards and added six touchdowns behind the heavily-used Tomlinson. His best Chargers season came in 2006, in which he had 549 yards from scrimmage on a ridiculous 6.3 yards per carry, along with 954 kickoff return yards.

Turner had a classic size/speed combination that scared defenders nearly as much as Tomlinson did, shown in this run versus the Broncos.

The candidates for this spot were evaluated for their work as a reliever in San Diego, not for what they did as a lead back. With that in mind, Turner will be the Donald Brown of this squad, taking over for Butts when necessary and running over spent defenders.

Wide Receiver: Gary Garrison

USA Today Sports

Key Stat: 18th in NFL history with 18.6 yards per catch.

The man across from Hall of Famer Lance Alworth, Gary Garrison compiled 7,533 receiving yards in 11 years with the Bolts. His best season came in 1970, in which he had 1,006 yards receiving (fourth in the NFL), 12 touchdowns and a ridiculous 22.9 yards per catch.

In 1969 versus Joe Namath and the New York Jets, Garrison had the best game of his career, with 10 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Garrison had to share the spotlight with Alworth, which is a big reason why he isn’t recognized as one of the Chargers’ greatest players. He still gave defensive coordinators plenty of sleepless nights.

One of the best deep threats in NFL history, Garrison will continue that role on this team, stretching the field so Butts, Harmon and Turner have plenty of room to work with.

Wide Receiver: John Jefferson

USA Today Sports

Key Stat: Led the NFL with 1,340 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 1980.

In his first three years in the NFL, John Jefferson had 3,431 yards receiving, 36 touchdowns, three Pro Bowl invites and perhaps the sweetest one-handed catch the NFL had ever seen. The sky was the limit.

Then, the Chargers traded Jefferson to Green Bay after a contract dispute, and he all but disappeared.

What Jefferson lacked in longevity, he made up for with incredible skill, hands and athletic ability. His playing style was much like Lynn Swann’s with the Steelers.

Jefferson’s greatness helped “Air Coryell” break numerous offensive records for three consecutive seasons. A young Jefferson would be tailor-made for the modern NFL, and he was a staple on highlight reels for the very brief time he starred in San Diego.

Wide Receiver: Anthony Miller

Chris Covatta/Getty Images

Key Stat: Had four seasons of 900+ receiving yards in San Diego.

Always a candidate to make the big play, Anthony Miller broke out in 1989 with 1,252 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He went to Denver following the 1993 season, which meant he missed out on San Diego’s lone Super Bowl appearance, and he was thus forgotten in Chargers lore.

Regardless, the speedy Miller put up some impressive numbers in San Diego’s mediocre passing game from 1988-1993. On the All-Time Underrated Team, Miller will work the intermediate area of the field, while Garrison goes deep and Jefferson makes ridiculous catches in the end zone.

Tight End: Dave Kocourek

USA Today Sports

Key Stat: Played in seven AFL Championship games, five with the Chargers.

Like most tight ends in the sixties, Dave Kocourek could block. But his catching ability rivaled both John Mackey’s and Mike Ditka’s. As a flanker in 1961, Kocourek had 1,055 receiving yards and four touchdowns, making the first of his four AFL All-Star appearances. Against the Buffalo Bills that season, Kocourek had 175 yards—on three catches.

Although his statistics naturally fell when he moved to tight end, Kocourek still put up impressive numbers as both an underneath option and deep threat in Sid Gillman’s offense.

With Kocourek’s ability to split out wide as a flanker, he would have been a great option as a receiving tight end in today’s NFL.

Left Tackle: Marcus McNeill

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Key Stat: Made the Pro Bowl in his first two NFL seasons.

It’s tough to describe through stats how good Marcus McNeill was in his first four NFL seasons, since he doesn’t have any easy go-to numbers like wide receivers and running backs do.

What we do have to go off of is the success of the team around him—in 2006, when Tomlinson was setting records left and right, McNeill was a key component in the Chargers’ rushing attack, finishing fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. That season, McNeill wasn’t called for holding once, per ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli. He and guard Kris Dielman formed one of the best left sides in NFL history.

At 6’8” and 335 pounds, McNeill overwhelmed smaller defenders, but was also sharp enough technically to thrive in pass protection.

After six seasons with the Chargers, McNeill retired due to back and neck injuries. The brevity of McNeill’s career will likely make him a forgotten great in NFL history, but for a brief moment, McNeill could block and protect as well as any lineman in football.

