San Diego Chargers
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NFL Team Column |
The San Diego Chargers: Final Grades for 2009
On paper, this is the most talented team in football, with pro-bowl caliber players all over the depth chart. With this talent they should be winning games, and they did go 13-3 during the regular season. However, this team was a real disappointment in the playoffs, losing at home to the 9-7 Jets 17-14 to put an end to their season.
Coaching: B Head Coach Norv Turner guided the team through a great regular season, winning a weak AFC West Division. After the loss to the Jets, management gave him an extension, banking on the idea that Turner’s 3-3 playoff record with the franchise is as good as you’re going to find anywhere else. He and offensive coordinator Clarence Shelmon basically share offensive duties and their offense was highly productive over the course of the year, ranking 10th in the league. They need to figure out how to be more physical when facing tough defenses though. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has done a good job since taking over midway through the ’08 season, with his unit ranking 16th in the league this year.
Quarterbacks: A Phillip Rivers is a stud. It would be easy to resent him as a fan while watching all the success that Drew Brees is having in New Orleans, considering the Chargers traded Brees to the Saints in favor of giving the job to Rivers in ’06. Billy Volek is one of the best backups in the league with a bit of starting experience but he may eventually be replaced by Charlie Whitehurst, who was a third round draft pick four years ago and possesses a strong arm.
Draft Outlook: Don’t expect too much action here in the draft with these guys on hand. However, Whitehurst may be gone in free agency to team that may let him compete for playing time. The team could opt to draft another guy later on to compete for the backup job.
Running Backs: B LaDainian Tomlinson is not the player he was just two years ago. All those carries he got in his first five seasons have definitely caught up to him. Darren Sproles has helped ease the pain with his big-play ability but nobody expects him to carry the load in the long run. Besides, he is a free agent this year and could be gone.
Draft Outlook: An eventual replacement for Tomlinson is needed but there really isn’t much talent to be had in this draft at running back. Stanford’s Toby Gerhart or Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer would be the best options for them in the first round. They would bring some toughness that is sorely lacking from this team in the running game.
Wide Receivers: B+ This unit was good enough for the team to trade away Chris Chambers to the Chiefs. Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson both are big enough to be tight ends. They form a nice duo that can simply over-power opposing defensive backs but they both are free agents this year. Legedu Naanee had 24 catches as the third man.
Draft Outlook: There will be a slew of decent receivers available rounds two, three, and four and the team will jump on the right guy if he’s available. Illinois’ Arellious Benn or Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard might be nice options late in round one.
Tight Ends: A- Antonio Gates continues to be one of the best in the game and he is in his sixth season.
Draft Outlook: The team could grab a talented guy to compete for a backup spot behind Gates in round two. Florida’s Aaron Hernandez, Oregon’s Ed Dickson, or Wisconsin’s Garrett Graham all could be available.
Offensive Line: C- These guys are really nothing special as the Chargers ranked dead last in average yards per rush and 31st in total rushing yards. Left tackle Marcus McNeil is also a free agent. They only gave up 26 sacks though, which is good.
Draft Outlook: There really doesn’t look to be much depth at offensive line in this year’s draft. Most of the top talent will be gone by the time the Chargers pick in round one and then it is all down hill from there. Idaho’s Mike Iupati would be a nice addition in round one and Illinois guard Jon Asamoah may be available in round two. That all may be wishful thinking as teams will look to jump on good O-line prospects while they are still available.
Defensive Line: C- The run defense, which won’t work without a formidable front line, ranked 20th in the league, giving up 4.5 yards per rush. That is a number that needs to change as it ultimately led to their doom against the Jets, who are averaging 4.3 yards per rush in the postseason.
Draft Outlook: An eventual replacement for nose tackle Jamal Williams would be nice. Luckily this is a great year for tackles and a big plugger for the middle might be found later on. Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody (6’5” 365 lbs) could still be there in round one and help out immediately on first and second downs, and Penn State’s Jared Odrick, another first round possibility, could play end in the Charger’s 3-4 scheme. Western Illinois’Abe Koroma (6’3” 317 lbs) or Georgia’s Kade Weston (6’5” 325 lbs) could both be late round sleepers that the team could develop to fit the role at nose.
