SB Nation - Billy Volek

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: We're Groovin', Groovin' Edition

August West — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:50:44 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

For all of the unpredictability of this season, there's one thing we can still count on: Chris Johnson is about to start breaking some very lofty franchise, and possibly NFL, records.

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Invaluable reader ctex80 send us towards this stellar profile on Vince Young that Lee Jenkins penned for Sports Illustrated. It does a better job than many at showing just how deep the memory of Steve McNair runs for that man. The opening paragraph is enough to warm the cold, calloused heart of even most Texans fans:

When Vince Young prays before a game, he asks God to tap Steve McNair on the shoulder, to let him know he's loved and to let him know it's game time. Like any good quarterback Young has an unusual ability to feel the presence of people he cannot always see, so as he crouches under center, he'll tell you, he knows running back Chris Johnson is lined up behind him and McNair is behind him too. "He's standing in the pocket with me," Young says of McNair.

Speaking of gone too soon, yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the day some cruel deity called back one of his greatest gifts to the world: the voice and stylings of Otis Redding. Once Otis gets in your ear drums, he just Can't Turn You Loose! It's the second half of the medley, but so help me if I find out you skipped over Pain in my Heart I'll track you down and do terrible, terrible things.

491: that's how many yards Chris Johnson needs to cross the 2,000 mark. 597: that's how many yards CJ needs to surpass Eric Dickerson and reach NFL immortality.

Follow us through the jump for more on the rushing record and VY's injury...

PFW says breaking the rushing record certainly isn't impossible for CJ, and the deliver scouting reports on the previous members of the 2,000 yard club.

CJ has been on the injury report with an ankle injury, but the company line coming out of Baptist Sports Park is that CJ's 'fine', and Fisher is just giving CJ ann easy week so he can rest-up for the home stretch.

So we all heard about Vince Young tweaking his injured knee and being pulled from practice yesterday. Jeff Fisher sounds completely sure that Vince will be able to go on Sunday, and that they mostly yanked him from practice as a precaution against further damage.

Tony Brown was fined $10K for reaching into the face mask of Colt's instigator Kyle DeVan last Sunday. Of course DeVan wasn't punished for pushing Brown over the pile well after the whistle or the uppercut to the chin on the following play that sent Brown's helmet flying. For those who didn't watch the game Sunday, it was that kind of officiating.

Breaking News: A seldom used (this year, at least) NFL back-up RB wants to carry more of the load! But, because he's a stand-up guy, he's complementary of everyone and supports the starter who may be having one of the best seasons in NFL history.

Here, several Titans discuss the remote possibility of the playoffs.

Astute reader/commenter ryansax points us towards this Yahoo! Sports post that looks at the greatest Fantasy Football playoff runs of all time, and ranks Billy Volek to Drew Bennett in 2004 as the best.

Ha ha... ha ha ha ha.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHA!!!!! Anybody got a towel I can wipe these tears of laughter with? I friggin' love it when these guys lose now.

Turf Show Times takes a look at the similarities and differences between the Titans and Saints.

PFW praises our numbers-over-talent defensive line, but fears that there will be drastic changes to the unit this off-season.

Have love, need links: mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

Updating the San Diego Chargers Depth Chart

John (obviousman) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:50:16 -0000

by Denis Poroy - AP

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, left, drills with teammates during the Chargers NFL football practice held in San Diego Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

View full size photo »

Is everyone ready to get back to business? I know I've had enough Tila Tequila for a lifetime.

Since we have been keeping your readers up-to-date to the Chargers depth chart throughout the preseason, I thought it was appropriate to do it one last time after the roster as been cut to 53. Barring injury, this is probably the way it will look for the remainder of the site.

The official Chargers depth chart, plus my thoughts, can be found after the jump.

Offense

WR1

Chris Chambers
Malcom Floyd
Buster Davis

WR2

Kris Dielman
Scott Mruczkowski

Nick Hardwick
Scott Mruczkowski

Louis Vasquez
Scott Mruczkowski

Jeromey Clary
Brandyn Dombrowski

Defense

OLB1

Stephen Cooper

OLB2

LCB

Quentin Jammer

RCB

The special teams you can guess. Nate Kaeding is the only kicker, Mike Scifres is the only punter. David Binn is the long snapper, Sproles is the return man and Cromartie is the backup return man.

Now, I started copying this depth chart from the Chargers weekly game release, but then decided to go off of the depth chart that's listed on Chargers.com. Mostly I went this way because I thought they'd be roughly the same, but with one having Manumaleuna listed as the 2nd TE and the other having him listed as the second starting FB (I know, it's odd). However, there's more differences than that. Let's count all of the differences on the game release from what you see above:

Brandon Manumaleuna is listed as the second starting FB. Kris Wilson listed as 2nd TE.
Tyronne Green is listed as the 3rd string LG and RG.
Osgood is listed as the 3rd WR1, Davis is listed as the 3rd WR2.
Travis Johnson is listed as the backup for Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo. Nwagbuo is listed as the backup to Cesaire. Vaughn Martin is shown as the 3rd DE at both spots.
Shaun Phillips is backed up by Jyles Tucker. Merriman is backed up by Applewhite. English is listed 3rd behind Merriman.

That's interesting, isn't it? There's probably nothing to the inconsistencies. It's probably just a case of two different people putting the depth charts together. Still, I'd like to know who the team really considers to be the backup DT and if English is really ahead of Tucker.

The offensive line looks even thinner on the Chargers' website's depth chart. Why not show Green there as well, so the fans don't get nervous about one guy backing up all three interior-line positions by himself? Also, Dombrowski covering both tackle positions by himself would worry me more if I didn't think that Mooch or even Manumaleuna could handle an offensive tackle spot in a pinch.

What do you guys think? Is there enough depth on this team to fight through injuries in 2009?

