Team Preview: San Diego Chargers

San Diego’s 11-5 record last season was less reflective of their success than their run to the AFC Championship game. For all intents and purposes, this was the second best team in the AFC last year. After a 1-3 start, San Diego realized how hard it was to have a passing game with no legitimate #1 receivers. In turn, they traded for Chris Chambers from Miami, who went on to lead the team in receiving in 6 of his 10 games with the team. In 3 playoff games Chambers had 16 catches for 278 yards and 1 touchdown. With Chambers in the lineup, Vincent Jackson is able to fill the role as a #2 receiver, freeing up some room for Antonio Gates to work against single coverage. The addition of Chambers was key to the Chargers success last year as they went 8-2 after acquiring him from Miami.

San Diego’s front office was under fire last year after their 1-3 start. In the offseason, the Chargers fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer who had lead the team to a 14-2 record the year before. New coach Norv Turner was on the hot seat, but his 6 straight wins going into the playoffs, along with the run to the AFC Championship game, helped ease the concerns of the Charger faithful.

It’s hard to believe I have been talking about the Chargers and not yet mentioned LT. This is the catalyst of the offense. As the running game goes, so go the Chargers. Going into last year LT was hands-down the best back in the league. This year will tell if he is able to come back from injury and regain his elite form. The Chargers lost backup Michael Turner to Atlanta in free agency, but young speedster Darren Sproles has shown a penchant for making big plays at key times, like taking a screen pass to the house against Indy in the playoffs last year.

Phillip Rivers, the third part of the 2004 QB club, is also coming off of an injury. While he says he is not 100% yet, the Chargers have a solid line and will be able to protect him enough for him to find receivers. As the Giants showed last season, you don’t need a record-breaking quarterback to win the Super Bowl, you just need one that can make the passes when it counts.

On defense, San Diego will be formidable as always, with Shawne “roid-pumper” Merriman anchoring a solid linebacking corps. San Diego’s real strength (and one of the reasons why Indy hasn’t been able to beat them) is their secondary. The aptly named Quentin Jammer and last year’s corner-sensation Antonio Cromartie shut down the outsides, with first-round draft pick Antoine Cason (DB-Arizona) waiting in the wings. San Diego had a league high 30 interceptions last year, 8 more than any other team. San Diego also came in 5th in the league in sacks, resulting in a defense that ranked 5th in the league in scoring defense.

San Diego seems to be a team that has all the makings for a Super Bowl run. They are clearly the class of the AFC West, and will likely finish at least 4 games ahead of the 2nd place team. They may very well be the only team in this division to break .500. San Diego only faces 3 teams that had winning records last year (New England, Pittsburgh, Indy) and of those they only have to play Pittsburgh on the road. Expect San Diego’s numbers to return to their 2006 form, and look for Phillip Rivers to have a breakout year. All the pieces are in place for this team to go deep into the playoffs, and maybe even take home the hardware at the end of the year.

Ian’s 2008 Prediction: 14-2
John’s 2008 Prediction: 12-4