| Randolph Charlotin. 19th October, 2007 - 6:19 pm
 There’s the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts, and then everyone else.
San Diego wants to change the conversation. And with the acquisition of wide receiver Chris Chambers, the Chargers could become the third elite team by the end of the season.
It was one of two trades made at the trade deadline. The other was Tampa Bay getting running back Michael Bennett from Kansas City.
Due to the Buccaneers’ injury situation, the move was needed. Starter Carnell “Cadillac” Williams is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Williams’ back-up, Michael Pittman, is expected to miss two months with a sprained ankle. The injuries left the Bucs with Earnest Graham as the only ball carrier and he can’t carry the whole load on his own.
The pairing could be good for the Bucs. Bennett has breakaway speed and Graham is a load in a small package. It’s not quite the Thunder and Lightening pairing of Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn, but Bennett and Graham could be effective.
The only concern would be Bennett’s injury history. While he’s a former Pro Bowler with 1,296 yards with Minnesota in 2002, Bennett played a full season just once in six seasons. If head coach Jon Gruden decides to split the carries between Bennett and Graham, it should preserve Bennett. Leave the tough yards to Graham.
As for the Chargers, they may finally have the true number one receiver absent from the offense. As good as the S.D. attack is with LaDanian Tomlinson toting the rock and tight end Antonio Gates catching passes, the Bolts never advanced in the playoffs. They’ve been a one and done team, upset by the likes of the Patriots and New York Jets.
Whether the quarterback was Drew Brees or Phillip Rivers, both Pro Bowlers with San Diego, the team has been a one and done playoff team. While the blame for their inability to advance can be blamed partially on coaching (Marty Schottenheimer couldn’t win a single post-season game coaching the Bolts), the lack of a bonafide threat on the outside played a role.
In the 2007 Divisionals against New England, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd dropped passes, costing the team first downs. Neither are worthy of drawing double-teams either. If they are covered man-to-man, defenses can use bracket coverage to take away Gates, the primary target and safety valve for Rivers.
Chambers could get Gates more elbowroom. Chambers was Miami’s best receiver and earned a Pro Bowl in 2005 with 82 receptions for 1,118 yards and eleven touchdowns. His career numbers would be much better if he ever had a quality passer throwing to him.
Now Chambers does in Rivers. And with the addition, the S.D. offense should become even more explosive. Chambers has the breakaway speed and reliable hands the Chargers lack. If Chris quickly establishes himself as an explosive addition, it will open up the field for Gates and the other receivers. If the defense returns to last year’s form, San Diego could finally break through in the playoffs. But first they want to join the ranks of the Patriots and Colts.
Randolph Charlotin can be contacted at lordrc@netzero.net |