San Diego Chargers' Roster: 2009 vs. 2008

John (obviousman) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:02:57 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

3 months ago: San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson (21) and quarterback Philip Rivers (17) watch from the sidelines during their NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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With the San Diego Chargers' 53-man roster set, I want to compare where the team is today compared to where they were one year ago. How do the position groups match up to each other? On talent alone, has the team gotten better or worse?

QB (2009): Philip Rivers, Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst

QB (2008): Rivers, Volek, Whitehurst

Verdict: Equal. There's been no change, but Rivers enters 2009 with no questions about his health (as he did in 2008) and a year of learning how to carry an NFL team on his back. Volek looks more polished as he gets even more comfortable with Norv Turner's offense. Still, any improvements here have more to do with time and chemistry rather than any talent improvement.

See the comparisons and verdicts of the rest of the position groups after the jump.

HB (2009): LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, Michael Bennett, Gartrell Johnson, Jacob Hester, Mike Tolbert

HB (2008): LT, Sproles, Hester, Tolbert, Andrew Pinnock

Verdict: Better in '09. The Chargers went into 2008 thinking that Hester could fit the role of power RB and backup to LT. He has shown himself to be a fine FB, but not an NFL-caliber running back. So, based on the fact that there is at least one decent backup to LT in 2009 (Bennett) and possibly another (Johnson), 2009 wins.

WR (2009): Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, Buster Davis, Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee, Kassim Osgood

WR (2008): Chambers, Jackson, Davis, Floyd, Naanee, Osgood

Verdict: Equal. Same players, same result. Jackson, Floyd and Naanee may be better than they were at the start of 2008, but there's really no way of predicting that. The expectations for Chambers and Davis have dropped in the last year.

TE (2009): Antonio Gates, Brandon Manumaleuna, Kris Wilson

TE (2008): Gates, Manumaleuna

Verdict: Better in '09. Kris Wilson offers great blocking and good hands out of the 3rd TE position. Having a player like that on the end of the line (possibly next to Manu), offers a great improvement for goal line packages. Expect a lot of "Off Tackle" runs to his side when the Chargers are inside the opponents' 5 yard line.

OT (2009): Jeromey Clary, Marcus McNeill, Brandyn Dombrowski

OT (2008): Clary, McNeill, L.J. Shelton, Corey Clark

Verdict: Better in 2008. Although I really like Dombrowski, I'd certainly prefer to have 2 legitimate backup Tackles and a veteran mixed in there (like Shelton) makes me more comfortable as well. Shelton did a decent job filling in for McNeill in 2008, and it's always nice to have a proven commodity sitting on the bench should anything happen.

G (2009): Kris Dielman, Louis Vasquez, Tyronne Green

G (2008): Dielman, Mike Goff, Scott Mruczkowski

Verdict: Better in '09. Dielman is healthier than he was going into 2008, Goff was a train-wreck last season and has since flopped in KC, and Mooch is still on the team. Louis Vasquez brings a massive presence to the right side of the line that should eventually help balance it out.

C (2009): Nick Hardwick, Mruczkowski

C (2008): Hardwick, Jeremy Newberry, Cory Withrow

Verdict: Better in '09. Hardwick is healthy, which is the biggest improvement here, and Mooch is a better blocker than Newberry and Withrow combined. The reason the Chargers were able to go with only 8 offensive linemen is because Mruczkowski and Green can both play Center and Guard. Dombrowski can also play either Tackle or Guard.

Defense

DT (2009): Jamal Williams, Ogemdi Nwagbuo

DT (2008): Williams, Brandon McKinney

Verdict: Equal. Both McKinney and Nwagbuo are young and have shown themselves to be capable in the preseason. Regular work in the season will let the team know if Nwagbuo is ready to fill that backup NT slot long-term.

DE (2009): Luis Castillo, Travis Johnson, Vaughn Martin, Jacques Cesaire

DE (2008): Castillo, Igor Olshansky, Cesaire, Ryon Bingham

Verdict: Incomplete. For as bland as Igor was as the Chargers' DE, he stayed healthy and was consistent enough to almost never get bowled over. Cesaire's health will help determine if this group has been improved over 2008, as well as how well Travis Johnson can transition back to the 3-4 and if he's improved work ethic. Since neither is a starter, I'll call Martin and Bingham a tie.

ILB (2009): Kevin Burnett, Stephen Cooper, Tim Dobbins, Brandon Siler

ILB (2008): Dobbins, Siler, Matt Wilhelm, Derek Smith, Anthony Waters

Verdict: 2009, better by a long shot. Cooper wasn't on the initial 53 man roster from 2008 because he was serving a 4 game suspension, so that's a big improvement. Burnett has shown himself to be a major playmaker in the Chargers defense, which puts him leaps and bounds ahead of Wilhelm, Smith and Waters.

OLB (2009): Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Larry English, Jyles Tucker, Antwan Applewhite

OLB (2008): Merriman, Phillips, Marques Harris, Jyles Tucker

Verdict: 2009 wins. A healthy Merriman (remember, the Chargers knew he was planning on playing 2008 on a bad knee), plus a first-round draft pick, makes this an easy choice.

CB (2009): Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie, Antoine Cason

CB (2008): Jammer, Cromartie, Cason, Cletis Gordon, DeJuan Tribble

Verdict: Tie. Gordon and Tribble don't bring anything to the 2008 group. Figuring that out helped the Chargers to take the risk and go with only 3 CBs in 2009.

FS (2009): Eric Weddle, Paul Oliver, C.J. Spillman

FS (2008): Weddle, Oliver

Verdict: 2009, but just barely. I don't know that Spillman will see a lot of time as a FS in '09, but he should be a force on special teams and could eventually develop into the backup FS or a starting SS.

SS (2009): Clinton Hart, Steve Gregory, Kevin Ellison

SS (2008): Hart, Gregory

Verdict: 2009, but just barely. Ellison brings something to the table in goal line situations (where he can't get burned deep), and I hope he can do something for special teams, but that's about it right now. If he continues to develop, keeping him this season will pay dividends in the future.

