DRAFT REVIEW

1 (27):  CB Antoine Cason (Arizona) - The Chargers went with the best available player on their board which happened to fill a need for them at cornerback.  Cason was a four-year starter at Arizona.  The knock on Cason was his speed, but at the Combine he proved his doubters wrong.  He shows good closing speed and displays good ball skills.  He is an instinctive corner that is effective in both man-to-man and zone coverage.  He does a terrific job in run support.  He is a good open field tackler.  He struggles in press coverage and might have a difficult time against the more physical receivers in the NFL.  But it is a big plus that he has great character.  He will step in and be the nickel cornerback that the Chargers desperately need.

3 (69):  FB/RB Jacob Hester (LSU) - The team traded up into the third round to select the multi-dimensional Hester out of LSU.  He is a tweener.  He can contribute in many different ways.  Hester is a football player.  He can carry the ball, catch it and will block.  He gained over 1,000 yards during his senior season and scored 12 TD’s.  He is a hard-worker.  Hester always got the ball in those short yardage situations at LSU and most importantly converted those situations into first downs.  With Turner gone, the team needed to find a back to complement LT.  The Chargers filled another need.

5 (166):  RB Marcus Thomas (UTEP) - He had a very good senior season.  This RB has ideal size and pretty good speed.  He has soft hands and can be an effective receiver out of the backfield.  He seems to lack that burst.  Also he has an upright running style which is a cause for injury concerns.  They see the same type of RB that Michael Turner was for them.  I see Hester as more of a backup to LT though.     

6 (192):  CB DeJuan Tribble (Boston College) - He is undersized and lacks great speed.  He won’t test well.  But all he does is make plays on the football field.  He seems to make a lot of plays on the ball.  He has good instincts.  He can also help out on punt returns.  He is an ideal nickel corner.

7 (234):  OT Corey Clark (Texas A&M) - He has good size and quickness for the position.  He also has plenty of experience in the Big 12.  This guy will get a chance to compete at RT and possibly also work at guard.     

The Chargers came away with two experienced cornerbacks from this draft.  They needed depth at that position especially if they want to compete with the Patriots and the Colts in the playoffs.  They also added two running backs.  I like the Hester pick.  He reminds of Brian Leonard from Rutgers who came out last year.  They added an OL.  They seem to find hard-nosed offensive linemen in the later rounds that surprise everyone. 

So far the Chargers have been really quiet this off-season.  They have not tried to pursue any big-name free agents on the market.  The organization is laying low and waiting till the free agency period dies down a bit until they start to go after the less expensive players.  The Chargers need to bring in quality depth at several positions. 

They released veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal who spent five seasons with the team.  They were trying to trade him, but they couldn't find any takers for him.  It was an expected move because backup Andrew Pinnock is ready to take over the starting role.  He played well last season when Neal was out with an injury. 

Free safety Marlon McCree was another roster casualty.  The soon to be 31-year old knew that the team was looking to get younger at the position.  Eric Weddle looks like the front runner for the starting job next season.  But if he unseats Clinton Hart for the starting strong safety job then the team will be looking in a different direction.  Don't be surprised to see CB Paul Oliver get some looks at free safety.  The Chargers might also choose to address this position through the draft if the right guy falls in their lap.  Kenny Phillips out of Miami might still be there on the board when the Chargers (own 27^th pick) select at the end of the first round.  This would have been almost inconceivable midway through last season because Phillips was considered a top 10 pick.  But all of the indications suggest that his stock is falling. 

The team has also cut ties with RT Shane Olivea.  This was a surprise.  The Chargers signed Olivea to a big six-year contract in 2006, but he lost his starting job to Clary midway through last season.  The coaches were unhappy with his overall play.  GM A.J. Smith had a few choice words for Olivea after he cut him.  The team should have kept him through training camp and see if he could regain that fire.  Even if he didn't win the RT job, he would have been a good candidate for the right guard position.  Is Clary the RT of the future?  He is definitely the front runner right now, but the team will bring in someone to compete with him.  Maurice Williams of the Jaguars could be a free agent that the team goes after.  He has a lot of starting experience in the league.  He might a bit expensive.  Mike Rosenthal, who spent last season with the Dolphins, could be a cheaper option.  He was the starting RT with the Vikings prior to his stint with the Fins.  Jeff Otah out of Pittsburgh or Gosder Cherilus out of Boston College project as right tackles in the pros and might be too tempting to pass up at the end of the first round.  

The Chargers made a wise decision by re-signing backup QB Billy Volek to a three-year contract.  There weren't any better options out there on the free agent market.  Plus the team couldn't be too comfortable with the idea of Charlie Whitehurst being the backup for next season especially since Rivers is coming off a serious injury.  ILB Derek Smith was signed to two-year deal after he was released by the 49ers.  Veteran LB has experience playing in the 3-4 defense.  He will be a valuable backup in case Matt Wilhelm continues to be plagued by the injury bug.

Michael Turner signed with the Atlanta Falcons and will no longer be a valuable backup to LT.  He will finally get his chance to be the starting RB in the league.  Anthony Smith of the Bills or T. J. Duckett of the Lions could fill the role of a bigger back in this offense.  Versatile running back Cory Boyd out of South Carolina could be a great option in the later rounds of the draft. 

Drayton Florence was expected to bolt in free agency and he signed a deal with the Jaguars.  The team will be looking for more depth at the cornerback position.  Veteran Aaron Glenn is on his last legs, but he would be a nice option if he was brought here on a one-year deal.  CB Marcus Walker out of Oklahoma would be a terrific pickup in the later rounds of the draft.

