I was asked by Steve Schaefer of Atomic Sports Media if I wanted to cover any teams for a full preview of the upcoming NFL season of 2007-8. Being a huge fan of American Football and wanting to extend my journalistic experience, I chose the San Diego Chargers, my own beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans.
Here follows my preview of the AFC West team, San Diego Chargers, in part 3 of 8 of ASM's NFL Preview 2007-8. You can read the article directly by clicking somewhere around here (I'm on page 4 of 4).
Even having Norv Turner as head coach can'tscrew up this team...or can it?
The Chargers were a pleasure to watch last season, and their random collapse in front of the Patriots seemed baffling. So baffling, in fact, that they did one better in the bafflement stakes by firing former NFL Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer. This is possibly the thing that strikes most people as the make-or-break tactic employed by the historically unsuccessful Chargers. Will it move them forward, or back?
Although this may scare many Southern California fans, one cannot hide the strength of the team that new coach Norv Turner, fresh from the offensive coordinator's job with the 49ers, has to play with. Ten players, including OLB Shawne Merriman, TE Antonio Gates, K Nate Kaeding and LT Marcus McNeil made the Pro Bowl (more than any other team last season), and the offensive coaching background of Turner may be crying with laughter at the options he has in front of him.
Of course, no Chargers preview would be complete without a special mention for the visor-wearing hero that is the 2006 NFL MVP, LaDainian Tomlinson. The former TCU running back smashed records like he did defenses, including 31 touchdowns in one season, 28 of those being rushing TDs, and 186 points scored. His speed and strength in his role seem unmatched, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he broke all of his own records this year.
Philip Rivers' season was marred by the injury that forced him out of the Pro Bowl and may worry fans into thinking he may be injury prone. But when you're surrounded by superstars on the offense, you could really have anyone there who has some semblance of ball-throwing ability. People should give him his due, though; his fourth-quarter comeback rate was the best in the NFL last season, so pressure isn't something that gets to him.
This pressure seemingly gets to the defense and receivers though, as seen in their shocking, last-gasp loss to the Patriots in the Divisional playoffs. With Wade Phillips at the Dallas Cowboys and veteran Ted Cottrell calling the shots, the latter must emulate the former to keep the defense strong. Although it has a near-perfect line and linebacker set, the latter parts of the depth chart and their secondary may trouble the back of Cottrell's mind should injuries occur.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Chargers use their resources fully and simply win Superbowl XLII, doing what they should have done the season before.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Errors at the beginning of the season, and perhaps a couple of losses, lead the Chargers to revolt in the locker room against their new coach and constantly compare matters present to their old coach, Schottenheimer. With the Chargers setting an NFL-best 14-2 season previous, this team has a lot to live up to.
No comments:
Post a Comment