2010 San Diego Chargers Season Preview

The San Diego Chargers will be looking for their fifth consecutive AFC West Division title in 2010. While the team will be without running back LaDainian Tomlinson for the first time in nine seasons, the 2010 San Diego Chargers Team Preview still looks bright with quarterback Philip Rivers at the helm.

The Chargers once again however exited early in the playoffs last season, after receiving a first-round Bye. The team reeled off 11-straight victories after beginning 2009 a meager 3-3, to close out the year 13-3. That elation was short-lived in the transition of the regular season to the post-season, as the Jets took down the Chargers in the divisional round of the playoffs to end San Diego's run and stop them short once more from a Super Bowl appearance.

Rivers lead a very effective San Diego offense last season, ranking 10th in the NFL, however one-dimensional is may have been, with an inept run-game. The Chargers ranked 31st in the league in rushing gaining 89 yards per game, while Rivers and the passing game ranked fifth in the league at 271 yards per contest. Sand Diego had no problem scoring, racking up 28.4 points per game, which ranked fourth in the league and first in the AFC conference.

Defensively, the Chargers were pedestrian on that side of the ball, ranking 16th in the league , surrendering 327 yards per contest. The defense favored better against the pass than the run, ranking 20th and 11th respectively. They held opponents to 20 points per game which ranked in the top-third of the NFL, and recorded a turnover margin of +8, which was in the top-10.

All in all, the 2010 San Diego Chargers have a lot of positive aspects to build off of, but the regular season success will likely need to translate into post-season success, as the patience of the Charger nation may be beginning to wear thin.
2010 San Diego Chargers Coaching Staff & ChangeNorv Turner enters into his fourth year with the Chargers, compiling a 35-19 record and a 3-3 post-season record. He has won the AFC West every season he has been the head coach, but his predecessor Marty Schottenheimer had similar results as well, and failed to hang on to his position. Turner will need to come up with something in 2010 to recharge the batteries of the San Diego faithful, which perhaps will have to include a Super Bowl appearance at least. The coaching staff for San Diego has no new additions to mention for the 2010 NFL Season.
2010 San Diego Chargers Key Free Agency Acquisitions & LossesAcquistions
CB - Donald Strickland from New York Jets
CB - Nathan Vasher from Chicago Bears

Losses
CB - Antonio Cromartie traded to New York Jets
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson to New York Jets
QB - Charlie Whitehurst traded to Seattle Seahawks
DT - Jamal Williams to Denver Broncos
TE - Brandon Manumaleuna to Chicago Bears
RB - Michael Bennett to Free Agency
OT - Jon Runyan to Free Agency
2010 San Diego Chargers NFL DraftRound 1: Pick 12 - RB, Ryan Mathews (Fresno State)
Round 3: Pick 79 - LB, Donald Butler (Washington)
Round 4: Pick 110 - FS, Darrell Stuckey (Kansas)
Round 5: Pick 146 - DT, Cam Thomas (North Carolina)
Round 5: Pick 168 - QB, Jonathan Crompton (Tennesseee)
Round 7: Pick 235 - TE, Dedrick Epps (Miami)
2010 San Diego Chargers QuarterbacksPhilip Rivers is one of the most productive and effective starting quarterbacks in the NFL, throwing for over 4,200 yards and 28 touchdowns last season en route to the AFC West Division title and 11-straight wins to close the regular season. Still, the one thing that follows River is the post-season failures, with the loss to the Jets at the forefront of the issue. Rivers was out-quarterbacked by a rookie in Mark Sanchez last season in that AFC Divisional playoff game after being on fire to end the year. The pass-first offense lets Rivers open up the playbook, and the drafting of running back Ryan Mathews in April will look to help the offense and take the pressure of of him. Behind Rivers is Billy Volek, who is also one familiar with the San Diego system, having been there for several years.

2010 San Diego Chargers Quarterback Depth Chart
QB - Philip Rivers
QB - Billy Volek2010 San Diego Chargers Running BacksThe offensive backfield for the 2010 San Diego Chargers will look a lot different following the departure of former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson to the New York Jets. The Chargers drafted Mathews with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and will look to him for the future of the running game. Mathews will join small, yet explosive back Darren Sproles to come in and try and balance off the offense and become more productive in the rushing department.

San Diego Chargers Running Back Depth Chart
RB - Ryan Mathews
RB - Darren Sproles2010 San Diego Chargers Wide ReceiversThe receiving corps of the Chargers is arguably the best in the league, led by Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson as well as Malcolm Floyd. Jackson led the team in receiving last season, hauling in 68 receptions for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns. Gates tabbed the most receiving yards in his career. The six-time Pro Bowler tabbing 79 receptions and 1,157 yards receiving to go along with eight touchdowns. Jackson made the Pro Bowl last season, but had off-season troubles with a DUI and will likely miss a game or potentially more.

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Wide Receiver Depth Chart
WR - Vincent Jackson
WR - Malcom Floyd
WR - Legedu Naanee
WR - Buster Davis

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Tight End Depth Chart
TE - Antonio Gates
TE - Kris Wilson2010 San Diego Chargers Offensive LineThe offensive line is anchored by left tackle Marcus McNeill and left guard Kris Dielman, as they were the only lineman to remain healthy throughout the entire duration of the 2009 NFL Season. Health will be paramount for the San Diego line in the 2010 NFL season. While the unit struggled with injuries, it could be a blessing in disguise as it relates to this season, with back ups getting significant playing experience and will only benefit the corps this year.

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Starting Offensive Line
LT - Marcus McNeil
LG - Kris Dielman
C - Nick Hardwick
RG - Louis Vasquez
RT - Jeromey Clary2010 San Diego Chargers Defensive LineThe Chargers lost Jamal Williams, but hope that they have found a long-time replacement in rookie Cam Thomas. William anchored the defensive front for the Chargers, and was a solid run-stopper. His production will have to be made up for be Ogemdi Nwagubo to begin the year, as Thomas continues to develop. Bookend defensive ends Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire are effective pass rushers, are critical role players in the 3-4 base scheme run by San Diego.

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Starting Defensive Line
DE - Jacques Cesaire
NT - Ogemdi Nwagbuo
DE - Luis Castillo2010 San Diego Chargers LinebackersShawne Merriman anchors this unit at the linebacker position, in what could potentially be the final season for him in a Charger uniform. Shaun Phillips is another productive piece in the linebacker position for the Chargers recording seven sacks last season. Brandon Siler and Stephen Cooper anchor the inside linebacker position and are solid producer for the defense.

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Starting Linebackers
OLB - Shaun Philips
MLB - Stephen Cooper
MLB - Brandon Siler
OLB - Shawne Merriman
2010 San Diego Chargers SecondaryThe Chargers lost Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets, which will likely be filled by Antoine Cason, who was the first-round pick of the team in 2008. Donald Strickland and Nathan Vasher will compete to fill in the position opposite Quentin Jammer, who has become one of the more solid corner backs in the NFL. On the whole, the 2010 San Diego Chargers secondary will have a similar look minus Cromartie.

Projected 2010 San Diego Chargers Starting Seconday
CB - Quentin Jammer
CB - Antoine Cason
SS - Kevin Ellison
FS - Eric Weddle

2010 San Diego Chargers Preview