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San Diego Chargers
Posted: Sun April 19, 1998 at 9:51 p.m.
* compensatory pick
QB - Don't have a starter on their roster right now, but all that will change when they get Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf with the 2nd overall pick in this year's draft. Leaf is the likely candidate right now. He has exc. size, and arm strength. If Leaf isn't ready, the team can go with Craig Whelihan who started the 2nd half of last season. Though ineffective, he at least has a grasp of the offense. This team lacks offensive firepower at WR, and as we've seen in the past, throwing young QB's to the wolves usually results in disaster. (see Heath Shuler, Rick Mirer, Trent Dilfer). Team may add another young QB after the draft.
RB - The Chargers hope they have solved their RB woes by signing Natrone Means. Means started his career in San Diego. He can be effective if he gets 20+ carries a game, and might in this offense with inexperience at QB. The more carries he gets, the more punishment/tackles he is able to break. Kenny Bynum is a bigger type back too, and will back Means up. Terrell Fletcher will handle the nickle duties. Even with the addition of Means, they may add an RB in the middle rds. They lack a gamebreaker to spell Means.
WR - Forced to give up WR Eric Metcalf in the trade with Arizona to move up 1 spot in the draft. The loss of Metcalf leaves Tony Martin as the only viable WR threat. Charlie Jones is too light, and struggled to get off the LOS in tight M/M coverage. He really slumped last season. Bryan Still has been a bust his first 2 NFL seasons, asking many NFL insiders to wonder why they traded up for this guy ? Since they are drafting and likely starting a rookie QB, they have to find some WR weapons... if they don't, their QB will continue to get into trouble forcing the ball into Martin who will likely be double covered.
TE - Before injuring his leg, rookie TE Freddie Jones was beginning to develop into a quality young TE. He was working hard, and flashed the receiving skills they had hoped were in him. Jones was an underachiever in college, but will have a solid 2nd season if he is working hard this offseason. Backups Frank Hartly ( un signed UFA), and Brian Roche are better pass catchers than receivers, but neither can unseat Jones when he is working hard. They need a big blocking type TE to help open up holes for Means.
OL - Have really addressed this unit in the offseason, by adding LT John Jackson amd LG Aaron Taylor. These are exc. additions, and their presence should make their rookie QB feel like his blindside is being protected. They will both also be huge assets in the run game... Jackson has been paving the way for Jerome Bettis the past 2 seasons. Tony Berti will now move into an OG spot, with Vaughn Parker moving to RT. Both Berti and Parker are much more suited to their new positions. OC Raleigh McKenzie is a veteran, and will hold this unit together. They addressed OL in last season's draft too, so not much help will be needed this season.
DL - Big problems at DE.. they overpaid an aging William Fuller, and Marco Coleman has done nothing since coming over from Miami 3 years ago. It's hard to defend when you are getting no QB pressure from your DE's. Another concern is DT Reuben Davis... he missed all of last season with an achilles injury, and he may never be the same player. This unit needs to be addressed through the draft, or after the June 1st cuts. Look for them to get a mix of both, grabbing 2 DL's in the upcoming draft.
LB - Another unit that could use some help... They lost some depth when OLB Patrick Sapp was dealt in the deal with Arizona. Junior Seau moved to MLB when Kurt Gouveia was lost with a neck injury. Though still a quality player, Seau is no longer amongst the elite LB's in the NFL, and you had to feel bad for Ted Johnson (NE) and Ray Lewis (Balt) when Seau was selected to the Pro Bowl. Seau is no longer a Pro Bowl caliber player. They have young players in 1997 rookies Michael Hamilton, Toran James, and James Burgess... they have to grow up in a hurry if this team is going to have solid production from the LB position.
DB - Will be in good shape if DC Dwayne Harper can stay healthy... he missed a lot of last season with nagging injuries. With Harper out though, they discovered that 1997 rookie DC Paul Bradford is an up and comer. Bradford may benefit from playing in the nickle package this season, but may be ready for full time duty in 1999. They are solid at DS with SS Rodney Harrison and FS Michael Dumas. They have yet to re-sign FS Greg Jackson though, and the depth is shaky. Could add another DC and definitely a DS in the draft.
ST - Nobody questions PT Darren Bennett's leg strength, but he has to start doing a better job of knocking the ball down inside the 20. John Carney missed most of last season with a knee injury, but should be back in 1998. Greg Davis was decent in his absence, but is a FA that has not been signed by anyone yet. The loss of RS Eric Metcalf will serve as a huge blow to their return units. There isn't much speed on this team at RB or WR, so look for them to add a RS type in the draft, or on the FA market.
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