The Chargers have always played the Colts tough, but no one could have anticipated what transpired last Sunday afternoon.  The Colts were healthy and rested and wanted to avenge an earlier loss to the Chargers in the regular season.  Yet the Chargers went into the RCA Dome and upset the defending Super Bowl Champions.  They defeated the Colts 28-24 in a game that saw both offenses moving the ball at will in the second half.

After imagining every scenario possible the night before, I never thought that Billy Volek of all people would lead the Chargers down the field on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.  Volek scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line.  He was pressed into game duty after Rivers injured his knee on a touchdown throw to Sproles at the end of the third quarter.  Before the injury, Rivers was very effective against the Colts' defense.  He threw for 264 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception. 

LT was largely ineffective early on in the game before he left with a knee injury in the second quarter.  He never returned in the second half and watched from the sidelines as Michael Turner took his place.  Turner filled in nicely rushing for 71 yards on 17 carries.  Don't forget about Sproles who caught a simple screen pass from Rivers and took it 56 yards for a touchdown.

The Chargers' defense came up big at the end of the game when it stopped the Colts inside their own 10-yard line.  It looked like the Colts were going to score, but the defense held up to preserve the win.   

The Colts' offense was clicking early in the first quarter.  Manning completed 14 straight passes.  They led the game 7-0 and were putting together another solid drive until Marvin Harrison fumbled the ball near the Chargers' 20-yard line.

The Chargers capitalized on that turnover.  They marched down the field and Vincent Jackson capped it off with the touchdown catch.

Manning threw two interceptions during the game.  Both were a result of tipped passes at the line of scrimmage.  Cromartie came away with one pick and returned it for a touchdown until it was called back on a very iffy holding penalty.  Eric Weddle was the guy that got called for that holding penalty, but he later redeemed himself with an interception of his own near the goal line.  The Colts were able to put solid drives together all game long, but they were unable to come away with any points on a few drives inside the red-zone.  This won't happen against the Patriots.

AFC Championship Game:  Patriots 30 Chargers 27

This will be a close battle until the end just like last year's divisional playoff game between these two teams.  I don't anticipate that the Patriots will demolish the Chargers in quite the same way that they did during the week 2 matchup.  The Chargers are a different team right now.  They are on a roll and so are the Patriots.

The Chargers have nothing to lose.  They are a very confident team, maybe too overconfident.  I don't like the fact that some Chargers' players have proclaimed out loud that they are going to win.  They have talked way too much.  They still need to go out on Sunday and prove it on the field.  They have been giving Bill Belichick and the Patriots bulletin material to give them even more motivation leading up to the game.

LT is expected to play on Sunday, but he won't be a 100%.  But expect to see a lot more Turner and Sproles against the Patriots.  Gates is doubtful for this game, but he should play just like he did against the Colts. 

Rivers remains a big question mark.  His injury is a lot more serious than what the Chargers are disclosing at this point.  I expect Bill Belichick to blitz early and often to knock Rivers out of the game if he plays.  There is no way the Chargers will win if Billy Volek is the quarterback for the entire game. 

The Patriots will once again spread the field on offense with multiple wide receiver formations and attempt to move the ball through the air.  They had a lot of success doing just that during an earlier game this season.  But the Chargers' defense isn't the same.  The Chargers will test the Pats' offensive line by putting serious pressure on Brady.  Plus the secondary has played much better in the second half of the season. 

How can the Chargers pull off this monumental upset?

They have to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.  They have to run the football with LT and take some shots downfield with playaction passes very early in the game.  On defense, they have to take away the Pats' run game.  The Chargers need to use Weddle in the slot during this game because he is a talented cover guy.  Ted Cottrell needs to bring pressure early and often.  This game will go down to the wire, and I expect Kaeding to miss a game-tying field goal at the end of the game.  

Divisional Playoff Game:  Colts 27 Chargers 13

My heart tells me that the Chargers will beat the Colts this Sunday, but my head tells me differently. 

I just can't see Peyton Manning throwing six interceptions again the way he did in a week 10 match-up that the Chargers won in a squeaker.  I can't imagine Adam Vinatieri missing another easy field goal to close out the game. 

The Colts are rested.  They get Marvin Harrison back for this game.  Their defense is really underrated.  That defense has played well all season long. 

Saying all of that, the Chargers' defense has given Peyton Manning fits in the past.  He has struggled with the 3-4 alignment that constantly brings pressure.  The Chargers' defense will keep this game close until the fourth quarter.  I just don't think that the offense will be able to keep up.

Antonio Gates is a big part of this offense and he won't play against the Colts this weekend.  He is Rivers' security blanket and he would have exploited the Colts' cover 2 scheme.  He would have worked the middle of the field and opened things up for Chambers and Jackson. 

I still believe that LT will go over the century mark on Sunday, but he won't have enough help from his teammates.  There is no way that Chambers or Jackson will be able to duplicate what they did against the Titans.  Rivers will turn the ball over a couple of times during this game.  My prediction of the Bolts going to the Super Bowl before the season game will not come true.
 

After a horrendous 1-3 start, San Diego finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.  With the win on Sunday against the Raiders, the Chargers have clinched the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.  They finished the regular season on a six game winning streak.  They have a lot of momentum heading into the postseason.  The Patriots and the Colts will obviously get most of the attention and rightfully so.  The Patriots just went undefeated during the regular season, and the Colts are the defending Super Bowl Champions, but I am telling you don't sleep on the Chargers.  This is a very dangerous team that can matchup with anyone. 

After a slow start to the season, LT put the team on his back and carried them into the playoffs.  He led the league with 1,474 rushing yards and also scored 15 rushing touchdowns.   

