San Diego Chargers

Like many players, former Chargers cornerback wants to play on.

We have so much to discuss tonight! I'm excited to be back on the air and discussing real, actual changes to the San Diego Chargers in the middle of the offseason. Tom Telesco, aka Tom Terrific, has finally started signing big-name free agents. He's signing the possibly-over-the-hill guys that were, at one point, among the best at their position to short-term contracts in a low-risk, high-reward situation. Is that enough hyphens to get you excited? I know you've seen my face a whole bunch the last few days, but you'll have to see it at least twice more as I lead into my final appearance on "The Sports Page with Acee and Annie" tonight on UT-TV. Press play on the video below whenever you get here. If it's before 7pm, that's when you'll start getting video. If it's after 8pm, you should be able to watch the entire (recorded) show. As always, your questions and comments below will drive the show. Get them in early to make sure I have time to talk about whatever it is you're interested in.

We have so much to discuss tonight! I'm excited to be back on the air and discussing real, actual changes to the San Diego Chargers in the middle of the offseason. Tom Telesco, aka Tom Terrific, has finally started signing big-name free agents. He's signing the possibly-over-the-hill guys that were, at one point, among the best at their position to short-term contracts in a low-risk, high-reward situation. Is that enough hyphens to get you excited? I know you've seen my face a whole bunch the last few days, but you'll have to see it at least twice more as I lead into my final appearance on "The Sports Page with Acee and Annie" tonight on UT-TV. Press play on the video below whenever you get here. If it's before 7pm, that's when you'll start getting video. If it's after 8pm, you should be able to watch the entire (recorded) show. As always, your questions and comments below will drive the show. Get them in early to make sure I have time to talk about whatever it is you're interested in.

Dec 9 2012, Indianapolis, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Dwight Freeney (93) waits to be introduced during player introductions before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports In only a few short months we’ll see the San Diego Chargers take the field and kick off the 2013 season. The Chargers have brought in key free agents to either start right away or booster positions in need of depth. Names such as the three D’s, Danny Woodhead, Derek Cox and Dwight Freeney will dawn lightning bolts for the first time. Here are a few quick thoughts of some of the bigger named stars recently signed. Danny Woodhead – I’ve always like this guy, a very powerful running back with exceptional blocking skills and good hands. Woodhead fights for yardage with the ball in his hands and hardly fumbles. If Ryan Matthews has trouble staying healthy, Woodhead is a great insurance policy. Derek Cox – He’ll immediately jump into the starting line up and will be a fresh new look compared to Cason or Jammer. Cox isn’t elite, but is an obvious upgrade. A bit of a ball hawk, Cox will fit in nicely along side All-Pro Eric Weddle. Having two defensive backs for quarterbacks to be watchful for is better than one. Dwight Freeney – It is no secret, Freeney was the biggest impact player we signed this off-season. If it weren’t for an unexpected injury to Melvin Ingram, the Chargers would have never pulled his card. Freeney will give us pass-rush experience, leadership and attitude. He may be an aging star, yet far better than what we had currently on the team. Chad Rienhart – Just like cornerback, guard is another position where we’ll see a complete overhaul. Rienhart, along with Jeromey Clary and Johnnie Troutman will duke it out for the two guard positions, with the third likely to be the backup. Rienharthas never been a full time starter but filled in admirably when called upon in Buffalo. Chris Gronkowski – Potentially, the other “Gronk” could upseat current starter Le’Ron McClain at the fullback position. Is this Gronk a reputable fullback? Not really. Is McClain the answer at the position? Nope, not at all! McClain is currently overpriced for his inability to block and he might become a cap space casualty after the addition of Freeney. Who are you looking forward to seeing in lighting bolts? Can the season start already?!

Vincent Brown is back practicing with the San Diego Chargers after missing all of 2012 with a broken ankle.

