Don't sleep on the Chargers

[TheSanityAnnex]

P.Rivers and company are going to wreck shop. The #1 rush defense will be back along with a much better secondary. Good luck to all of their opponents. And to the Manning brothers...................both of your asses will be handed to you once again.

[NBA Junkie]

The Chargers are an enigmatic team. Last season they showed the league they could beat the best teams in the league by handing the Colts their first loss in Indy. They also showed that they could play down to the level of their compe ion as losses to the Dolphins and Coboys at home would attest.

They were definitely one of the NFL's hard luck teams as their first 5 losses were suffered by a grand total of 13 points.

LT, IMO, is the best back in football. The defense is above average, but inconsistent. Phillip Rivers is now getting the keys to the car and must prove that he is worthy of being the high 1st round pick he was in 2003. For the sake of Charger fans everywhere, they better hope that they don't have another Ryan Leaf on their hands.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Last year was a very confusing year for me as a Charger fan. One week they look unbeatable, the next week, they played like the Raiders.

I blame the loss to Dallas on management's decision to suspend Antonio Gates. ing morons. The loss to Miami was the Chargers thinking they could coast through that game and were probably looking ahead to the Colts.

The one loss that sticks in my head was the loss to Philly. I've never felt so ing depressed after a loss of that nature. Of all the things that could go wrong in the final minutes of the game, all of them went wrong. I mean, how often do you see a kick blocked and returned for a touchdown.

I have a lot of confidence in Rivers. A lot of people are talking saying he is just a rookie. True, he's taken limited snaps as a pro, but he has been on the sidelines for two years studying the offense he will now run. The experience he's gained from watching Brees up close should be of tremendous value. Rivers seems like he's ready to take the helm................and the rest of the NFL will get to see what he is made of on the first MNF game @ Oakland.

[Billy Cobham]

The Chargers will be very good as long as Rivers is prepared. Shaun Alexander > LT though.

[NBA Junkie]

I'll take Tomlinson over Alexander because of his versatility. Not his fault the Chargers stopped throwing to him after his 100 reception season in '03.

[mcornelio]

well i had the first pick in my fantasy draft and i took lt.... best back in football period....

[TheSanityAnnex]

The Chargers will be very good as long as Rivers is prepared. Shaun Alexander > LT though.

LT with Seahawks O-line >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Shaun Alexander with Seahawks O-line.


Without a doubt.

[TheSanityAnnex]

The Chargers will be very good as long as Rivers is prepared.

I do agree with this. Rivers has had plenty of time to prepare. I would want starting for the Chargers over any quarterback in the draft this year. He knows that offense, and he has experienced the NFL. 2 years on the sidelines is a lot of learning, and Rivers has a very high QB iq. People seem to forget how high he was drafted.


I still can't believe the Chargers snagged Rivers and Merriman in the first round. And now Cromartie? He could pan out to be the next Law/Bailey.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Lights Out.

[TheSanityAnnex]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=103899

Chargers: What can we expect from Rivers?
June 27, 2006


Talking to coach Marty Schottenheimer a couple weeks ago for a training camp story, I once again realized how much confidence they have in Rivers. The Chargers have liked what their third-year QB has done so far in preseason preparations. They've liked what he can do for a long time, back to when Schottenheimer's coaching staff became enamored of Rivers at the 2004 Senior Bowl.

Comparisons have been drawn to Bernie Kosar, another former college superstar with a funky delivery who had great success for Schottenheimer's Browns. Rivers also has much of the same gunslinging at ude needed to succeed as an NFL quarterback.

In addition, Rivers has the league's best tight end, Antonio Gates, and the league's best running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, to help him out right away. A big, reliable intermediate target and an explosive rushing attack are a young quarterback's two best friends.

Another move the Chargers made was locking up long-term the man who will hand Rivers the ball, center Nick Hardwick. A healthy return from veteran left tackle Roman Oben would be a big boost up front.
Then there's yet another veteran, wide receiver Keenan McCardell, who has worked well with a few different QBs over his 15 years and continues to defy his age at 36 -- he had a career-high nine TDs in '05.
Here's another example of smartly bringing along a young QB to fit into an offense where there's a good support system in place, and not forcing him to carry the entire offense too early. The patience will pay off in an offense that can continue to do the same things it did under Brees: Go Martyball with Tomlinson and extend linebackers and safeties with Gates.
Will Rivers be as efficient as Brees at not making mistakes? Probably not, but that just comes with being a first-year starter. Will Rivers execute more big plays than Brees? Probably yes, after all the waiting and learning, expect some confidence in unleashing his arm. Through ups and downs, Rivers is in an ideal situation, considering his inexperience. He'll keep the offense producing, showing a glimpse of how good he can be when he is experienced.
================================================== ========

[SA Gunslinger]

The Chargers will be very good as long as Rivers is prepared. Shaun Alexander > LT though.

no. LT is tough minded and finishes off runs better than Alexander.

