A.J. Smith unexpectedly went after a wide receiver in free agency as soon as Vincent Jackson departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That receiver was former New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem. Drafted in 2007 just two picks before Craig "Buster" Davis, Meachem in his third year showed to be a very capable receiver for 3 straight seasons in the Saints' quick strike pass offense. He averaged 43 receptions for 660 yards and almost 7 touchdowns per season. Those numbers are quite similar to Vincent Jackson's 2006 season. Interestingly, he's only started about half of the games he's played in due to being on a roster with Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore. That is because New Orleans' offensive attack has mostly consisted of having four #2 receivers on the field rather than a #1 receiver and then a #2 and #3. But then that makes us wonder, is he capable of being a #1 receiver in San Diego's offense the way Vincent Jackson was? Let's find out.

Robert Meachem

#12 / Wide Receiver / San Diego Chargers

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210

Born: Sep 28, 1984

College: Tennessee

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Losses: Stephen Cooper, Na'il Diggs

Additions: Demorrio Williams

Returning: Takeo Spikes, Donald Butler, Jonas Mouton, Bront Bird, Andrew Gachkar

Projected Staters: Takeo Spikes, Donald Buter

Strengths:

• Run defense: Both Spikes and Butler are explosive players and can use speed and power to get to ball carriers. Butler shows a lot of promise here having forced a couple fumbles last season and generally making a nuisance of himself against opposing blockers.
• Depth: The Chargers have a fair number of bodies at this position now, but whether it's quality depth remains to be seen. The return of Mouton from injury and Williams having a full camp with the team (as opposed to Diggs last year who was signed early in the season) will help create a rotation sorely missed last season. Bird has a little experience under his belt now and it remains to be seen if Gachkar can play anything other than special teams.

Weaknesses:

• Pass rush: Spikes and Bulter combined for 3 sacks last year. Spikes has never had more than 6 sacks in a season and Butler is not supposed to be a premier pass rusher. Neither is Mouton. Burnett had 6 in 2011, so the unit lost something there.
• Coverage: Spikes had been praised for good coverage in past seasons, but did not show it last year. Butler may have some upside in this area since he has the speed to do it.

Losses: Tommie Harris

Additions: Kendall Reyes

Returning: Corey Liuget, Antonio Garay, Luis Castillo, Cam Thomas, Vaughn Martin, Jacques Cesaire, Charlie Bryant, Damik Scafe

Projected Starters: Corey Liuget, Antonio Garay, Luis Castillo

Strengths:

• Depth: The may be a question over the quality of the depth, but there are certainly enough players the Chargers like to cover this position for the coming season.
• Upside: Liuget, Reyes, Martin and Thomas are all young and have untapped potential. Especially Liuget and Reyes, who were both high draft picks and drafted based on upside. Castillo returns from an injury that kept him from contributing last season.
• Experience: Liuget now has a year under his belt, Castillo and Cesaire have plenty, Garay and Thomas will be playing their 4th year for the Chargers and Martin is in his 5th.

Weakness:

• Level of play: The play of the defensive line in 2011 could best be described as below average. Some will attribute that to a decline in performance from Garay, the absence of Castillo or Liuget not living up to being a 1st round pick. In any case, if their 2011 performance is repeated in 2012, then level of play is a definite weakness.
• Pass rush: The 3-4 defense, especially the one the Chargers run, typically don't use their defensive line to directly generate pass rush. However, you'd still expect to see a better push that causes more disruption in the pocket. That being said, the Chargers have been one of the better 3-4 teams the past two years at getting sacks from defensive linemen. 13.5 in 2010 and 11.5 in 2011. Other 3-4s rarely enter double digits.

Losses: Mike Tolbert

Additions: Le'Ron McClain, Edwin Baker

Returning: Ryan Mathews, Jacob Hester, Curtis Brinkley

Projected Starters: Ryan Mathews, Le'Ron McClain

Strengths:

• Versatility: Mathews brings the speed, McClain brings the power. McClain can also block as a fullback and if pressed Hester can take some carries. Hester also makes an impact on special teams.
• Level of play: Mathews played in the Pro Bowl last year, has the pedigree of being a first round pick and advanced stats as well as scouting reports peg him as one of the best RBs in the AFC. McClain is a couple years removed, but has Pro Bowls on his resume. Hester is a special teams captain.
• Leadership: McClain could fill in the leadership gap on offense that was lost when Dielman retired. As mentioned, Hester is a leader on special teams.

