The Chargers struggled in the start of the 2010 season, nothing new to them. They started 2-5, but like they had in recent years, everyone expected them to be able to bounce back. They looked well on their way, winning 4 in a row, before losing to the Raiders and falling to 6-6. They won their next two games, but a loss to the lowly Bengals eliminated them week 16 and the Chiefs won the division with a record of 10-6.

Several things did them in. One was injuries. Vincent Jackson missed most of the season with various injuries, a holdout, and a suspension. Antonio Gates also missed 6 games with injuries. Malcom Floyd also was hurt, as was Legedu Naanee. Running back Ryan Mathews also missed time. That’s their top three receivers, their Pro-Bowl tight end, and their promising rookie running back all missing time with injury. How Philip Rivers was still able to lead the league in passing yards, I don’t know. He really cemented himself as one of the top 6 or 7 quarterbacks in the league with his performance last year.

However, injuries couldn’t have been the only thing that did them in. Even with their injuries, they ranked 1^st in total offense and 1^st in total defense. That’s how talented they are. So why did they go 9-7? For one thing, there was that slow start. However, the bigger problem was special teams. It seems like they allowed scores in every way possible last year.

Their final problem was luck. They had a point differential of plus 119. That suggests they should have had a much better record than 9-7. That type of thing typically balances itself out over the years and I think if they have a similar point differential, this year, they should have around 12 wins. Pittsburgh had a point differential of plus 143. They got 12 wins. Atlanta had plus 126. They got 13 wins.

On top of that, there are other reasons why I like San Diego in 2011. They don’t have a first place schedule. They will be healthier. Their special teams can’t possibly be worse and given the new kickoff rule, even if they were as bad this year, it might not matter. Kickoff recovery teams don’t matter as much now. They gave up 3 kickoff return touchdowns last year. They won’t do that this year, no matter what.

Finally, call me crazy, but I think last season was a wakeup call for this team. Every year, they were able to sleep walk early and still make the playoffs. Last year, they couldn’t. I think that was a wakeup call for this Norv Turner coached bunch. I still can’t pick them to go deep into the playoffs because Norv is their coach, but I don’t think he’ll let them sleepwalk this year. Neither will Philip Rivers, a feisty competitor who had to hate watching the playoffs from home.

Rivers will be helped out by better health in his receiving corps. If he can have an MVP type season throwing to guys like Patrick Crayton, Seyi Ajitotutu, and Randy McMichael, imagine what he can do with a full season of Vincent Jackson, Malcom Floyd, and Antonio Gates. Ryan Mathews will be back for them at running back. In his absence last year, Mike Tolbert stepped up big time. Mathews and Tolbert will both see action in the backfield this year.

The Chargers return all 5 starters on their offensive line, good for continuity’s sake, but I bet most Chargers fans wish they made one change. That change would have been at right tackle, where Jeromey Clary received a 4 year 20 million dollar deal in the offseason despite being terrible. Clary allowed 8 sacks and 38 pressures last side on the right side. They had young Brandyn Dombrowski waiting in the wings to take over, with rookie Steve Schilling brought in to compete for the starting right tackle job. However, they still decided to bring back Clary.

Aside from Clary, this is one of the better lines in the league. Excluding Clary, they allowed 26 sacks last year, all while being above average as run blockers. Left tackle Marcus McNeill is one of the better left tackles in the league. He didn’t play all year, but he did only allow 1 sack in 708 snaps. Center Nick Hardwick and left guard Kris Dielman are both above average, while right guard Louis Vasquez is decent with upside, as a 2009 3^rd round pick.

Philip Rivers has to be very pleased with all of their talent up front, as well as all their talent in the receiving corps. Rivers could be even better this season than he was last season when he threw for 4710 yards, averaged 8.7 yards per completion, completed 66% of his passes, and threw 30 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.

 

Defensively, they have almost as much talent as they do on the offensive end. After all, they did rank #1 in fewest yards allowed in addition to most yards of offense. Their strength is their defensive line and their pass rush, as is the strength of most good defenses. Antonio Garay was a revelation at nose tackle in their first season since cutting long time nose tackle Jamal Williams. Garay came out of nowhere to have 5.5 sacks, all while providing a strong force against the run.

Around him on their 3 man defensive line are Luis Castillo, an above average player, and Jacques Cesaire, a marginal player who should be leapfrogged by rookie first round pick Corey Liuget on the depth chart at some point this season. However, their top pass rusher is Shaun Phillips, who has effectively stepped up in Shawne Merriman’s absence in the past few years. He had 11 sacks last year from the 3-4 rush linebacker slot.

They are, however, struggling to find a consistent pass rusher opposite him. Larry English, a 2009 1^st round pick, was supposed to take the job in his 2^nd year. He failed to do so. Antwan Barnes and Antawn Applewhite both tried to become the consistent starter. Neither were able to prove themselves as such. Applewhite left as a free agent, while Barnes is listed as a backup.

Larry English, who is looking more and more like a bust each day, also is listed as a backup on the depth chart. Free agent acquisition Travis LaBoy will get the first crack at the starting job opposite Phillips. LaBoy has been a marginal player throughout his career. He had 5 sacks last season in San Francisco after being out of the league in 2009 and has never had more than 6.5 in a season. He rejoins former San Francisco defensive coordinator and new San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.

The Chargers underwent a makeover at the middle linebacker position. Their top 3 guys from last season, Kevin Burnett, Stephen Cooper, and Brandon Siler are all gone as free agents. To replace them, they signed Takeo Spikes from San Francisco, another one of Greg Manusky’s guys from San Francisco. 2010 3^rd round pick Donald Butler is expected to start next to him, though he’ll be pushed by James Holt, an inexperienced former undrafted free agent out of Kansas in 2009. Jonas Mouton could also push him, though the rookie 2^nd round pick was mostly brought in for special teams purposes. Same with Andrew Gachkar, a middle linebacker they drafted in the 7^th round.

When they traded Antonio Cromartie to the Jets last offseason, they didn’t miss a beat in the starting lineup as 2008 first round pick Antoine Cason stepped into Cromartie’s spot in the lineup opposite Quentin Jammer and played well. However, Cason moving from nickelback to the starting lineup did leave them with a hole at the nickel back position. Nickel corner Donald Strickland really struggled. For this reason, they drafted Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright in the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds respectively this past April. The two will battle it out for the nickel back role.

Safety was a question going into the offseason. Strong safety was a position of weakness for them last year and if they let stud free safety Eric Weddle leave as a free agent, free safety would too become a position of weakness. Not only did they resign Weddle, albeit for more than he was worth, they signed strong safety Bob Sanders from Indianapolis.

Sanders was the defensive player of the year in 2006, but hasn’t been able to stay healthy since. He’s reportedly healthy now and while I don’t think he still has it in him to be a defensive player of the year caliber player anymore, he can still be a solid strong safety for them. If he gets hurt again, 2^nd year player Darrell Stuckey, a 4^th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, would step into the lineup.

With better luck, better health, and better special teams, this team should be able to rise to the top of the AFC West once again. For once, I don’t expect them to have an early season slump. I think last year was the wakeup call they needed. I still don’t trust their coach enough to pick them to win a Super Bowl, but I really like this team once again in 2011.

Quarterback: A-

Running backs: B-

Receiving corps: A-

Offensive line: B+

Run defense: B+

Pass rush: A-

Pass coverage: B

Coaching: C-

Projection: 12-4 1^st in AFC West