We've already got the support group thread, but I figure we should start a new thread for a new season.
Chargers won't be changers
With core players in place, don't look for much rebuilding over offseason
By Kevin Acee
January 23, 2008
Shawne Merriman can't help but think this is just the beginning.
“Being around some of the guys who have been in the game for a while, you know it's a short window,” Merriman said. “I'm a young guy, but you know you might not have many opportunities. But I feel like with the team we have, we do have a lot more opportunities. Talking with Jamal (Williams), Lo Neal, guys who have been around so long, they say you only have a few chances. I feel we have a lot of chances.”
That's the feeling the Chargers take into the offseason, which for them began Sunday night with their 21-12 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
While the hours since that loss have been spent debating Philip Rivers' playing and LaDainian Tomlinson's not playing, the Chargers have turned their attention to pending free agency, the draft and other personnel matters.
And they do so as an organization brimming with optimism.
“I believe the future is bright with great hope that we are definitely on track for a championship,” General Manager A.J. Smith said this week.
It will likely be another spring and summer in which fans are disappointed that Smith does not dive into the free-agent market, a chorus that was as loud as ever last year as the Patriots bulked up in free agency.
“We're going to be a player,” Smith said, his standard line about free agency. “Always a player, not a major player.”
All he feels he needs to do is pad the roster, because the Chargers will lose one or two starters, even fewer than last year.
“This is an odd year where we're pretty much loaded,” Smith said.
It is all but certain free safety Marlon McCree will be released with three years left on the contract he signed in 2006. Eric Weddle will replace McCree.
The other starter who could be gone soon is fullback Lorenzo Neal. While he signed a three-year extension that gave him $2 million up front back in March, Neal turned 37 last month. And he is not the valued commodity in Norv Turner's offense that he was under Cam Cameron and Marty Schottenheimer.
A handful of vital role players are also about to leave, losses that could prove as significant as the starters who depart.
Backup running back Michael Turner is about to be very rich, as he will finally be free to become a team's starter.
Cornerback Drayton Florence also will become a free agent and get a big contract with another team after spending his first five seasons in San Diego.
The Chargers are interested in keeping another key backup, quarterback Billy Volek, but he will want to test the free-agent market and see where he might be able to get more money and compete to become a starter.
Smith will look to replace that trio in varying ways.
The Chargers will almost certainly draft a running back in April, both as Turner's replacement and to groom for the future. The Chargers also have Darren Sproles, likely just a situational back, and Andrew Pinnock, more likely to be the fullback if Neal leaves.
Paul Oliver was selected in the supplemental draft in preparation for Florence's departure. But it appears the Chargers will need to somehow acquire another cornerback in the draft, because it appears Oliver's future is probably at safety. Cletis Gordon could step in as that third corner but would need a good spring and summer.
To replace Volek, the Chargers could promote No. 3 quarterback Charlie Whitehurst or seek to sign a veteran.
Smith declined to discuss his offseason plans, because he prefers to wait until February to address the media with specifics.
But he left yesterday for the Senior Bowl and has begun to immerse himself in the draft, his preferred tool for building a team.
The Chargers have only a first-round pick (27th) on the first day of the draft, having traded their second-round pick to Miami for Chris Chambers and third-rounder to Chicago as part of the Weddle deal during last year's draft.
With that first pick, they will likely look at a cornerback.
They also do not have a fourth-rounder, having used that pick to take Oliver.
That leaves a fifth, sixth and seventh, though they will also get a third-or fourth-round compensatory pick for losing Donnie Edwards in free agency last year.
One of those picks could be spent on a No. 3 QB, if Whitehurst moves up the depth chart. The Chargers will also be looking at offensive-line depth.
Regardless of how the offseason goes, making it through a coaching change and the early-season turmoil all the way to the conference title game and returning almost everyone has the Chargers looking forward to '08.
“Obviously, with what we did this year,” Tomlinson said, “we're expecting to be back in this spot next year.”
Offseason doings
Safety Marlon McCree will be released. Fullback Lorenzo Neal could be let go, too.
Running back Michael Turner and cornerback Drayton Florence will become free agents. Backup quarterback Billy Volek will also test the free-agent market.
The Chargers will be minor players in free agency, as always.
With only a first-round pick on the first day of April's draft, the Chargers probably will select a cornerback.
The rest of the draft picks (a supplemental third-or fourth-rounder and fifth-, sixth-and seventh-rounders) could be used on a running back, two offensive linemen and a safety.
Last edited by a moderator:
I think Volek is fine as a back up. I still don't know enough about what Whitehurst can do on the field to have an opinion. If Volek goes they'll have to bring in a vet from somewhere, but I think Phil will be fine.
Replacing Kaeding isn't even on the radar.Acee says they'll go CB in the 1st. My money says AJ will have a few guys targeted at varying positions and the BPA out of those will be who he takes throughout the draft, and fills in any remaining gaps with mid/low priced FA.
somewhere.
somewhere.
somewhere.
somewhere.
Playing 5 weeks on a broken leg as a kicker - that's amazing. Plus he converted all his chances against the Pats. I'm fine with him kicking field goals, I don't think there's anyone notably better. Kickoffs do need an improvement.