Special Teams (LS/K/P): David Binn, Nate Kaeding and Mike Scifres are rocks in this group. The Chargers, and their fans, are hopeful that this trio stays together for another five seasons.

Do you have a question for next week's mailbag? Don't hesitate to e-mail me directly with your question and I'll make sure to answer it before next week's game.

The Entire San Diego Chargers 53 Man Roster (Michael Bennett makes the team!)

John (obviousman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:52:15 -0000

Offense

QB - Philip Rivers, Billy Volek, Charlie Whitehurst

RB - LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, Michael Bennett, Gartrell Johnson, Jacob Hester, Mike Tolbert

WR - Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, Buster Davis, Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee, Kassim Osgood

TE - Antonio Gates, Brandon Manumaleuna, Kris Wilson

OT - Jeromey Clary, Marcus McNeill, Brandyn Dombrowski

OG - Kris Dielman, Louis Vasquez, Tyronne Green

C - Nick Hardwick, Scott Mruczkowski

Defense

DT - Jamal Williams, Ogemdi Nwagbuo

DE - Luis Castillo, Travis Johnson, Vaughn Martin, Jacques Cesaire

ILB - Kevin Burnett, Stephen Cooper, Tim Dobbins, Brandon Siler

OLB - Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Larry English, Jyles Tucker, Antwan Applewhite

CB - Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie, Antoine Cason

FS - Eric Weddle, Paul Oliver, C.J. Spillman

SS - Clinton Hart, Steve Gregory, Kevin Ellison

Special Teams

LS - David Binn

K - Nate Kaeding

P - Mike Scifres

Bolts & Dolts: Preseason Week 4

John (obviousman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:11:10 -0000

by Chris Park - AP

3 months ago: San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, right, breaks up a long pass intended for San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd in an NFL preseason football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

View full size photo »

The preseason is over and I don't think it's far-fetched to call it a success for the Chargers. The only true weakness that anybody saw was with the offensive line and, as expected, they got better each week.

Last night, with a handful of spots open to 10-15 players, guys were fighting to have a job today. After the jump, find out who played well and who played poorly in this week's Bolts & Dolts feature.

Bolts

Offense

Billy Volek - 8/13, 103 yards, 1 TD. I don't think there has ever been a time where Chargers were more confident in their backup QB, even when Rivers was the backup, than right now. Billy really seems to have hit his stride as a QB. Not only does this make all of us rest easy if something were to happen to Rivers, Volek could be used as trade bait during the season or in the offseason if the Chargers need to fill a hole. Preseason Stats - 29/41, 393 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT.

Gartrell Johnson - 20 carries, 85 yards. A solid 4.3 rushing average on the night. Gartrell calmed a lot of people who were terrified of the idea of the team keeping him while getting rid of Michael Bennett. Not only did he show good power-running by breaking a lot of tackles, he has shown improvement throughout the preseason and will hopefully continue to get better. Preseason Stats - 48 carries, 184 yards rushing, 7 catches, 57 yards rec.

Michael Bennett - 8 carries, 30 yards. Well he certainly sold the 49ers announcers, didn't he? Here's what Bennett has going against him. One, he's old. 31 in running back years is like 40 in quarterback years. You have to be very special to be a starting RB at 30+ years of age, due to effectiveness and health. Bennett has always had health issues, even when he was the starting RB for Minnesota, so there's no saying that he could step in for an injured LT and stay healthy himself. Two, he's expensive. That's not really his fault, but veteran players cost more than rookies (Gartrell) and players in their first few years in the league (Mike Tolbert). Three, if you keep him instead of Gartrell you're left with a RB rotation of LaDainian Tomlinson (30 years old), Darren Sproles (5'6"), Bennett (31 years old) and Jacob Hester (a FB). Would you like one young, exciting guy in there to be the one to take some of the pounding and be a project for the future? The team would. Four, if the team keeps Bennett instead of Tolbert they're sacrificing a good special teams player. With kickoff coverage being a weakness for the Bolts, this is an area they should be wary of taking good players away from. Preseason Stats - 26 carries, 89 yards rushing, 2 rushing TDs, 5 catches, 112 yards rec, 1 receiving TD.

Kassim Osgood - 1 catch, 39 yards, 1 TD. Osgood presented match-up problems for the 49ers secondary when he was in there. The TD catch was not an easy one and he caused at least one defensive pass interference penalty down the field as well. Good game by KO. Preseason Stats - 1 catch, 39 yards, 1 TD.

Kory Sperry - 2 catches, 29 yards, 1 TD. I was raving about this kid after my day at Chargers training camp a month ago. When he wasn't trying to block he really stood out. He's tall with long arms, has soft hands and has good speed for a TE. Unfortunately, his good game last night may have caught somebody's attention which might keep him off the Chargers practice squad. Preseason Stats - 2 catches, 29 yards, 1 TD.

Nate Kaeding - 4/4 FGs, 2/2 PATs. Last night Nate made it all seem too easy. He lined up and made kicks of 28, 36, 47 and 51 yards without breaking much of a sweat. Considering he did it in the stadium he's planning to play at least 8 games in this season, it was an excellent sign. If he can continue to knock them down from 50 yards, I think he's got a chance at making the Pro Bowl in 2009. Preseason Stats - 6/8 FGs (2/2 from 50+ yards), 9/9 PATs, 57.7 kickoff average yards, 1 perfect onside kick.

Defense

Antwan Applewhite - 4 tackles, 1 sack. Antwan was everywhere last night. Rushing the passer, stopping the run and even playing some coverage. It seemed like he was out there as part of the "second team" defense, ahead of Jyles Tucker. So if anyone is going to be cut, it may be Tucker. Applewhite has played his heart out in the preseason and given the coaches every reason to keep him. Just look at this stat-line... Preseason Stats - 12 tackles, 1 sack, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble.

