Angel
07-18-2006, 09:52 AM
Preseason Primer
CAMP INFO
Training Camp Site: Chargers Park
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Rookies Report: July 24
Veterans Report: July 28
2005 SEASON
Record: 9-7 (3rd in AFC West)
Total Offense: 347.9 (10th)
Rushing: 129.5 (9th)
Passing: 218.4 (12th)
Total Defense: 309.2 (13th)
Rushing: 84.3 (1st)
Passing: 224.9 (28th)
SEASON OUTLOOK
A difficult schedule and a leaky passing defense kept the Chargers out of the playoffs last season. San Diego took measures to shore up the secondary by drafting cornerback Antonio Cromartie out of Florida State and signing former Carolina safety Marlon McCree.
But the biggest change came at quarterback, where San Diego took a leap of faith after Drew Brees suffered a rotator-cuff injury in the season finale. Philip Rivers, for whom the Chargers traded the rights to Eli Manning to acquire, has been given the controls.
There is plenty of talent on this team, which went 12-4 in 2004 and lost a wild-card game in overtime. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are all-world at their positions, and 2005 draft selections Luis Castillo and Shawne Merriman made an immediate impact. But everything might boil down to whether Rivers can shake off the rust of two inactive seasons, and if the secondary can do a better job of handling the AFC West's high-scoring offenses.
CAMP QUANDARIES
Is Philip Rivers ready for primetime?
He has thrown only 30 passes in regular-season play, with 17 completions, one touchdown and a 67.1 passer rating. He has the size, brains, maturity and arm to be a winner, but scouts have criticized his sidearm motion. However, Bernie Kosar had similar mechanics, and he won plenty of games for Marty Schottenheimer in Cleveland. He has two great safety valves in Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson -- who caught 100 passes in 2003 -- and a 10,000-yard target in Keenan McCardell. The offensive line is questionable and the receiving corps is thin, but if Rivers can hit receivers deep when defenses stack up to stop Tomlinson, Rivers could get off to a flying start.
Is the secondary fixed?
The elements of Martyball were there last season -- San Diego was No. 6 in yards per carry, No. 1 in rushing defense and tied for fifth with 46 sacks -- but only four teams gave up more passing yards (224.9 per game) and only three teams had fewer interceptions (10). First-round disappointment Sammy Davis (three interceptions and 20 passes defensed in 44 games) was traded to San Francisco and Jamar Fletcher was allowed to become a free agent. Cromartie missed all of last season after tearing an ACL, and backup cornerback Raymond Walls has joined his fifth team in six seasons. Marlon McCree will be a big upgrade at free safety and perhaps will make the players around him a little better.
Will Roman Oben and Donnie Edwards be available for Week 1?
Oben, the team's starting left tackle, missed the second half of last season with a foot injury that still isn't healed. The team drafted Marcus McNeill (6-foot-7, 337 pounds) out of Auburn in Round 2, and he might start in Week 1 if Oben isn't ready to go. Meanwhile, Edwards, who is in a contract dispute, did not get cut after June 1 and his trade request has yet to be fulfilled. He has been the team's leader tackler in each of the past four seasons, but will he be a distraction if he reports to camp?
VETERAN COMINGS AND GOINGS
Roster Additions Players Lost
Brandon Manumaleuna, TE
Marlon McCree, S
Aaron Shea, TE
Raymond Walls, CB
Rashaun Woods, WR Drew Brees, QB
Reche Caldwell, WR
Sammy Davis, CB
Jamar Fletcher, CB
Bob Hallen, G
Ben Leber, LB
Justin Peelle, TE
DeQuincy Scott, DE
Courtney VanBuren, OL
Jerry Wilson, S
DRAFT PICKS
Rd Sel# Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School
1 19 Cromartie, Antonio CB 6-2 207 Florida State
2 50 McNeill, Marcus OT 6-7 337 Auburn
3 81 Whitehurst, Charlie QB 6-5 222 Clemson
5 151 Dobbins, Tim ILB 6-1 247 Iowa State
6 187 Clary, Jeromey OT 6-6 304 Kansas State
6 188 Smith, Kurt K 6-0 181 Virginia
7 225 Page, Chase DT 6-4 286 North Carolina
7 227 Martin, Jimmy C 6-4 303 Virginia Tech
http://www.nfl.com/teams/primer/SD
CAMP INFO
Training Camp Site: Chargers Park
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Rookies Report: July 24
Veterans Report: July 28
2005 SEASON
Record: 9-7 (3rd in AFC West)
Total Offense: 347.9 (10th)
Rushing: 129.5 (9th)
Passing: 218.4 (12th)
Total Defense: 309.2 (13th)
Rushing: 84.3 (1st)
Passing: 224.9 (28th)
SEASON OUTLOOK
A difficult schedule and a leaky passing defense kept the Chargers out of the playoffs last season. San Diego took measures to shore up the secondary by drafting cornerback Antonio Cromartie out of Florida State and signing former Carolina safety Marlon McCree.
