San Diego Chargers 2010 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All good things must come to an end, but unfortunately, as in the case of LaDainian Tomlinson, they don't always come to an abrupt end.

The decline in play of the all-time leading rusher in San Diego Chargers franchise history was gradual, with the five-time Pro Bowler posting the lowest single-season rushing totals of his career over his final two years with the club.

Last year, Tomlinson managed just 730 ground yards - a distant 29th in the league - prompting the team to part ways with its icon in the offseason. As different as it will be not to have the Hall of Famer around, several Chargers have acknowledged that this brand of change isn't necessarily a detriment.

Tomlinson could be prickly, especially about the direction of an offense that had seen its burden carried less by L.T.'s running than Philip Rivers' passing in recent seasons.

"I don't know how everyone feels or if they felt it," Rivers recently told the San Diego-Union Tribune. "Maybe it was a little bit of a relief. Maybe it's a feeling of, 'I can do a little more without wondering what [Tomlinson] thinks.'"

Tomlinson inked a rich new contract with the New York Jets in March, but is not guaranteed to see more carries while playing behind probable starter Shonn Greene.

"Sometimes you would get the sense that people felt bigger than the team," said San Diego tight end Antonio Gates, referring to Tomlinson. "Not to say it was an issue, but we know it's not an issue for sure now."

Ironically, a team that just parted ways with a Top-10 all-time NFL rusher could actually seek to go to the ground more often this season. That's because the Bolts traded up in the first round to acquire a new set of legs in the form of Fresno State phenom Ryan Mathews.

San Diego and its fans have high hopes for the physical 6-0, 218-pound running back with 4.4 speed, but expecting that he'll be as reliable as Tomlinson was for nearly a decade is probably a bit much to ask at this stage. Even Mathews, who figures to cede some carries to Darren Sproles, acknowledges that fact.

"I don't feel pressure replacing L.T," Mathews told the Union-Tribune. "Big shoes. It's hard to fill those shoes. I'm going to play my game."

The Chargers, who will be dealing with a three-game suspension, and a potential holdout beyond that, for No. 1 wideout Vincent Jackson, are going to need a contribution from their new running back.

They're also going to need some better play out of a defense that, while not awful by any stretch, failed to take a step forward in 2009. If both groups jell, there's little reason to expect the Chargers will lose a stranglehold on the AFC West that has yielded four consecutive division titles.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the San Diego Chargers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 13-3 (1st, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2009, lost to N.Y. Jets, 17-14, in AFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Norv Turner (32-16 in three seasons with Chargers, 90-98-1 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Clarence Shelmon

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ron Rivera

OFFENSIVE STAR: Philip Rivers, QB (4254 passing yards, 28 TD, 9 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Stephen Cooper, ILB (102 tackles)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 31st rushing, 5th passing, 4th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 20th rushing, 11th passing, 11th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jonathan Crompton (5th Round, Tennessee), RB Ryan Mathews, (1st Round, Fresno State), RB Marcus Mason (from Redskins), WR Josh Reed (from Bills), TE Randy McMichael (from Rams), T Tra Thomas (from Jaguars), CB Nathan Vasher (from Bears), CB Donald Strickland (from Jets)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Charlie Whitehurst (to Seahawks), RB LaDainian Tomlinson (to Jets), RB Michael Bennett (to Raiders), WR Kassim Osgood (to Jaguars), TE Brandon Manumaleuna (to Bears), T Jon Runyan (retired), OL Dennis Norman (released), DT Ian Scott (released), NT Jamal Williams (to Broncos), ILB Tim Dobbins (to Dolphins), OLB Marques Harris (not tendered), LB Dontarrious Thomas (not tendered), LB Donald Butler (out for season/injured), CB Antonio Cromartie (to Jets), S Kevin Ellison (to Seahawks)

QB: Rivers was positively dazzling again last season, going over the 4,000- yard passing mark for the second straight year and leading the league in yards per completion (13.4). Though he rarely gets mentioned in the same breath as Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, Rivers is 46-18 as a starter and at 28 is on a trajectory that could land him in the Hall of Fame. A Super Bowl appearance would help, of course, and Rivers is just 3-4 in the playoffs. Billy Volek, who got a chance to play most of a meaningless win over the Redskins in Week 17 of last season, will remain the backup. The Chargers also drafted Jonathan Crompton (Tennessee) in the fifth round, an indication that they plan on carrying three quarterbacks.

RB: With a strong supporting cast around him, Mathews should be on anyone's short list of potential Rookie of the Year candidates. It's a big leap from the WAC to the NFL, but Mathews seems to possess the maturity, versatility, and skills to thrive in the Chargers offense. Sproles (343 rushing yards, 45 receptions, 7 TD) continues to represent an excellent change-of-pace, though the disappointing 3.7 yards per carry he averaged last season probably hurt his chances of going elsewhere as a restricted free agent. The versatile Jacob Hester (74 rushing yards, 9 receptions) and fullback Mike Tolbert (148 rushing yards, 17 receptions, 4 TD) are both likely to make the roster, but Redskins castoff Marcus Mason (127 yards with Washington) could cause some tough decisions if he plays well in the preseason.

