Chargers Daily Links: Two former Chargers land on PFF’s one-year wonder team

Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey had some fun this week putting together a football made up of players from the last 14 years who are considered “one-hit wonders.” These are essentially players that had a peak season during that time span and the rest of their years, outside of their one outlier, were nowhere near the same quality nor had the same production.

The Chargers landed two players on the list, one on each side of the ball. Let’s take a look!

C SCOTT MRUCZKOWSKI - 2009

“Mruczkowski may be the best example of a true one-year wonder on this team. Drafted in 2005, Mruczkowski started more than one game in only one season — the 2009 campaign, when he started 13 games for the Chargers. His 81.9 overall grade that year ranked 10th among 33 qualifying centers, and he allowed just one quarterback hit and one sack on 463 pass-blocking snaps. Despite that showing, 2009 remained the only season in Mruczkowski’s career where he played more than 150 snaps.” - Linsey

Ah yes, the memorable 2009 season. The Chargers went 13-3 that year while averaging the fourth-most points per game in the NFL while also owning an average in the top-third for points allowed.

The 6’5, 310-pound Mruczkowski was a seventh-round pick in 2005 out of the Bowling Green University. He was a two-time All-MAC honoree, earning a first-team nod in 2003 and a second-team member in 2004. Despite not panning out in any other season, Mruczkowski still deserves the praise for playing a key role along the offensive line in what was one of the most-successful seasons for the Chargers this century.

CB JASON VERRETT (2015)

“Injury after injury has derailed what looked to be a promising career for Verrett in San Diego as a first-round pick out of TCU. He showed flashes on just over 200 snaps as a rookie before a shoulder injury cut his season short. The 2015 season is the only “full” season of NFL action we have on tape for Verrett. That year, he posted a 90.9 coverage grade (tied highest among qualifying cornerbacks). Unfortunately, the 720 snaps he played that season are more than the other five seasons of his NFL career combined. At this point, it’s fair to question if he’ll ever see the field in a significant capacity again.” - Linsey

If some of you don’t remember this season, it was really quite something to see. The 2015 campaign is the only year that Verrett played in more than six games. He still missed two to injury, but his 14 outings paved the way for one of the best seasons by a Chargers defensive back in the last 10 years.

Verrett finished that season with 47 tackles, two for loss, three interceptions with one taken back for a touchdown. That led to Verrett’s first and only appearance in the Pro Bowl. He has signed with the 49ers and has yet to play for them on account of continuous injuries.

Now for the links.

Chargers News:

Chris Hayre discusses the Denver Broncos with the Denver Post’s Ryan O’Halloran (Chargers.com)

Chargers will be featured with the Rams on HBO’s Hard Knocks (Chargers.com)

Gavino Borquez highlights the five Chargers ESPN listed as candidates for a contract extension (Chargers Wire)

Jason Reed lists three free agents who have ties to the Chargers (Bolt Beat)

NFL News:

Kevin Seifert lists 12 ways the NFL has changed over the past decade (ESPN)

NFL Nation creates an NFC West All-Decade team (ESPN)

Kyle Newport reports on 49ers WR Deebo Samuel breaking his foot (Bleacher Report)

Michael David Smith reports on Jets S Jamal Adams demanding a trade (Pro Football Talk)

Mike Florio discusses how HBO’s Hard Knocks hasn’t quite figured out how to handle coronavirus precautions (Pro Football Talk)

Cody Benjamin ranks the top-10 tight ends in the NFL for 2020 (CBS Sports)