Cincinnati Bengals
RE Greg Hardy – 4 years // $23.6M
WR Rueben Randle – 3 years // $12.5M
Buffalo Bills
FS Michael Thomas – 3 years // $10.9M
RE Akeem Ayers – 4 years // $23.6M
Cleveland Browns
K Robbie Gould – 1 year // $3.7M
RB Terrence West – 3 years // $14.7M
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Tedd Ginn Jr – 2 years // $8.72M
Arizona Cardinals
WR Josh Gordon – 3 years // $14.5 M
Indianapolis Colts
RE Michael Johnson – 4 years // $23.6M
New York Jets
RB Legarette Blount – 3 years // $22.4M
RB Chris Ivory – 3 years // $15.4M
QB Kase Keenum – 3 years // $18.0M
Oakland Raiders
WR Vincent Jackson – 2 years // $13.0M
Los Angeles Rams
WR Kendall Wright – 4 years // $24.9M
Washington Redskins
RB Isaiah Crowell – 4 years // $29.2M
WR Alshon Jeffrey – 4 years // $69.5M
New Orleans Saints
WR Jeremy Kerley – 3 years // $11.3M
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Matt Cassell – 1 year // $3.5M
QB Nick Foles – 3 years // $12.2M
Tennessee Titans
CB Dre Kirkpatrick – 3 years // $14.3M
WR Kenny Stills – 3 years // $14.5M
Trades
The New England Patriots and the New York Jets engaged in trade talks throughout the draft and ended up striking a deal in the middle of the draft. Rare one like this among division rivals, but the Jets dealt right end Sheldon Richardson to the Patriots, worth the 67th pick in this past draft and a round 7
Head Coaching Changes
-Indianapolis Colts sign Jim Caldwell to a 3 year deal
-The Detroit Lions sign Chuck Pagano to a 3 year deal
-Los Angeles Rams sign Demetrius Turner to a 3 year deal
__________________ The Positive Sports Podcast~~~Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do~~~Ignore The Negativity, Be The Positivity
Expectations are not high on the San Diego Chargers for this upcoming season. Phillip Rivers decided to return for another year in hopes to finally get to the big game for the first time in his career. With no upgrades to the offensive line this off-season, which raised many eyebrows among fans and team reporters, we’ll find out if an older Phillip Rivers will be running for his life or will he stay in the pocket and take hits.
But as we all know this a team game. The key piece to the Chargers, most believe, will be running Back Melvin Gordon. Entering his third year, he led the Chargers in rushing in 2016 but was riddled by injuries as were a handful of the rest of the backs on the team. Gordon has worked hard this off-season and entered a new training regime to help his durability.
Antonio Gates had him a fine season last year, along with Keenan Allen, but the rest of the receiving corp will have to step up. It’s hard to say for now, but there doesn’t seem to be much trust in the rest of the receivers by the coaching staff.
The defense seemed to be the focal point of the Chargers off-season. They traded WR Stevie Johnson and picks to the New York Giants for defensive Tackle Johnathan Hankins and he will line-up along sided Joey Bosa. That could deem to be very scary for teams trying to run to their right side.
But again, the question arises. Now in his second year, we’ll have to see how well his broken wrist recovered that kept him out for the later part of last season. If healthy, and Hankins lined up by his side, Bosa’s numbers could inflate.
Perhaps the biggest move by the Chargers, could of came in the first round of the draft. Rafting strong safety Dontre Lusk out of Ole Miss, a position they needed to fill, Lusk brings some dynamic to the position. Lusk will more than likely start and although there is some pressure in being a first round pick, the Chargers coaching staff understand he’s a rookie but his development shows promise.
And then there is the Head Coach, Mike McCoy. The pressure is on for McCoy. Now entering his fourth season, many around the league are surprised he is still the head coach in San Diego. McCoy has not been able to get the best out of the team thus far and this very well might be his last go around unless a miraculous season.