LT is the best in the league, period.

Rivers will have a good season because he has LT as a crutch. I expect a special season from the Chargers. They do need to stay relatively healthy and pray that Marty doesn't screw it up.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Next to LT, I think LJ from the Chiefs is the next best back. He is probably a better runner than L.T. right now because of his line, but L.T. is more versatile. ........L.T. ran, caught, and threw a TD in the same game. L.T. is the .

[RealEstateDude]

Rivers has to prove himself 1st not to mention stay healthy.

[Quadzilla99]

I will be sleeping on them like a baby. Rivers is basically a rookie.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I will be sleeping on them like a baby. Rivers is basically a rookie.

Again.........I would still take Rivers over Leinart/Young. The experience he's gained is very valueable.

[NBA Junkie]

Again.........I would still take Rivers over Leinart/Young. The experience he's gained is very valueable.

Yep. Daunte Culpepper sat his rookie season in Minnesota and was very effective as a sop re.

Brad Johnson is the best example I can give as he sat out nearly 3 seasons before getting a chance and playing effectively. And, his raw talent is nowhere close to what Rivers has.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Yep. Daunte Culpepper sat his rookie season in Minnesota and was very effective as a sop re.

Brad Johnson is the best example I can give as he sat out nearly 3 seasons before getting a chance and playing effectively. And, his raw talent is nowhere close to what Rivers has.

Worked out pretty well for Carson Palmer as well.


The offense should be able to spread the field more this year because of Rivers' height. He will be able to throw across the middle on short slants to Gates all day long. Brees could not do this because he couldn't even see over his lineman. I think Rivers has like 6 inches on him.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Yep. Daunte Culpepper sat his rookie season in Minnesota and was very effective as a sop re.

Brad Johnson is the best example I can give as he sat out nearly 3 seasons before getting a chance and playing effectively. And, his raw talent is nowhere close to what Rivers has.

Another reason I'd take Rivers over Leinart/Young is because this Charger team is built to win now. Its taken a while, but this team is almost solid 3 deep at every position. If this were a team not contending, sure, I'd take Young and let him learn the ropes, but the window of opportunity for this team is now. Rivers will have his chance to shine.

[NBA Junkie]

Worked out pretty well for Carson Palmer as well.


The offense should be able to spread the field more this year because of Rivers' height. He will be able to throw across the middle on short slants to Gates all day long. Brees could not do this because he couldn't even see over his lineman. I think Rivers has like 6 inches on him.

One thing I'd like to see the Chargers do is utilize LT's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. It's something the Chargers have gotten away from the last couple years and it would help them effectively move the chains as they would be facing less second-third and long situations. LT is a damn good versatile RB. Take advantage of it.

Do the Chargers plan on playing a west coast offense this year with Rivers at the helm? They are certainly built this way offensively to play this style as Antonio Gates is their best receiving option at TE.

Any word on whether Carson Palmer is ready for training camp? I haven't followed the NFL offseason news other than free agent moves so I'm in the dark on that.

[TheSanityAnnex]

One thing I'd like to see the Chargers do is utilize LT's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. It's something the Chargers have gotten away from the last couple years and it would help them effectively move the chains as they would be facing less second-third and long situations. LT is a damn good versatile RB. Take advantage of it.

Do the Chargers plan on playing a west coast offense this year with Rivers at the helm? They are certainly built this way offensively to play this style as Antonio Gates is their best receiving option at TE.

Any word on whether Carson Palmer is ready for training camp? I haven't followed the NFL offseason news other than free agent moves so I'm in the dark on that.

They have strayed from throwing to L.T. these last two years. Didn't he have something like 100 receptions three years ago? And you are right, they do need to throw to him more. Once he is in the open field, the dude is amazing.


I heard Carson Palmer's recovery is going well, and he should be able to play in the first game, if what I've heard is right.

[Obstructed_View]

People seem to forget how high he was drafted.

I guarantee you nobody in San Diego has forgotten how high he was drafted. He'd better produce, and that right soon. For all the reasons you've mentioned he has very little excuse for failure.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I guarantee you nobody in San Diego has forgotten how high he was drafted. He'd better produce, and that right soon. For all the reasons you've mentioned he has very little excuse for failure.

They'll have a little comfort knowing that Merriman was also part of that trade package. Dude is a beast.

[Condemned 2 HelLA]

"Lights Out" is a monster.
He'll be going to Hawaii for many years to come.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Eli Manning for Phillip Rivers and Shawne Merriman

[T Park]

Well Eli has shown more in games played than Rivers.