Chargers Positional Analysis: Quarterbacks

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Philip Rivers

The Chargers will be led into battle for the 12th consecutive year by none other than Philip Rivers. Over the last 11 seasons, Philip Rivers has averaged 4153 yards, 28 TDs, and 14 INT’s, with a QB rating of 94.7. Not many quarterbacks can come up with that kind of production, and even fewer do it for such a sustained period of time. To put it into perspective, only 11 QBs threw for more yards last season (including Rivers) than his career average, 9 threw more TDs, and 12 threw more interceptions. Basically, Rivers has (on average) played as a top 10 QB his entire career. Not bad. At this stage in his career, he needs a little more help than he once did, but he still has a strong arm and great accuracy. Hopefully, with the addition of 3 potential starters along the offensive line (Russel Okung, Forrest Lamp, and Dan Feeney), Rivers will have more time to allow receivers to get open. Add to that a healthy Keenan Allen, a big bodied receiver in Mike Williams, and the return of Tyrell Williams and Rivers has the best supporting cast he’s had in years.

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Kellen Clemens

Backing up Philip Rivers is 12th-year man, Kellen Clemens. Once a starter in the league (a poor one at that), he has attempted 10 regular season throws over the last 3 seasons. During his time starting (between the Jets and Rams), he threw for 3200 yards, 13 TDs, and 17 INTs. Not exactly great quality, which led to his being benched multiple times. Despite this, he has won the backup job from other quarterbacks who have no business starting in the NFL, including Zach “Selfie problem” Mettenberger, and Brad “balding before 30” Sorenson.

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Mike Bercovici

A second-year man out of Arizona State University, Bercovici is a small quarterback who isn’t especially good. He makes poor decisions and does not have an accurate deep ball. In limited preseason action, he threw for 296 yards, 1 TD, and 5 interceptions. Even Clemens was better, as he threw no interceptions on 65 attempts (but also no TDs). The Chargers apparently saw something they liked in Bercovici and stashed him on the practice squad for the season.

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Eli Jenkins

Eli Jenkins is a medium sized quarterback, at 6’2, 215lbs. He played football at Jacksonville State University, and threw for 7652 yards and 47 TDs in his career, along with 3796 yards rushing and 42 TDs on the ground. While he wasn’t very good as a pure quarterback, he has shown that he can make an impact utilizing an air and ground attack, accumulating 89 TDs during his career. At the very least, he will add some excitement in the preseason, showing off his ability to extend plays with his legs, and may even push Berc for the practice squad spot, or Kellen Clemens for the backup spot. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does the former.