San Diego Chargers Daily Links: September 3, 2015

Data Reveals Where NFL Teams Can Maximize Draft Value - Steve Mayernick
Using pro football reference’s Approximate Value (AV) metric, I took the mean AV of every player drafted in 2008-2012 in an attempt to formulate a draft strategy that maximizes value. Created by pro football reference’s Doug Drinin, the Approximate Value (AV) method is an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year.

Vegas sets over-unders for top Chargers - Tom Krasovic (UT$)
Rivers, recovered from back and rib injuries, is healthy entering his 10th consecutive season as the starter. The Chargers want to run the ball more often and better than last season. What the offense does best, however, is empower Rivers to find the best matchup in the passing game. He won't have Antonio Gates for the first four games, but Danny Woodhead, sidelined for 13 games last year, is at full speed. Rivers has thrown for 4,200-yards plus five of the last six years.

Chargers' tough schedule is survivable - Kevin Acee (UT$)
This schedule looks to be a beast. The Raiders and Jaguars are on it, sure. (They’re not going to stink forever, but they should stink for at least one more season.) The AFC West seems almost as good as it was two years ago, with three playoff contenders. Of the teams with the six best home records in the NFL over the past two seasons, the Chargers play at four (Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver and Green Bay).

Chargers betting big on Melvin Ingram - Stephen White
Here's where I will say that I didn't really think playing outside linebacker catered to his skill set. I still believe playing defensive end in a 4-3, even at a little under 6'2, would've been the move for Ingram. But players don't get to choose which teams draft them or which scheme their team uses. At least at that point, it appeared that Ingram was making the best of it.

Stop slandering the Pats, the Bolts cheat more! - Patrick Daugherty
Readers will be comforted to learn that the Chargers CheatScore of 21 is — oh, blue skies and balmy breezes — below average! Saying that, the New England Patriots have a CheatScore of 20, also below average, in fact, according to yourteamcheats.com, the Pats cheat less than the Chargers. We all must stop slandering the World Champion New England Patriots.

Melvin Gordon and The Hill he climbed - Michael Gehlken (UT$)
Before Melvin Gordon was voted the top college running back in the nation, before he became a Heisman Award finalist and first-round draft pick, the Charger was king of The Hill. The incline workout was one aspect to a larger training regimen, a lifestyle his father instilled in him that ultimately led to the NFL. Melvin is here because he worked to be.