Page D2 SPORTS x.xx.08
2
The San Diego Union-Tribune Thursday, September 4, 2008
NFL PREVIEW
20
08
CHARGERS ROSTER How THEY RANK BY KEVIN ACEE
This is a ranking of the roster based on importance and how replaceable (or irreplaceable) a player. It is not a ranking of talent. Ranking a football player’s importance is inherently difficult because of the team nature of the game, the
reality that all three phases are important and the unknown of the course of a season. Ranking this year’s roster had extra challenges, due to injuries to Nick Hardwick and Shawne Merriman and the fact Stephen Cooper will begin the
season serving a four-game suspension. (Cooper not being on the opening-game roster is also why the list is 54 players long this year.)
1. Jamal
Williams
2. Antonio
Gates
3. LaDainian
Tomlinson
4. Philip
Rivers
5. Antonio
Cromartie
6. Quentin
Jammer
7. Jeremy
Newberry
8. Mike
Scifres
Did you see the exhibition
games without him? Did
you see last season when
he was hurt? This is the
player you take away
and see the most drastic
difference. His health is
the most important issue
of season.
Defenses change more
for him than any player,
and he still makes plays.
It’s more surprising to see
him not make spectacular
catches than to make
them. He is a big-play
threat and a lifesaver.
Even if defenses stack
against him, he often
finds a way to get his
yards. Even if he doesn’t
get yards, the rest of the
offense is better for it. His
patience, tenacity and will
to win are underrated.
He’s only getting better.
He’s a leader and a
winner. Poise, accuracy
and smarts make him
one of top five QBs in the
league. Dropped him this
far due to competence of
backup.
When you stand out as
the best athlete on an
NFL field, you are just
below superhero. Only
24, he could one day be
remembered as best
ever. Even if he doesn’t do
double-digit picks, he’ll
change offenses.
Most underappreciated
player on the team.
Respected throughout
the league, because
he doesn’t get burned
and makes plays. So he
can’t catch a cold in a
rainstorm? There’s more
to being a corner.
He needs to stay healthy
as long as Nick Hardwick
isn’t, which could well be
into October (or longer).
Two guys touch the ball
every offensive snap,
and two guys read the
defense and make calls at
the line. He’s one of them.
A weapon. Over the past
four years 43 percent
of his punts have been
downed inside the 20 and
just 36 percent have even
been returned. Those are
the best such numbers in
the league.
9. Luis
Castillo
10. Shaun
Phillips
11. Chris
Chambers
12. Kris
Dielman
13. Eric
Weddle
14. Matt
Wilhelm
15. Marcus
McNeill
16. Shawne
Merriman
He brings energy
and speed. He forces
quarterbacks to know
where he is and is a sure
run-stopper. Much like
Williams, the line is not
the same without him. If
only he can stay freakinjury-free.
His job will be more
difficult if Shawne
Merriman is not full-go.
But Phillips deserves
more credit for his allaround abilities. Ever
notice how many passes
he tips?
The single biggest reason
the Chargers made the
playoffs in 2007. He runs
every route and catches
everything.
The most fun you’ll
ever have watching an
offensive lineman. Off a
football field, he would be
arrested.
He makes the calls in the
secondary. The corners
have to trust where he’ll
be.
So smart, he just has
to be a more sure
tackler, has to be more
aggressive in the middle
of the defense.
If he’s healthy and plays
like he did at the end of
last season, that makes
Philip Rivers’ job easier.
Six letters explain why
he’s ranked this low
— LCL, PCL. His situation
is too tenuous to rely on
him.
17. Darren
Sproles
18. Stephen
Cooper
19. Vincent
Jackson
20. Clinton
Hart
21. Nate
Kaeding
22. Kassim
Osgood
23. Igor
Olshansky
24. Mike
Goff
One of five best returners
in the league, and he’s
forced his way into being
used on offense.
A good athlete who
makes plays all over the
field. He has Pro Bowl
potential, but he’s not
eligible this season.
On the verge of being a
bona fide star. But he’s
too quiet, too classy to be
the next T.O.
He is capable of a halfdozen interceptions, and
has bulked up.
Most accurate kicker
in NFL over past three
seasons is taken for
granted. (Must be here,
too, to be ranked this low.)
The erstwhile receiver is
such a force on special
teams he wouldn’t be
more important if he
caught 20 passes.
Coming off his best
season, he’ll be motivated
in a contract year.
Veteran has played
through significant
injuries past two years.
They use him a lot to pull;
he has to be consistent.
25. Nick Hardwick
29. Jyles Tucker
33. Jeromey Clary
36. Billy Volek
40. Steve Gregory
44. Kynan Forney
48. Scott Mruczkowski
52. DeJuan Tribble
26. Derek Smith
30. Jacob Hester
37. Jacques Cesaire
41. Buster Davis
45. Brandon Siler
49. Marques Harris
53. Corey Clark
27. Antoine Cason
31. David Binn
34. Brandon
Manumaleuna
38. Malcom Floyd
42. Brandon McKinney
46. Anthony Waters
50. Paul Oliver
28. L.J. Shelton
32. Mike Tolbert
35. Ryon Bingham
39. Cletis Gordon
43. Tim Dobbins
47. Legedu Naanee
51. Kris Wilson
54. Charlie
Whitehurst
OTHERS
CHARGERS ROSTER How IT was built
1994
Darren Sproles David Binn LS Undrafted FA
The only player on this roster to have played in a Super
Bowl (XXIX) as a Charger.
1998
DT Jamal Williams
Supplemental draft, rd. 2
Only Bobby Beathard draft pick on the team.
2001
LaDainian Tomlinson RB Draft, rd. 1 (5th overall)
The Chargers could have had Michael Vick No. 1 overall.
Instead, trade brought them one of best RBs ever,
Tim Dwight and a second-round pick in ’02 (Reche
Caldwell). And no Vick mess.
2002
Quentin Jammer CB Draft, rd. 1 (5th overall)
John Butler’s final pick has become one of the league’s
best at his position.
2003
Matt Wilhelm
ILB Draft, rd. 4 (112th overall)
Mike Scifres P
Jacques Cesaire DE Undrafted FA
Stephen Cooper ILB Undrafted FA
Kris Dielman G
Antonio Gates TE Undrafted FA
Kassim Osgood WR Undrafted FA
Draft, rd. 5 (149th overall)
Undrafted FA
One current starter and the league’s best punter
were drafted. But the real legacy of this class is the
undrafted players who have been key contributors.
Dielman, Gates, and Osgood are Pro Bowlers.
2004
Philip Rivers QB Trade (NYG)
Igor Olshansky DE Draft, rd. 2 (35th overall)
Nate Kaeding K
Draft, rd. 3 (65th overall)
Nick Hardwick C
Draft, rd. 3 (66th overall)
Shaun Phillips OLB
Draft, rd. 4 (98th overall)
Ryon Bingham DL Draft, rd. 7 (204th overall)
Clinton Hart S
Waivers (Phi)
Mike Goff G
Unrestricted FA (Cin)
Malcom Floyd WR Undrafted FA
If there is a single moment that signifies the turning of
a franchise’s fortunes, it might be this draft. Draft-day
deal for swapping Rivers for Eli Manning also got the
Chargers the pick they used to get Kaeding and pick
they used the next year to take Shawne Merriman.
Olshansky, Hardwick and Phillips are also starters, as
are Goff and Hart, the former Arena League player cast
off from the Eagles.
2005
Shawne Merriman OLB Draft, rd. 1 (12th overall)
Page D2 SPORTS x.xx.08
Luis Castillo DE Draft, rd. 1 (28th overall)
Vincent Jackson WR Draft, rd. 2 (61st overall)
RB Draft, rd. 4 (130th overall)
Scott Mruczkowski G-C Draft, rd. 7 (242nd overall)
Marques Harris OLB Undrafted FA
Despite having traded away third- and fifth-round
choices for Keenan McCardell and Roman Oben, the
Chargers made the most of this draft.
2006
Antonio Cromartie CB Draft, rd. 1 (19th overall)
Marcus McNeill T Draft, rd. 2 (50th overall)
Charlie Whitehurst QB Draft, rd. 3 (81st overall)
Tim Dobbins
ILB Draft, rd. 5 (151st overall)
Jeromey Clary T Draft, rd. 6 (187th overall)
Cletis Gordon CB Undrafted FA
Steve Gregory S Undrafted FA
Brandon McKinney DT Undrafted FA
Brandon Manumaleuna TE Trade (StL)
Billy Volek QB Trade (Ten)
The Chargers were considered to have reached on their
first two picks. McNeill has been to two Pro Bowls in two
years; Cromartie had 10 interceptions and went to the
Pro Bowl last season. Clary is an adequate starter, and
Manumaleuna is one of A.J. Smith’s most underrated
deals.
2007
Buster Davis WR Eric Weddle S
Draft, rd. 1 (30th overall)
Draft, rd. 2 (37th overall)
Anthony Waters ILB Draft, rd. 3 (96th overall)
Legedu Naanee WR Draft, rd. 5 (172nd overall)
Brandon Siler ILB Draft, rd. 7 (240th overall)
Paul Oliver S
Supplemental draft (rd. 4)
Jyles Tucker OLB Undrafted FA
Chris Chambers WR Trade (Mia)
Chambers was the single-biggest reason the Chargers
turned around their season and made the playoffs.
The trade to move up and take Weddle (for a second,
two thirds and a fifth) was widely questioned, but the
Chargers see him as a star here for the next decade.
2008
Antoine Cason CB Jacob Hester RB Draft, rd. 1 (27th overall)
Draft, rd. 3 (69th overall)
DeJuan Tribble CB Draft, rd. 6 (192nd overall)
Corey Clark T
Draft, rd. 7 (234th overall)
Mike Tolbert
FB Undrafted FA
Derek Smith ILB
FA
Jeremy Newberry C
FA
L.J. Shelton T
FA
Kynan Forney G
FA
Kris Wilson TE
FA
The impact of this class is yet to be determined, but
Cason has been a quick learner and Hester appears
primed to make people forget Michael Turner. The
signings of Smith and Newberry take sting out of not
having Stephen Cooper and Nick Hardwick for the start
of the season.
.