Why the Chargers are serious Super Bowl contenders.

San Diego Chargers

Predicted: 1^st

2008: 8-8 (1^st AFC West)

Head Coach: Norv Turner (3^rd year)

Roster Quick View (*new veteran, **rookie)

Offense (coordinator: Clarence Shelmon)

QB: Philip Rivers

After posting the NFL’s best passer rating last season, the 27-year-old is at the point where his image will be shaped almost strictly by victories. Particularly playoff victories.

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson

At 30, doesn’t have the same lateral explosiveness as previous years, but that doesn’t mean he can’t post an effective 1,200 yards.

RB: Darren Sproles

Electrifying home-run threat who might just be the team’s most important player in 2009.

FB: Mike Tolbert

Doesn’t win enough battles at the point of attack. Could lose his job once Jacob Hester gets stronger and more comfortable.

WR: Vincent Jackson

Fifth-year pro has blossomed into one of the game’s finest downfield threats. Makes sense––he’s 6’5”, 230-pounder who is fast and can rise like an elevator.

WR: Chris Chambers

Great feet and reliable hands make him capable of hurting any defense. But for long stretches, he’ll be so quiet that you contemplate sending a search party after him.

WR: Malcolm Floyd

Could very well be Vincent Jackson 2.0; has virtually the same size and skill set.

TE: Antonio Gates

Perennial Pro Bowler who makes this good offense great. Should receive a bank-breaking contract after the season.

TE: Brandon Manumaleuna

Essentially a sixth offensive lineman who can occasionally handle the ball.

LT: Marcus McNeil

The hope is that a full recovery from neck surgery will allow the fourth-year pro to consistently play with power on the ground and capitalize on his initial quickness in pass protection.

LG: Kris Dielman

At his best, he’s the finest left guard in football.

C: Nick Hardwick

Looking to regain Pro Bowl form after a healthy offseason. Even if he’s 100 percent, he may not have the sheer phone booth power of a top-tier center.

RG: Kynan Forney

Did not play a single snap in 2008 but started 88 games over seven years in Atlanta. Should be an upgrade over what San Diego had in Mike Goff last season.

RT: Jeromey Clary

A typical right tackle: well-sized and better strength than quickness.

6 OL: L.J. Shelton

Veteran experience makes him incredibly valuable to this callow second-string line.

Defense (coordinator: Ron Rivera)

LDE: Ryon Bingham

May not end up starting ahead of Jacques Cesaire. Must take better advantage of his 300-pound size.

NT: Jamal Williams

Plenty of tread on the 33-year-old’s tires. But on about 12 Sundays a year, the man can absolutely dominate.

RDE: Luis Castillo

Must prove worthy of his big contract by once again being a powerful backfield destroyer with good tenacity and quickness.

3 DE: Jacques Cesaire

His greatest asset might simply be his comfort-level with his own role in this scheme.

2 DT: Ian Scott

Likely to cede a lot of his snaps to fourth-round rookie Vaughn Martin (a defensive end) before the season’s over.

LOLB: Shaun Phillips

Stellar athlete, but was way too quiet without Shawne Merriman last season. Needs to hone his run defense, too.

LILB: Stephen Cooper

Extremely underrated. Mixes it up near the line of scrimmage and keeps the front seven organized.

RILB: Kevin Burnett*

Solid nickel linebacker who signed here because he was promised a starting job. Should have one unless Tim Dobbins suddenly becomes as sharp between the numbers as he is in the flats.

ROLB: Shawne Merriman

You know his situation: knee issue, contract year.

5 LB: Larry English**

Coaches and front office execs are enamored with the first-rounder’s quickness off the edge.

CB: Quentin Jammer

Physical mechanics more than disguise his fairly average speed.

CB: Antonio Cromartie

Shoddy fundamentals were ruthlessly exposed when he struggled with a hip fracture last season. If he doesn’t regain his playmaking form, he’ll sit.

NB: Antoine Cason

Good enough to start, though needs to take more chances. Also, can he be comfortable outside if called upon?

SS: Clinton Hart

It’s fairly amazing he’s getting another crack at starting after last season’s disaster. If coverage doesn’t improve, a change here is guaranteed.

FS: Eric Weddle

Very reliable tackler. No promises, but he could develop into a poor man’s Troy Polamalu.

6 DB: Paul Oliver

Athleticism should give him a slight edge over fellow backup safeties Steve Gregory and sixth-round rookie Kevin Ellison.

Special Teams

K: Nate Kaeding

Good accuracy and distance put him on the cusp of being one of the game’s upper-echelon kickers.

P: Mike Scifres

His Wild Card game against the Colts was perhaps the best single-game punting performance in NFL history.

RS: Darren Sproles

Has an elevated role on offense but is simply too dangerous to remove from the return game.

Offseason Quick Glance

Draft

RD PK (OVR) NAME POS SCHOOL

1 16 (16) Larry English DE N Illinois

3 14 (78) Louis Vasquez OG Texas Tech

4 13 (113) Vaughn Martin DT Western Ontario

4 33 (133) Tyronne Green OG Auburn

4 34 (134) Gartrell Johnson RB Colo St

5 12 (148) Brandon Hughes CB Oregon St

6 16 (189) Kevin Ellison S USC

7 15 (224) Demetrius Byrd WR LSU

KEY PLAYERS ACQUIRED

LB Kevin Burnett: UFA Cowboys; $5.5M/2 yrs, $2M SB.

KEY PLAYERS LOST

OG Mike Goff: UFA Chargers; $3.5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.

LB Marques Harris: UFA 49ers; 1 yr, terms unknown.

DE Igor Olshansky: UFA Cowboys; $18M/4 yrs, $8M guaranteed.

LB Anthony Waters (released).

Analysis

The trendy thing to say right now is that San Diego is nearing the end of its peek and is approaching a rebuilding project in the not-too-distant future. False. The only major change on the horizon is at running back, where LaDainian Tomlinson is tailing off. However, LT can still be an effective starter, which is why GM A.J. Smith restructured his deal and kept him around. (Smith also slapped Tomlinson’s backup, Darren Sproles, with a $6.62 million franchise tag).

The rest of the Chargers will stay sharp for several more years. The proof is in the recent offseason transactions; no monumental players were lost or brought in.

ILB Kevin Burnett signed after being promised a starting job (something he never had in his four years at Dallas). He’s more of a pass-defender than run-stopper. This, along with the loss of DE Igor Olshansky, could hurt San Diego’s run defense.

First-round DE Larry English will move to OLB. This suggests that A.J. Smith will not be re-signing Shawne Merriman after the season. Of course, English must prove himself first.

Departed RG Mike Goff was deteriorating. Kynan Forney can take over for him this season, but third-rounder Louis Vasquez is the hopeful long-term replacement. Fourth-rounder Tyronne Green will also get a shot. Green can also play center.

Fourth-round running back Gartrell Johnson was drafted for his potential. So was seventh-round WR Demetrius Byrd. The LSU star had an early-round projection before being seriously injured in a car accident just days before the draft.