During the six game-winning streak, Rivers has managed the game well and has been efficient with the football.  He has thrown for 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. 

Gates isn't the only threat in the passing game anymore; Chambers has been a nice target on the outside ever since he arrived here from Miami.  He gave the team a big play threat and has averaged nearly 18 yards per catch.

During the six game winning streak, the defense has become more aggressive.  They have been able to put constant pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.  They have recorded 22 sacks in the last six games.   The Chargers do have the most dangerous tandem of outside linebackers in the NFL.  Merriman and Phillips are impossible to contain for any offensive line.  The defense has forced 48 total turnovers this season and they are + 24 in the turnover department.  Antonio Cromartie led the entire league with 10 interceptions. 

Wild Card Game:  Chargers 24 Titans 14

On Sunday, the Chargers will face off against a hard-nosed Titans squad.  This is a rematch of a week 14 game in which San Diego was able to defeat Tennessee in overtime.  The Chargers were destined to lose that game until Rivers started to make plays in the fourth quarter and led the team to an improbable comeback victory. 

In this playoff matchup, it is going to be a battle of wills.  The Chargers want to establish the running game, and the Titans want to make San Diego one-dimensional.  They will dare Rivers to throw the ball and make him beat them.  On the offensive side of the ball, the Titans want to control the clock by keeping the ball on the ground.  They don't have enough playmakers at wide receiver to threaten the Chargers' secondary. 

Expect Vince Young to start the playoff game even though he is banged up.  Frankly, I want him to get the start because Kerry Collins has a lot of playoff experience under his belt.  Collins presents more problems for the Chargers because he won't get rattled easily on the road.  He has been there before, Young hasn't.  It will be Vince Young' first career start and expect him to make a few mistakes during this game.

The Chargers are the better team in this game, but the coaching edge goes to the Titans.  Jeff Fisher is a very good coach who doesn't get enough credit.  He gets the most out of his team almost every year.  He led the Titans to a Super Bowl in 1999 and has had playoff success.  The same can't be said for Norv Turner.  I think Turner will take some chances early in the first quarter by throwing the ball and loosening up the Titans' defense.   Then it should be a heavy dose of LT in the second half to secure the win.  I don't think even Turner can screw this one up.   

Chargers 51 Lions 14

Behind a relentless rushing attack, the Chargers completely obliterated the Lions at home last Sunday.  Both Tomlinson and Sproles rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns each to help the Chargers clinch the AFC West title with two games remaining.  With the running game clicking on all cylinders, Rivers was able to manage the game really well.

The defense also played its part in Sunday's game.  They held an explosive Lions' offense to only two touchdowns.  They took their offense completely out of rhythm and forced six turnovers.  Cromartie was responsible for two of those turnovers.  He is quickly becoming my favorite player on defense because he just seems to have a nose for the football. 

With two games left in the regular season, the Chargers seem to have all of the momentum heading into the playoffs.  They have been red hot since October.  They have won by blowing teams away and also winning some close squeakers as well.  The close games against the Colts and the Titans will help the Chargers' chances in the playoffs.

The team just needs to get healthy.  Merriman missed the Lions' game with a sprained knee ligament.  He is also slated to sit out the game against the Broncos.  Fullback Lorenzo Neal had surgery on his right leg a couple of weeks ago.  He is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.  His chances of playing in the playoffs don't appear to be too good.  DE Castillo is still out with an ankle injury.  Antonio Gates is dealing with a bruised back.  He hasn't been the same player the last couple of weeks.  Rivers should sit out the next two games because he is dealing with a knee sprain.  Jamal Williams is playing through an ankle injury.  Just too many key players have been hit with an injury bug and they need to get healthy if the Chargers want to have any chance of beating the Colts or the Patriots in the playoffs.
 

Week 16 Prediction:  Chargers 24 Broncos 21

I expect this Monday night match-up to be a real nail biter.  The Broncos will definitely have revenge on their minds after they got destroyed by the Chargers in a week 5 match-up at Mile High.  Denver will try to play the role of the spoiler in this game after they got eliminated from the playoff picture.  It should be a heavy dose of LT early and often.  Then expect Turner or Sproles to continue to run all over the Broncos in the second half.  The Chargers' defense makes a key stop at the end of the game to preserve the win.                                            

Chargers 24 Chiefs 10

The Chargers have won six of their last eight games.  They were able to defeat the Chiefs this week and avenge an earlier loss to them this season.  San Diego has taken control of the AFC West and now leads Denver by two games in the division. 

The team is doing it the old-fashioned way by running the football and playing good defense.  The physical running game combined with a fearless pass rush is paying dividends in the win column.  The Chargers look more and more like the team that we saw last year. 
 

Star of the Game:  LT had 23 carries for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.

LT had a big game against the Chiefs this week.  The team needs to get the ball in his hands.  He has to get at least 25 carries a game.  There is no reason for the Chargers to go away from the running game because it is the strength of the team.  San Diego should ride the hot hand all the way into the playoffs.

The Chargers' defense had eight sacks in the game.  Merriman accounted for three of those sacks.  They also forced four turnovers. 

I might sound like a broken record, but Antonio Cromartie continues to make plays.  After being quiet for a couple of weeks, he had two interceptions against the Chiefs.  He has a total of eight interceptions on the season.

2008 DRAFT

Needs:  NT, DE, CB, OG

The Chargers don't have a second or a third round pick in the 2008 draft.  They traded their second round pick to the Dolphins for Chris Chambers.  They traded a third round pick to the Bears in exchange for Eric Weddle in this 2007 draft.  They also forfeited their fourth-round pick when they selected cornerback Paul Oliver in the supplemental draft.  So the first round pick becomes even more important for the team this year.  A.J. Smith might be willing to trade down in the first round in order to pick up extra picks.  But if the team chooses to stay put, they should go after a defensive tackle in the first round.

Jamal Williams is not getting any younger.  He has dealt with some nagging injuries this year.  It is time to find a replacement for him.  Ryon Bingham is better suited for backup duty.  There are two players that stand out for me.  Right now they are projected to go somewhere in the second round, but expect them to perform well in All-Star games and at the Scouting Combine.

FIRST ROUND

Dre Moore 6'4" 311 4.88 (Maryland)

He is a big, physical run-stuffing DT.  He has the size, speed and strength.  He has very surprising quickness and he uses his hands well.  Moore is a big guy that can also make plays in the backfield.  His workout numbers will be off the charts, but the question will be if he can translate that on to the field.  The knock on him is that with all of his physical tools, he should make more plays week in and week out.  But he is still considered a developing player because he only played one year of high school football.       

Joseph "Red" Bryant 6'5 324 5.09 (Texas A&M)

He plays in the 3-4 scheme at Texas A&M.  He anchors well against the run.  His size makes it difficult to throw over him.  He has a tendency to tip passes at the line of scrimmage.  Bryant can occupy double teams with ease.  The only real concern with him is that he had some nagging injuries during the 2006 season.     

Week 14 Prediction:  Chargers 20 Titans 17

The Chargers (7-5) face another tough test on the road against the Titans (7-5) this week.  The Titans lost three straight games until they won against the Texans this week.  Tennessee has struggled to run the football the last few weeks.  Vince Young has been inconsistent this year.  He has had a problem with interceptions.  But Tennessee has been a good defensive team this year and their defense has kept them in most games.  Expect a heavy dose of LT in this game.  I also don't think that the Titans have an answer for Gates.  This will be a close game, but the Chargers should pull out a win in the fourth quarter. 
 

Chargers 23 Colts 21

The Chargers were lucky to escape with a win on Sunday night against the Colts.  A lot of strange things occurred on this rainy night in San Diego.  The Chargers got off to a quick start in this game and it looked like it was going to be an easy win for them.  But nothing comes easy when you play the Super Bowl champs especially when they have a leader like Peyton Manning at the helm.

Star of the Game:  Darren Sproles

On the opening kickoff, Darren Sproles ran the ball back 89 yards for a touchdown.  Later on in the first quarter, he scored another touchdown on a 55-yard punt return to give the Chargers a comfortable 16-0 lead.  The team needed for someone to step up and make plays on this night, and Sproles was the answer in the early going.

Peyton Manning had one of the worst nights of his career.  I never thought that I would see Manning throw six interceptions in one game.  But he still put the Colts in a position to kick the game-winning field goal.  I couldn't have imagined that what transpired in the closing minutes of this game would live me speechless.     

There was Vinatieri in a position to kick the game-winner like he has done so many times before.  I left the room because I knew what was going to happen and I had no confidence that the Chargers would be able to come back in this game.  When I came back to the room, the Chargers were attempting to run out the clock.  I couldn't believe that Vinatieri missed an easy 29-yard field goal.  This was a revelation to me to find out that both Vinatieri and Manning are actually human.

Cromartie had another terrific game.  This guy is a flat out playmaker.  He is not the most technically sound corner in the league, but he did a great job out there filling in for Jammer.  Cromartie is just so athletic and so fast.  His second interception of the game where he went up and snatched the ball out the air with one hand was just amazing.  This kid is only going to keep getting better.  The way that Florence is getting abused this year, it is time to put Cromartie in the starting lineup on a full-time basis.

Rookie wide receiver Naanee is quickly emerging as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Chambers and Jackson.  With Parker been out and Buster Davis being banged up and not showing any consistency, watch out for this fifth round rookie to make an even bigger contribution down the road.

The Chargers must be ecstatic right now that they won this game.  They also should be optimistic that if they face the Colts in the playoffs, they can matchup with them.  I realize that the Colts were missing Harrison and Clark.  They also had a couple of their starting offensive linemen leave the game due to injury, but I know the Chargers are not going to apologize for that.  The team has to keep playing with a chip on their shoulder and play even better in the upcoming weeks.

Believe it or not, the Chargers are in first place in the AFC West with a 5-4 record.  They don't have an easy schedule, but they should win the division.  How far will this team go in the playoffs?  Well, it is all going to depend on how well Rivers plays in the next seven weeks.  The season rests on his shoulders.

Week 11 Prediction:  Chargers 20 Jaguars 13

I don't have a great track record at picking games.  Every time I pick the Chargers to win, they lose.  I hope that trend doesn't continue this week.  The Jaguars lost their starter David Garrard, but they keep winning games with their backup Quinn Gray.  They are doing what they do best that is run the football and play good defense.  Aside from the Vikings game, the Chargers have been able to stop the run.  Even if Garrard comes back this week, expect the Chargers to put significant pressure on the quarterback.  After an off-game, Rivers should play better against the Jaguars.  Chargers will win another nail biter this week.

Chargers 35 Texans 10

After all of the distractions this week, the Chargers were happy to be back playing in their home confines of Qualcomm Stadium.  The players were anxious to put on a good show and they certainly didn’t disappoint.  The game against the Texans was over by the end of the first quarter.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie was the big star of the game.  He had himself a career day on Sunday.  The Chargers forced five turnovers in the game and Cromartie was responsible for three of them.  He had two interceptions and he single-handedly outscored the Texans on Sunday. 

In the first quarter, Cromartie was in the right place at the right time.  He made a play on special teams.  Texans’ long snapper sailed the ball over the punter’s head, and Cromartie recovered the ball for a touchdown in the end zone.