Larry English - 2 tackles, 1 pass defended. I'm convinced, this kid is awesome. Part of me has always been secretly worrying that he wasn't worth than #16 pick, but he puts pressure on the quarterback with amazing consistency. I can't wait to see what he can do when Merriman and/or Phillips are on the field with him. Preseason Stats - 2 tackles, 1 pass defended.

Brandon Siler - 5 tackles. Siler played a good chunk of the game last night and performed as you'd image. He was strong against the run and shaky in coverage. I don't know if that will ever get any better, but he doesn't make for a terrible 4th ILB and special teamer. Preseason Stats - 11 tackles.

Dolts

Offense

Jacob Hester - 1 carry, 2 yards, 3 catches, 15 receiving yards. I hope the coaching staff is as sick as seeing him run the ball as I am. He has no speed, he has no moves and his power is just average. I like him as a blocker and a receiver, but I do not want to see him getting more than 1 carry a game in the regular season. Preseason Stats - 8 carries, 25 rushing yards, 6 catches, 26 receiving yards.

Malcom Floyd - 1 catch, 9 yards. I counted at least two balls that should've been caught and weren't by Malcom last night. Not a huge deal, but even in the preseason he has to know that a dropped ball will make the team's QBs less eager to throw a ball his way. Preseason Stats - 8 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD.

Craig "Buster" Davis - DNP. Injured? Again? Buster is making it harder and harder to defend him. If he hadn't already had a good preseason I'd be worried about him getting cut today. Preseason Stats - 5 catches, 102 yards.

Charly Martin - 1 catch, 5 yards. For those of you hoping that Charly would have a bad performance that would help him to make it to the Chargers practice squad, you're in luck! Not only did Charly show no sign of creating separation against a poor SF secondary, but he went "alligator arms" on a pass over the middle. Preseason Stats - 7 catches, 88 yards.

Defense

Kevin Burnett - STAY HEALTHY. That was your one job and you couldn't even do that. For those of you interested in what a stringer is, here's the Wikipedia page for it. It is essentially a pinched nerve that can cause either weakness or pain, but will typically go away if the player is relaxed and treated with heat and ice. Considering Kevin Acee reported on his twitter that Burnett was walking around the locker room smiling after the game, we can assume his stinger was gone by the end of the game. Preseason Stats - 17 tackles.

Kevin Ellison - 2 tackles. Siler Jr. This kid could be a tackling machine, but his poor job at coverage and reading the play will keep him off the field until he gets better. Preseason Stats - 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble.

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

A Proposed 53 Man San Diego Chargers Roster

Stephen (shaynes41) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:47:14 -0000

We've gone through some of the position battles and depth chart at several of our key positions. While those discussions are fruitful for who is starting and who is backing up, it is always difficult to figure out who might stick around from that group as a 3rd guy or special teams guy. Those sorts of decisions tend to be made in the context of the entire roster rather than a specific position group.

We will know the real answer by Saturday, but I thought we might take a cut at it now in light of how the preseason has progressed so far. Outside of wasting some of your time, it can't really hurt to take a preliminary cut at who is going to be on the 53 man roster once Saturday evening rolls around.

So if you're interested read on!

First of all, let's review some roster size basics. By the time the regular season starts, the Chargers will have 53 players on their roster. On game day, the coaches will pick 45 players to be "active." These active players will suit up and can play. The inactive players will be on the sideline in street clothes. The exception to this is the 3rd string QB who is labeled as the emergency QB. He is technically inactive, but is still suited up. He can be activated during the game if the first two QBs get injured. If he comes into the game, the first two QBs are not allowed back in. You don't have to have an inactive emergency QB. Theoretically, you could have 3 active QBs (no one does this) or you could only have 2 QBs on your 53 man roster and have a WR or RB effectively be your third QB (I know Marty did this a few years and the Colts have done it forever). No other inactive player can be activated during the game.

They will also have a practice squad of up to 8 additional players. The practice squad is composed of players who have been cut and gone through waivers without being signed by any other teams and are then signed to the practice squad. Not every player is eligible for the practice squad. The eligibility rules are:

No more than 3 years on the practice squad.

No more than nine games on the active list in a previous season.

- from the Collective Bargaining Agreement p.170 (interesting read if you are into this kind of stuff)

If the guys who are cut get cut Saturday around noon, they can be resigned to any team's active roster or practice squad on Sunday afternoon. All right, so you know the basics, so let's start counting!

First of all, the starters who we all agree will be starting opening day (injuries excepted of course)

#	Name	Pos.	Yrs.
1	Mike Scifres	P	7
2	Nate Kaeding	K	6
3	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	9
4	Kris Dielman	G	7
5	Antonio Gates	TE	7
6	Nick Hardwick	C	6
7	Vincent Jackson	WR	5
8	Marcus McNeill	T	4
9	Philip Rivers	QB	6
10	Luis Castillo	DE	5
11	Stephen Cooper	ILB	7
12	Jamal Williams	DT	12
13	Antonio Cromartie	CB	4
14	Quentin Jammer	CB	8
15	Shawne Merriman	OLB	5
16	Shaun Phillips	OLB	6
17	Kevin Burnett	LB	5
18	Chris Chambers	WR	9
19	Jeromey Clary	T	3
20	Jacob Hester	FB	2

Now, the backups, critical specialty guys (Sproles, Cason, etc.), and guys in position battles where they are sure of making the team even if they aren't starting.

#	Name	Pos.	Yrs.
21	Malcom Floyd	WR	4
22	Kynan Forney	G	9
23	Brandon Manumaleuna	TE	9
24	Scott Mruczkowski	C	5
25	Legedu Naanee	WR	3
26	L.J. Shelton	T	11
27	Darren Sproles	RB	5
28	Billy Volek	QB	10
29	Charlie Whitehurst	QB	4
30	Ryon Bingham	DE-DT	5
31	Antoine Cason	CB	2
32	Jacques Cesaire	DE	7
33	Jyles Tucker	OLB	3
34	Eric Weddle	FS	3
35	Travis Johnson	DE	5
36	Buster Davis	WR	3

Let's throw in our top 3 draft picks and assume they are making the team no matter what.