Weaknesses:

• Injuries: Mathews has a history of injuries and his health is really all that matters on this unit.
• Depth: If Mathews misses games once again or has to come out during a game, the level of play loses a lot. McClain has experience running the ball well in the NFL, but it's not the same. Hester is not a threat. Brinkley has his moments, but he doesn't look the part of a 20 carry-per-game RB. Edwin Baker is unproven.
• Mistakes: This mainly falls on Mathews. His fumbling rate decreased from 2010 to 2011, but when you carry the rock as much as he is expected to ball security is paramount.
• Third downs: Sproles was the 3rd down back in 2010 and Tolbert handled those duties in 2011. It is yet to be seen as to how Mathews will fair and on the surface McClain doesn't fit the mold of typical 3rd down backs. Maybe not a weakness per se, but certainly an unknown.

Losses: Billy Volek

Additions: Charlie Whitehurst, Jarrett Lee

Returning: Philip Rivers

Projected Starters: Philip Rivers

Strengths:

• Experience: No one knows the offense better than Rivers and Whitehurst better have learned something holding that clipboard for years.
• Level of play: Unless 2011 was a new baseline for Rivers, he's an upper echelon QB capable of both putting teams away by scoring nearly at will or making great comebacks with his playmaking abilities.
• Leadership: Rivers, El Capitan, has been known to make offensive lines and receiver play better than their capabilities would suggest.
• Health: Rivers doesn't miss games. Whitehurst stayed healthy enough to carry the clipboard week in and week out.

Weaknesses:

• Depth: There's only one Philip Rivers. This is only a weakness because the dropoff is so high from #1 to #2. Also, the 3rd string QB is an undrafted free agent signing who didn't look very good in college.
• Speed: Rivers is not known for his scrambling ability.

Losses: None

Additions: Ladarius Green, Dante Rosario

Returning: Antonio Gates, Randy McMichael, Kory Sperry, Brad Taylor

Projected Starters: Antonio Gates

Strengths:

• Experience: Gates is a 10 year veteran. McMichael is an 11 year veteran with 2 years in the Chargers system.
• Level of play: Gates is a perennial Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer.
• Depth: In addition to the two experienced veterans Green is a very promising draft pick. Also, Rosario has been around the block and Sperry has been in the Chargers system for a couple years.
• Upside: Green is promising enough that he potentially could make an impact on offense as a rookie part time player.

Weaknesses:

• Health: This is all about Antonio Gates. Injuries have made him both miss games and play less effectively in recent years.
• Downside: This goes hand-in-hand with Gates' health. If he misses games you start to worry about McMichael's age and Green's youth. There are certainly decent options to turn to (as noted when depth was listed as a strength), but you could make the case that any and all could be busts in 2012.

First, a recap:

Strengths

• Size: Meachem and Floyd both have size advantages against both safeties
• Speed: Meachem is very fast, Floyd's long strides make him a deep threat, Royal is shifty and quick
• Upside: Meachem has the pedigree of a 1st round pick that hasn't gotten a chance. When healthy Floyd is practically Pro Bowl caliber. Royal is a great underneath target when healthy. Brown has shown promise.

Weaknesses

• Experience: Royal is the only WR who has started more than 9 games in a season. Floyd is the only player that has extended experience with the system and QB.
• Injuries: Floyd and Royal have had injuries issues. Meachem hasn't, but wasn't exposed as much as he will be with extended playing time.
• Depth: This goes hand-in-hand with injuries. Teams typically don't have more than 4 quality WRs, but if injuries are a concern then the next guys on the depth chart matter. Those next guys are all on the team to be kick returners. After that, it's UDFA city.

Losses: Marcus McNeill, Kris Dielman, Scott Mruczkowski

Additions: Mario Henderson, Rex Hadnot, David Molk

Returning: Jared Gaither, Tyronne Green, Nick Hardwick, Louis Vasquez, Jeromey Clary, Brandyn Dombrowski, Colin Baxter, Stephen Schilling

Projected Starters: LT Jared Gaither*, LG Tyronne Green*, C Nick Hardwick, RG Louis Vasquez, RT Jeromey Clary (* = new starter)

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