Right Tackle: Billy Shields

Uncredited/Associated Press

Key Stat: Played nine seasons in San Diego, starting every game he played in seven of them.

Just like McNeill, Billy Shields was 6’8”, which sounds pretty good. But this was 6’8” in the '70s NFL—players of that size might as well have been unicorns.

Shields had the technique to go along with his height, and was Dan Fouts’ blindside protector throughout the best days of Air Coryell.

The tackle tandem of McNeill and Shields will give the Chargers’ All-Time Underrated Team two long and tall linemen that can hold up against the best of NFL pass-rushers.

Left Guard: Eric Moten

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Key Stat: Started 61 games in his five-year career with the Chargers.

Eric Moten had a brief stay in the NFL, but he was a solid enforcer for the Bolts in the early '90s. At 6’3” and 306 pounds, he had the heft needed to open up holes for runners such as Butts and Natrone Means.

Moten’s 1992 iteration will be the starter at left guard for this team, the best year of his career.

Right Guard: Louis Vasquez

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Key Stat: Louis Vasquez was called for just one penalty in his four-year Chargers stint, per Rotoworld.

Vasquez is best known for what he’s currently doing with the Denver Broncos, earning his first Pro Bowl bid in 2013 while protecting Peyton Manning.

However, Vasquez got his big-money contract in Denver by first being a top-level guard in San Diego. According to Pro Football Focus, Vasquez had an 8.9 pass-blocking rating in 2012, eighth-best in the league.

Moten and Vasquez will give this team a guard tandem that will keep Humphries upright, and the running backs happy.

Center: Courtney Hall

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Key Stat: Missed just one regular-season game from 1989-95.

A smart and versatile lineman that could play center and both guard spots, Courtney Hall paved the way for Butts and Natrone Means when both runners had career years.

Hall’s pre-snap recognition will make this already great line in pass protection even better.

Now with the offense formed, let’s switch to the defensive side of the Chargers All-Time Underrated Team.

Defensive Tackle: Lee Williams

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Key Stat: Averaged more than 10 sacks per season from 1985-1990.

Lee Williams had a four-year statistical stretch as good as any pass-rusher in league history—15 sacks in 1986, eight sacks in 1987 (in 12 games), 11 sacks in 1988 and 14 sacks in 1989. These numbers are even more impressive considering Williams was 6’6”, which made it tougher for him to get leverage versus offensive linemen.

As an interior pass-rusher, few were better than Williams, but his best years came when the Chargers failed to make any sort of playoff noise. The team’s lack of memorability at the time made Williams a forgotten piece of Chargers history.

Williams was a pass-rushing king at defensive end in the Chargers’ 3-4. He’ll remain on the interior of this defense as a 4-3 defensive tackle.

Defensive Tackle: Ernie Ladd

Associated Press

Key Stat: Ernie Ladd was 6’9” and 290 pounds—big even by today’s standards.

In a superb five-year stretch with the Chargers, Ladd was selected to the AFL All-Star team four times and as a First Team All-AFL player three times. He helped the Chargers become the top defense in the AFL in 1963 and win the league’s championship game.

Ladd’s size often overwhelmed opponents, and his height allowed him to see over the trenches—an easy way to find out where the running back is going.

Per RememberTheAFL.com, Patriots center Jon Morris had quite the quote on playing against Ladd:

“It was dark,” Morris said. “I couldn’t see the linebackers. I couldn’t see the goalposts. It was like being locked in a closet.”

There’s a theme here—this team of underrated Chargers players is going to be really freaking tall.

Defensive End: Earl Faison

Associated Press

Key Stat: Had five interceptions in five seasons with the Chargers despite playing as an end.

Ladd’s partner in crime, Earl Faison was one of the AFL’s premier pass-rushers in its heyday. His athleticism (Faison played wide receiver at Indiana University) and relentlessness helped him earn five AFL All-Star nods with the Bolts.

Faison was left off the AFL All-Time Team despite his achievements, which has made him a forgotten name in pro football lore.

In today’s game, Faison would fit in perfectly due to his size (6’5”, 270 lbs.) and speed. He would particularly be a menace against the pass, where he could be effective either dropping into coverage or getting after the quarterback.

Defensive End: Shaun Phillips

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Key Stat: Forced 18 fumbles in a five-year stretch with the Chargers (2005-09).