Linebackers: Shawn Merriman returned after missing all of last year with a knee injury and recorded just four sacks. He is a free agent this year and his backup, Larry English, chipped in two sacks of his own. Shawn Phillips recorded seven sacks from the other side. The Chargers were 13th in the league in sacks with 35 overall. Stephen Cooper recorded 102 tackles from inside. Brandon Siler, who was the other inside man, made 67 stops next to him, not doing much to help the 20th ranked rush defense.
Draft Outlook: Finding another inside guy to compete with Siler and help the team improve on run defense would be nice, as well as another guy who could rush the passer on third downs. There will be a lot of 3-4 outside ‘backer-type pass-rushers outside of round one. If the team wants a quality inside man they may need to take one early.
Defensive Backs: The Chargers ranked 11th in the league with 209 yards per game allowed through the air but only nabbed 14 interceptions. The starters are all solid if unspectacular, and nickelback Antoine Cason is decent too.
Draft Outlook: Somebody to compete at safety would be great but not much is needed. This unit would benefit from improved play up front, especially in the sack department.
Special Teams: The team was 14th in the league in kick returns, which is decent, and they they were 21st in kick coverage. Nate Kaeding was tied for first in field goals making 91% of his attempts. The team was 31st in punting, which does not help in the battle for field position.
The 2009 NFL Draft Review
The San Diego Chargers managed to get into the playoffs last year and even win a game but they just didn’t have what it took to get to the Super Bowl. This draft was a key draft for them because it would have allowed them to fill some of the holes that they had and while they managed to do that to a certain degree, they closed out the 2009 NFL Draft still in need of a few key pieces.
The following is a player look at the Charger’s draft this year. At the end of the article there will be an overall grade for the Charger’s draft.
Larry English-DE/OLB-Northern Illinois picked 1st (16th)
The Chargers needed a compliment to linebacker Shawne Merriman and they got it when they made English their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. While it may have been a bit of a reach to take English with the 16th pick in the first round if he does develop he will give the Chargers one of the most dangerous pass rushing defenses in the NFL. This could help get the Chargers closer to their goal of making the Super Bowl.
Louis Vasquez-OG-Texas Tech picked 3rd (78th)
The Chargers needed some help on the offensive line and picked one of the toughest and strongest players in the draft with their third pick filling a need that they had and drafting a potential starter. If Vasquez picks things up quickly, he could contend for a starting spot in 2009.
Vaughn Martin-DT-Western Ontario picked 4th (113th)
The Chargers may have reached a bit here as well but Martin, who played in Canada, is a promising prospect with a lot of upside. He is another player who, if he can develop, could be a real find for the Chargers in this draft.
Tyronne Greene-OG-Auburn picked 4th (33rd)
San Diego went for some additional depth on the offensive line by taking Green and Green has a great chance of making the active roster at the end of training camp. The Chargers really did well adding some depth to the offensive line in this year’s draft.
Gartrell Johnson-RB-Colorado State picked 4th (134th)
The Chargers probably could have used a higher pick on a running back especially since it looks like this may quite possibly be LaDanlian Tomlinson’s final season with the team. Johnson is a good backup but he doesn’t have starting potential so the Chargers will have to seek someone with starting potential out in next year’s draft.
Brandon Hughes-CB-Oregon State picked 5th (148th)
Hughes is a depth pick who can play in the nickel and on special teams. He is an interesting prospect with a lot of upside.
Kevin Ellison-S-USC picked 6th (189th)
Ellison is a true student of the game and one of the better picks by the Chargers in this draft. What he lacks in athleticism he more than makes up for in intelligence and ability and could be a potential steal for the Chargers at this point in the draft.
Demetrius Byrd-WR-LSU picked 7th (224th)
Somewhat of a questionable selection after Byrd was involved in a car accident shortly before the draft, the Chargers may have gotten a bit of a steal here if he can come back healthy and ready to play after his accident.
The Chargers may have needed to do more on their defensive line to help shore up some of the holes that will be there at the start of training camp in and in the next season or two. As stated, Tomlinson isn’t going to be around for much longer so getting a good running back was a must in this draft. They do have some leeway thanks to Darren Sproles being there but they should start developing the “heir apparent” right away. If English manages to come on strong during his first season, he and Merriman could easily help make this one of the better defenses in the AFC.
Grade: B-