San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) is a kep piece of the Chargers offense. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — As the San Diego Chargers prepare for their first training camp workout on July 24, they hope to sustain and improve the momentum they had at the end of last season, when they made a surprise playoff appearance.
Coach Mike McCoy made believers out of doubters by the end of last season and with some key additions on the roster that matches the usual local weather: plenty of sunshine.
While there are still blemishes on the roster, the Chargers think they are better with experience, better with personnel and better equipped to make a deeper run in the AFC playoffs.
“I like where we are right now,” McCoy said after last month’s minicamp.
What he likes is an offense that is entering Year Two of his quick-tempo approach that helped quarterback Philip Rivers produce the best season of his solid career, which does indeed give the Chargers a much better starting point than many teams.
The team’s key position battle is at cornerback. The Chargers had the AFC’s worst pass defense last year, so they spent their first-round pick on Texas Christian cornerback Jason Verrett. Now they have to find out if he can play.
Shareece Wright likely remains one of the starting cornerbacks. But a battle is looming between Verrett and Richard Marshall, which should be among the spirited ones in camp. Marshall had 50 tackles last year and the same number of interceptions as Wright — zero.
Verrett was the fourth cornerback selected in the draft after earning All-Big 12 honors last season. While his leaping and closing ability are impressive, what stands out as well is where he stands: 5-foot-9. The battle became more interesting when Brandon Flowers was signed in late June after being released by the Chiefs.
Much was expected from cornerback Steve Williams last year when he was drafted in the fifth round out of California. Instead, it was his Cal teammate, wide receiver Keenan Allen, who starred.
Williams’ rookie year was a washout as he suffered a pectoral injury in the second preseason game and was lost for the season. But at the beginning of OTAs he was wrestling with Allen for balls on various routes, and better yet, winning.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Williams needs to show he still has his skills to get back in the mix.
The Chargers are hoping rookie receiver Tevin Reese, a seventh-round pick from Baylor, will add needed speed to the passing game.
His speed, measured at 4.41 seconds over 40 yards, not only can get him open, but it helps stretch defenses so tight end Antonio Gates can work underneath.
Rivers praised Reese after workouts, but said he has some learning to do. With Malcom Floyd returning from a serious neck injury, Reese could serve as an insurance policy to play opposite Keenan Allen and he can also help as a punt returner.
Running back Ryan Mathews is coming off his best season. The Chargers rode Mathews hard last year down the stretch, leaning on him during a four-game winning streak that propelled them into the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
But Mathews had a balky ankle in the post-season that all but negated the team’s top runner.
“It was hard not being able to finish the year out,” Mathews said at the Chargers’ minicamp. “Sixteen games is 16 games and that’s what everyone wants to do, is play a whole season.
“But I really wasn’t able to contribute in the games after the season, and those are the real games where it counts. And that is where my expectations are this year. I got to do more and do better so I can be there with my guys, so I can help them out as much as I can when we get there again.”
Mathews, a former first-round pick, had a breakout season in rushing for a career-high 1,255 yards, the eighth-highest total in franchise history. In six games, Mathews went past the 100-yard mark, including a career-high 144 yards in the season finale.
Mathews goes into this season with confidence, a healthy ankle and some company in the backfield after the Chargers signed free agent Donald Brown to complement Danny Woodhead and Mathews.
“It’s great; it’s another weapon to the offense and he is a great player,” Mathews said. “You see all the great things he did up with the Colts.”
But what about ball distribution?
“Everybody wants the ball; you’re a running back, you want the ball,” Mathews said. “But there is only one ball in the game and we all have to take turns.
“We’re all competing against each other every day and we’re all striving to make each other better. We have three different backs that do three different things with three different running styles.”
Here is a snapshot of the Chargers’ roster heading into training camp.
–QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Philip Rivers. Backups – Kellen Clemens, Brad Sorensen.
–RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Ryan Mathews. Backups – Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown, Marion Grice, Branden Oliver, Kerwynn Williams.
–TIGHT ENDS: Starters – Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green. Backups – David Johnson, John Phillips, Michael Flacco, Ryan Otten, Jake Byrne.
–WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd. Backups – Vincent Brown, Eddie Royal, Seyi Ajirotutu, Tevin Reese, Javontee Herndon, Micha Hatfield, Brelan Chancellor, Torrence Allen.
–OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT King Dunlap, LG Chad Rinehart, C Nick Hardwick, RG Jeromey Clary, RT D.J. Fluker. Backups – C/G Rich Ohrnberger, G Johnnie Troutman, T Nick Becton, G Chris Watt, T Mike Harris, G D.J. Johnson, C Nick McDonald, T Jeremiah Sirles, T Willie Smith, T Kenny Wiggins.
–DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LDE Kendall Reyes, DT Sean Lissemore, RDE Corey Liuget. Backups — E Lawrence Guy, T Ryan Carrethers, T Kwame Geathers, E Damik Scafe, E Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, T Tenny Palepoi, T Chas Alecxih, E Cordarro Law.
–The Chargers are looking for more beef in the middle, with a heavier Lissemore reporting to camp and the rookie Carrethers, a space-eater from Arkansas State. Guy and Scafe are serviceable backups.
–LINEBACKERS: Starters — LOLB Jarret Johnson, ILB Donald Butler, ILB Manti Te’o, LOLB Melvin Ingram. Backups — OLB Dwight Freeney, OLB Thomas Keiser, ILB Andrew Gachkar, OLB Jerry Attaochu, OLB Larry English, OLB Reggie Walker, ILB Kavell Conner, OLB Tourek Williams, ILB Jonas Mouton, ILB Alvin Scioneaux, OLB Colton Underwood.
–DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Brandon Flowers, RCB Shareece Wright, SS Marcus Gilchrist, FS Eric Weddle. Backups — S Jahleel Addae, CB Richard Marshall, CB Jason Verrett, CB Steve Williams, CB Crezdon Butler, S Darrell Stuckey, CB Marcus Cromartie, S Alden Darby, CB Chris Davis, CB Greg Ducre, CB Brandon Ghee, S Adrian Phillips.
–SPECIAL TEAMS: K Nick Novak, P Mike Scifres, KOR Danny Woodhead, PR Keenan Allen, LS Mike Windt, KOR/PR Eddie Royal, P Chase Tenpenny.
