Once again, the Chargers' secondary is in flux.
At cornerback, there is the just-beginning battle between first-round draft pick Antonio Cromartie and incumbent Drayton Florence. In voluntary training sessions the past month, Florence has appeared passionate about retaining his job. Cromartie has looked about as expected – gifted and raw.
“He has a lot to learn,” cornerback Quentin Jammer said of the No. 19 draft pick. “He has talents I haven't seen (before).”
At safety, one thing is known. Marlon McCree was not signed this offseason to sit. He will start come fall, and indications are it will be at free safety.
That leaves three players evidently vying for the starting job on the strong side. While Bhawoh Jue, the free safety last season, would appear the leading candidate to move over, he had knee surgery this offseason and will not participate in workouts until training camp.
Of changing positions and doing so after missing the entire offseason, Jue said recently, “It will be an uphill battle. But at the end of the day I think I can get it done.”
Clinton Hart, who last season started four games at strong safety and one at free, has impressed coaches and teammates both with his work as a fill-in in a new system last season and with his improvement this offseason.
Incumbent strong safety Terrence Kiel also remains. A starter since midway through his rookie season in 2003, Kiel injured an ankle in last season's fourth game and by December needed surgery to insert three screws.
“It affected my play a whole lot,” Kiel said of the ankle. “I know there were some plays I didn't make.”