Last season the San Diego Chargers ended the year at 9-7, missing the playoffs after a frustrating week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chargers ended the season with many of their key players on injured reserve, it was clear how one dimensional the Chargers offense really was. If it wasn’t for Philip Rivers, the Chargers would have sunk to the bottom of the AFC West. To put into perspective how the Bolts offense ranked in comparison with the rest of the NFL, the Chargers finished off the season ranked as the 18th best offense in the league; 10th in passing and 30th in rushing. This offseason, the Chargers went about addressing several issues concerning the offense with the hope of improving their numbers from last season. By position, here are the expectations and outlook of each unit as they ready for the upcoming season.
Quarterback
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The success of the upcoming season will hinge on the production of quarterback Philip Rivers
Since his arrival in San Diego, Philip Rivers has been the heart and soul of the Chargers. The team has relied on Rivers countless number of times to carry them and create game-winning drives in clutch situations. This season, San Diego will once again look to Rivers to carry the offense and lead the team to a playoff berth. Rivers has shown he is reliable and one of the best quarterbacks in the league as he has finished in the top ten for passing yards in a season for the past two years. As usual, expectations will be high for Rivers but he should have another strong season as the Chargers have added talent around him to compliment his high quality of play.
Running Back
This season the work horse and featured running back for the San Diego Chargers will be rookie Melvin Gordon. Expectations are high for Gordon who entered the draft this year, holding college footballs record for most rushing yards in a season. While Gordon has yet to play a a single down in the NFL, he is expected to take the reigns of the Chargers rushing attack and help the offense become a much more balanced unit. His comparison to NFL star Jamal Charles should be no mistake as he brings the size and elusiveness that makes Charles one of the best backs in the NFL.
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The Chargers are looking forward to the return of running back Danny Woodhead
Also on the roster is speedy running back Danny Woodhead. Since joining the Chargers, Woodhead has shown that he is a reliable pass blocker and an excellent playmaker when running with the football. Woodhead, who tore his ACL early last season was duly missed by the Chargers as the team struggled to move the ball in short yardage situations after his injury. Now that the running back is fully recovered, Woodhead has said that he is anxious to get back onto the field and assume his role as one of the top playermakers of the Chargers offense. Woodhead should play a key role this season as he adds another dimension to the Chargers attack and gives Philip Rivers another target to throw to coming out of the backfield.
Behind Woodhead on the depth chart is surprise rookie standout Brandon Oliver. Last season Oliver made the roster after going undrafted out of the University of Buffalo. As the Chargers starting running backs when down with season ending injuries, Oliver was called on to play the role of the lead halfback for the team. Oliver played well during this time as he did his best to help the offense move the ball against opposing defense. While Oliver has the work ethic to improve as a running back in the NFL, this season expect Oliver to be a change of pace back, giving the Chargers rushing attack a pair of fresh legs to help wear down defenses throughout the course of games.
Offensive Line
The reason why the Chargers were not one of the top offenses last year was due to their offensive line. After being ranked as one of the worst lines in the NFL, the Chargers went about improving the unit by resigning left tackle King Dunlap and bringing in left guard Orlando Franklin and right tackle Joe Barksdale. Injuries, specifically at center position were also an issue last year as the Chargers had to start 5 different centers over the course of the season. In 2015, the Chargers hope that 2nd year player Chris Watt can improve and solidify the role of starting center as he showed that he has the potential to be a starter after last seasons woes. While general manager Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy have said that Fluker is still the Chargers right tackle, a move to guard may be in the best interests of the team as current starting right guard Jonnie Troutman was a liability throughout the 2014 season. If the team decides to move Fluker to guard, recently signed tackle Joe Barksdale can man Fluker’s old position and still help in improving the offensive line for the coming season. While this unit still has some holes to fix, fans should see improved play from this group as it has potential for improvement.
Tight End
For the past decade now, the tight end position of the San Diego Chargers has been maned by non other then Antonio Gates. The 2014 season was considered to be one of Gates best years as he played the full regular season, catching 69 passes for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns while continuing to be one of Rivers most reliable targets. While Gates will still be a featured and crucial part of the Chargers offense, he has asked if he could take a few plays off in order to preserve his body for the longevity of the season. If the Chargers plan on following Gates request, up and coming tight end Ladarius Green should be in for a breakout season. Green showcased his speed and athleticism during the 2013 season where he filled in for injured Antonio Gates and made a few highlight plays in the process. If Green continues his upward development, the tight end could become one of the Chargers top offensive threats as he has the the speed and hands of a wide receiver while having the build of one of the biggest tight ends in the NFL. If Green shows that he has the ability to start for the Chargers, the Bolts may have found their replacement to Antonio Gates.
Wide Receiver
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Dontrelle Inman (15) and Keenan Allen (13)
After Keenan Allen‘s stellar rookie season, the 2014 season was somewhat of a sophomore slump for the wide receiver as he produced only 783 yards on 77 catches. Not the numbers a team wants to see from their star wide receiver. The outlook of Allen has been positive though as reports from OTA’s say that he is maturing and ready for the upcoming season. The Chargers need Allen to step up this year and show that he can be a reliable number 1 receiver as it is uncertain if veterans Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates can once again stay healthy and produce through the entire 16 game stretch. For Malcom Floyd, the Chargers will need his ability and height to stretch the field and jump up and catch contested throws to spread out defenses who may crowd the box against Melvin Gordon. For the Chargers, depth at the wide receiver position was an issue last year as they ended the season limping into the final game with Eddie Royal, Dontrelle Inman and Seyi Ajirotutu as their starting wide receivers. During this offseason the Chargers address the issue by signing Jacoby Jones and Stevie Johnson to help fill the slot position vacated by departed Eddie Royal, and add some playmaking ability to the unit. Both players should contribute and give an added boost to a position that lacked excitement and spark last season. Filling out the unit is young receiver Dontrelle Inman. After flashing at the end of the season, Inman shows promise and is a project for the Chargers who see him as a possible starter for the team in years to come.
While the outlook for the upcoming season is positive, the Chargers main goal is to overcome the injuries that have constantly plagued the team since the beginning of the Tom Telesco and Mike McCoy’s era. If the team can keep their impact players on the field by seasons end, the bolts should have a strong chance of making the playoffs and becoming a possible Super Bowl contender.
This article An early look at the San Diego Chargers offense appeared first on isportsweb by Ian Sunde