San Diego Chargers 2008 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/25/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a way, you could say that the Spanos family, along with partner-in-crime and Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, were vindicated in 2007.

After that group elicited widespread criticism for their ouster of Marty Schottenheimer a month following the 2006 season, new head coach Norv Turner did something his predecessor could not by winning in the postseason. Turner's Bolts beat the Titans (17-6) and Colts (28-24) to advance to their first AFC Championship since 1994, where they lost to the Patriots.

In another way, you can question whether San Diego's brain trust undermined the efforts of arguably the most talented roster in Chargers history.

By firing Schottenheimer when they did, the Chargers blew an opportunity to hire either Wade Phillips or Cam Cameron and maintain continuity on their staff. As the new coaches and existing players felt each other out for the first three months of the season, a team that had gone 14-2 in its final year under Schottenheimer limped to a 5-5 start with essentially the same roster. San Diego eventually woke up and won eight in a row, but the discussion for an all-important top-two seed was already over.

There is ample evidence to support both the pro- and anti-Norv Turner movements, but a more substantial argument will undoubtedly come after this season.

Once again, the Chargers experienced very little roster turnover, and are the runaway pick to win the AFC West. With a year on the San Diego sideline under his belt, Turner will be expected to get more out of his team, which should be expected to be a part of the Super Bowl picture well into January.

If Turner, who as a head coach still carries a reputation as a career underachiever, fails to accomplish more than in 2007, San Diego fans will forever wonder whether the Spanos/Smith power play that resulted in Schottenheimer's dismissal was the right one.

Meanwhile, NFL fans everywhere will ponder how exactly this organization managed to screw up the Super Bowl fortunes of the greatest runner of his generation, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2008 edition of the San Diego Chargers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2007 RECORD: 11-5 (1st, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2007, lost to New England, 21-12, in AFC Championship

COACH (RECORD): Norv Turner (11-5 in one season with Chargers, 69-87-1 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Clarence Shelmon

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ted Cottrell

OFFENSIVE STAR: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB (1474 rushing yards, 60 receptions, 18 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Antonio Cromartie, CB (44 tackles, 10 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 7th rushing, 26th passing, 5th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 16th rushing, 14th passing, 5th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: FB Jacob Hester (3rd Round, LSU), T L.J. Shelton (from Dolphins), C Jeremy Newberry (from Raiders), LB Derek Smith (from 49ers), CB Antoine Cason (1st Round, Arizona)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Michael Turner (to Falcons), FB Lorenzo Neal (to Ravens), T Shane Olivea (released), CB Drayton Florence (to Jaguars), S Marlon McCree (to Broncos)

QB: Philip Rivers (3152 passing yards, 21 TD, 15 INT) didn't set the world on fire in his first year under Turner's tutelage, but did prove himself a solid, tough quarterback. Though his numbers were all slightly down from the year before, Rivers scored P.R. points by playing on a torn ACL in the AFC Championship. Still, in his third year as a starter and fifth in the league, the former No. 4 overall pick won't get a break if and when he struggles. Billy Volek only threw six passes last year but has the experience you want in a backup. Third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst hasn't thrown a pass since being drafted in the third round in 2006, and remains an unknown quantity.

RB: Though he started slow (two 100-yard games in the team's first 11 contests) and finished slow (30 carries, 75 yards in three playoff appearances), Tomlinson still managed to win the NFL rushing title and was named to yet another Pro Bowl. Now 29, the highly-decorated Tomlinson is running out of opportunities to be a featured part of a Super Bowl team. Following Michael Turner's free agent defection to Atlanta, L.T. will be backed by miniature holdover Darren Sproles (164 rushing yards, 2 TD, 10 receptions) and third-round Draft pick Jacob Hester (LSU). Neither is in Turner's class, but will be called upon to provide a change of pace. Fullback Andrew Pinnock had offseason knee surgery but should be ready for the season. If not, Hester can fill the role.

WR/TE: The Chargers' wide receivers continue to operate in the shadow of both Tomlinson and All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates (75 receptions, 9 TD), though they are a pretty good group in their own right. Chris Chambers (66 receptions, 4 TD with Chargers and Dolphins) made an immediate impact after being traded from Miami in the middle of last season, and will once again team with 6-5 Vincent Jackson (41 receptions, 3 TD) to help take the pressure off the rest of the offense. Second-year player Buster Davis (20 receptions, 1 TD), a first-round pick last year, should have more of a role in 2008 but will be pushed for playing time by fellow holdover Legedu Naannee (8 receptions). Malcolm Floyd (7 receptions) will have trouble making the team if ex- Buccaneers return specialist Mark Jones sticks. Gates, meanwhile, will be cutting it close to start the season as he recovers from offseason toe surgery. If he can't suit up in Week 1, Brandon Manumaleuna (10 receptions, 1 TD) and Scott Chandler will have to pick up the slack.

