Chargers Spring (Training) Report -- Cornerbacks

CHARGERS SPRING (TRAINING) REPORT -- CORNERBACKS

With the Chargers 2009 mini-camp underway, Chris Ello takes an inside look at how the Bolts stack up position-by-position during football's version of Spring Training.
Tomorrow: Safeties


Starters

Quentin Jammer, 8th yr., Texas: In my mind, he was the Bolts' defensive MVP last season (although the players voted for Jamal Williams)...Perhaps the team's most vilified player by fans during his first four seasons, Jammer has blossomed into the shutdown corner the Chargers envisioned when they selected him with the 5th pick in the 2002 draft (don't believe me? Ask Randy Moss in the Sunday night game against New England last season).
More impressive than his pass coverage, though, was Jammer's ability in '08 to come up from the corner and make jarring tackles on running plays. He finished with 75 solo tackles, some of which knocked loose a few teeth (hey Jeff Garcia, remember?).
Signed through 2012, Jammer should be among the least of the team's concerns for the next several seasons.

Antonio Cromartie, 4th yr. Florida St.: At the head of the list of the team's concerns for '09 and beyond should be the enigmatic Cromartie, who suffered through a miserable season in '08...After electrifying the league with 10 interceptions in '07, Cromartie managed just two picks (both against the Jets in Week 3) last season. After the Jets game, he rarely even laid a hand on a pass, was beaten up-and-down the field constantly, and tackled as if he were Deion Sanders.
Cromartie blamed his poor performance on the fact that he played the entire season with a broken hip, suffered in Week 2 at Denver when the Broncos' Brandon Marshall embarrassed him with 18 receptions. Hopefully, for Chargers fans, that was the case.
Even if healthy, Cromartie needs to grow up. By anointing himself as the next Sanders and predicting an NFL-record 15 interceptions prior to the season, he put a target on his back and was riddled repeatedly.
“I'm feeling real good, a whole lot better," said Cromartie on the opening day of mini-camp. "I just want to shut up the critics. I'm getting healthy. I feel a lot more explosive than I have in the past two years.”
Hopefully, he'll say no more. And just start getting the job done again.


Reserves

Antoine Cason, 2nd yr., Arizona: For last year's No. 1-pick (27th overall), a grade of "incomplete" in his rookie season...Incomplete because nobody is yet sure whether the former Jim Thorpe Award winner will become a star in the NFL or not.
Overall, though, Cason did a steady enough job last season -- and if nothing else, he at least picked off as many passes as Cromartie did. He didn't yet look ready for full-time duty in
man coverage, and several teams picked on him when he came into games as a nickel-package cover guy.
One must remember, though, that rookies struggling some at the cornerback position is not exactly a surprise. Many make a big jump between years one and two, and the Chargers can feel at least somewhat confident that Cason will do the same.
He'll have to make a big jump if Cromartie doesn't return to his '07 form.

Cletis Gordon, 4th yr., Jackson State: Gordon had a few chances to shine in '08, but frankly he never really took advantage of the opportunities...New Orleans picked on him pretty good in the game at London, and by season's end -- despite playing in 14 of 16 games -- he was credited with just one pass deflection.
Not to give up on a guy's career too early, but I imagine the Bolts will be looking to see some big improvements during training camp. Gordon may be playing to save his job (and Chargers career) during the exhibition season.


Newcomers

Brandon Hughes, Rookie, Oregon State: Selected by A.J. Smith with the team's 5th-round pick a couple of weeks ago, Hughes it would seem could make the opening day roster with a strong camp and preseason. He was twice named All-Pac 10, and he made 40 career starts with former Chargers coach Mike Riley's Beavers.
Some may be concerned with his size (5-foot-10, 182 pounds), but there are many great cornerbacks over the years smaller than Hughes who have gotten the job done. Not only that, but Hughes brings a reputation for playing tough against the run (maybe he can help Cromartie) and bothering receivers with solid bump-and-run coverage.
On paper, the feeling is that Hughes at least challenges Gordon for the fourth-cornerback spot.

What Sayith Merriman??

Well....actually we all know what Shawne Merriman said. It went something like this: "I am thrilled that we drafted Larry English! The more the Merrier, man!"

The better question is: what is Merriman thinking these days? After all, the Chargers just used their first-round draft choice on his (presumed) replacement.

How would you feel if the boss introduced you to the guy who was going to come in and take your job? "Hey Bob...we know you're the best VP of Sales we've ever had...but this is Tony...and very soon we expect him to be the best VP of Sales we've ever had...have a nice day!"

Chances are you'd be pissed. Chances are you'd have every right to be.

I've got to believe that somewhere in the back (or more likely the front) of his mind, Merriman isn't exactly thrilled about the Bolts' draft-day developments. When you're the most disruptive defensive player in the entire NFL, and you've worked your tail off to come back from a
season-ending injury, you don't expect the team you play for to start planning for your demise.

