Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching in a month, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. Today’s spotlight is on the San Diego Chargers.
2014 Season Review
The Chargers went 9-7 this regular season and just barely missed the playoffs, losing a win-and-in game to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. San Diego survived by playing above their talent level for much of the season, led by outstanding play from quarterback Philip Rivers. After a blazing 5-1 start, the Chargers fell back to reality and played to their talent. There are needs all over the roster, especially if they want to compete with the current AFC West top dog, the Denver Broncos.
Top 3 Offseason Needs
Offensive Line
The offensive line for San Diego was, for the most part, terrible. There were a few games where the offense rushed for over 100 yards, but they finished 30th in rushing. Although they were middle of the pack in allowed sacks with just 37, pass protection was inconsistent. The line is the most pressing need for San Diego – they need to protect Rivers, who when given time is one of the top passers in the NFL, but just turned 33 and is constantly fighting through injuries.
Franchise centers aren’t often found in the NFL, but Nick Hardwick was one of them. He suffered a neck injury in Week 1 of the 2014 season and never played again, retiring in the offseason. The Chargers were then forced to start four different players at center, as Rich Ohrnberger, Doug Legursky, and Chris Watt rotated in and out of the lineup with injuries.
Watt may be the answer to the Chargers’ problems at center, as he flashed potential moving over from guard in his rookie season, but that doesn’t mean the Chargers should fully invest in him as the anchor in the middle. Re-signing Ohrnberger would be a good decision, as the fifth-year veteran is a leader, can flip between the inside positions, and will cost less than a million dollars.
D.J. Fluker, who was drafted in the first round in 2013, will likely kick inside in the offseason, sliding from right tackle to guard. Fluker struggled mightily in pass protection, with slower foot speed and poor balance being his main problems. His 6’5″, 320-pound frame will help his transition.
At 17th, the Chargers will be able to get a quality offensive lineman.
Florida State’s Cameron Erving is a good fit for San Diego, as he is versatile enough to play every position on the line and is a proven winner. At left tackle last year, he helped lead Florida State to a national championship, and moved to center mid-season this past year and helped them get to the College Football Playoff. Erving is a fantastic fit for San Diego, as he moves well and can execute in a zone-blocking scheme. The ceiling for Erving is high, but he will be a project as he continues to develop as a center.
Cedric Ogbuehi of Texas A&M and La’el Collins of LSU are also options for the Chargers. Ogbuehi excelled as a pass blocker at A&M, while Collins was a better run-blocker. San Diego needs both of those things at right tackle, and Ogbuehi is more mobile. If neither Erving nor Ogbuehi are around, Collins would be a solid first-round draft pick. It is doubtful that Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat would be around at 17, but at 6’7″ Peat and current 6’10″ left tackle King Dunlap would make for some formidable bookends.
In later rounds, San Diego could also stockpile some talent with Oregon’s Jake Fisher (OT) and Hroniss Grasu (C), and Auburn center Reese Dismukes, who bears physical similarity to the now-retired Nick Hardwick.
Cornerback
San Diego addressed the corner position in the 2014 draft, but it still needs help. Jason Verrett, the first-round pick, was fantastic in the few games he did play, but he struggled with and was finally sidelined by a nagging shoulder injury. Shareece Wright was a huge liability in coverage and led the NFL in pass interference penalties in 2014. He is a free agent this coming offseason and the Chargers should find other options.
Last season’s free agent acquisition Brandon Flowers was the best corner on the roster, and needs to be re-signed. On a one-year “prove your worth” contract, Flowers did exactly that and if San Diego is smart they will give him his due.
With the increasing popularity of three-receiver sets in the NFL, having a third corner is extremely necessary. San Diego should look to solidify its defensive backfield with a free agent. Tramon Williams from Green Bay might be out of the Chargers’ price range if he doesn’t re-sign with the Pack, but one of San Francisco’s free agent corners – Chris Culliver or Perrish Cox – would be a great signing. Culliver recorded four interceptions this year, and at just 26 years old, he would help the Chargers immensely.
The signing of a free agent cornerback would allow San Diego to put Verrett in the slot, where his smaller 5’9″ stature might fit better.
Defensive Line
Corey Liuget has been the best interior defensive lineman for San Diego the past three years, proving worthy of his 2011 first-round draft selection, with 17 sacks over that time.
Despite Liuget playing well, he desperately needs help. San Diego was 29th in sacks with just 26. The help starts with re-signing Dwight Freeney, one of few players able to create 1-on-1 pressure on the defense this year. Ricardo Mathews has also shown that he can be a solid rotational defensive lineman.
Kendall Reyes regressed this year, recording just one sack as opposed to the ten and a half he had the two years previous. He could be cut and San Diego would only have to pay less than 400k, compared to the just under a million in cap savings.
In free agency, San Diego could target Pernell McPhee (a free agent from Baltimore who recorded 7.5 sacks this year), who is someone the Ravens probably can’t afford to re-sign. Dan Skuta is also another player who San Diego could target on the outside, as Skuta is productive but undervalued in San Francisco. On the interior, if Detroit pays Ndamukong Suh, the Chargers may make a run at his teammates Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley.
In the draft, Florida State’s Mario Edwards Jr. would make for a great athlete and pass-rusher on the defensive line, but San Diego may be weary considering Melvin Ingram’s slow development. Edwards is an intriguing prospect because of his ability to play with his hand in the dirt and standing up, versatility that is needed San Diego’s 3-4 defense. Houston’s Joey Mbu might be a player the Chargers can target in later rounds. At 6’3″ and 310 pounds, Mbu fits the 3-4 mold San Diego needs inside, and his character and work ethic have been raved about by coaches and scouts.
The Chargers need to solidify the trenches this offseason, as well as make improvements in the defensive backfield. Finishing with a 9-7 record with the roster from last year was an accomplishment in itself, and an improved roster could make some noise in the playoffs.
You can find your favorite team’s offseason needs and prospect profiles at The War Room: Last Word’s 2015 NFL Draft Headquarters.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @n_canavo. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Main Photo:
