After the dust has settled I have thoughts and questions that came up after this draft:

1) The chargers sure liked players that will play multiple roles: Corey Liuget will play DE in the 3-4 standard, but will play 3 tech DT if they go to 4 man fronts in Nickel defense. Marcus Gilchrist has played corner/slot corner and safety, and has played well at both, he's also kickoff returner and gunner and coverage teams. Jonas Mouton will be seen as a ILB and core special teams player. Vincent Brown is seen as skilled enough to play outside, but with enough quickness to be productive in the slot, maybe he's the successor to the Patrick Crayton role. Shareece Wright will play corner and special teams, Jordan Todman will get a shot at replacing Darren Sproles 3rd down back role, plus take away some carries away in more classic running situations, plus he can be returner. Stephen Schilling has experience playing at both Guard and RT, and will be seen to provide depth on both. Andrew Gachkar is an undersized ILB or a safety, but will clearly be seen to contribute on special teams.

2) How many of the 3 free agent ILB will be back?, as its look right now maybe one no more than 2

3) Do the chargers expect Eric Weddle back? Lets say Gilchrist is a corner as early reports say, but I'm still not 100% confindent that Weddle will be back

4) As I mentioned before multiple role players matter, and special teams prowess mattered on this draft, I'm pretty sure Bissachia had an opinion on multiple picks.

5) No 3-4 OLB drafted, vote of confindence towards Larry English or did draft just not work well for the chargers? Is it a clear sign that Antwan Barnes will be resigned?

6) Is a Darren Sproles resigning totally out of the question, his possible replacement Todman was only a 6th rounder, so no major commitment there, is that door totally closed?

7) Are the rumors of Billy Volek leaving for a starting job in Carolina just that?, no QB drafted, does it mean he's coming back?

Well those are some thought and questions that came up for me, your thought guys?

The chargers could very easily fall under worse case scenario where the 4 guys that seem to be target are gone, all it requires is small circumstances like Dallas or Washington both taking defensive players, or no OT/G are taken before the chargers pick, and obviously no team ahead of them reaches for the 3rd QB off the board.

Would you guys be comfortable with Muhammed Wilkerson, Cameron Heyward, Akeem Ayers or one of the OT's at 18, or would you guys trade up or down if 4 targeted guys are gone?

Or would you guys trade up to 9-10 and secure one of the targeted guys or a Robert Quinn, or maybe trade up to 14-15 where at least one of the targeted guys will be there, or would you trade down to 22-25 level, and take someone like Heyward or Ayers at a more reasonable value spot? 

Being at 18, seems to be the spot where you could be the team without a chair when the music stops, what are your thoughts guys?

Kevin Acee recently did a very interesting analysis of the Chargers' roster, and the possible decisions the front office need to make, broken down by position. To make it more interesting to discuss, instead of grouping the players by position, I list them based on their future status with the Chargers.

Acee has been accused of being a mouthpiece for AJ Smith, which makes his article quite interesting, since Acee doesn't seem to be used for much disinformation. Merriman did not get a long term deal like he predicted, and Vincent Jackson has not gotten his long term deal, so lets analyze the info he sent the Charger fans. I added a few of my personal thought so bear with me.

Likely gone (out of price range)

• Darren Sproles: The Chargers anticipate there will be other teams that will offer more.
• Stephen Cooper: They would like to keep him or Burnett, since Burnett is younger expect him to be priority, the chargers expect Cooper to get a serious offer from Carolina to get together with Ron Rivera. If they can't sign Burnett then Cooper's chances of staying go up.

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Early reports out of Gainesville is that Charlie Weis will leaves his Coordinator job in Kansas City, to take a similar position for the Florida Gators, tension with Head Coach Todd Haley has not been mentioned as a cause, it seems like a big blow considering the massive improvement in Matt Cassell. Florida will install a pro style offense in place of its now traditional spread offense.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5974715

With Vincent Jackson just having a big game against the Niners, I had to ask myself if that was enough convince the chargers to keep him, and with Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naane also staring at free agency, it makes the WR position extremely intriguing in terms of speculation of who stays and goes:

We know:

Free agents to be:

Vincent Jackson

Malcom Floyd 

Legedu Naanee

Probably will be here:

Patrick Crayton

Seyi Ajirotutu

Kelley Washington

Draft possibilities:

Jonathan Baldwin

Julio Jones

Austin Pettis (not in the first round, but scheme fit)

Leonard Hankerson (see above)

Trade possibility:

Larry Fitzgerald

Final Projection

Malcom Floyd: Injuries are a concern, but they will also keep the cost down

Patrick Crayton

Seyi Ajirotutu

Legedu Naanee or first/second round receiver

Kelley Washington (two skills keep him in roster, good slot receiver and special teams player)

Final thoughts: I would keep Vincent Jackson I just don't see AJ Smith keeping him too much bad blood, Floyd his injuries cost him millions and keep him under the radar and in the chargers roster. Naanee is 50-50 for me, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonathan Baldwin as the chargers first rounder, and that would cost Naanee a spot on this roster. I would love Fitzgerald on the chargers, but the chargers history says, there will other teams willing to offer more in a trade. 