#	Name	Pos.	Yrs.
37	Louis Vasquez	G	R
38	Larry English	OLB	R
39	Vaughn Martin	DE	R

We are through 39 spots on the roster and now we are to the spots where guys might need to worry about not making the roster. The veterans have the inside track on making the team, but could be dislodged by someone else, or even squeezed because of roster pressures elsewhere (For instance, what if Bignham isn't going to play until week 5, we would need to keep an additional DL until Bingham comes back. That could squeeze someone at a different position). First of all, here is where we stand depth-wise at all the positions (needed starters in parenthesis)

K/P (2) - 2
QB (1) - 3
RB (1) - 2
FB (1) - 1
TE (1) - 2
OT (2) - 3
OG/C (3) - 5
WR (2) - 5
DL (3) - 6
OLB (2) - 4
ILB (2) - 2
S (2) - 1
CB (2) - 3

Here is how I see the rest of it shaking out. I've added in a practice squad eligible (pse) column to mark guys that can be placed on the practice squad. If a guy is practice squad eligible, the team may be inclined to cut him and keep the non-eligible guy (all other things equal). Then they hope the guy makes it through waivers and they sign him to the practice squad and essentially keep both. The guys without a number by their name are the guys who don't make the team.

#	Name	Pos.	Yrs.	pse
40	Antwan Applewhite	OLB	2
41	Tim Dobbins	ILB	4
42	Clinton Hart	SS	7
43	Brandyn Dombrowski	G/T	1	X
44	Gartrell Johnson	RB	R	X
45	Ian Scott	DT	7
46	Brandon Siler	ILB	3
47	Kris Wilson	TE	6
48	Steve Gregory	DB-S	4
49	Paul Oliver	DB-S	3
50	Kassim Osgood	ST	7
51	Michael Bennett	RB	9
52	Kevin Ellison	S	R	X
53	David Binn	LS	16
	Darry Beckwith	ILB	R	X
	Mike Tolbert	FB	2
	Tyronne Green	C	R	X
	Ogemdi Nwagbuo	DT	1	X
	C.J. Spillman	FS	R	X
	Simeon Castille	CB	2
	Charly Martin	WR	R	X
	Corey Clark	OT	2	X
	Sam Allen	G	R	X
	Eric Bakhtiari	LB	1	X
	Ramarcus Brown	CB	R	X
	Jeremy Childs	WR	R	X
	Andre Coleman	DE	1	X
	James Holt	OLB	R	X
	Rashaad Jackson	DT	R	X
	Billy Latsko	FB	1	X
	Ryan McDonald	C	R	X
	Kory Sperry	TE	R	X
	Keith Grennan	DE	2	X

If the numbered guys at left make the roster, our position counts look like this:

K/P/ST (2) - 4
QB (1) - 3
RB (1) - 4
FB (1) - 1
TE (1) - 3
OT (2) - 3
OG/C (3) - 6
WR (2) - 5
DL (3) - 7
OLB (2) - 5
ILB (2) - 4
S (2) - 5
CB (2) - 3

QB(3) - Rivers, Volek, Whitehurst

RB/FB(5) - Tomlinson, Sproles, Hester, Bennett, Johnson

C/G/T(9) - Hardwick, Dielman, McNeill, Clary, Forney, Vasquez, Mruczkowski, Dombrowski, Shelton

TE(3) - Gates, Manumaleuna, Wilson

WR(5) - Jackson, Chambers, Floyd, Naanee, Davis

DL(7) - Castillo, Williams, Cesaire, Bingham, Martin, Scott, Johnson

OLB(5) - Merriman, Philips, English, Applewhite, Tucker

ILB(4) - Burnett, Cooper, Siler, Dobbins

S(5) - Weddle, Hart, Gregory, Ellison, Oliver

CB(3) - Cromartie, Jammer, Cason

ST(4) - Scifres, Kaeding, Binn, Osgood

There are plenty of debatable items above. Does Dombrowski beat out Green? Scott beat out Nwagbuo? Siler beat out Beckwith? I really don't know. I intentionally leaned the roster towards the vets, but that could shake out differently. Having Bingham injured but still on the roster means we have more DL than we might normally want. Three CBs seems like a bad idea, but maybe Oliver and Weddle can play it in a pinch.

Cutting the list of players down to 53 players leaves some good players on the street. I'm pretty sure I won't be right, but this is as good a place as any to start from.

San Diego Chargers lose to Atlanta Falcons 27-24 on last second TD

John (obviousman) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:45:20 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

3 months ago: San Diego Chargers wide receiver Buster Davis (84) hauls in a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Chevis Jackson (22) during the first half of their pre season NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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The third preseason game is always a fun one to watch and last night's game did not disappoint. There were very promising signs from both the first and second stringers for the Chargers.

As for that last-second TD...who cares? It's a preseason game! If the Chargers had played poorly with their first stringers, but Charlie Whitehurst brought them back for a last-second TD...would you be happy! Of course not! Chris Redman and Eric Weems will barely see the field in the regular season, if at all. So this week, for the Bolts & Dolts, we'll keep our focus mainly on the first-stringers.

Bolts

Offense

Philip Rivers - 10-for-15, 185 yards, 1 TD in less than a half of play, against a good defense that was bringing the heat consistently. If Phil can go 20-for-30 for 370 yards and 2 TDs every week, wins should come easily. I think Dan Fouts said it best when he said that both Rivers and Matt Ryan looked to be in mid-season form already.

Billy Volek - I feel like Philip and Billy Volek are having a weekly competition to see who can play better. The difference, of course, is that Volek is usually going up against the second string defense. Last night, however, he played most of his snaps against Atlanta's first-team defense and still matched Rivers. 7-for-9, 102 yards and 1 TD. Best backup quarterback in the league? Let's hope we never have to find out.