Shaun Phillips was rarely noticed during his time with the Bolts, earning just one Pro Bowl bid. He had several standout seasons, with 2006 being his best—he tallied 11.5 sacks that year and forced four fumbles. Phillips was the Chargers’ most consistent defensive player for nearly a decade.

However, consistency won’t get a pass-rusher noticed unless if it involves 18 sacks a season. Phillips has never been that type of player, but he can play both on and off the line as a linebacker or end. His versatility equals defensive flexibility.

Despite Phillips primarily being an outside linebacker during his time in San Diego, he can spend a season closer to the line—he had 10 sacks with the Broncos last season while playing defensive end on passing downs.

Middle Linebacker: Gary Plummer

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Key Stat: Made 486 tackles during a four-year stretch with the Chargers (1988-91).

Although Gary Plummer is best known for winning a Super Bowl with the 49ers, he played eight years with the Chargers after being undrafted out of California.

San Diego got an incredible bargain. Plummer missed just nine games in eight seasons with the Chargers and surpassed 100 tackles four times. He made up for his lack of athleticism with intelligence and intensity.

Al Saunders, who coached Plummer in San Diego, had a particularly high opinion of the middle linebacker, according to Dennis Georgatos of the Associated Press.

''He plays with unbelievable intensity,” Saunders said. “He does everything with emotion and commitment. He's smart. He does the right thing and that's why he's playing and still playing. Our defense, without him, would not be the same.''

Outside Linebacker: Rick Redman

USA Today Sports

Key Stat: Made nine interceptions in eight NFL seasons.

A Charger his entire career, Rick Redman played all three linebacker positions and even punted for the Bolts. He led the team with 117 tackles in 1970, per Christopher Smith of Chargers.com, and was an AFL All-Star in 1967.

Redman’s versatility is a huge help for the more limited Plummer on the All-Time Underrated Team. And if the team’s punter goes down, Redman can take his place admirably.

Outside Linebacker: Billy Ray Smith

Mike Powell/Getty Images

Key Stat: Recorded 11 sacks in 1986.

After three underwhelming seasons at inside linebacker, Billy Ray Smith moved to the outside and never looked back. On the edge he was a quarterback’s worst enemy, rushing the passer and also calling plays for the defense.

Smith wasn’t a one-dimensional player by any means. He could stop the run, proven by his 110 tackles in 1986, per the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Plaschke. He also thrived in pass coverage, picking off 15 passes with the Chargers, including five in 1987.

Smith never made the Pro Bowl and battled with injuries throughout his tenure with the Chargers. That is why his days as a player are relatively unknown outside of San Diego (and Arkansas, where he went to college). But few excelled at every aspect of linebacking like Smith did.

Cornerback: Dick Harris

Tales From the American Football League

Key Stat: Made 25 interceptions in four seasons (1960-63).

Dick Harris earned two first-team All-Pro nods in his first two seasons with the Chargers, partly due to his propensity for picking off any pass that came his way. With the AFL’s best pass-rush in front of him, Harris had plenty of opportunities to snatch up errant throws. In 1961, he led the league with three interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Harris was nicknamed “Chuckles” for his role as the team clown, per AFL writer Todd Tobias. He spent six years with the Chargers as a cornerback and a punt returner.

Cornerback: Mike Williams

Michael Zagaris, Getty Images

Key Stat: Started 100 games for the Chargers at cornerback from 1975-82.

Mike Williams, a first-round pick out of LSU, was not only a trailblazer in college but an excellent cover corner as well. He had 18 interceptions in a five-year span (1975-79) and was San Diego’s reliable starter at right cornerback for over half a decade.

Williams never made a Pro Bowl, but starting 100 games speaks for itself. On the All-Time Underrated Team, he will be the steady cover corner opposite Harris’ turnover-loving self.

Nickel Cornerback: Joe Beauchamp

SportsAttic2.com

Key Stat: His 23 career interceptions were third in team history when he retired.

The best nickel cornerbacks are the ones that can tackle. Joe Beauchamp certainly fit that description, as he played every defensive back position throughout his 10 years with the Chargers, including three as a safety.

Beauchamp had five interceptions as a safety in 1968, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Three years later, he had four interceptions as the Chargers’ right cornerback. The following season, he made six interceptions as the Chargers’ left cornerback.

Few provided as much versatility—along with success—in the secondary as Beauchamp did.

Safety: Kenny Graham

USA Today Sports

Key Stat: Named to the AFL All-Star Team four times in five seasons.