Sorry charger fans, its difficult and sad as a season ticket holder to accept that the chargers are moving, but the circumstances seems to be lining up in the direction as Phillip Anschutz of AEG is poised to buy 35% of the chargers, even Mark Fabiani said, if AEG is the one buying than there is reason to be concerned.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/30/report-anschutz-poised-to-by-35-percent-of-chargers/

I guess this curiosity jumped to me, as I was listening to Hacksaw Hamilton (I know dumb idea), but the guy said the chargers have had the league's easiest schedule so far. If I can remember right, entering the season the chargers the 30th easiest schedule. I seriously doubt the chargers have had the easiest schedule considering the have faced one team in 9 games with a losing record at this moment. So how does one check the current strength of schedule for a team? I have only found files containing the rankings against the 2009 record, but not an up to date with the 2010 records?

While Paul Oliver might be a good coverage Safety, the chargers sure seems to miss Steve Gregory instinctive always around the ball play, and his text book tackling skills, so clearly my vote is Gregory returns as the starter. I think the chargers front office was hoping Oliver would earn the job, especially considering the history of injuries Shawne Merriman just had after his run in with PED's, but I didn't see enough for him to take it away from Gregory. What your take guys? 

The more I see the 2010 chargers the more I'm convinced this is a mentally soft unclutch team, a few bad things can be atributed to bad luck (3 fumbles recovered by Raiders that go forward). But there is two much evidence this team is mentally soft.

Special Teams: 32 ranked on return defense, I guess Kassim was worth the money, and the loss of Binn is devastating, I guess the lack of speed in the current snapper is truly significant. 3 return for TD in 5 games is deplorable.

Turnovers in the red zone: too many too count, too many to be a fluke. Didn't Norv get heat a few years ago, that avoiding turnovers in the red zone was even more important that scoring TD's, so what gives Norv??. 

Drives to tie or win the game: As great as Philip has been, zero points in the 3 key drives of the season to tie or win the game, elite QB's score on most those situations.

Lack of clutch plays on Defense: In 2 of the 3 losses zero turnovers, against the raiders had a 9 point lead, couldn't stop that offense. Where was the 9 sack pass rush!?. Championship defenses put that game away, and get a stop or turnover.

The 2009 chargers were 2-3 and bounced back, so a part of me is hopeful, but this team seems to be that bully that as soon as someone punches back he's broken mentally. What your take guys?

It appears the Vincent Jackson finally understood that in a game of chicken AJ Smith doesn't flinch. So the question for everybody, what role will VJ have when and if he signs his tender?, the chargers are the number 1 ranked offense without him.

My guess is 2-4 weeks of part time duty, with the final 4 games as a starter, and a full playoff push, who would have guessed that both McNeill and Jackson could be there by the time the playoffs start. It sure didn't look possible a month ago. What your take guys?

I know the Steelers consider themselves to be the moral center of the NFL, but that the best value you could get for a young 1000 yard WR, who also got a Super Bowl MVP is a 2010 5th Rounder.  This sounds like an April Fool's trade, but it's confirmed. Jason La Canfora of NFL Network just confirmed, and ESPN News also confirmed.  The Jets have become the most hated for any Charger fan.

I guess Ben Roethlisberger better start hiring a realtor because his stay in the Steel City might be a lot shorter than any thought possible. Crazy Al & the Raiders should call the steelers in this moment of insanity and get Ben, to make nightmare complete for every Charger fan.

When arguing about the greatest teams in NFL history the only reasonable comparison is according to the historical context of their era. But if you remove historical context and if you really had them play with today's rules who would be greatest team ever???. If you enforce currents rules and take into account the size and speed of players currently in the NFL that would almost by definition eliminate teams from before mid 80's. Just consider the great packers teams being 50 pounds outweighed in both lines of scrimmage or Ray Nitchske facing and trying to cover RB, TE's and WR's in spread formation absolute disaster.

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Lets continue predicting the divisions and continue on with the AFC North home of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, but how does this division break out in '09, the recent retirement of Derek Mason made this a closer race for a playoffs spot.

Schedule Specifics: AFC North plays: AFC West and NFC North

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Considering that magazines have started to predict the '09 season, I decided to put my two cents in and pick my 12 teams to make the playoffs. I'll divide by division every day and give a quick analysis and a mock playoff run, finishing with my super bowl prediction.

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Every year we have several teams move up and surprise us (Falcons, Dolphins, Ravens in '08) and teams that come way below expectations (Jaguars, Cowboys, Chargers); Here my list for teams that will dissapoint for '09, please share your thoughts:

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