"Just win, baby!"
Okay, so that used to be the slogan of another team that used to be in Los Angeles, but that is what it's going to take for the Chargers to get fans to support them.
I don't remember any 49er fans before Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. Ditto for Patriots fans before Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Once they started winning the fans followed.
The hype surrounding the Chargers this year is over the top. This for a team that went 9-7 last year. A team that hasn't beaten the defending AFC West Champs, the KC Chiefs since 2013. A team with no home field advantage and will play one of those home games in London. A team that seemingly has to overcome early injuries every season. In 2017 it was 1st and 2nd round picks G Forest Lamp and WR Mike Williams. CB Jason Verrett was lost for the season in the 1st game. 2018 is no exception with Antonio Gates heir apparent TE Hunter Henry and CB Jason Verrett is again out for the year.
Still, I can see why sportscasters are predicting good things. Despite an 0-4 start, they were the #1 offense in passing yards and the #3 defense in points against. This team has talent at every position. Under Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Philip Rivers has had two
Pro Bowl seasons. He regressed last season when Whisenhunt left for a
Head Coaching job only to return as OC the following year. Rivers was only sacked 18 times and the Chargers' added C Mike Pouncey, a 3-time Pro Bowler, in free agency. Lamp will also get his chance this season. The WR core is deep and talented and Mike Williams is reported to be making an impact in training camp this year.
Despite the loss of Verrett, the DBs are stacked and the Chargers added #1 pick S Derwin James. This defense led the league in fewest passing yards allowed. Everyone knows about Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The defensive coordinator is Gus Bradley who created the "Legion of Boom" in Seattle.
Still there are issues...
Can they get past the KC Chiefs? The Chiefs' defense seems to have Rivers' number. He had only 10 passes intercepted last year, but 6 were picked off by the Chiefs. If Patrick Mahomes plays as good as Alex Smith they'll be fine, after all they won the Division with him. If he plays as good as the Chiefs think he is, then the Chiefs offense is going to be tough to stop because there's a lot of offensive talent surrounding Mahomes.
Rivers is 37 years old. You have to wonder if the drop off will come suddenly aka Peyton Manning.
Injuries. Lamp isn't 100% yet. CB Trevor Williams has an ankle injury and will miss all of the preseason. Williams played great last season in place of Verrett. Rookie WR Dylan Cantrell is out with a bone bruise and will also miss the preseason. While the WR position is deep, Keenan Allen has played in all 16 games just once (last season). C Pouncey has been injury prone, missing games in 4 of the last 5 seasons. The two Melvin's (Ingram and Gordon) have been durable lately, but both were injury prone early in their careers. While not an injury, DT Corey Liuget is suspended for the first 4 games of the season. Chargers got a big scare when Bosa limped off the field during practice, but it wasn't anything serious.
Bottom line; Beat the Chiefs, overcome the lack of home field advantage, and avoid serious injuries to key players and the Chargers will be in the playoffs. Do that and the talent is there to make a run at a Championship.
I so want the Chargers back in the playoffs but I'm not sure they have the team as a whole to do it. They have plenty of good individual players but not sure the depth or total package is really there. I think I'm really rooting for Phillip Rivers. Not always the most likable guy but I like his grit and how he wears his emotions on his sleeve. This guy could definitely be classified as a warrior and I think he would have succeeded across any of the eras. I can see him in a black and white photo sitting on the bench, beaten and bruised but waiting to go back in the game.
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