Kenny Graham hit hard. Really hard. Jets’ running back Emerson Boozer said he was the hardest-hitting player in all of football, per RememberTheAFL.com. Former teammate Bob Petrich compared Graham to Rodney Harrison, calling the 1966 All-Pro fearless and antagonistic, according to AFL writer Todd Tobias.

But Graham wasn’t just a legendary enforcer—he made 25 interceptions in his career with San Diego, five of which were returned for touchdowns. He was named to the All-Time AFL 2nd team in 1970.

Graham will be the Kam Chancellor of this All-Time Underrated Chargers defense, making pass-catchers wince with his physicality.

Safety: Eric Weddle

DENIS POROY/Associated Press

Key Stat: Made 12 pass deflections and seven interceptions in 2011.

Although well-known as a top-shelf safety in today’s NFL, Eric Weddle could be a forgotten player in football history a few decades from now, due to just one career All-Pro berth and the reputation of San Diego as a lackluster defensive team.

And he shouldn’t be. Despite a consistently mediocre supporting cast, Weddle has kept the Chargers defense tied together with his ability in deep coverage and near the line of scrimmage. He made 88 tackles in 2013, an unusually high number for a defensive back, along with a 9.5 coverage rating by Pro Football Focus, seventh among safeties.

In this team’s defense, Weddle will clean up anything the front seven can’t, and he can cover deep to give Harris and Williams extra support.

Special Teams: Kicker Nate Kaeding & Punter Dennis Partee

LM Otero/Associated Press

Kaeding’s Key Stat: Made 91.4% of his field goals in the 2009 regular season.

Yes, Nate Kaeding was never Adam Vinatieri in the playoffs, but he made 87 percent of his regular season field goals in his nine-year career with the Chargers.

Partee’s Key Stat: Ranked first in yards per punt (44.6) in the 1969 AFL season.

Dennis Partee served as the Chargers’ punter for eight seasons, and also kicked.

How Would This Offense Fare in 2014?

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It is tough to make a flawless projection about this team’s transition to the modern NFL, due to the sweeping changes made to league rules. The players are also simply becoming bigger, faster and stronger. But let’s try anyway.

Even if Humphries’ quarterbacking abilities got a boost due to the stricter rules on defenses, the Chargers All-Time Underrated Team would feature plenty of the running game, using Butts and Turner to wear down the opposing defense’s front seven.

That’s not to say Humphries is without options in the passing game, though. Miller and Harmon give him two options in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Those two pass-catchers would likely have the most receptions on this squad.

Garrison’s stats would fall, but his impact as a field-stretcher makes the lives of the running backs significantly easier.

Jefferson and Kocourek would give the team two big options in the red zone, if Butts or Turner failed to punch it in.

The offensive line features two massive protectors at tackle, and their size will allow them to hold up against some of the league’s better pass-rushers. The interior of the line doesn’t feature any ferocious run blockers, which could make the team struggle in short-yardage situations. Their smarts and excellence in pass protection need to make up for those deficiencies.

The offense would likely be a quick-hitting passing game that relies on the running backs to convert short-yardage situations. It has a couple of big-play options like Garrison, but the team would struggle if they needed several scores in a short amount of time—that’s why the defense has to keep it close.

How Would This Defense Fare in 2014?

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The defense has two fast ends in Faison and Phillips that can generate pressure quickly. Their ability in run support would be something to keep an eye on, however, as they are on the lighter side. Williams and Ladd would be one of the NFL’s biggest defensive tackle duos. Williams’ backfield penetration and Ladd’s penchant for stuffing the run make this a tandem to be feared.

The linebackers feature Plummer, a fiery leader in the middle, and two versatile cover ‘backers in Smith and Redman. Plummer might struggle wrapping up a guy like LeSean McCoy in the open field, so the imaginary defensive coordinator of this team will limit his duties in space and have him do what he does best—stop runs between the tackles.

The secondary is an interesting case, featuring four defenders who haven’t played since the '80s. Weddle would likely play deep most of the time in case if Harris and Williams need assistance. Graham would be the surprise star of this hypothetical group, making hits that even Bernard Pollard would blush at.

This defense would be strong up the middle and have one of the best pass rushes in the league. That might not be enough if teams are ripping off long gains via off-tackle runs and getting their playmakers in space, however.

Which underrated Chargers players should have made the cut? How do you think this team would fare in today’s NFL? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.