2006 San Diego Chargers Preview

Maybe Philip Rivers turns out to be the next Johnny Unitas and maybe he doesn’t. All I know is that the San Diego Chargers pulled off one of the dumbest moves in all of football in at least the last decade. 

By letting former starting quarterback, Drew Brees, walk via free agency, the Chargers set their franchise back, at least two years, if not more. 

The Chargers are still a talented team and should still be a legitimate contender in the AFC – if Rivers plays like a veteran and not the first-year starter that he will be in 2006. 

Personally, I think if Rivers can guide this team into the playoffs, it will be an absolute miracle. 

Quarterbacks
It’s not that I don’t like Rivers. By all accounts, he’s a fine young man with a big future ahead of him.
However, if he fails as a starting quarterback in the NFL (which is always a possibility with any young quarterback) then the Chargers will have mud all over their faces. 

Remember, if the Chargers need to turn to their backup, it will be the much-maligned, A.J. Feeley who will be taking the snaps – and that is about as tenuous it gets when it comes to backup quarterbacks. 

Running Backs
Rivers should be thanking his lucky stars that he gets to hand off to the best running back in all of football 25 times a game. Not only that, but Rivers will also have get to dump the ball off to Tomlinson on safe swing patterns at least another five times per game. 

Fullback Lorenzo Neal has done a wonderful job as the lead blocker for Tomlinson the past couple of seasons and will be back in his familiar role in 2006. The Chargers also have a great change of pace back in Michael Turner, who, like Tomlinson, is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. 

I will say that if the Chargers overwork Tomlinson this season in an effort to ease Rivers into his new role, they will be making a mistake of major proportions. 

Wide Receiver/Tight End
It may seem like Keenan McCardell, has been playing for two decades now, but the truth is, all McCardell does is get open and catch passes, despite being 37-years-old.