San Diego Chargers 2008 Season Preview

San Diego Chargers Preview: 2007-08

The San Diego Chargers got off to a rough start under new head coach Norv Turner before catching fire in the second half of the 2007 NFL season. In the 2007 playoffs, the San Diego Chargers rolled over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts only to fall to the New England Patriots. With a nearly unstoppable offense and a wild defense that picked off more passes than any other NFL team in 2007, the San Diego Chargers are ready to take the Super Bowl that their talented roster deserves.

San Diego Chargers Preview: Moves

The San Diego Chargers roster is the best in football, and there were very few needs going into the 2008 NFL Draft. The San Diego Chargers used their first round pick on CB Antoine Cason. Antoine Cason will make an impressive tandem with CB Antonio Cromartie and will be gangbusters with the massive pass rush. The San Diego Chargers then traded up to get LSU RB/FB Jacob Hester in the second round. Jacob Hester should start at FB and can also move to RB to spell LaDanian Tomlinson. Later-round RB Marcus Thomas also adds depth to the backfield.

The San Diego Chargers did not need to dip into the free agent pool much because of their depth of talent. The San Diego Chargers kept S Clinton Heart in-house and rewarded him with a lucrative extension. ILB Derek Smith was brought in from the San Francisco 49ers due to his knowledge of the 3-4 defense. The loss of RB Michael Turner and FB Lorenzo Neal was fixed by the 2008 NFL Draft and should not affect the San Diego Chargers in a drastic way.

San Diego Chargers Preview: Offense

QB Phillip Rivers begins his third year as the full-time starter for the San Diego Chargers and has impressed with his skill and toughness. With a highly accurate arm, Phillip Rivers is not afraid to spread the ball around to his arsenal of targets. Phillip Rivers is also protected by one of the top offensive lines in football, a must for any offense. LT Marcus McNeil has only played two years and has already been to two Pro-Bowls. A tough monster in the running game, Marcus McNeil has also kept Phillip Rivers protected on almost every play. C Nick Hardwick is both aggressive and a very cerebral player when it comes to reading defenses. G Kris Dielman is another Pro-Bowler on the O-Line.

The San Diego Chargers roster is filled with some of the top skill position players in the NFL. Former MVP RB LaDanian Tomlinson is often seen as the best athlete in the entire NFL. L.T. has carried the San Diego Chargers on his back for many years, but now has a lot of help. FB Jacob Hester will both block for and spell LaDanian Tomlinson. Jacob Hester is both a receiving threat and a power-run specialist. WR Chris Chambers arrived in 2007 and was the spark needed to get the San Diego Chargers over the hump. With a solid No. 1 WR in Chris Chambers, 2007 first round pick WR Craig “Buster” Davis is allowed to run wild in the secondary. TE Antonio Gates is a physical specimen and cannot be covered by LBs or DBs.

San Diego Chargers Preview: Defense

The vaunted San Diego Chargers 3-4 defense is known as one of the strongest and most complex defenses in the NFL. Three-time Pro-Bowl NT Jamal Williams clogs the middle and takes up to three blockers to contain. Massive DEs Igor Olshanksy and Luis Castillo make up the rest of the three-man line and soak up blockers. OLB Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman is perhaps the best pass-rusher in the NFL. When teams shift the blocking to Shawne Merriman’s side, OLB Shaun Phillips becomes a sack machine. 3-4 veteran ILB Derek Smith joins ILB Stephen Cooper in the heart of the defense to rack up tackles. ILBs Brandon Siler and Matt Wilhelm will rotate in as well.

The San Diego Chargers secondary entered the 2007 NFL season seen as a weak point. CB Antonio Cromartie made it a strength when he broke-out in 2007 with 10 interceptions and evolved into the most versatile DB in the NFL. CBs Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason provide more support against the pass. S Clinton Heart also had a breakout year and picked off five passes, behind only Antonio Cromartie. Second-year FS Eric Weddle will move into a starting role and can rotate to CB if needed. Led by Antonio Cromartie, the San Diego Chargers secondary takes advantage of all the wobbly passes thrown because of the tremendous front-seven pressure.

San Diego Chargers: Special Teams

Compact RB Darren Sproles may be the shortest player in the NFL, but he is also one of the best return men. Darren Sproles was key in the upset of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 with a return touchdown on both a punt and a kick. K Nate Kaeding has come on to be one of the best in his position. With an accurate leg and good power, Nate Kaeding can be counted on to win games in the final seconds. P Mike Schifres has been one of the keys to the San Diego Chargers success. His long punts often pin opponents deep in their own territory and give the San Diego Chargers defense a chance to force turnovers and score safeties. The San Diego Chargers special teams have been a factor in many winning games.

San Diego Chargers Preview: Outlook

As with the last few seasons, the San Diego Chargers are favorites to win the Super Bowl. The San Diego Chargers roster is deep with elite talent and has come together under head coach Norv Turner’s system. The AFC West should once again belong to the San Diego Chargers. The Oakland Raiders will challenge with their own batch of superstars, but they have not gelled their talent together. The Kansas City Chiefs are a young and rebuilding team, while the Denver Broncos are always a threat. The San Diego Chargers 2008 schedule will pit the team against elite teams such as the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the hated New England Patriots in non-divisional play. Historic Qualcomm Stadium will be packed all year as fans enjoy the great weather and the sheer dominance of the San Diego Chargers.