Updating the San Diego Chargers Depth Chart

by John Gennaro on Sep 8, 2009 2:50 AM PDT in Chargers News Comment 9 comments

Is everyone ready to get back to business? I know I've had enough Tila Tequila for a lifetime.

Since we have been keeping your readers up-to-date to the Chargers depth chart throughout the preseason, I thought it was appropriate to do it one last time after the roster as been cut to 53. Barring injury, this is probably the way it will look for the remainder of the site.

The official Chargers depth chart, plus my thoughts, can be found after the jump.

Offense

WR1

Chris Chambers
Malcom Floyd
Buster Davis

WR2

Kris Dielman
Scott Mruczkowski

Nick Hardwick
Scott Mruczkowski

Louis Vasquez
Scott Mruczkowski

Jeromey Clary
Brandyn Dombrowski

Defense

OLB1

Stephen Cooper

OLB2

LCB

Quentin Jammer

RCB

The special teams you can guess. Nate Kaeding is the only kicker, Mike Scifres is the only punter. David Binn is the long snapper, Sproles is the return man and Cromartie is the backup return man.

Now, I started copying this depth chart from the Chargers weekly game release, but then decided to go off of the depth chart that's listed on Chargers.com. Mostly I went this way because I thought they'd be roughly the same, but with one having Manumaleuna listed as the 2nd TE and the other having him listed as the second starting FB (I know, it's odd). However, there's more differences than that. Let's count all of the differences on the game release from what you see above:

Brandon Manumaleuna is listed as the second starting FB. Kris Wilson listed as 2nd TE.
Tyronne Green is listed as the 3rd string LG and RG.
Osgood is listed as the 3rd WR1, Davis is listed as the 3rd WR2.
Travis Johnson is listed as the backup for Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo. Nwagbuo is listed as the backup to Cesaire. Vaughn Martin is shown as the 3rd DE at both spots.
Shaun Phillips is backed up by Jyles Tucker. Merriman is backed up by Applewhite. English is listed 3rd behind Merriman.

That's interesting, isn't it? There's probably nothing to the inconsistencies. It's probably just a case of two different people putting the depth charts together. Still, I'd like to know who the team really considers to be the backup DT and if English is really ahead of Tucker.

The offensive line looks even thinner on the Chargers' website's depth chart. Why not show Green there as well, so the fans don't get nervous about one guy backing up all three interior-line positions by himself? Also, Dombrowski covering both tackle positions by himself would worry me more if I didn't think that Mooch or even Manumaleuna could handle an offensive tackle spot in a pinch.

What do you guys think? Is there enough depth on this team to fight through injuries in 2009?

0 recs | Comment 9 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

It's impossible to tell if we have enough depth.

Obviously you’d like 3 Pro-Bowlers backing up each position, and it’s just not going to happen. If any starter goes down, unless you have a hidden star waiting in the wings, you’re likely to get a replacement level player. Heck, some of the starters are replacement level (Cesaire, Hart).

Every team has them, even the Patriots and Steelers. You just have to make the most you can out of them, and hope that you don’t have too many by the time the post-season rolls around.

Greg Maddux for manager.

by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 8, 2009 8:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not enough O-Line depth to beat the NFC East

In a perfect world, if all the guys on the current list perform at expected then yes, we probably have enough depth. But more likely one or more guys under performs / gets injured. With the limited depth we have fewer options to find the best group of guys to get the job done.

That NFC East plays mostly 4 -3. I think we are going to be over matched just on size alone. Then factor in fatigue; these fatties get tried a heck of a lot faster than the little players. Towards the end of these NFC East games I think our running game is going to wilt.

On the other hand I can’t fault AJ for holding on to those skill players either. LT is getting older and he has to plan some form of succession. VJ and Chambers are both questions for next season.

by Trendsearcher on Sep 8, 2009 9:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW who did they pick up to fill the IR spots

Bingham was IR’d. Did they bring up someone, or is that a open slot at this point?

by Trendsearcher on Sep 8, 2009 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bingham was not included in the final 53-man roster.

Greg Maddux for manager.

by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 8, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

so basically

Louis Vasquez has the starting job locked up?

Wreck 'em, Tech!

by Tortilla Pirate on Sep 8, 2009 10:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

There is no competition. It’s his.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Sep 8, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

O line D line

Theres little doubt that the Chargers have one of the top teams in regards to skilled players.
My concerns is the O line and D line. Last season and this year in pre season the line of scrimage has been controlled
by the opposition, this can not continue if the Chargers expect to get to the SB.

George D. Mckenzie

by donzietgr on Sep 8, 2009 12:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

D line ok, at least at the top.

Right side of the OL and DL depth in the short term are our real concerns. If Vasquez turns out well as a rookie (quite possible), then the only issue you’ll see recurring is that speedy pass-rushers will be able to get ‘round Clary. That puts a lot on the shoulders of Hester and Manumaleuna, as we’ll see a lot of those guys this year.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 8, 2009 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs