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San Diego
CHARGERS
2002 Record: 8-8
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
161-101-1 overall, 5-11 postseason
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TEAM LEADERS
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Passing
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Drew Brees
320-526, 3,284 yards, 17 TDs, 16 INTs
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Rushing
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LaDainian Tomlinson
372 carries, 1,683 yards, 14 TDs
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Receiving
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Curtis Conway
57 catches, 852 yards, 5 TDs
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Kicking
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Steve Christie
18-26 FGs, 35-36 PATs, 89 points
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Schedule | Roster |
Statistics | Stadium
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By B. Duane Cross, SI.com
San Diego boasts of one of only 26 head coaches in NFL history to win more than 100 games (and one of 15 to lose at least 100). What does that say for Marty Schottenheimer? He's respected enough to be kept around. And if he sticks around a few more years, he could challenge for that elusive Lombardi trophy.
Third-year RB LaDainian Tomlinson and fellow 2001 draft pick Drew Brees are the foundation for the Chargers' offense, but this year San Diego upped the stakes with the addition of free-agent WR David Boston, a bona fide playmaker who should fit in nicely in the wide-open AFC West.
Defensively, there are question marks. Gone are one-time starters LB Junior Seau, S Rodney Harrison, CB Alex Molden, LB Orlando Ruff and S Rogers Beckett.
Third-year LB Zeke Moreno will roam the middle, while Ryan McNeil and free-agent addition Kwamie Lassiter will vie for time at free safety. Another third-year player, Tay Cody, will lineup with Quentin Jammer at the corners. In short, the defense will be under the gun to improve on its 30th-ranked showing in 2003.
But that offense. ... San Diego was eighth in rushing last season, 22nd in passing and 16th overall. With Boston and FB Lorenzo Neal on board, each of those rankings should improve.The Chargers signed Neal as a lead blocker for Tomlinson, which could prove to be one of the best signings of the offseason. Neal has blocked for six consecutive 1,000-yard rushers, including Corey Dillon in Cincinnati, Eddie George in Tennessee, Warrick Dunn in Tampa Bay and Adrian Murrell with the Jets.
Given the relative youth of the Chargers' skill players and their defensive foundation, Schottenheimer could move into rare air before his career ends -- possibly even with a Super Bowl trophy to keep him company in retirement.
S Kwamie Lassiter -- David Boston or Lorenzo Neal would be good choices, but with the trade of Junior Seau to Miami, Lassiter will be expected to provide leadership to the young D-backs. A nine-year veteran, Lassiter was seventh among NFC defensive backs with 95 total stops last season and has 22 INTs over the past five seasons, including eight in 1998 and nine in 2001.
S Rodney Harrison -- An 10-year vet, Harrison was deemed expendable and signed with New England. After a stellar 2000 season (six sacks, six INTs), Harrison failed to total those numbers in the past two seasons combined, though he was seventh among AFC DBs with 86 tackles last season. Nixing Harrison and Junior Seau in one offseason is a lot for one team to swallow.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson -- He had no sophomore jinx last year as he rushed for a whopping 1,683 yards and 14 TDs while adding a team-high 79 catches for 489 yards and another score despite the lack of a consistent passing attack. That changes this year with the addition of David Boston to the receiving corps, but that could open things up even more running lanes for the very durable Tomlinson. He's a definite first-round pick if not a contender for the top pick overall.
WR Tim Dwight -- If Reche Caldwell emerges, Dwight could be relegated to return duties. While he did have a career-high 50 catches last season, he isn't the same big-play threat he was in Atlanta. He only has two TD catches in two seasons with the Chargers, compared to 11 overall with the Falcons.
WR Reche Caldwell -- With the Chargers passing offense continuing to develop, this could be the prime time for Caldwell, last year's second-round pick from Florida. He only had 22 catches for 208 yards, but he did score three TDs, tied for second best on the team. Caldwell is only scratching the surface of his ability and playing along with Boston could open up more opportunities.
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>> Chargers will make the playoffs because ...
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This is the season when it all comes into focus for Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson. The defense will overcome its yips with Quentin Jammer becoming a major player among NFL D-backs.
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>> Chargers will miss the playoffs because ...
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San Diego will again give up more points than its high-powered offense can keep up with. The last time San Diego scored more than it yielded in a season: 1994 -- also the last time the Chargers finished in first place in the AFc West.
| San Diego Chargers |
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| Signed |
From |
Lost |
To |
| FB Lorenzo Neal |
Bengals |
WR Curtis Conway |
Jets |
| TE David Binn |
Re-signed |
T Ed Ellis |
Released |
| WR David Boston |
Cardinals |
RB Terrell Fletcher |
Released |
| DE Adrian Dingle |
Re-signed |
S Rodney Harrison |
Patriots |
| CB Jerry Wilson |
Re-signed |
RB Ronney Jenkins |
Raiders |
| CB Kevin House |
Re-signed |
CB David Sanchez |
Released |
| FB Joey Goodspeed |
Re-signed |
FB Fred McCrary |
Patriots |
| WR Dondre Gilliam |
Re-signed |
CB Alex Molden |
Redskins |
| WR Eric Parker |
Re-signed |
LB Orlando Ruff |
Saints |
| K Steve Christie |
Re-signed |
C Zack Quaccia |
Released |
| DT Leonardo Carson |
Re-signed |
LB Junior Seau |
Trade w/ Mia. |
| G Michael Keathley |
Re-signed |
T Ed Ellis |
Broncos |
| T Damion McIntosh |
Re-signed |
S Rogers Beckett |
Bengals |
| T Solomon Page |
Cowboys |
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| S Kwamie Lassiter |
Cardinals |
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| Unrestricted |
Restricted |
| DT Shawn Price |
S Keith Lyle |
| T Sammy Williams |
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| 2003 Draft Picks |
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| Rd. |
Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
| 1 |
30 (30) |
Sammy Davis |
CB |
Texas A&M |
| 2 |
14 (46) |
Drayton Florence |
CB |
Tuskegee |
| 2 |
30 (62) |
Terrance Keil |
S |
Texas A&M |
| 3 |
16 (80) |
Courtney Van Buren |
OT |
UAPB |
| 4 |
15 (112) |
Matt Wilhelm |
ILB |
Ohio State |
| 5 |
14 (149) |
Mike Scifres |
P |
W. Illinois |
| 6 |
15 (188) |
Hanik Milligan |
S |
Houston |
| 7 |
15 (229) |
Andrew Pinnock |
FB |
South Carolina |
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