In the second quarter, former Florida State Seminole came up with two interceptions.  On the first one, Merriman tipped the ball near the line of scrimmage, and Cromartie took the interception back 69 yards for a touchdown.  On the next Houston possession, Schaub threw the ball high, and Antonio was there for another pick. 

Cromartie has made plays the last two weeks of the season.  He will be ready for a full-time role next season while Florence departs in free agency. 

Rivers threw the ball only 11 times in the game, but he made the most of his seven completions.  He connected with Gates for two touchdowns, and the newly acquired Chambers caught another one.

On the second offensive possession of the game, the Chargers came out throwing the ball.  Rivers hit Chambers for a big gain.  On the next play, he found a wide open Gates in the middle of the field and he scored a 49-yard touchdown.  The Chargers took a 7-0 lead and never looked back. 

With 12 minutes to go in the second quarter, Rivers found Gates again.  The tight end demonstrated his ability to pick up yards after the catch as he scored on a 31-yard reception.

Ryan Bingham started in place of Jamal Williams at nose tackle.  Shaun Philips left the game with a groin injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Harris.

After all of the struggles that the team endured during the first month of the season, the Chargers have found their rhythm.  With all of the focus being directed towards the Patriots and the Colts, the Chargers have quietly gone about their business.  They are clearly emerging as the next best team in the AFC.

Week 9 Prediction:  Chargers 27 Vikings 13

The Chargers will face Adrian Peterson this week.  The running back is the front runner to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year.  But he will face a Chargers defense that is stout against the run.  It is strength against strength, but the defense usually comes out on top in those battles.  The Vikings also have a good defensive unit that might give San Diego some trouble.  Expect the Chargers to have success rushing the quarterback.  The Vikings are an absolute mess at the most important position on the team.  It won’t matter who starts at quarterback for them.  Tarvaris Jackson, Kelly Holcomb and Brooks Bollinger are no more than backups in this league.  The Chargers should win their fourth straight game of the season.            

The big news last week was that the Chargers traded their 2008 second round pick for wide receiver Chris Chambers.  Seven-year pro Chambers spent his entire career playing for the Dolphins.  This former second round pick of the 2001 Draft has compiled 405 receptions for 5,688 yards and 43 touchdowns. 

Great move for the Chargers.  They needed to stabilize their young receiving corps and get more production out of that position.  This move helps offset the loss of Eric Parker for the season.  The team gets a legitimate number one target on the outside.  Veteran Chambers gives Rivers another weapon in the passing game.  Chambers will help open things up for Gates.  Vincent Jackson will move to the number two role that he is better suited for.

Chambers led the Dolphins in catches this season.  He is not a speedster, but he will make some plays downfield.  He has the knack for making the big play.  Chambers also works the middle of the field.  He is a good route runner, but his hands have let him down in the past.  Watching the Dolphins' games, Chambers made some spectacular catches, but also dropped some easy ones as well.  He is still an upgrade over the Chargers' receivers.  Just imagine the type of production that Chambers will have with a real quarterback.  Both the Dolphins and the Chargers run the same offensive system, so it should be a smooth transition for him.

On the injury front, Nick Hardwick is expected to miss a couple of games with a sprained right foot that he suffered during the game against the Raiders.  Cory Withrow will take his place.  This shouldn't hurt the team in the short term, but Hardwick will need to make a quick recovery because continuity on the offensive line is very important.   

Defensive tackle Jamal Williams underwent surgery on both knees last Monday.  But he is expected to play against the Texans this week.  The Chargers can't afford to lose Williams for a long period of time.

Right guard Mike Goff had surgery on his left thumb, but he also should be ready for this Sunday's game.

The Chargers' players and coaches have a lot on their minds this week.  Almost everyone within the Chargers' organization has been affected by the wildfires that have hit the San Diego area.  The team packed up their stuff and headed for Phoenix, Arizona where they will hold their practices this week.  It is still to be determined where they will play their home game against the Texans this Sunday.  In this type of situation, football takes a backseat to life.  My best wishes go out to everyone associated with the Chargers.

The Chargers have faced a lot of adversity this year which should make them stronger in the long run. 

Week 8 Prediction: Chargers 24 Texans 14

The Houston Texans will be looking to rebound this week.  The Texans had six turnovers against the Titans last week, but they almost pulled off a miracle win.  They scored 29 fourth quarter points, but lost on a last second field goal by Rob Bironas.  The Texans have dropped four of their last five games.

Their quarterback Matt Schaub is expected to play against the Chargers after being knocked out of the game against the Titans.  He is once again without his top target Andre Johnson.  The game will be decided in the trenches between San Diego's offensive line and Houston's defensive front.  The Chargers should be able to run the football with LT.  It won't be easy protecting Philip Rivers though because their first round picks on the defensive line are finally living up to their draft status. 

Chargers 28 Raiders 14

The reigning MVP demonstrated on Sunday why so many people consider him to be the best player in the league.  Tomlinson was absolutely unstoppable as he averaged a whopping 8.3 yards per carry.  He carried the team on his back and was responsible for all of the Chargers’ scores.  LT always seems to have his best games against the Raiders.  He ran for 198 yards on 24 carries and scored four touchdowns on the ground.  The Chargers extended their win streak to eight games against the Raiders.  After losing three straight contests this season, the team has won two in a row heading into the bye week.  They improved their record to .500 and are now tied with the Chiefs for first place in the division.

For the third straight game, the Chargers jumped out to an early lead scoring on the first two offensive possessions of the game.  Tomlinson punched it in from the three yard-line on the first drive.  Then Drayton Florence intercepted Culpepper’s pass and gave the Chargers great field position.  LT found the crease on the next drive and went 26 yards for his second touchdown of the day.     

