NFL 2006: San Diego Chargers

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2006 season. Today we look at the San Diego Chargers.)

You have to feel a little bit for Marty Schottenheimer. I mean the guy is the best coach in the Super Bowl era who hasn't won a championship. He's recorded 191 career victories and taken the Chargers to 12-4 and 9-7 marks in the past two seasons. When he took over San Diego, the Bolts were a dismal 4-12 team.

Marty returns for his fifth season in San Diego and hopes to take his team to the playoffs after just missing a season ago.

Offense: The big news on offense is that Drew Brees is gone and Philip Rivers has taken over. The front office felt that with all the money they've invested in Rivers it was time to give him a chance. It's a decision that could come back to haunt them.

Brees was a proven commodity. He led the team to a 21-11 mark in two seasons, including a 12-4 record and an NFC West title in 2004. Rivers is entering his third year, a time when most young, developing quarterbacks start hitting their stride. The problem is he's hardly played a lick in his first two seasons in San Diego. His performance in 2006 will be key to the playoff aspirations of the Chargers. A. J. Feeley and rookie Charlie Whitehurst will be the backups.

The one place San Diego isn't concerned about is running back, that's because L.T. roams the backfield. LaDainian Tomlinson is arguably the best all-purpose back in the game today as evidenced by his 1,462 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, to go along with 51 receptions for 370 yards and two scores. He can do it all and even more than that. Michael Turner (335 yards) and Darren Sproles are capable backups. Lorenzo Neal, one of the best fullbacks in the game, returns for his 14th season.

The wide receive position is one of concern for Schottenheimer. Keenan McCardell (70-917-9) is no spring chicken and Reche Caldwell is gone. One or two of the young bucks, Eric Parker (57-725-3), Vincent Jackson or Kassim Osgood must step up the production.

No such problems exist at tight end. San Diego has the best offensive tight end in the business in Antonio Gates. The undrafted, former basketball player followed his record breaking 2004 season with 89 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. The Tomlinson-Gates-McCardell combo is a dangerous one for opposing defenses to stop. Brandon Manumaleuna and Aaron Shea were brought over from the Rams and Browns respectively to supply depth.

The offensive line returns intact. Nick Hardwick just signed a nice contract extension and will be under center for the next seven years, Kris Dielman and Mike Goff return at guard and Shane Olivea and Roman Oben man the tackle slots. Rookie Marcus McNeill, Leander Jordan, Scott Mruczkowski and Wes Sims are quality reserves.

Defense: The Charger defense was stout against the run, but got burnt quite a bit defending the pass. Schottenheimer is hoping that his offseason moves will help rectify the problem.

Jamal Williams is back to anchor the middle at nose tackle. Williams made 53 stops last season and was a force at shutting down the middle. Luis Castillo (49 tackles, 3.5 sacks) returns at one end after a solid rookie season and Igor Olshansky occupies the other end spot. Jacques Cesaire and Ryon Bingham will see action as well.

The linebackers are the strength of the Charger defense and leading the way is outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, the 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Merriman recorded 10 sacks and made 57 tackles in a stellar freshman campaign. Steve Foley (4.5 sacks) is set at the other outside spot, while Randall Godfrey (76 tackles) and Donnie Edwards (152 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions) are on the inside. Shawn Phillips (seven sacks), Matt Wilhelm and rookie Tim Dobbins are key reserves.

Quentin Jammer (72 tackles) and Drayton Florence (54 tackles) return at corner, but neither had an interception last year, so San Diego drafted Antonio Cromartie in the first round of this years draft. Cromartie missed all of last season at Florida State with a knee injury, but has tons of talent and potential and could lay claim to a starting spot before training camp is over. Terrence Kiel (58 tackles) and Bhawoh Jue (47 tackles, three interceptions) are back at safety. Marlon McRee was brought in from Carolina to challenge for a job.

Special Teams: The special teams are solid with kicker Nate Kaeding (112 points, 21-24 field goals, 49-49 extra points), punter Mike Scifres (43.7) and return man Sproles (24.3 kickoffs, 6.0 punts).

Outlook: The 2006 season rests on the shoulders of Philip Rivers. Being a young, untested quarterback, teams are going to line up eight men in the box to stop L.T. and force Rivers to beat them threw the air. The Chargers have some solid weapons on offense (Gates, Tomlinson, McCardell), but they need Rivers and one of the other receivers to step up. The defense is mostly a young, aggressive group that keeps improving. The problem is lack of depth. If any of the key starters go down, particularly on the defensive line, this defense could be in serious trouble. In the end, Rivers will be the key to the season. If he performs like he did in college, watch out for the Chargers, if he struggles, another disappointing season is on the horizon.

Prediction: The Chargers are a young, talented up-and-coming team who are only a few missing pieces away from being serious title contenders. They could have easily been a 12-4 team last season, but lost some close games when leading in the fourth quarter. The Chargers will drop back a little this season as Rivers struggles. San Diego will finish 7-9 or 8-8.

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