2015-16 NFL Preview: San Diego Chargers

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 NFL Preview

2014-15 Record: 9-7

Last Playoff Win: 2013 Wildcard vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Last Playoff Appearance: 2013 Divisional vs. Denver Broncos

Last Super Bowl Win: None

Last Super Bowl Appearance: Super Bowl XXIX vs. San Francisco 49ers (1994)

Head Coach:

Mike McCoy (18-14 all-time in San Diego, 1-1 in playoffs)

Offensive Coordinator: Frank Reich

Defensive Coordinator: John Pagano

2014-15 Team Leaders:

Passing Yards: Philip Rivers (4,286 passing yards, 66.5% completions, 31 TD's, 18 INT's, 93.8 QB rating)

Rushing Yards: Branden Oliver (160 attempts, 582 yards, 3 TD's)

Receiving Yards: Malcolm Floyd (52 receptions, 856 yards, 6 TD's)

Tackles: Eric Weddle (114 tackles)

Interceptions: Brandon Flowers (3 interceptions)

2014-15 Team Rankings:

Passing Offense: 10th in NFL

Rushing Offense: 30th in NFL

Points Per Game: 17th in NFL

Least Points Allowed Per Game: 13th in NFL

2015-16 Potential Starters:

Player Guide:

Purpe - Elite Starter
Blue - Above Average Starter
Green - Average Starter
Orange - Below Average Starter
Grey - Rookie
Red - Disgusting, Awful, Horrible, E.J. Manuel


Offense:

QB: Philip Rivers

RB: Melvin Gordon

WR: Malcolm Floyd

WR: Keenan Allen

TE: Antonio Gates

C: Chris Watt

OG: Johnnie Troutman

OG: Orlando Franklin

OT: D.J. Fluker

OT: King Dunlap


Defense:

DE: Kendall Reyes

DE: Corey Liuget

DT: Sean Lissemore

LB: Jeremiah Attaochu

LB: Melvin Ingram

LB: Donald Butler

LB: Manti Te'o

CB: Jason Verrett

CB: Brandon Flowers

FS: Eric Weddle

SS: Jahleel Addae

2015-16 Schedule:

(September 13) vs. Detroit Lions

(September 20) vs. @ Cincinnati Bengals

(September 27) vs. @ Minnesota Vikings

(October 4) vs. Cleveland Browns

(October 12) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

(October 18) vs. @ Green Bay Packers

(October 25) vs. Oakland Raiders

(November 1) vs. @ Baltimore Ravens

(November 9) vs. Chicago Bears

(November 15) BYE WEEK

(November 22) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

(November 29) vs. @ Jacksonville Jaguars

(December 6) vs. Denver Broncos

(December 13) vs. @ Kansas City Chiefs

(December 20) vs. Miami Dolphins

(December 24) vs. @ Oakland Raiders

(January 3) vs. @ Denver Broncos

Final Prediction: 8-8 (2-4)


Overlook: I honestly don't know what to expect from the San Diego Chargers this season. On one hand, they look like a really good football team (my simulation of the 2015-16 NFL season on Madden 16 had the Chargers winning the Super Bowl) and on the other hand...they look like a team that is still a few pieces away from getting out of that "7-9, 8-8, 9-7" cloud that has lingered over the Chargers the past 5 seasons. When you peel back the layers from Philip Rivers' run in San Diego, you have to consider it very underwhelming. I'm a big fan of what Rivers does on-the-field. I think he's one of the best QB's in the NFL and I would happily take him on my team if he wanted to make the jump. He's probably the biggest reason the mediocre Chargers team has been living in mediocrity since 2010 and I say that as a good thing. If the Chargers didn't have Rivers, there's a chance they are flirting with 3-4 wins every season and not the 7-9 wins they've been getting. Is this finally the year the Chargers upper management supplies Rivers with some weapons so that the Chargers can take the next step? Let's examine it closer.

On offense, the Chargers are likely going to be somewhere around where they were last season. Outside of rookie running back Melvin Gordon (who some experts are already worrying about his NFL production), San Diego didn't add any significant weapons to help Rivers get the team over the hump. Sure, San Diego is fine at the wide receiver position, but they really need someone (Keenan Allen) to take that next step and become a true elite #1 NFL WR. It's a shame that a QB as good as Rivers doesn't have a "Dez Bryant/Odell Beckham/Antonio Brown/A.J. Green"-type WR to throw to in this offense as that would definitely be something to see. Rivers' best weapon during his time in San Diego has no doubt been Antonio Gates. Unfortunately for Chargers fans', Gates is suspended at the beginning of the season and his play has dropped off tremendously from when he was arguably the best pass catching tight end in the league. Now he's just a shell of his former self. San Diego should see some improvement on the offensive line with the addition of Orlando Franklin in the off-season, but there's still a lot of holes in this unit. They could really use an upgrade at the offensive tackle position if they want to give Rivers' a chance, but it is what it is. Like I said earlier, there are some pieces that you like here (Rivers) and some that you definitely have to worry about (running back, tight end, and offensive line).

Defensively, there are a lot of questions surrounding this Chargers team. It could be a loooong year for the front seven. Outside of Manti Te'o (who I'm not a BIG fan of), there isn't really anyone that I like and that I would want on my NFL team. In the NFL, you really need a pass rush on defense in order to make a difference. I have this sick feeling in my stomach that it's going to be an awful year for the Chargers when it comes to getting to the quarterback and it wouldn't shock me to see them end the year once again with one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL (ranked 29th last season). However, where I LOVE the Chargers defense is in the secondary. Brandon Flowers is an underrated CB who when put in the right system can flourish. He did that in his first few years in the league with the Chiefs and he's back to playing like a Pro Bowler in San Diego. The Chargers also have another young guy named Jason Verrett who had an outstanding rookie year and will likely improve upon that this season. So, on defense....you're probably going to see a lot of inconsistencies with this Chargers team this year. They have no pass rush, but they also have a very good secondary. But can their secondary continue to play well if the team continues not to get to the quarterback? Stay tuned.

So what should we expect from San Diego this year? Madden 16 would like to think they are Super Bowl contenders, but there's no way I'm going that far. I think the Chargers could potentially flirt with a playoff spot this year, but they are in a pretty tough division (Broncos and Chiefs will be good this year and the Raiders are improving) and they don't have enough elite/upper level talent to convince me that they are good enough to win the whole thing. Unfortunately for Chargers fans, I think that "7-9, 8-8, 9-7" cloud that's been lingering over your franchise the last couple of seasons will continue to linger.