Chargers preview

I just watched part of the Monday night game, and Minnesota...how can I put this. Look, I love the Broncos to death, but did you ever think those side stripes would become a fashion trend?

Anyway, today's team: the San Diego Chargers.

Last year: 9-7, third in the AFC West

What changed? The Chargers allowed quarterback Drew Brees, coming off a shoulder injury and consecutive productive seasons, to leave in free agency. His replacement is Philip Rivers, a third-year man who's thrown just thirty passes in his NFL career.

The pressure's on Rivers, obviously, to show he's worth the gamble. Brees was rarely spectacular, but he's consistent, accurate, and has a veteran's knack for avoiding bad plays. Actually, that's a silly thing to say-veteran NFL quarterbacks include guys like Jake Plummer, Brett Favre, and Aaron Brooks, who make mistakes like kids make Nikes.

Brees played well enough to give the Chargers a chance in just about every game. The team probably looked at Brees and thought he played just well enough to lose in big games. But since they've kept Marty Schottenheimer this long, you'd think that fit in great with the organization's overall strategy.

Anyway, Rivers is a fantastic prospect. I rated him the number two quarterback in his draft class, behind Ben Roethlisberger but certainly ahead of Eli Manning. He's more pocket passer than scrambler, but he's got enough arm to add a vertical dimension to the offensive attack. He does throw a little sidearm, but Rivers could chuck it underhand and still have a higher release point than Brees.

On offense, everyone loves LaDainian Tomlinson, the best back in the league for years now. If you're playing fantasy football, you're a dork. Also, you know the kind of damage Tomlinson can do to even the best defenses. Tomlinson will have a fantastic year even if Rivers sucks, but will that translate into wins?

The Chargers were one of three AFC West teams in the top ten in offensive yardage last year (everyone but Oakland, of course). But they were sixth in pass efficiency, a number that will surely drop. I think the Chargers will be middle-of-the-pack offensively this year.

Defense: San Diego led the league in defense against the run last year by yardage, but were 28th against the pass. This year, they're very young along the defensive line and at cornerback, so while they could improve, I think they'll give up some big games as well. With Schottenheimer at the helm, San Diego will be conservative and the defense will seem respectable enough, but don't be misled: this is a question mark.

Outlook: With the uncertainty at quarterback and on defense, the Chargers have taken a step backwards. Yes, this team has exceeded expectations the last few seasons, but Brees provided a lot of that grit. I think San Diego will compete with Oakland for the division cellar.