On the opening drive of the game, the team lost center Nick Hardwick to a foot injury.  He was then replaced by Cory Withrow, and the offensive line didn’t seem to miss a beat.  The offensive line was terrific on Sunday.  Not only were they responsible for LT’s big day, but they didn’t allow a single sack on Rivers.  I hope Hardwick’s injury isn’t too serious because he is the most important lineman on this team.  He makes all of the line calls, but it didn’t hurt the Chargers in this game.  The Raiders didn’t have the services of Derrick Burgess or Gerard Warren, but the line played its best game of the season.

The first quarter belonged to the Chargers, but the tide shifted in the second quarter.    

Everything was going San Diego’s way.  They were leading 14-0 and got the ball in Raiders’ territory at the 38-yard line after Shane Lechler failed to convert on a fourth down play.  Lechler pulled the ball back and tried to run for the first down because he thought that his punt was going to get blocked. 

It looked as though the Chargers would at least get a field goal out of that drive.  Instead Rivers stepped back in the pocket and made an errant throw.  This was a major mental mistake.  He threw an interception right in the hands of Thomas Howard who returned it for a touchdown.  The Raiders were a much more confident team after that play.

The momentum shifted again at the end of the half in the Chargers’ direction this time.   

Although LT seems like the obvious choice to get the game ball, I will give it to Quentin Jammer.  He made the play of the game.  Yes, this is the same player who everyone loves to blame for all of the defensive breakdowns in the secondary.  I have to admit that I have taken plenty of shots at Jammer.  He is still a player that I feel is better suited to play safety in this league.  But on Sunday, he was the big hero who made a touchdown-saving tackle.   

Ronald Curry made the catch and was running towards the end zone.  It looked obvious that he was going to score and tie the game.  Jammer appeared out of nowhere and knocked Curry out at the one-yard line. 

After Merriman recorded a sack on the previous play, Phillips came free and knocked the ball out of Culpepper’s hand.  Jamal Williams came up with the fumble recovery, and San Diego preserved their lead at halftime.                 

In the second half, the Raiders threatened a couple of times, but they couldn’t cut into the lead.  They scored another touchdown while LT scored twice for the Chargers.

The defense was outstanding the entire game.  They made plays at crucial times.  The big guys up front were stout against the run.  Igor, Jamal and Luis held up against a much more improved Raiders’ offensive line.  They allowed the linebackers to run free and make plays.  Heading into the game, Oakland had the best rushing attack in the league.  The Chargers’ defense held them to just 53 yards on the ground.

They forced Culpepper to beat them.  Daunte was responsible for three turnovers in the game.  The defense really got after him and recorded six sacks.  Merriman and Phillips were responsible for most of that pressure. 

Rivers had his moments, but he did have that crucial turnover in the second quarter.  They didn’t need him because LT did most of the work. 

Gates proved again why he is so difficult to defend.  I would like to congratulate Tony Gonzales who now holds the record for most touchdown catches for a tight end.  He is one of the best tight end’s to ever play this game, but I have a feeling that Gates will shatter the record sooner than later. 

Craig “Buster” Davis came up with a couple of key grabs early in the game.

Antonio Cromartie finally recorded his first career interception.  It was long overdue.

There is one more thing that I would like to mention.          

San Diego was up 14-0 and they had fourth and less than a yard.  It was barely out of field goal range.  The offensive line was dominating the line of scrimmage, and LT was having success running to the left side.  FB dive would have also been a good call in that situation.  Norv had a decision to make on fourth down and he chose to punt the football.  Coaches are way too conservative, but I really thought Turner was going to take a chance there.

I don’t like to second guess coaches, but we all do it.  I just thought that it sent the wrong message to the team.  The coach doesn’t have the confidence in his offense to pick up half a yard.  The Chargers won the game, and this play didn’t come back to haunt them.  I am just hoping that Turner chooses to go for it next time in a similar situation. 

The Chargers have a bye coming up.  I will come back next week to give you my fearless prediction on the game against the Texans.  

Chargers 41 Broncos 3

The Chargers were due for a breakout game and it came against the Broncos on Sunday.  It was all San Diego on this day.  They won the game in a dominating fashion.  It was the kind of performance that this team needed in hopes of turning around their season. 

San Diego jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.  It was very important for the psyche of this team to score on the first offensive possession.  After that the team started playing with passion and a sense of swagger that was missing in previous weeks.

The gameplan was simple, Turner wanted to give the ball to his best player.  It was a heavy dose of LT in the first half.  Tomlinson not only ran with the football, but was also featured in the passing game.  He caught a key screen pass from Rivers on the opening drive that set up the first score.  It was the same old LT that everyone became so accustomed to last year when he took home the MVP award.  

Then Rivers and Gates put the game out of reach in the second half while LT was watching from the sidelines. 

Rivers played a terrific game.  He made good decisions with the football and most importantly didn't turn the ball over.  I just want to see more consistency from Rivers week to week.  I will be watching him closely next week against the Raiders.

The offensive line looked much better against the Broncos' defensive front.  I realize that they were playing against a depleted defensive line, but I will take it anyway.

The defense forced three turnovers on Sunday.  Once again, the Chargers took away the running game which has always been Denver's main strength on offense under Shanahan.  Cutler was without his main target Javon Walker and was unable to exploit San Diego's secondary. 

Another thing that stood out during the game was that the defensive players tackled much better than in previous weeks.