But the biggest change came at quarterback, where San Diego took a leap of faith after Drew Brees suffered a rotator-cuff injury in the season finale. Philip Rivers, for whom the Chargers traded the rights to Eli Manning to acquire, has been given the controls.
There is plenty of talent on this team, which went 12-4 in 2004 and lost a wild-card game in overtime. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are all-world at their positions, and 2005 draft selections Luis Castillo and Shawne Merriman made an immediate impact. But everything might boil down to whether Rivers can shake off the rust of two inactive seasons, and if the secondary can do a better job of handling the AFC West's high-scoring offenses.
CAMP QUANDARIES
Is Philip Rivers ready for primetime?
He has thrown only 30 passes in regular-season play, with 17 completions, one touchdown and a 67.1 passer rating. He has the size, brains, maturity and arm to be a winner, but scouts have criticized his sidearm motion. However, Bernie Kosar had similar mechanics, and he won plenty of games for Marty Schottenheimer in Cleveland. He has two great safety valves in Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson -- who caught 100 passes in 2003 -- and a 10,000-yard target in Keenan McCardell. The offensive line is questionable and the receiving corps is thin, but if Rivers can hit receivers deep when defenses stack up to stop Tomlinson, Rivers could get off to a flying start.
Is the secondary fixed?
The elements of Martyball were there last season -- San Diego was No. 6 in yards per carry, No. 1 in rushing defense and tied for fifth with 46 sacks -- but only four teams gave up more passing yards (224.9 per game) and only three teams had fewer interceptions (10). First-round disappointment Sammy Davis (three interceptions and 20 passes defensed in 44 games) was traded to San Francisco and Jamar Fletcher was allowed to become a free agent. Cromartie missed all of last season after tearing an ACL, and backup cornerback Raymond Walls has joined his fifth team in six seasons. Marlon McCree will be a big upgrade at free safety and perhaps will make the players around him a little better.
Will Roman Oben and Donnie Edwards be available for Week 1?
Oben, the team's starting left tackle, missed the second half of last season with a foot injury that still isn't healed. The team drafted Marcus McNeill (6-foot-7, 337 pounds) out of Auburn in Round 2, and he might start in Week 1 if Oben isn't ready to go. Meanwhile, Edwards, who is in a contract dispute, did not get cut after June 1 and his trade request has yet to be fulfilled. He has been the team's leader tackler in each of the past four seasons, but will he be a distraction if he reports to camp?
VETERAN COMINGS AND GOINGS
Roster Additions Players Lost
Brandon Manumaleuna, TE
Marlon McCree, S
Aaron Shea, TE
Raymond Walls, CB
Rashaun Woods, WR Drew Brees, QB
Reche Caldwell, WR
Sammy Davis, CB
Jamar Fletcher, CB
Bob Hallen, G
Ben Leber, LB
Justin Peelle, TE
DeQuincy Scott, DE
Courtney VanBuren, OL
Jerry Wilson, S
DRAFT PICKS
Rd Sel# Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School
1 19 Cromartie, Antonio CB 6-2 207 Florida State
2 50 McNeill, Marcus OT 6-7 337 Auburn
3 81 Whitehurst, Charlie QB 6-5 222 Clemson
5 151 Dobbins, Tim ILB 6-1 247 Iowa State
6 187 Clary, Jeromey OT 6-6 304 Kansas State
6 188 Smith, Kurt K 6-0 181 Virginia
7 225 Page, Chase DT 6-4 286 North Carolina
7 227 Martin, Jimmy C 6-4 303 Virginia Tech
http://www.nfl.com/teams/primer/SD