The Chargers have, surprisingly, become one of the elite franchises in the NFL, while also becoming one of the least black dominated teams.
In his first season as a starter in 2006, Philip Rivers was excellent. The 6'5" North Carolina State grad threw for 3,388 yards with 22 TDs and just 9 interceptions. Rivers is probably even smarter than he is physically gifted and the Chargers look set at quarterback as long as Rivers is with the team.
Rivers is backed up by Billy Volek and promising second year man Charlie Whitehurst out of Clemson. Volek is a Caste System victim, run out of Tennessee to make room for Vince Young in spite of putting up the best numbers in his first five games as a starter of any quarterback in NFL history. He should have had the opportunity to be some team's starter but ended up a kind of pariah.
White FBs, TEs and WRs are traditionally a very rare sight on the Chargers, and the only exception this season is tight end Scott Chandler, a 6'7" rookie out of Iowa who obviously is not going to be challenging Antonio Gates as the starter but who could be very effective if the team decides to use two receiving tight ends.
For years San Diego had a terrible offensive line comprised mostly of black sumos. They finally moved away from that rarely successful concept a few years ago, with dramatically improved results. The line is now very solid and is a major reason why RB LaDainian Tomlinson had his record-breaking career season in 2006. The four white starters are Shane Olivea at RT, Mike Goff at RG, Nick Hardwick at C, and Kris Dielman at LG. The backups are mostly white, too: Jeromey Clary, Scott Mruczkowski, and David Binn (who is the long snapper).
Ukranian-born Igor Olshansky plays end in San Diego's 3-4 defense and is one of the strongest players in the league. Hampered some by injuries and by not playing organized football until college, the fourth year player has the ability to be one of the best at his position.
New Jersey-born Luis Castillo out of Northwestern is already one of the best defensive ends in the league, a fierce and relentless pass rusher and tackler who has also played tackle.
In his fifth season, former Ohio State standout Matt Wilhelm is finally getting the chance to start. He's one of the team's two ILBs and stands a good chance of leading the Chargers in tackles as long as he's shaken the injury bug that slowed him down during training camp.
Besides those three defensive starters, the Chargers gave up a lot to move up in this year's draft to take Eric Weddle early in the second round. Weddle was Mr. Do It All at Utah, a master of the big play who has the ability to excel in the NFL at cornerback but is being groomed to start at strong safety by next season if not at some point in '07. As it is, Weddle should be on the field a lot right from the get-go until he officially becomes a starter.
The Chargers also have that great rarity, a white cornerback, in speedster Steve Gregory out of Syracuse, who was mostly a practice squader last year. Gregory is used mainly on special teams. Hopefully Norv Turner and his staff will see fit to give him some playing time at CB as well.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 8
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 20
GRADE: D+
In his first season as a starter in 2006, Philip Rivers was excellent. The 6'5" North Carolina State grad threw for 3,388 yards with 22 TDs and just 9 interceptions. Rivers is probably even smarter than he is physically gifted and the Chargers look set at quarterback as long as Rivers is with the team.
Rivers is backed up by Billy Volek and promising second year man Charlie Whitehurst out of Clemson. Volek is a Caste System victim, run out of Tennessee to make room for Vince Young in spite of putting up the best numbers in his first five games as a starter of any quarterback in NFL history. He should have had the opportunity to be some team's starter but ended up a kind of pariah.
White FBs, TEs and WRs are traditionally a very rare sight on the Chargers, and the only exception this season is tight end Scott Chandler, a 6'7" rookie out of Iowa who obviously is not going to be challenging Antonio Gates as the starter but who could be very effective if the team decides to use two receiving tight ends.
For years San Diego had a terrible offensive line comprised mostly of black sumos. They finally moved away from that rarely successful concept a few years ago, with dramatically improved results. The line is now very solid and is a major reason why RB LaDainian Tomlinson had his record-breaking career season in 2006. The four white starters are Shane Olivea at RT, Mike Goff at RG, Nick Hardwick at C, and Kris Dielman at LG. The backups are mostly white, too: Jeromey Clary, Scott Mruczkowski, and David Binn (who is the long snapper).
Ukranian-born Igor Olshansky plays end in San Diego's 3-4 defense and is one of the strongest players in the league. Hampered some by injuries and by not playing organized football until college, the fourth year player has the ability to be one of the best at his position.
New Jersey-born Luis Castillo out of Northwestern is already one of the best defensive ends in the league, a fierce and relentless pass rusher and tackler who has also played tackle.
In his fifth season, former Ohio State standout Matt Wilhelm is finally getting the chance to start. He's one of the team's two ILBs and stands a good chance of leading the Chargers in tackles as long as he's shaken the injury bug that slowed him down during training camp.
Besides those three defensive starters, the Chargers gave up a lot to move up in this year's draft to take Eric Weddle early in the second round. Weddle was Mr. Do It All at Utah, a master of the big play who has the ability to excel in the NFL at cornerback but is being groomed to start at strong safety by next season if not at some point in '07. As it is, Weddle should be on the field a lot right from the get-go until he officially becomes a starter.
The Chargers also have that great rarity, a white cornerback, in speedster Steve Gregory out of Syracuse, who was mostly a practice squader last year. Gregory is used mainly on special teams. Hopefully Norv Turner and his staff will see fit to give him some playing time at CB as well.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 8
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 20
GRADE: D+