The Offensive Line (passing) - Well, at least they moved up here in pass protection. Only 1 sack was given up the entire game, and it could be argued that Rivers held onto that ball too long when he should've just gotten rid of it (the sack was made by a cornerback). Although John Abraham was flying all over the field and consistently needed to be double teamed, he was kept to only 2 tackles and zero sacks. Also, in that first half Atlanta seemed to be trying a lot of blitzes (which led to the Chargers running a lot of successful screens) and everyone on the line seemed to hold strong.

Louis Vasquez - If you're looking for a nickname, this one is easy. "Big Lou" didn't just go from bad to good in one game, he went from bad to dominant. Who knows if the game against Arizona was a case of him not be mentally ready, physically ready or just being nervous. Whatever it was, he was past it against Atlanta. Not only did he not let anybody through when pass-blocking, he was an absolute beast in blocking on screen passes. I can understand why the Chargers saw a guy as big and strong as Louis that could move like that and said "He can start in the NFL right now." I saw very minimal push from him in run-blocking, but having to run to the left side of the line is something the Bolts are used to.

Gartrell Johnson - He almost didn't make this list, but what he needed last night was a big run and he got it. A 42-yarder right up the gut, in which he had to jump over a body at the line of scrimmage and rumble his way through the secondary. Did he show off a complete lack of top-end speed? Yes. Was he drafted for his speed? No. I'm constantly looking for examples of players that were used in the role that I think Gartrell is suited for, so that Chargers fans stop worrying about his footspeed and lack of jukes. Brandon Jacobs is a good example, especially since they have similar speed (40 yd dash: Gartrell: 4.51, Jacobs 4:59) and Jacobs is always switched in with some speed backs. However, the better example for right now may be Jerome Bettis after he became Willie Parker's backup. He could be the goal-line RB and also the backbreaker in the 4th quarter. He'll need to earn the spot during the season though. I think he'll get chances.

Michael Bennett - Bennett would make the Preseason Pro Bowl if there was one. 3 TDs in 3 games, and showing himself to be a versatile weapon out of the backfield. When the running game was sputtering, he caught 3 passes for 84 yards (including a 48 yard screen pass that went for a TD). As I was saying in the open thread last night, some guys were earning a roster spot or a starting spot, Bennett was earning more time on the field during the regular season.

Malcom Floyd - If he can stay healthy, I have high hopes for what he can do for the Chargers in 2009. 4 catches for 56 yards and a very "headsy" touchdown in last night's game.

Buster Davis - Has he blown me away? No. Has he taken the slot WR spot away from Floyd (or Naanee)? No. Has he shown enough to ensure that he won't be cut? Yes. 2 catches for 28 yards, including a pretty 22 yarder, in last night's game.

Vincent Jackson - What can really be said? The first catch was probably the result of a push-off, but it didn't get called so instead we'll just call it fantastic. The second catch, the one-handed-while-turning-around catch, would be legendary if it weren't just a preseason game. If you couldn't see the game, the video of the catch is below. VJ and Malcom Floyd have consistently proven that they are able to, and most times will, catch even inaccurately thrown balls by Philip. That's big.

Defense

Kevin Burnett - If there were a Preseason Pro Bowl, Burnett would be the Preseason MVP. He's an absolute beast. He missed being the top tackler in 3 straight games by one tackle. I would put down a lot of money right now that says that Burnett will rack up 100+ tackles in the 2009 regular season. Strength, speed, grace, coverage, technique....he really does seem to have it all. With a good enough year from him, Vasquez, and English, A.J. Smith could be in line for another Executive of the Year award.

Quentin Jammer - Shutdown corner, hits like a Safety. What else could you possibly want?

Eric Weddle - Was flying around the field, looking very healthy. Sometimes he appeared to jump in on a tackle even when it wasn't necessary, it looked like he was doing it because he was having so much fun. Eric's ready for this season to get started and I see big things from him in 2009.

Health - Big bolt for health! The only injury to speak of was Dielman's bruised shoulder, which he has been quotes as saying "If it was the Raiders game I would've been back in there". So he's fine. With more playing time for the first team, and on turf, I was a little worried. However, the Chargers are still on track to go into the Raiders game as one of the healthier teams in the league.

Dolts

Offense

The Offensive Line (running) - Ugh. Let's take away the longest run of the night from each of the 3 RBs and see what they leaves us.

Johnson - 11 carries, 17 yards (1.54 YPC)
Bennett - 6 carries, 11 yards (1.83 YPC)
Darren Sproles - 2 carries, 6 yards (3 YPC)

Vasquez and Jeromey Clary provided zero push from the right side. McNeill couldn't do much better and Mooch was the weakest link on the line after Dielman left with a shoulder bruise. As I said last week, the offensive line is all about chemistry. The more they play together, the better they'll get, so I'm not too worried about it. Running against Oakland should be no problem.

Defense

Clinton Hart - He's going to give 'Tec a stroke by the end of the season. He finished the night with 1 tackle and no other stats, but he did miss two tackles near the line of scrimmage and was behind in coverage more than once as well. I'll say this, he's lucky to have such a good secondary around him. I think Steve Gregory outplayed him, but that was against Atlanta's second-stringers (mostly).

Pass-Rush - I was really hoping that this would be the game that Rivera sent everybody. How could he be screaming at his second and third-stringers on the sidelines when they know he's calling such a vanilla defense? Larry English came in and blitzed on every play he was in on, and looked pretty good too, but again there was only 1 team sack (it was attributed to nobody because it was Chris Redman running out of bounds on his own). The only reason I keep complaining about this is because I think it's hard to convince the players that they're mean pass-rushing machines unless they've felt it themselves first.

Antoine Cason - He was the leading tackler on the team, but part of that was because he was missing opportunities in zone coverage. He also missed a tackle that lead to a Falcons touchdown. He's still a great player, but this was not his best game.