Week 6 Prediction:  Chargers 24 Raiders 17

I picked against the Chargers last week and it worked out for the best.  I was tempted to do it again this week, but I don't believe in superstitions.  Will the Chargers be able to make it two wins in a row?  They face the Raiders at home this upcoming Sunday.  The Raiders are coming off a bye week and have won two straight games.  LT will see some daylight against Oakland.  They gave up over 200 all-purpose yards to Ronnie Brown in week 4, and Cam Cameron runs the same exact offense as the Bolts.  Rivers will take care of the football and will hit Gates for the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter.  The Chargers will improve their record to 3-3 and at least tie for the division lead. 
 

Chiefs 30 Chargers 16

It was a tale of two halves for the Chargers on Sunday.  The team came out with a sense of urgency and played well in the first half, but they couldn't sustain it for the entire game against Kansas City.  The Chiefs grabbed the momentum in the third quarter and never relinquished it.  The Chargers lost their third straight game of the season.

San Diego is in deep trouble now.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only 15.8 percent of the teams that started a season 1-3 from 1990 to 2006 made the playoffs.

The Bolts find themselves in last place in the AFC West after four games.  The good news is that this division is very winnable because no one team has stood out above the rest.  But looking at the schedule, it won't be easy for the Chargers to climb to the top of this division. 

It is gut check time.  All of the players have to look in the mirror and start playing with more determination and better effort.

This loss was very disappointing.  The Chargers lost to a team that struggled to get any kind of rhythm on offense in the early part of this season.  Cottrell's defense surrendered 30 points for the third game in a row.  The secondary gave up a couple of big plays that resulted in touchdowns.    

The offense was able to establish the running game that everyone became so accustomed to under Marty's guidance.  LT was able to get back on track and had over 100 yards in the first half.  He was able to turn the corner and had a couple of big runs.  The Chiefs made a couple of adjustments to stop the run, and San Diego's passing attack was unable to carry the day.

The Chargers had a total of four turnovers on Sunday, and Rivers was responsible for three of them.  He completed only 50% of his passes and failed to throw for a single touchdown.  He looked out of rhythm in the second half.  I am not going to call out any names, but the team has to think about replacing a couple of starters on the offensive line.  Kansas City's pass rush took a lot of shots on Rivers during the game. 

Everyone on the team is responsible for San Diego's slow start.  But Turner is going to take a lot of heat.  He deserves it because the team has performed poorly so far on all fronts.  His laid back approach is not working for this team.  Someone has to get in the face of these players and inspire them, but Turner isn't that guy.  I thought that the team needed an X's and O's guy to take the reigns, but I was wrong.  Norv has certainly lived up to his reputation as a losing head coach.  I was never a big Marty fan, but A.J. Smith made a mistake in hiring Norv.  Of course he will never admit it.
 

Week 5 Prediction:  Broncos 21 Chargers 17

I am going to use reverse psychology for once and pick against the Chargers this week.  In all seriousness, it will be very tough for this team to go on the road to Mile High and beat the Broncos.  Broncos have lost two straight games, and haven't played particularly well in the early part of this season.  I guarantee you that Mike Shanahan will have his team well prepared for this game.  Denver has been vulnerable against the run, so LT should have another big day.  But they have been very stingy against the pass led by Champ Bailey.  The game will fall on the shoulders of the quarterbacks.  I will give the edge to Cutler because San Diego's secondary has struggled to stop anybody.  I can't wait to see if the Chargers have any fight left in them.

Packers 31 Chargers 24

We are three games into the season, and the Chargers have already equaled their loss total from all of last year.  They found themselves on the losing end of Sunday's game against the Packers where Brett Favre tied Marino's all-time touchdown record.  The team failed to hold onto the lead late in the fourth quarter. 

San Diego has to be one of the more disappointing teams in the early part of this season.  They are playing like an overconfident team who is still thinking about last year.  The team had a 14-2 record in the regular season, but failed to win the Super Bowl.  Memo to the team, it is a brand new season and you have to prove yourself all over again.  The Chargers should be playing with a chip on their shoulder especially with the way last season ended for them.  I thought that the players would feel that they had unfinished business from last year.  So far they just lack the element of enthusiasm. 

I am glad LT got angry on the sidelines, and his teammates should demonstrate the same kind of emotion.  But he should have gotten into the faces of his offensive linemen instead of taking out his frustrations on Rivers.  The players have to realize that losing is unacceptable.  But the truth is that it is better to have these problems at the start of the season rather than at the end.  These problems can be corrected, but the team has to start playing with a sense of urgency. 

The Chargers need to get back to the basics.  They have to run the football more effectively and tackle better on defense.  The next three games against divisional rivals will be very telling, and we will find out whether San Diego is a contender or a pretender.              

Rivers played very well on Sunday.  He stepped up when the Packers made the commitment to stopping LT.  He completed 27 out of 36 passes for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He looked extremely sharp early on in the game when he had 15 straight completions to start the game.  He looked very comfortable in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half. He spread the ball around and limited his mistakes.  However he did overthrow Vincent Jackson on a key third down play late in the fourth quarter that could have kept the drive alive and would have preserved the Chargers' victory.  Instead the Packers' offense had three minutes left on the clock, and it was more than enough time for Favre to generate a game-winning drive.  He also threw a costly interception on the final drive when he forced the throw into coverage. 

Antonio Gates had another big game.  He had a number of key catches on third down.  I was also impressed with Jackson and Davis on Sunday.  Jackson had six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.  Buster Davis caught his first career touchdown as well. 

The offensive line is the biggest weakness on the team this year.  This was the team's strength last season.  This is the same group of players, but they are not playing with the same intensity.  They are failing to win the battle in the trenches and are getting pushed around.  They were a little better in pass protection this week, but LT still can't find any running room out there.