OL: The biggest hole to fill for the San Diego offense might be at center, where Nick Hardwick could miss the season with an injured foot. Veteran Jeremy Newberry was signed as a potential replacement, but Newberry has also had injury problems and is not exactly reliable from that perspective. Otherwise this group looks to be in good shape. Left tackle Marcus McNeill, left guard Kris Dielman, right guard Mike Goff, and right tackle Jeromey Clarey all look secure in their jobs, though Clarey could eventually be challenged by former Cardinal and Dolphin L.J. Shelton. Cory Withrow and Scott Mruczkowski should also rank among the backups.

DL: The Chargers' three-man front is among the tops in the league on paper, but must remain healthy in order to realize its potential. Pro Bowl nose tackle Jamal Williams (39 tackles) is 32 with crumbling knees, while end Luis Castillo (33 tackles, 2.5 sacks) has missed large chunks of time due to ankle problems. The most reliable member of the group is Igor Olshansky (49 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT), who will continue to hold down one end. Backups Ryon Bingham (39 tackles, 1.5 sacks), Jacques Cesaire (36 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Brandon McKinney (21 tackles) all had to start games last year due to injuries to Williams and Castillo, and should be prepared to be a major part of the d- line rotation once again.

LB: San Diego was dealt a blow in April, when it was announced that inside linebacker and top 2007 tackler Stephen Cooper (108 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) would miss the season's first four games after testing positive for a banned stimulant. Cooper's absence helped create an opportunity for ex-49er Derek Smith (78 tackles, 1 INT with San Francisco), who figures to start on opening day alongside holdover Matt Wilhelm (97 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack). On the outside, Shawne Merriman (68 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 1 INT) comes off a third straight Pro Bowl appearance, but his 2008 season could be in jeopardy due to chronic knee problems. Shaun Phillips (68 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 INT) can also be dangerous coming off the edge, and will have to be great if Merriman is not in the picture. Backups in the linebacking corps will include 2007 third-round pick Anthony Waters on the inside and Marques Harris (19 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Jyles Tucker (12 tackles, 3.5 sacks) on the outside.

DB: After years of trying to find a cornerback who could both cover receivers and catch the football, Antonio Cromartie arrived in 2007. Cromartie led the NFL in picks during his second season in the league, including a memorable game when he intercepted Peyton Manning no fewer than three times. Cromartie and Quentin Jammer (61 tackles, 1 INT) will again start on the corners, though first-round pick Antoine Cason (Arizona) could switch from nickel to a more substantial role when he proves to be ready. Cletis Gordon (16 tackles) should be the fourth cornerback. At safety, Eric Weddle (53 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) will replace Marlon McCree at free safety, while Clinton Hart (85 tackles, 5 INT, 1 sack) will hold onto his job on the strong side. The Chargers are not overly deep at safety, though Steve Gregory (11 tackles) does have some experience and former supplemental pick Paul Oliver has potential.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Nate Kaeding (24-27 FG) continues to rank among the most accurate kickers in the league, but his work in big games still has to be questioned. Kaeding was 1-for-3 on field goals in the Chargers' first two playoff games last year, but rebounded to go 4-for-4 and account for all of San Diego's points in the AFC Championship. Punter Mike Scifres (46.1 avg.) remains one of the most underrated players in the league at any position, and deserves a Pro Bowl trip one of these years. Darren Sproles (27.2 kickoff return avg., 1 TD, 9.5 punt return avg., 1 TD) is still around to field kickoffs and punt returns, though if his role with the offense expands, he could become limited on special teams. David Binn, who played on San Diego's lone Super Bowl team in 1994, heads into his 15th year as the team's long snapper.

PROGNOSIS: While everyone talks about the Patriots, Colts, and even Jaguars heading into the 2008 AFC race, the Chargers - who had less turnover than any of those teams and were one of the NFL's final four left standing a year ago - lurk somewhere just beneath the radar. That's strange, given that San Diego looks to have less competition in the West than in any other division in the AFC, and could potentially set themselves up with a pretty easy road to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. Yes, they will have to be healthier than a year ago in order to make it. And yes, Turner has a reputation for being able to screw up a good thing. But if this talented team represents its conference in the Super Bowl or even ends up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, you could hardly call it a fluke.