San Diego Chargers

Defensive coordinator John Pagano says his multiple 3-4 defense became more multiple.

Aug 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Five year old San Diego Chargers fan Ceasar Villa (center) watches Chargers practice through a fence during training camp at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports Ahhhh.. remember what it was like to be a young Charger fan? Maybe some don’t, but it was an amazing thing! My Dad and I would anxiously await kick-off on Sundays, and sing along to the “Super Chargers” song.. which was pretty new back then, actually (Yep, I’m old). I loved the Chargers, because my Dad loved the Chargers. My Mum loved the Chargers, my brothers loved the Chargers, and we were San Diegans! It was a beautiful time when the late great Chuck Muncie ran like a wild man from the backfield. When Dan Fouts fearlessly slung the rock like an NFL version of Grizzly Adams. When Kellen Winslow & Charlie Joiner were lighting up the scoreboard in the famous Air Coryell era. It was an exciting time for Charger fans, and San Diego. Well, although I will always have very fond memories of those Chargers… my Father’s Chargers.. these are not your Father’s Chargers. They aren’t even my Chargers. In fact, they are more like your niece’s & nephew’s Chargers… your son’s & daughter’s Chargers. The next generation of Chargers. On Boltbeat today, while I was commenting back and forth with “High Voltage” (thanks for the inspiration ahead of time, btw), he brought up an excellent point. We were actually disagreeing on the Jammer topic, but he brought up a very interesting observation. He basically said that getting rid of veterans like Jammer leaves nobody who can tell the rookies, and newly signed players what it means to be a Charger. At first, I thought to myself “OK, so we cut Jammer.. so what? There are still veterans on this roster who are Charger lifers, right? There’s Rivers, Gates, Hardwick, Weddle, Floyd, Scifres… and.. and… wait a second! That’s about it. Hmmm”. Never noticed that. I mean I watched our best talent do the “AJ shuffle” out the door, but it just sunk in today. OK, so there were some Chargers Veterans let go this season. Martin, Garay, Vasquez, Greene, Cason, But, even that isn’t a heck of a lot of players. Furthermore, with exception to Martin & Vasquez, (who were the most talented of the bunch), they all had sub-par seasons last year.. possibly the year before as well. Which leads me to this realization. AJ let a lot of veteran leadership walk out that door, and kept the mediocre players. The only two players I really give him a pass on are Dielman, and McNeill, as that is just football, unfortunately. This is no big epiphany, by all means. However, on top of leaving us with the worst salary cap situation… he left us with no more than a handful of good veteran players that can show these young players what it means to be a Charger. In fact, some of the aforementioned talent isn’t far off of retirement themselves. That makes me a little sad, honestly. This team deserved better than Norv “run it up the gut” Turner, and AJ”show em’ the door” Smith. Not that I think that we should hang onto veterans simply because they are veterans.. because I don’t. But, wow! AJ really stuck it to us, didn’t he? Anyway, I am not going to sit here, and cry over spilled milk. Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. You could also look at it like this. These new players will have a unique opportunity that many don’t. An opportunity to mold this team into something that is theirs. Something that the next generation of Charger fans can be proud of. This team is bursting with youth! Not just on the field, but at the head coach, and GM position. They have a chance to take this team out of the darkness that Norv and AJ left behind. Out of the status quo, the mediocrity, the complacency.. what I call “the chill pill

Keenan Allen now is a San Diego Charger. That means it's time to put the Oakland Raiders merchandise in storage. Allen didn't, and he quickly learned that doesn't fly with Chargers fans.

