Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.With the return of Tom Brady, it made sense that people might not be high on the Chargers in the AFC. But (spoiler alert!) it seems from the predictions of folks around the old House of Fan that Philip Rivers' team is actually quite popular. Anyway, there's good reason for that: LaDainian Tomlinson is due for an improved performance this year, Shawne Merriman is reportedly healthy and ready to choke out some opponents (too soon?) and Rivers is, of course, the best quarterback in the NFL*.
Offense: Again, Rivers = awesomeness. I don't care what Ape says. Also awesome? Antonio Gates. And Vincent Jackson. And Tomlinson. And Darren Sproles. And, well, you get it, right? The Chargers are freaking stacked on offense. But what about the offensive line, you say? Well, the left side is elite with Marcus McNeil and Kris Dielman. Nick Hardwick is a spectacular center as well. The right side could use some work, but, hey, if that's your biggest concern on offense, you're feeling pretty good about the offense heading into 2009, right? Heat Index: 10
San Deigo Chargers Photos
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman runs during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, left, takes a break with teammates, Larry English, center, and Antwan Applewhite, right, during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman hits a blocking dummy during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, left, drills with teammates during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman cools down during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman hits a blocking dummy during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman tosses a towel to a teammate during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. Authorities say San Diego Chargers star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on suspicion of choking and restraining his girlfriend, a reality TV star, as she tried to leave his Southern California home. San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman says 27-year-old Tila Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant early Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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Chuck Liddell, a mixed martial artist, gets a hug from San Diego Chargers' Kassim Osgood prior to the NFL preseason football game between the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers at Qualcomm Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 4: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers watches from the sidelines during the game with the San Diego Chargers on September 4, 2009 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 26-7. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Smith
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SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 4: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers talks on the sidelines during the game with the San Diego Chargers on September 4, 2009 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 26-7. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Singletary
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Defense: Merriman's return is the biggest boost to this team's defense, naturally, because, steroids or no, he's a Pro Bowler and a game-changer who wrecks havoc. He immediately makes Luis Castillo and and Jamal Williams more effective on the defensive line while simultaneously improving the play of Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie on the back end. The pass defense stunk the joint up in 2008, which gives some cause for concern, but if Merriman's healthy, the secondary will end up in the top end because opposing quarterbacks will have significantly less time to pick them apart. Heat Index: 8
Special Teams: Did I mention that Sproles was awesome? Yes. Yes, I did. What I didn't mention is that Sproles' awesomeness is only magnified by the fact that he can return punts and kicks. You know who else can do that well? That's right -- Cromartie. (He won't, of course, but if Sproles got hurt, he's destructive.) Nate Kaeding had a bit of a down year last year, but he's still one of the better kickers in the league, even if he's had struggles from long range and in the playoffs during previous seasons. Mike Scifries is also an excellent option at punter. Heat Index: 9
Coaching: Now, here's where it gets a little tricky; I've even gone so far as to name Norv Turner "Neckskin" (when not calling him "Norvell") because his sixth and seventh chins hang so low. I've always presumed this is because he usually coaches the second half of games and all playoff games with both hands firmly planted around his neck. However, it's worth noting that in the past few years, Norv's kind of kicked his "choker image" -- it's not that anyone thinks he's Bill Belichick, but Turner's losses with the Chargers haven't been primarily centered around his inability to coach the big game. Heat Index: 8Intangibles: You've got to LOVE the division the Chargers come out of -- their only competition last year, the Broncos, pulled the biggest implosion in the history of sports this offseason. Aside from that? There's the rebuilding -- but potentially dangerous -- Chiefs and the Raiders, who need no introduction. Add in the fact that everyone seems to think it's "the Chargers time" based on losses in the playoffs the last few years, as well as the mental and physical toughness that this team has adopted because Rivers is a bigger badass than Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer combined* and it just seems like it's the year for the Chargers. Of course, sometimes that can be a negative thing, but even the team seems to be taking a different approach to 2009, with regard to expectations. Heat Index: 9
Total Heat Index: 44/50 -- And yeah, it's entirely possible that I'm only hurting the Chargers with these increased expectations, but really, find someone who follows the NFL and who hasn't already penciled them in for a playoff spot. They're almost locked in that sense, barring a horrible bad-luck-fueled start, and that will mean that, unlike previous years, they should be rested heading into the postseason and ready to rumble. If LdT comes back like many folks think he will, and Merriman stays healthy, this is one of two or three teams who should win the Super Bowl. And, no, those aren't even that big of if's either.
*Rampant NCSU homerism may apply
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-08-2009 @ 1:14PM
cjgdnight said...
With the VERY poor division they play in.. it better be their time!!! And they better take advantage of it.
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 2:56PM
Whaasup Rooster! said...
These guys are "Paper" Champs.LT is gutless when it comes to big games.
Reply
9-08-2009 @ 11:04PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
LT is the downfall on the offensive side as he demands the ball and doesn't produce.
On the defense they didn't improve their D-line or ILB position this offseason. stephen cooper is a big liability in the middle as he can't cover the pass, cannot rush the passer and only tackles RBs 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He is the weakest link of the defense and he will continue to make the team vulnerable on defense.
Additionally, the defense lacks ends. Castillo is a washout and on the other end you have...a series of scrubs. This team's front 7 really only has 2-3 playmakers. If Merriman is not 100% forget the season. They may go into the playoffs because their division is weak but without a good WR (Gates is the only one who can catch), sporting a prima donna RB and lacking any QB pressure on defense, they are nothing. --- all of these are AJ's picks.
It won't be Norv's fault when they fail again but somehow AJ Smith blame him and emerge with a job for 2010.
Reply
9-10-2009 @ 12:43PM
brownpride57 said...
if memory serves me right,norv has always screwed veerything where ever he has gone and san diego wont be any different,san diego will never win the super bowl,they have that jinx like the clippers,wont ever win the big one
Reply
11-09-2009 @ 3:15AM
wlidchild said...
Well in my eyes has of meny charger fans just wait and see norv is good at what he does so sit back watch.the best team in the NFL.do what they have always done and that's play the game.
11-09-2009 @ 3:19AM
wlidchild said...
Well u must not watch the best team u just read the paper LT is very good and fast so u just keep think and let the boys play while you sit in your chair, and coach from there ok
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