Chargers Target New Running Back In Draft As Relocation Questions Linger
It was the second straight season that the San Diego Chargers finished 9-7, but they weren’t as lucky in 2014 as it did not result in a postseason position. The 2015 season will be the third under head coach Mike McCoy.
Philip Rivers is getting one of his main weapons back from injury, pass-catching running back Danny Woodhead. In Week 3, Woodhead suffered a leg and ankle injury that would keep him out of the entire season.
The Chargers held onto two key pieces, one of offense and one on defense. On offense, left tackle King Dunlap was resigned to keep protecting Rivers’ blindside. On defense, cornerback Brandon Flowers resigned with a four-year, $36 million contract. Coincidentally, when Pro Football Talk asked Dunlap what his first move would be if he were General Manager, Dunlap said he would resign Flowers.
San Diego had to resort to plan B when it came to the wide receiver position. Although the Chargers offered free agent wide receiver Andre Johnson more money than Indianapolis, Johnson chose to play with Andrew Luck and his former college teammate Frank Gore. The Chargers moved on by signing former Baltimore return specialist Jacoby Jones and San Francisco wide receiver Stevie Johnson. To shore up the offensive line, Denver guard Orlando Franklin was signed.
The free agents that were signed on defense were safety Jimmy Wilson, defensive end Ricardo Mathews, cornerback Patrick Robinson and defensive end Trevor Robinson.
After losing running back Ryan Mathews, the Chargers are projected to nab either Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley, both were running backs at Wisconsin and Georgia respectively.
It will be an interesting season for San Diego Chargers ticket prices, as the team has been rumored to be one of the franchises that would move to Los Angeles. But with the deals that Hipmunk.com provides, including hotels in San Diego from $31 and thousands of San Diego flights through most airlines, it will be difficult to pass up on a trip to San Diego to watch the Chargers play.
The Chargers are in a middling position and are looking for ways to sink or swim. Whether the team relocates or makes the jump from 9-7 into the postseason, the franchise needs a jolt (no pun intended) on or off the field.
Chargers Make Roster Cuts
The San Diego Chargers announced their final roster cuts ahead of the league-mandated 53 man trimming deadline. The name I am most surprised is on this list is OLB Thomas Keiser. Keiser was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on July 30, 2011. Waived on September 4th, 2011 he eventually was signed to the Panthers’ practice squad. He was signed to their active roster on November 8, 2011 and then waived by the Panthers on May 13, 2013. Keiser signed with the Chargers in May of 2013 and was released in August of 2013, but then signed to their practice squad in September.
Proving to be a physical linebacker for the Chargers, he played 12 games (3 starts), racking up 21 tackles, 4.5 sacks and an interception. Keiser’s glory moment came in week 15 of the 2013 season when he intercepted Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning to seal the win for the Chargers.
I expect Keiser to be signed to the Chargers practice squad if he clears waviers. Another interesting release came in the form of WR Vincent Brown who was waived-injured and if he clears the waivers will be placed on the reserve-injured list.
The list of roster cuts are below.
LB Victor Aiyewa
DT Chas Alecxih
WR Torrence Allen
WR Vincent Brown
CB Crezdon Butler
S Alden Darby
CB Greg Ducre
TE Michael Flacco
T Mike Harris
WR Javontee Herndon
OLB Thomas Keiser
DL Joe Kruger
OLB Cordarro Law
S Adrian Phillips
WR Tevin Reese
T Jeremiah Sirles
QB Brad Sorensen
OLB Colton Underwood
G Craig Watts
T Kenny Wiggins
C Khalil Wilkes
DL Doug Worthington
In total, 22 players were released, but it’s safe to expect maybe another cut or two once the Chargers put in their waiver claims.
Three Round Mock Draft: San Diego Chargers 2014 Edition
Football fans everywhere have highly anticipated the day where they will finally be able to acquire their future of the organization or someone who will be cut within three years of being signed. That day is the beloved “Draft Day”. For you fans that have also seen the new release movie Draft Day, Kevin Costner said it best when he said “Every year someone comes out of this thing looking like a donkey.” Let’s just hope it won’t be San Diego.
2014-15 Offseason Report
The 2013-14 NFL season has officially come to an end. The Seattle Seahawks, as a result of winning this years Super Bowl, have taken the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to the “12th man” in Seattle, requiring the other 31 teams that were not so fortunate to go back to the drawing board. One of those teams is our beloved San Diego Chargers. San Diego lost to the Denver Broncos 24-17 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, despite being ruled out of playoff contention by almost everyone half-way through the season, they made the playoffs. Here’s how the Chargers will/can improve their odds heading into next season:
Chargers/Broncos Preview 2.0:
San Diego continues their amazing run through the playoffs. Following a 27-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chargers head to Mile High Stadium once again to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. While nobody thought San Diego could have made it this far into the Playoffs nor that they can beat the Broncos a second time, they are looking to prove everyone wrong.
4 Things learned from San Diego’s 27-20 victory over Denver
What a night. Thursday Night Football always has something interesting in store. There are many bright spots about the Chargers play last night, here are just a few of them.
