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San Diego Chargers' Roster: 2009 vs. 2008

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

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.

Recent Draft History: San Diego Chargers

Jeremy Bolander — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:00:10 -0000

2008 Draft:

1 (27) Antoine Cason, CB STARTER

A solid player and a sure tackler, he is developing nicely. If he can work on defensing passes more, he will turn out to be a pretty great pick, but even where he is at, the Chargers are geting what they are paying for.

3 (69) Jacob Hester, FB Backup

After a very slow start that would have made even Charger's fans ask who he was, Hester started to come into his own as the Charger's playoff push began. His hands and athleticism complement that Charger's offense very well, and his blocking got significantly better as the season wore on. If he continues to improve in the blocking game he should pan out as the ideal offensive weapon for the Charger's scheme.

5 (166) Marcus Thomas, RB Practice Squad/Browns

After being waived in training camp by the Chargers he was signed and subsequently waived by both the Lions,a nd then the Cowboys, who kept him on their practice squad for the 2008 season. He currently has signed a reserve/futures contract with the Cleveland Browns

6 (192) Dejuan Tribble, CB Backup

An exciting prospect with some injury history to overcome. The Chargers are being patient with him, and with decent depth on the rsoter ahead of him, they can afford to wait.

7 (234) Corey Clark, OT Backup

A good prospect who hasn't seen the field but could be a solid tackle. Of interest is that if he looks like he can step in at tackle, that could actually shift Jeromey Clarey inside where his strength would be utilized better, and would make the SD oline get younger in a hurry.

2007 Draft:

1 (30) Buster Davis, WR Backup

A young confident receiver who has just about used up his time in San Diego. He has struggled with consistency and injuries, but a recent surgery may help to correct a chronic groin problem for him. He will be expected to produce in 2009, and as a smart, big-time playmaker, the Chargers would be a lot better with him playing up to his full potential.

2 (37) Eric Weddle, S STARTER

A great tackler with some coverage issues, but overall a solid fill-in for a safety roster that is only now beginning to shape up, after several years of dysfunction. The closer they can move Weddle to the line, the better off they will be.

3 (96) Anthony Waters, LB Out of NFL

After missing his rookie season due to injury, and only logging 3 tackles in 8 games as a sophmore, the Chargers decided to part ways with the young LBer. Rumors of off-field incidents seem to have prompted the decision.

4 (129) Scott Chandler, TE Backup

3rd TE on San Diego may as well be the bottomless pit. Chandler has only had an opportunity to stand on the sidelines, watch, and learn, and in 2008, saw a preseason toe injury send him to IR for the year.

5 (172) Legedu Naanee, WR Backup

A young stud who is developing nicely into a YAC monster, but who can't consistently get on the field, due to depth at the position. He needs to step up and try to outplay the vets this year, but regardless of the training camp outcome, he is a solid player to have ont he roster.

6 (240) Brandon Siler, ILB Backup

The Charger's are hanging onto this role-player for now. he has been excellent in short yardage situations, where he is asked to disrupt the lanes and clog holes. If he can show the coaches he could be out on a few more downs, the Charger's could use him.

4 (28) Paul Oliver, CB Backup

Taken in the Supplemental draft, this very intelligent player was left to learn on his own for the 2007 season, but managed to step into some good plays in 2008, including an interception int eh endzone to help seal away the 2008 AFC West crown, and a playoff spot.

2006 Draft:

1 (19) Antonio Cromartie, CB STARTER

Though he performed very well behind the 2006 and 2007 pass rush, in 2008, with Merriman out and playing with a hip injury of his own, Cromartie showed that he isn't the most physical tackler and that his risk taking and playing off of receivers allows far too many completions in his area. Not the stellar player they thought he was, the Charger's look to be astutely waiting for his contract to come up, where he is as likely to wait as to stay, and with good prospects waiting in the wings, it seems like a really smart move.

2 (50) Marcus McNeill, OT STARTER

After a surprise Pro Bowl appearance had McNeill looking like the steal of the 06 draft, his play fell off some in 2007 and in 2008 a freak injury (stinger) that kept him out of four games seemed to have rattled him significantly, as he was up and down all season. The Chargers will be watching him closely to see if the issues linger, and if so, they will address the position sooner than later, since the opposite side of the line could use an upgrade.

3 (81) Charlie Whitehurst, QB Backup

Nothing to see here, just your standard issue, clip-board toting, third string QB....

5 (151) Tim Dobbins, ILB STARTER

A solid mid-round pick who got an opportunity to play in 2008 and brought some fierce tackling to the mix. He has issues in pass coverage, but still looks to be the leading candidate for the spot opposite Stephen Cooper in the middle.

6 (181) Jeromey Clary, T STARTER

This big bruiser isn't much of a technician at RT, and this could lead to his being moved inside to take over for the underperforming Mike Goff at RG. With a chance at T in the draft, and intriguing depth on the roster, the Chargers could consider this.

6 (182) Kurt Smith, K Out of NFL

An early pick on a kicker once again doesn't quite pan out. The Chargers cut him, the Saints gave him a look, and now he is a free agent.

7 (225) Chase Page, DT Backup/ Dolphins

After being sniped from the Chargers' practice squad, Page ended up spending 2008 on the Dolphins' IR.

7 (227) Jimmy Martin, T Out of NFL

Released by the Chargers, subsequently signed and released by the Patriots, currently out of the NFL.