WR/TE: The most troubling aspect of the Chargers offense entering 2010 is the situation with No. 1 wideout Vincent Jackson (68 receptions, 9 TD), who comes off his first Pro Bowl season but is embroiled in a contract dispute from the team. Jackson is already suspended three games by the league after ringing up multiple DUIs, and has threatened to sit out the year if San Diego fails to put more money in his pockets. Don't count on general manager A.J. Smith flinching on that one, though, and don't count on Jackson really taking a year off at the age of 27 and in his prime. Despite the major absence, San Diego looks set to rest with its remaining wideout corps of Malcom Floyd (45 receptions, 1 TD), Legedu Naanee (24 receptions, 2 TD), and Buster Davis (6 receptions), along with offseason addition Josh Reed (27 receptions, 1 TD with Buffalo). Realistically, the Bolts' No. 1 receiver unless and until Jackson comes back will be the tight end Gates, who set a career-high for receiving yards (1157) last year and hasn't missed a game since 2005. After three years in the wilderness with the Rams, Randy McMichael (34 receptions, 1 TD with St. Louis) has come in to back Gates, and seventh-round pick Dedrick Epps (Miami- Florida) should factor in as well.

OL: Though Jackson's situation has received a bit more attention, the Chargers have another disgruntled player on their hands with left tackle Marcus McNeill, who has yet to sign his reduced restricted free agent tender. McNeill wants a long-term deal that San Diego refuses to give him at the moment, and the Bolts signed ex-Eagles vet Tra Thomas as insurance if McNeill fails to report. Trouble is, Thomas was forced to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in early August, and San Diego could now need McNeill more than ever. Brandyn Dombrowski is "Plan C" on the left side, though with he and mediocre right tackle Jeromey Clary as bookends, Rivers could be in trouble. The interior line of guards Kris Dielman (left side) and Louis Vasquez (right side) along with center Nick Hardwick is solid. Scott Mruczkowski is a serviceable interior backup, as displayed last year when he filled in for an injured Hardwick.

DL: A three-man front that was long a strength for the Chargers defense has become something of a question mark. San Diego finished just 20th in the league against the run last year. Longtime nose tackle Jamal Williams is now a Bronco and right end Luis Castillo (25 tackles, 2 sacks) has been marginalized by injuries. A resurgence from this group is needed if San Diego wants to be better than just average defensively. In the middle, Ogemdi Nwagbuo (19 tackles, 1 sack) is the incumbent but isn't the space eater Williams was. Fifth-round rookie Cam Thomas (North Carolina) has a bigger body, but you can hardly count on a fifth-rounder. Either Travis Johnson (16 tackles) or Jacques Cesaire (26 tackles, 1 sack) will play left end, but neither is what you would call dominant.

LB: Once among the top pass-rushing teams in the NFL, the Chargers didn't scare anyone in that regard last season. Starting outside linebackers Shaun Phillips (59 tackles, 7 sacks) and Shawne Merriman (36 tackles, 4 sacks) combined for just 11 sacks, and rookie first-rounder Larry English (36 tackles, 2 sacks) proved he wasn't quite ready for prime time. Now, Merriman is among the trio of high-profile Chargers holding out of training camp in a contract dispute, a situation that isn't going to help matters. Antwan Applewhite, who missed most of 2009 due to injury, could insert himself into the mix on the outside with a strong camp. On the inside, the team is in better shape with Stephen Cooper, Brandon Siler (67 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and/or Kevin Burnett (66 tackles, 2.5 sacks). San Diego was dealt a blow when promising third-round rookie Donald Butler (Washington) tore his Achilles' tendon early in training camp and was lost for the season.

DB: There were major offseason changes in the San Diego secondary, as former first-round phenom Antonio Cromartie was exiled to the Jets due to a seeming allergy to physical play, and troubled run-stopping safety Kevin Ellison was also cut loose. To account for those changes, Smith brought in ex-Bear Nathan Vasher (15 tackles, 1 INT with Chicago) and journeyman Donald Strickland (25 tackles, 2 sacks with the Jets) to enhance the cornerback group, and used a fourth-round draft choice on Darrell Stuckey (Kansas), a pure strong safety who could start from day one. Former first-rounder Antoine Cason (41 tackles, 2 INT) remains the favorite to start opposite Quentin Jammer (58 tackles, 3 INT) at corner, and Eric Weddle (82 tackles, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks) will resume his duties at the free safety spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS: It had to be a brutal offseason for kicker Nate Kaeding, who made the Pro Bowl but was fitted for the goat horns (again) when he went 0- for-3 on field goals in the Chargers' stunning playoff loss to the Jets. Kaeding (32-35 FG) is the most accurate regular season kicker of all time, but has now had playoff meltdowns on three occasions and needs to exorcise his demons to remain employed. Punter Mike Scifres (45.0 avg.) is annually among the most underrated players, at any position, in football. San Diego is in good shape on returns, where the slippery Sproles (7.0 punt return avg., 1 TD, 24.1 kickoff return avg.) is always capable of breaking the big one. At 38, long snapper David Binn is still reliable but has to be nearing the end of the line.

PROGNOSIS: Say what you will about Norv Turner, but the guy has come up mostly aces in three years in San Diego, and has developed what seems to be a pretty solid working relationship with general manager A.J. Smith. Playoff disappointments aside, this is one of the league's most talented and consistent teams, and there's little reason to expect that they won't top the AFC West again. No other team in the division has closed the gap. The question then becomes whether the Chargers have what it takes to compete for a Super Bowl title, and while there are some pressing questions that need to be answered, there also isn't a fatal flaw on this team that should preclude them from being in the mix. Look for a fifth straight AFC West title and a fighting chance to get onto the Super Bowl stage in Arlington come February.