Sep 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) is hit by San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Cam Thomas (93) and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips (95) after throwing the ball out of the endzone during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports By Jake Hefner When the free agency period started back in March, Charger fans had to watch plenty of defensive veterans walk out the door and into the locker room of other teams. Two of those players that signed elsewhere were nose tackles Antonio Garay (Jets) and Abrayu Franklin (Colts). Garay, was a fan favorite for years with his crazy beard and hair styles plugged the hole in the middle for the Chargers defensive line. Franklin was signed as a street free agent last season and quickly became the anchor up front for the defense. Now with both Garay and Franklin long gone, the only veteran nose tackle on the team, is former 5th round pick Cam Thomas. Thomas was a rotational player last season and in the minimal time he got to play he played well. So with Thomas now penciled in as the starter in the middle, who sits behind him on the depth chart? Who will rotate in to give the mammoth nose tackle a breather? Unfortunately, the Chargers didn’t address the nose tackle position in this years draft….Or did they? Undrafted free agents Kwame Geathers from Georgia and Byron Jerideau from South Carolina have more than enough size to fill up the gaps that were left behind. Geathers is not short on a football pedigree and NFL bloodlines. Last name Geathers sound familiar? It should, 4 members of Kwame’s family (father, both brothers and uncle) have played in the NFL. Geathers is impossible to go un-noticed. At 6’5 342lbs, he logged 40 tackles (five for a loss) and 1 sack in 14 starts for Georgia last season. Perhaps Geathers most impressive performance came against Alabama in 2012. Geathers consistently applied pressure, taking on double teams and making tackles in the backfield. Originally slated to be taken in the middle rounds of the draft, Geathers may wind up being a steal. Another possible undrafted gem that fell to the Chargers came in the form of Bryron Jerideau. The only way you could miss this guy is if he was hiding behind a building. After the seven rounds of the draft had passed, Jerideau had a choice to make between the Texans and the Chargers. He choose to come to San Diego because he believed he had a better opportunity to play. Jerideau is a physical specimen with freakish strength. Given the title as the “strongest game cock ever” Jerideau holds school records at South Carolina for bench press at 500 pounds and a combined 1,455 pounds on bench press, squat and clean lift. In his years as a run eating nose tackle, Jerideau recorded 56 tackles, six sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Jerideau’s college game highlight came against LSU in 2012 where he man handled the offensive line and making multiple tackles in the backfield. Plain and simple if Jerideau wasn’t playing football he would probably be in the “Strongman” competition. With the Chargers lack of depth at the nose tackle position, it would honestly not surprise me if both of these guys ended up making the final 53. The Chargers could greatly benefit from another mix of fresh bodies on the line with Jerideau and Geathers. Do you see these guys making noise in training camp? BOLTSOHARD

I don't know why I'm posting this. I guess I'm a masochist. Anyway, here are some more videos of me on UT-TV's "The Sports Page with Acee and Annie". Bloggers Debate Rd 2 - Watch @utkevinacee @annieheilbrunn @lobshots @rjsfro@bftb_chargers talk #Chargers vs #Padres bcove.me/g5foqscl — Andrew Burer (@andrewburer) May 22, 2013 Click on the link above if you wish. There's more debate about Chargers vs. Padres and I'm wearing a Raiders hat. Yeah...you heard that right. At one point I get excited at the notion of baseball players fighting with bats, but then it's quickly blamed on the Raiders hat....just like I planned it. How about Rd 2.5? Had to get@bftb_chargers, @rjsfro, @lobshots talking Te'o with @utkevinacee & @annieheilbrunn bcove.me/3xryhucd — Andrew Burer (@andrewburer) May 22, 2013 Here's where I get in a lot of trouble. Just....watch. You'll know the part that I'm worried about. Just another reminder that you get a full hour of me tonight on Gennaro-ly Speaking before my third consecutive night on "The Sports Page", which I will never again be invited to appear on.

A Broncos writer says the Chargers could better handle Te'o by learning from Tebow.

Gennaro-ly Speaking returns from its one-week hiatus with cheer and good tidings! I'll be flipping on my webcam at 7pm tonight and talking for about an hour before my third-and-final appearance on "The Sports Page with Acee and Annie" begins at 8pm. As always, the conversation will be led by your comments during the broadcast, but if you decide to be quiet I still have plenty to talk about. Here are just some of the things that have happened since I was last live-streaming my way into your computer screens: Melvin Ingram tore his ACL, is probably out for the season Dwight Freeney was signed to replace Ingram Max Starks was signed, possibly to replace King Dunlap San Diego's sports media got angry that the Chargers won't let them speak with Manti Te'o Jeromey Clary, starting Guard! Kennan Allen wore a Raiders hat I appeared on UT-TV with Kevin Acee, Annie Heilbrunn, Brady from LobShots and Rick from RJ's Fro Jerome schooled us on the "Stack formation" and how it could be used by the Chargers in 2013 Put it in your calendar and make sure you have a tasty beverage around. I'll see you at 7pm (Pacific).

Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports The San Diego Chargers have been scouring the free agent market for weeks to find their next left tackle. They finally got their man, signing left tackle Max Starks to a one-year deal. Starks, 31, started all 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. At 6-foot-8, 345 pounds, he’s an average, durable left tackle who has been rather consistent throughout his NFL career, but struggled at times last season in both pass blocking and run blocking. Starks is not the long-term answer at left tackle, but is still by far better than who the Chargers had at left tackle last season and will provide consistency, competition and depth to the offensive line. Starks, by no means, will be handed the starting left tackle spot and will have to work for it. He’ll compete against King Dunlap, who has been working as Philip Rivers’ blindside protector in OTAs and already has a head start over Starks. Don’t count out Dunlap to win the job, as Dunlap is probably the better pass protector among the two and has more athleticism and upside. Still, Dunlap, who has experience at left and right tackle, would be best utilized as a swing tackle reserve and primary backup to both positions. Regardless of who wins the job, General Manager Tom Telesco definitely improved the depth along the entire offensive line. An improved offensive line should help in the resurrection of Rivers’ career. Even without Pro Bowl-caliber guard Louis Vasquez, the Chargers’ offensive line looks much better than last season’s Swiss Cheese line, which allowed 49 sacks. Though there are no superstars, the offensive line has much more consistent players with some upside. Better yet, the team has backup options in case of injuries, something A.J. Smith didn’t have after the Jared Gaither injury. Kevin Chan is a San Diego Chargers writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.