I miss Wade Phillips.  He had a way to disrupt an opponent's offense.  The defense has given up 69 points in the last two games.  They have given up a lot of yards through the air.  Most importantly the Chargers have only recorded seven sacks through three games.  

The Chargers couldn't generate pressure on Favre.  They had only two sacks during the game.  In particular, Merriman wasn't much of a factor against the Packers.  I will give credit to the Packers' offensive line. 

The secondary played well in the first quarter.  They showed outstanding coverage on the Packers' receivers.  But after the first quarter I saw the same old secondary that continued to give up big plays.  The coaching staff should insert Eric Weddle into the starting lineup.  He made some nice plays in coverage in the dime package.

INJURIES:

Jamal Williams is playing through an injury.  Luis Castillo went out with an injury during the Packers' game, I hope that it is not serious and he should be back against the Chiefs.  Wilhelm is dealing with a calf injury and he did not play against the Packers, but veteran Polk filled in nicely for him.  Olivea is dealing with back pain that could keep him out for a couple of games. 

Week 4 Prediction: Chargers 31 Chiefs 10

The Chargers have a home game against the Chiefs this week.  They should get back on track against a struggling Kansas City squad that pulled out a win last Sunday.  The Chiefs are horrible on offense.  Their lone star on offense is running back Larry Johnson who hasn't gotten on track this season.  He has failed to rush for more than 60 yards in each of the first three games and doesn't have a single touchdown.  Don't expect him to have much success against the Chargers' run defense this week.  Aside from Tony Gonzales, the Chiefs don't have any weapons that could hurt us in the passing game.  LT will get back on track and rush for over 100 yards for the first time this season.  Rivers should continue his solid play.  I expect a blowout win for the Chargers this week. 

The Chargers have not been impressive in the first two games of the season.  At this point, the defense is playing much better than the offense.  It has to change if the Chargers won to make a deep run in the playoffs.  

The Chargers were able to win the turnover battle in week 1 against the Bears.  Then the team put them away late in the second half.  San Diego wasn't so fortunate against New England.  They ran into a very talented and determined Patriot squad that absolutely dismantled them on all fronts.  The Chargers couldn't contain an explosive combination of Brady and Moss. 

Let's look at the facts as the Chargers prepare to face an undefeated Green Bay squad at Lambeau Field in a week 3 matchup.

The offense just looks out of sync.  This just doesn't look like the same offensive juggernaut from last year.  The offense has not scored a single point in the first half of both games.  They have turned the ball over five times.  There is too much talent on the

offensive side of the ball for them to be struggling like this.  Norv Turner is known as an offensive genius, but right now he looks very ordinary.  He needs to correct some of the problems that they are having. 

The problem starts up front with the offensive line.  They do not look like the same group from last year.  They have struggled in pass protection and have given up six sacks.  There is constant pressure on Rivers.  The guys are not winning the battle in the trenches.  There haven't been many open holes for LT to run through.  LT has rushed for a measly 68 yards so far.  The teams are stacking up the line to stop the running game and are daring Rivers to beat them.

Rivers deserves a lot of the blame as well.  He doesn't look comfortable in the pocket.  He has not gotten into any kind of rhythm in the early part of the season.  It looks like the struggles that he had late last year have carried over into this season. 

Gates remains his primary option, but Rivers is trying to force the ball to him too much.  He needs to trusts those youngsters on the outside more.  Jackson, Davis and Floyd also need to step up their game.             

The defense played really well against the Bears in the first game of the season.  They only gave 202 total yards.  They forced four turnovers and registered three sacks.  But the Patriots exploited San Diego's secondary which remains a problem area for the team. 

The Chargers gave up 407 total yards mostly through the air against New England.  The Patriots spread the defense out by putting three and four wide receiver sets out there and running the no-huddle offense.  Randy Moss looked like his old self, and Jammer got beat a few times on deep balls.  I am sure Moss wanted to stick it to Turner who coached him when he was with the Raiders.  They had a very rocky relationship to say the least.  

Week 3 Prediction:  Chargers 28 Packers 14

The Packers have a 2-0 record and have looked good overall.  They are playing at home, but they will face an angry and determined Chargers team who has a lot to prove.  Expect the team to be better prepared this time around.  The team will come out throwing the ball more early in the game to loosen up the Packers' defense.  LT should finally have a breakout game and go over the century mark for the first time this season.  Antonio Gates should have a huge game as well.

Final 53–man roster

QUARTERBACKS (3):

Philip Rivers – was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first season as the starter.  He is smart, makes the proper reads and is extremely accurate.  He is ready to become an elite quarterback in this league under Turner’s guidance.

Billy Volek – Veteran quarterback has proven in preseason that he will be a very capable backup to Rivers this season.

Charlie Whitehurst – Charlie is going to be No. 3 on the depth chart.  His overall makeup suggests that he will never be anything more than a backup in the league.

RUNNING BACKS (3):

LaDainian Tomlinson – Best player in the league.  He is coming off a career best year in 2006.  He gained 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns in his MVP season.  In six seasons, he has posted at least 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns.  LT is capable of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record of 2,105 yards.   

Michael Turner – Turner could be the starting running back for half of the teams in the league.  He is a tough inside runner who has the speed to bounce it outside.  He is also a very good kick returner.  He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2008.  It will be tough to see him in another uniform.

Darren Sproles – He missed the entire season with an injury in 2006.  He is a lightning quick back with an ability to change directions so effortlessly.  He gives the Chargers an element that they were missing last year.  He is a change of pace back.  He excels at returning kicks and punts.  

FULLBACKS (2):