In this edition, I will be analyzing the Offensive Line. Let me know what you think in the comments! LT1) King Dunlap 8 sacks allowed, 7 holding penalties, 16 games played, 14 games started King Dunlap is a monster of a man. That said, he has slow feet, and struggles in passing situations. I think that the Chargers are going to focus more on the run this year, especially considering the strengths and weaknesses of our 2 starting tackles. LT2) Kevin Haslam 4 sacks allowed, 3 holding penalties, 14 games played, 2 games started I think Haslam will be the #2 on the DC come next season. He has more experience, and played better than Harris did, when he was healthy. LT3) Mike Harris - Practice Squad 1 sack allowed, 4 holding penalties, 1 false start, 6 games played I'm kind of wondering if Mike Harris will even be kept on the roster. The new staff doesn't feel like it owes the players anything, so they are fairly evaluating everyone. I don't think that Mike Harris will ever be a starting caliber LT in the NFL. He didn't even play LT in college at UCLA. He played RT on an atrocious line. LG1) Chad Rinehart 2 sacks allowed - 14 games played, 14 games started I'm thinking he will get the starting job over Rich, just because Joe D'Alessandris is familiar with him, and he has proven that he can start if needed. He'll be an average guard, and hopefully we won't hear his name too much. LG2) Rich Ohrnberger 1 sack allowed - 9 games played, 2 games started He'll fill in, in a pinch. I don't think Rinehart will stay healthy all 16 games, which is why I'm saying Ohrnberger gets 2 starts. RT1) D.J. Fluker 5 sacks allowed, 2 holding penalties, 16 games played, 16 games started He instantly improves our run game, and is an upgrade over Clary in the pass game. Unlike a lot of people, I was happy with the pick, once I learned more about him. Yes he is slow, but he held his own against the quick players in the SEC, and should do the same in the NFL. He'll be a pro bowl caliber RT/RG at some point in his career. RT2) Nick Becton N/A. I think that either Nick or Mike Harris will make the roster, but not both of them. Neither of them will play much, because I think Haslam will fill in on both sides when needed, and there shouldn't be a time in the game when both starting Tackles are out of the game. RG1) Jeromey Clary 3 sacks allowed - 16 games played, 16 games started This job is Clary's to lose. He wasn't great last year, but he'll be better this year as a guard. Other than that, not too much to say. RG2) Troutman/Dombrowski/Schilling 2 sacks allowed, 1 holding penalty - 6 games played I think Troutman will win this job over Schilling, and will probably take over as the starter someday. He won't be amazing, but he'll be solid when he has time to learn the system. Dombrowski will be kept as a jack of all trades, who can play every position, just not well. If I were Telesco or Mccoy, I wouldn't need anyone after Dombrowski, and I'd cut Schilling. In this edition, I will be analyzing the Offensive Line. Let me know what you think in the comments! LT1) King Dunlap 8 sacks allowed, 7 holding penalties, 16 games played, 14 games started King Dunlap is a monster of a man. That said, he has slow feet, and struggles in passing situations. I think that the Chargers are going to focus more on the run this year, especially considering the strengths and weaknesses of our 2 starting tackles. LT2) Kevin Haslam 4 sacks allowed, 3 holding penalties, 14 games played, 2 games started I think Haslam will be the #2 on the DC come next season. He has more experience, and played better than Harris did, when he was healthy. LT3) Mike Harris - Practice Squad 1 sack allowed, 4 holding penalties, 1 false start, 6 games played I'm kind of wondering if Mike Harris will even be kept on the roster. The new staff doesn't feel like it owes the players anything, so they are fairly evaluating everyone. I don't think that Mike Harri