2017 Depth Chart
Quarterback
1. P.Rivers – 91 OVR-----86 Thrw Pwr-----97 Shrt Acc-----96 Mid Acc-----86 Deep Acc
2. C. Henne – 72 OVR-----86 Thrw Pwr-----85 Shrt Acc-----79 Mid Acc-----74 Deep Acc
3. J. Dombrowski (R) – 63 OVR-----88 Thrw Pwr-----81 Short Acc-----72 Mid Acc-----69 Deep Acc
Running Back
1. M. Gordon – 86 OVR-----90 Spd-----91 Acc-----88 Car-----93 BCV
2. D. Holly (R) – 77 OVR-----95 Spd-----91 Acc-----92 Car-----80 BCV
3. R. Hillman – 73 OVR // 92 Spd-----91 Acc-----78 Car-----82 BCV
Fullback
1. D. Watt – 75 OVR-----81 Spd-----86 Acc-----74 Strength-----Run Blk 74-----62 Pass Blk
2. H. Henry – 80 OVR-----84 Spd-----89 Acc-----75 Strength-----77 Run Blk-----69 Pass Blk
Wide Receiver
1. K. Allen – 88 OVR-----89 Spd-----91 Acc-----93 catch
2. T. Benjamin – 80 OVR-----93 Spd-----93 Acc-----89 catch
3. M. McKay – 61 OVR-----88 Spd-----92 Acc-----75 catch
4. T. Williams – 76 OVR-----91 Spd-----93 Acc-----89 catch
5. D. Smelter – 63 OVR-----87 Spd-----88 Acc-----79 catch
Tight End
1. A. Gates – 86 OVR-----77 Spd-----83 Acc-----91 catch
2. H. Henry – 82 OVR-----84 Spd-----89 Acc-----87 catch
Left Tackle
1. K. Dunlap – 78 OVR-----91 Strength-----81 Pass Blk-----84 Run Blk
2. T. Burwell – 64 OVR-----82 Strength-----71 Pass Blk-----75 Run Blk
Left Guard
1. O. Franklin – 72 OVR-----91 Strength-----71 Run Blk-----69 Pass Blk
2. J. Harrison – 70 OVR-----88 Strength-----83 Run Blk-----81 Pass Blk
Center
1. M. Slauson – 81 OVR-----88 Strength-----87 Run Blk-----84 Pass Blk
2. C. Watt – 73 OVR-----90 Strength-----76 Run Blk-----72 Pass Blk
3. M. Tuerk – 69 OVR-----79 Strength-----79 Run Blk-----77 Pass Blk
Right Guard
1. D. Fluker – 79 OVR-----91 Strength-----77 Run Blk-----72 Pass Blk
Right Tackle
1. J. Barksdale – 83 OVR-----88 Strength-----87 Pass Blk-----81 Run Blk
2. C. Hairston – 75 OVR-----87 Strength-----71 Pass Blk-----73 Run Blk
Left End
1. J. Bosa – 85 OVR-----80 Spd-----82 Strength-----80 Pwr Mv-----90 Blk Shd
Right End
1. C. Liuget – 83 OVR-----71 Spd-----91 Strength-----82 Pwr Mv-----84 Blk Shd
2. C. Reid – 68 OVR-----74 Spd-----75 Strength-----75 Pwr Mv-----79 Blk Shd
Left Outside Linebacker
1. J. Attaochu – 83 OVR-----86 Spd-----78 Tkl-----75 Pwr-----86 Blk Shd
2. C. McCain – 72 OVR-----82 Spd-----71 Tkl-----75 Pwr-----60 Blk Shd
3. K. Wilson – 65 OVR-----86 Spd-----77 Tkl-----77 Pwr-----63 Blk Shd
Middle Linebacker
1. D. Perryman – 82 OVR-----82 Spd-----92 Tkl-----91 Pwr-----85 Blk Shd
2. J. Brown – 75 OVR-----87 Spd-----85 Tkl-----84 Pwr-----80 Blk Shd
3. D. Thelwell (R) – 77 OVR-----83 Spd-----85 Tkl-----87 Pwr-----82 Blk Shd
Right Outside Linebacker
1. M. Ingram – 86 OVR-----81 Spd-----85 Tkl-----82 Pwr-----81 Blk Shd
2. G. Davenport (R) – 70 OVR-----83 Spd-----81 Tkl-----76 Pwr-----75 Blk Shd
3. K. Emanuel – 72 OVR-----80 Spd-----70 Tkl-----77 Pwr-----72 Blk Shd
Cornerback
1. J. Verrett – 89 OVR-----93 Spd-----93 Acc-----97 Man Cv-----90 Zone Cv-----77 Pursuit
2. C. Hayward – 85 OVR-----89 Spd-----91 Acc-----84 Man Cv-----91 Zone Cv-----82 Pursuit
3. B. Flowers – 78 OVR-----84 Spd-----89 Acc-----72 Man Cv-----80 Zone Cv-----80 Pursuit
4. C. Mager – 70 OVR-----90 Spd-----92 Acc-----76 Man Cv-----78 Zone Cv-----80 Pursuit
Free Safety
1. D. Lowery – 78 OVR-----80 Spd-----87 Acc-----69 Man Cv-----79 Zone Cv-----64 Pursuit
2. D. Stuckey – 69 OVR-----84 Spd-----84 Acc-----63 Man Cv-----77 Zone Cv-----64 Pursuit
Strong Safety
1. D. Lusk ® – 75 OVR-----86 Spd-----91 Acc-----71 Man Cv-----73 Zone Cv-----67 Pursuit
2. N. Barner – 69 OVR-----83 Spd-----91 Acc-----70 Man Cv-----82 Zone Cv-----65 Pursuit
San Diego Chargers 2017/18 Schedule
DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
Sep 10
at Denver Broncos
Sep 17
vs Cleveland Browns