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

An Updated San Diego Chargers Depth Chart

John (obviousman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:59:58 -0000

Last week, prior to the Cardinals game, I was going to make a post showing the differences in the Chargers Week 1 and Week 2 depth charts. The problem was that there was only one tiny change, Tim Dobbins and Kevin Burnett switching places. This week there still aren't a ton of changes, but I'd like to take this opportunity to go back over the entire San Diego Chargers depth chart.

The starters and backups at every position (including the backup holder for kicks!) lie after the jump.

Offense

WR (1)

Vincent Jackson
Legedu Naanee
Buster Davis
Kassim Osgood
Rodgeriqus Smith

WR (2)

Nick Hardwick
Scott Mruczkowski
Ryan McDonald

Defense

DE (1)

DE (2)

OLB (1)

OLB (2)

ILB (1)

ILB (2)

Kevin Burnett
Tim Dobbins
Anthony Felder

LCB

RCB

Special Teams

Nate Kaeding

Holder

Mike Scifres
Eric Weddle

Long Snapper

David Binn
Brandon Siler

Darren Sproles
Buster Davis
Jacob Hester
Antonio Cromartie
Cletis Gordon
Charly Martin

Darren Sproles
Buster Davis
Antonio Cromartie
Cletis Gordon
Charly Martin

Notes

English moved from 2nd to 3rd on the depth chart, with Applewhite moving over to that side. A message from the team?
Ben Muth and Wopamo Osaisai have been waived.
Contrary to what some people think, Buster Davis will not be getting cut. Look at him all over this depth chart, and usually fairly high up.
Anyone else curious as to why the Chargers didn't bring in another Kicker to save Kaeding's leg? This is a common practice and the only reason Truman Spencer is on the team as a Punter.
Tyronne Green still not listed as a Center. Is this going to be like Naanee, where they try to change his position and eventually give up?
Before you ask, the Fullbacks are listed like that. I didn't do that. There are literally two starting FB spots on the depth chart, one has Hester (and the 2 backups) and the other simply has Manumaleuna (no backups). I don't get it either.

Do you have any thoughts about Bolts From The Blue? Any tips you want to send our way? Whenever you have something to say, don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.

San Diego Chargers Links 8/20

John (obviousman) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:52:01 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

4 months ago: San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd grabs a pass over the coverage of rookie Simeon Castille during practice at the Chargers' training camp Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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Jackson sprains finger, Hochuli revisits Chargers
Ed Hochuli is the referee for Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals, the first time the Chargers will have seen Hochuli since he blew a call that cost them their Sept. 14 game at Denver last season. Head coach Norv Turner said he will engage in the usual pleasantries with Hochuli before the game. "He's going to officiate a game as we continue in the season," Turner said. "He's a good referee."

Hochuli's mistaken call of an incomplete pass on a Jay Cutler fumble brought the wrath of Turner and many thousands of Chargers fans. The call also prompted a rule change that would allow such a play to be reviewed by replay.

Backup power: Ranking all 32 NFL team's No. 2 quarterbacks - Don Banks - SI.com
7. Billy Volek, San Diego -- Chargers starter Philip Rivers took every snap last season, so we have no fresh reminders of Volek's value in San Diego. But he has played well when given the opportunity, and had a strong start to his preseason Saturday night against Seattle. And who can forget his stellar relief win in the playoffs at Indianapolis in January 2008?

All-Indispensable Team - John P. Lopez - SI.com
All indications thus far are that Tomlinson is on a mission to get better and prove that 30 is the new 25 in the NFL. Still, time is the only thing in the league that is undefeated. If the Chargers say they are not worried about Tomlinson's health, they're lying. Tomlinson had career lows in yards and carries last season and has been on a steady decline since his remarkable 2006 season.

The guy has still got amazing skills and is motivated more than perhaps during any other point in his career. Still, time is undefeated. The Chargers have to do everything possible to keep LT healthy.

Malcom Floyd is humble and healthy
Six years. And yet Floyd was still a restricted free agent this year. Injured and on the practice squad most of his first two seasons, he played in four games his rookie year in 2004. Had it been six games, he would have been an unrestricted free agent this past February and likely would have been guaranteed about five or six times the $1.545 million he received as a restricted free agent. That was an argument he and his agent tried to make to the Chargers this spring, with Floyd even skipping minicamp before deciding on the eve of offseason coaching sessions to take the restricted free-agent tender from the team because, he said, "I didn't see any positives out of missing more time."

Rookie Vasquez is back on the practice field
Third-round pick Louis Vasquez returned to practice yesterday afternoon, working with the second team at right guard. First-rounder Larry English remains sidelined with the hamstring strain that has limited him to working only on the side for much of the past two weeks.

Jay Glazer (Jay_Glazer) on Twitter
heard from my man Lorenzo Neal 2nite. injured his hamstring. figuring out what he wants to do. 1 of the classiest dudes this league has seen (Ed.'s Note: Maybe Lorenzo being released had something to do with this.)

3 Questions For: Luis Castillo
The Chargers defensive end is hoping for a comeback season in 2009. He joins 619 Sports from training camp to answer three questions heading into the second game of the preseason

NFL 101: Rookie English
I was really excited for our practices at Qualcomm Stadium in front of our fans but unfortunately I injured my hamstring the week of our first one. I’ve been working to get back on the field ever since. I also had to miss our first preseason game against Seattle, which was very disappointing. If it were up to me, I would’ve played because I really wanted to be out there, help the team and get my chance to play in my first NFL game. But I realize that in order for this injury to not nag me all year long, it’s important to get it taken care of now.

Chargers Linebacker Merriman Is Back, and Motivated - NYTimes.com
How far Merriman goes in those quests may go a long way toward determining whether he remains in San Diego. In recent years, the Chargers have had one of the league’s most talented rosters, but they have lacked either the coaching, the character or the good health to break through to the Super Bowl.

Bolts & Dolts: Seattle Seahawks defeat San Diego Chargers 20-14

John (obviousman) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:30:17 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

4 months ago: San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson runs through the tackle of Seattle Seahawks' Leroy Hill in the first quarter of a NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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Seahawks vs Chargers recap

Seahawks vs Chargers boxscore

This is an idea I always liked: wrapping up games by giving individual performance reviews. Usually I'd use this space up here to tell the story of the game (or a story from the game) and how the final score ended up where it was. Since this is the preseason, the story and the score mean absolutely nothing. Onto BFTB's new feature: Bolts & Dolts

Bolts

Offense

Michael Bennett - 6 carries, 21 yards, 1 TD. I never like Bennett until I see him with the ball in his hands. I think it's because I was excited for his potential with the Vikings and he never panned out. Is he a star in the NFL? No, but he makes a fine backup RB in a pinch (he fills the role for the Chargers as well as Mewelde Moore, another ex-Viking, does for the Steelers).

Billy Volek - 8/12, 122 yards. He looked as sharp, if not sharper, than the Chargers starter. He was accurate and poised, and looked like he was heads-and-shoulders above the other "backups" he was playing against.

Charly Martin - 5 receptions, 67 yards, 3 kick returns (24.0 average). I'm sold. This kid should get a roster spot. As sports becomes athlete vs. athlete, the guys that make the biggest difference are those annoying, gnat-like players that won't go away and make the athlete's doubt themselves. Those are also the guys you want on your team because they'll make everyone else step up their level of hustle. I'm convinced that there's no difference between Charly Martin and Wes Welker.

Gary Banks (3 rec, 31 yds), ~~Buster~~ Craig Davis (3 rec, 64 yds), Kris Wilson, (3 rec, 49 yds), Legedu Naanee (3 rec, 30 yds, 1 TD, 3 yds rushing). Seattle's secondary was beat up to begin with, and since teams are usually playing defense without a blitz it's a time where secondaries look worse than usual. With that being said, these four guys stood out to me. Naanee could replace Floyd without a drop-off. Wilson is a legitimate pass-catching TE that can also block, which is always a fun tool to have in goal-line situations. Banks always looks fast with the ball in his hands. Davis quietly pulled in the longest catch of the night.

Antonio Gates - 3 rec, 17 yds. I know that doesn't look very impressive, but if you watched the first series you know what I'm talking about. It's almost like Norv was testing him. With the defense focused on him, Gates out-quicked and out-positioned the defenders...and he made it look easy. This looked like 2007 Gates to me.

Defense

Kevin Burnett - 6 total tackles, 5 solo tackles. Didn't notice he was out there? You wouldn't the only one, but he was a breath of fresh air to me. I can see why they like his coverage skills, he covers like a shutdown corner. I don't know how he stays so close to them without getting tripped up, honestly. What I was more impressed with was everything else. He read running plays well and attacked. One of the surest-tacklers on the defense last night, which is why he ended up the leader in tackles. Reminded me of Stephen Cooper, and that can only be a good thing. When he was on the field with Dobbins, you could see he was the better player.

Brandon Hughes - 5 total tackles. He got burned on the play-action TD to Seattle's TE. So did Steve Gregory. They both bit on the fake and didn't see the TE behind them until it was too late. With that being said, Hughes got better as the game went on (and the first-teamers left the field). He's very smooth in coverage and is a much better tackler than he gets credit for. I don't know that he beats out Cletis Gordon as the 4th corner, but I'm no longer against that if it happens.

Antoine Cason - 1 tackle, 3 passes defensed. Just as we've been saying since the beginning of last season, Cason is good enough to be a number 1 cornerback on more than half of the teams in the NFL. He never gets caught off-guard and has tremendous ball-skills. He could probably be a good wide receiver if he wanted to be. If the Chargers ever moved him to Safety, as was whispered before the draft, he would be just fine.

Luis Castillo - 2 tackles. No stats, but he was slipping through the line and getting penetration consistently. He was effective at stopping the run game.

Mike Scifres - 4 punts, 46.0 average, 3 punts inside opponent's 20 yard line. No rust to knock off. Can I fill out my Pro Bowl ballot now?

Dolts

Offense

Charlie Whitehurst - 15/29, 193 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 1 Fumble Lost. I wish I could've left him off, but I couldn't. While he did an admirable job of handling the clipboard during the first half, the second half didn't go as well. If he's hoping to catch on as a backup QB, instead of a third stringer, somewhere else next season he's going to have to put up a better performance against backup players. One of his interceptions was Buster Davis' fault, but his second interception was bad enough to count for two. Outside of his two-minute drill, which basically consisted of "Find Charly Martin, throw to Charly Martin", Whitehurst was just awful.

Gartrell Johnson - 5 carries, 8 rush yds, 2 rec, 15 rec yards. Another stake through my heart. While the Chargers running game was awful all night (21 carries, 55 yards), no other Bolts runner dipped below 2.0 YPC besides Gartrell. It seemed every time he touched the ball he was immediately swallowed up. The team's going to need to see more than that.

Chris Chambers - 1 catch, 4 yards. Where the heck was he? Completely and totally invisible against a poor secondary. The thing that made Chambers special, even when the Chargers traded for him, was that he was a deep-threat. I don't see that from him anymore and the corners that are covering him are not afraid to stay on top of him.

Nate Kaeding - 0/1 FGs, 2/2 XPs. Not a good sign to be missing FGs from inside the opponent's 20.

Defense

Shawne Merriman - 1 solo tackle. I know, I know. First game back. I'm sure he'll get better, but he looked scared last night. There was not a single bullrush and he avoided any piles. Maybe his knee is bothering him or maybe he remembers how much he hated missing the entire season last year. Either way, he's going to be disappointed when he watched the film and sees how hesitant he was.

Playcalling/Coaching - Zero Sacks. I know it's a preseason game and you don't typically blitz, but....no coverage sacks? No nothing? Seattle had 4 sacks and it didn't look like they tried very hard to get them. Preseason is a time to play with things and see if they work.