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Aside from his poor choice of hats, everything is going smoothly for Keenan Allen, the San Diego Chargers’ third-round pick from last month’s NFL Draft. Once considered a sure-fire first round pick, Allen fell to the third round due to concerns over his left knee, which forced him out of the final three games at the University of California in 2012. The confidence that the Chargers organization had in Allen and his knee could pay off sooner rather than later. In organized team activities, Allen has been participating in every drill and showing no setbacks in his recovery. Allen’s solid route-running ability also makes him ahead of the curve compared to most rookie receivers. However, before we anoint him the steal of the draft, let’s first figure out what his role will be in his rookie season. Wide receiver was not a major need heading into the draft, yet you have to assume the Chargers just couldn’t pass on the talented Allen in the third round. The thinking could be that they’d stash Allen for later and develop him, while only using him in case of injuries. With the depth in front of him, that plan could be reality for Allen in his rookie year. In OTAs, Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd have been practicing with the first-team offense on the outside with Eddie Royal in the slot. Most expect Vincent Brown, last season’s offseason star, to also be in the mix at the slot position, while Robert Meachem will likely make the team due to his ridiculous contract. With that much competition, Allen will really need to impress early and often to receive playing time in year one. Allen likely won’t see much action early in the season, but once Floyd goes down with his annual injury and Royal and Meachem prove ineffective again like they were last season, Allen could make a serious impact once he gets his shot on the field. Allen is an athletic playmaker who understands how to get open and run routes. The Chargers shouldn’t be afraid to put him on the field sooner rather than later. 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.

Rookie wide receiver Kennen Allen says it won't happen again.

November 18, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers tackle Jeromey Clary (66) during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports There is come love coming out of Chargers training camp and from the fans about Jeromey Clary moving over to right guard and how it would be a better fit for him. It probably is a better fit for Clary, but let me pose this hypothetical question to you. Would you trade Jeromey Clary for Brandon Moore? Even better… Would you trade Jeromey Clary, Eddie Royal, LeRon McClain for Brandon Moore, Max Starks and a little more depth around the roster? It makes too much sense! I don’t know why Brandon Moore is still available, but the fact that he is means that we have a chance to add more protection for Philip Rivers. Moore is one of the top run blocking guards out there and he would be able to line up next to big DJ Fluker to plow over some people like Shaun Phillips and Von Miller. Now that sounds like a much better option than hoping that Clary or Johnnie Troutman can cut it. I understand people want to see Troutman be the starting guard, but you don’t just hand a 5th round pick the starting job without him ever playing a snap in the NFL. Make him earn it and until then he can get some experience behind a player like Brandon Moore. On June 1, the Chargers can save even more dough on the salary cap by cutting these guys. Cutting Jeromey Clary alone on the 1st would free up $4M instead of $2.3M. Eddie Royal would free up another $3M and LeRon McClain would free up an extra $2M+. That is up around $9M+!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Moore probably wants $3-4M and Starks probably around $2-3M. If you want that protection for Philip Rivers, then cutting Clary and those other dudes just makes sense.

The Chargers are keeping their rookie linebacker off-limits to reporters.

So, here's the deal.... I will be going on "The Sports Page" (which, I swear, used to be "The Sports Page with Kevin and Annie") this evening. The show is on UT-TV, and there are details on how you can watch it below. Kevin Acee, who I guess is the main host of the show, invited me out to do a roundtable on the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres along with Brady from Lobshots and Rick from RJ's Fro. How I fit into that group of handsome gentlemen, I have no idea. I suppose we'll have to find that out together. I know I've bashed UT-TV in the past (ahem cough cough) and I don't want this to seem like I gave in as soon as the pretty girl came calling. The truth is, I like and respect Acee and trust that he can do a good local sports show. I also am interested to see the UT-TV studio and how the entire process goes down. I want to delve into the bowels of the machine, so to speak. Anyway, tune in while I shift uncomfortably in my seat and loudly state inaccurate points in an attempt to win arguments. It should be fun. Use the comments below as a open thread for tonight's festivities. I'll probably join in (no, it's not live). My understanding is that this will go on for 3 nights, and I'm thinking about doing an episode of Gennaro-ly Speaking leading into Wednesday night's broadcast, so this should be fun. Time: 8-9pm, PST Where to watch: Cox Cable - 114 AT&T U-Verse - 17 or 1017 (HD) Online: Click here

While the talk at the Chargers' practices is about Manti Te'o and Dwight Freeney, don't overlook Cam Thomas.