Sep 24
vs Miami Dolphins
Oct 1
at Buffalo Bills
Oct 8
at Kansas City Chiefs
Oct 15
at New York Giants
Oct 22
vs Denver Broncos
Nov 5
at Dallas Cowboys
Nov 12
at Jacksonville Jaguars
Nov 19
vs Oakland Raiders
Nov 26
at New England Patriots
Dec 3
vs Philadelphia Eagles
Dec 10
vs Kansas City Chiefs
Dec 17
vs Washington Redskins
Dec 24
at Oakland Raiders
Dec 31
vs New York Jets
__________________ The Positive Sports Podcast~~~Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do~~~Ignore The Negativity, Be The Positivity
Our season got underway with a division game at the Broncos home in Denver. And it didn’t quite turn out the way we expected.
Which was mostly a close game, our rookie Strong Safety was immediately put to the test by Trevor Siemien. Dontre Lusk was caught cheating on a fake blitz that by the time the Siemien put the ball in the air, Emmanuel Sanders has Jason Verrett beat by about five yards that quickly put the Broncos up 7-0.
With 4:31 left in the first half, CJ Anderson took a screen pass from Siemien all the way for the touchdown, which gave the Broncos a 14-6 lead.
Thanks to a beautiful drive by Phillip Rivers and the running of Melvin Gordon, we were set up for a goal line play, which ended up being a handoff to fullback Derek Watt from the 1-yd line for the score. We headed back to the locker room at the half trailing 14-13.
We should really be headed back into the locker room up 13-0. We practically stopped the running of CJ Anderson for most of the first half. Siemien was able to move the ball on us but when they went to the run play, we were stuffing them.
Coming out of halftime, Phillip Rivers just did not have it. He drove us down to redzone but he threw an interception.
After stopping the Broncos and holding them to a FG, we exchange a couple of 3 and outs. Being shut down for most of the game, CJ Anderson finally breaks through our defense for a 30 yard touchdown run.
That made the score 24-13 in favor of Denver.
On a key 3rd and 21 with 6:35 left to play, Rivers hits Antonio Gates down the sideline for a huge first down. Able to control the clock we get down to the red zone but have to settle for a FG with 3:37 left to play, figuring we could get another crack at it with two timeouts left.
We do get the ball back, but Rivers fails us once again, another interception thrown.
Don’t have a write up for this game as I forgot to hit save on my phone but it was a heart breaker and the very last play is all I can remember as we went into overtime against the Browns.
After we held the Browns to a 3 and out on the first possession of the overtime, two plays into our drive and Rivers drops back to pass, is hit, the ball becomes loose, Duron Harmon finds the ball mid-air and runs it in for the touchdown.
Heart breaker is not enough. I just remember it being back and forth. A little too high scoring for my liking but good game.
A huge game by Melvin Gordon but that was kind of offset by Phillip Rivers and his interceptions. Turnovers killed us!!
Antonio Gates up the seam for the TD pass from Rivers
Player Negotiations
Jason Verrett and Antonio Gates are open to talk about contract negotiations. But the San Diego Chargers front office is not sure that they want to talk contract during the season.
Verrett is 26 years old and is seeking a 4-year contract in the neighborhood of 31 million. Verrett did not look good in week one when he was matched up against Emmanuel Sanders, nonetheless, Verrett is a key piece to the Chargers secondary.
Many think Antonio Gates is nearing the end of his playing career. And that might very well be true. Gates is looking for a 1 year extension to remain with the Chargers.
08-11-2017, 12:58 PM