But that's exactly what the Chargers have done. Though they've said repeatedly that the drafting of English is all about making what should be a scary pass rush even more dangerous...it's pretty obvious to me (and should be to you as well) that the writing is on the wall.

And the wall reads: Shawne Merriman is no longer part of the Chargers future after this season.

Maybe that's OK. After all, it's no guarantee that Merriman will return from his knee surgery as the dominant player he once was...and having English behind him will provide a nice insurance policy. Furthermore, we know that Merriman will be a free agent after the '09 season and chances are he will command millions of dollars (and them some) to re-sign in San Diego. With English in the fold, the Chargers won't be forced into over-paying to keep him.

However, in my mind, this is faulty logic. And here's why: stated or unstated, Merriman is basically now in the position to have to play for himself this season. Knowing that his days in San Diego are all but over, it will be imperative for him to put up big sack numbers (regardless of how many games the Bolts win, or how many tackles he makes, Merriman's free-agent bounty will directly be linked to his sack total and nothing else).

Is this the kind of player you want leading your defense?? Perhaps, the Chargers feel that a
20-sack season from Merriman will help them get where they want to go. But in my mind, it's a guy who's focused on the success of the entire defensive unit -- and not his stats alone -- that would be far more valuable.

Either way, let's give credit to Merriman for his initial public comments. He said the PC thing by welcoming English into the fold. Imagine if Merriman had the frail self-confidence of former Denver QB Jay Cutler. The draft selection of an additional pass-rushing linebacker would have created a Broncos-sized circus.

The way it is now, Merriman will have to share the center ring with an up-and-coming talent nipping at his heels. And he'll have to deal with a ring-leader (A.J. Smith) who seems anxious to drive home the message that his star (and future Hall of Fame?) linebacker will not be welcome in these here parts much longer.

And while it's true that there aren't many guys out there as tough as Shawne Merriman, I think he'll have a tough time handling it.

I No Comprende' English...Ello, Apr. 28th

Every Sunday for the past several Autumns, I have gone to church.

No, not the church that frowns upon gays and lesbians...or pre-marital sex and adultery (when it's convenient)...and not the church where whatever sins you do feel like committing will be forgiven with a kneel and an excuse.

I've never gone to that church and never will.

I've gone to the church where failures simply are not tolerated and sins can never be forgiven. The church of the bottom line -- wins and losses.

The Church of A.J. Smith.

I haven't really gone to pray...or to ask forgiveness because I missed a game while out shopping with the wife...or even to complain. Mostly I've just attended with reverence for the General Manager of the San Diego Chargers -- the master of the draft, the all-knowing definer of football talent, the Messiah of trades and free agent pickups.

Gotta say, though, after what transpired this past weekend, I'm starting to lose faith.

Do you understand why the Chargers would use their first-round draft choice to select a player who plays a position that the team is already loaded at? Because I sure don't.

Before the draft ever began I said that no team in the NFL would improve during this off-season as much as the Chargers would...regardless of who was drafted, traded or signed. That's because the Bolts will be adding the most disruptive defensive player on the planet to their roster for 2009.

Supposedly fully recovered from the knee injury that cost him just about all of last season, Shawne Merriman's presence immediately turns the Chargers into Super Bowl contenders. Lined up with bookend pass rusher Shawn Phillips on the other side of the line, San Diego will be able to bring more heat that a mid-April afternoon in Jamul (see last week's weather report for confirmation).

With the pass rush back in order, the last thing San Diego needed was another pass rusher. But in drafting outside linebacker Larry English out of Northern Illinois, that's exactly what the Chargers got.

Of course, the the world's wimpiest media -- located here in America's Finest City if you weren't sure -- could not contain itself after the first-round selection, practically doing cart-wheels and firing off bottle rockets to salute the Chargers (formerly brilliant) front office.

To me, the selection makes absolutely no sense. In fact, it looks a whole lot like what the (confused) Padres did with their first selection in last summer's Major League Baseball draft. Despite the fact that their best player (Adrian Gonzalez) is a first baseman, and their top prospect (Kyle Blanks) is a first baseman, the Padres drafted -- a first baseman.

What the hell??? I was banging my head into a wall after that pick, and now I've bloodied my forehead again after the Chargers unexplainable decision.

Not that they haven't tried to explain it. Said Director of Player Personnel Jimmy Raye (who?): "You can never have enough good football players, especially trying to put heat on the quarterback."

Oh yeah? Well I guess you could have 11 great players putting pressure on the quarterback if you wanted to...but it's not going to do you much good if there's nobody back there behind them to cover receivers. And frankly -- even with only three guys rushing -- we already know that the Chargers can't cover receivers.

Said Head Coach Norv Turner: "We felt a real urgency to create situations where we can put more pressure on the quarterback and obviously getting Shawne Merriman back will help us greatly there, but adding a rusher we thought would certainly help us."

Genius!! You mean the Chargers felt that getting Merriman back would greatly help them? But that adding (another) rusher would certainly help them?

Who was doing this draft? Matt Millen? "Yes...we felt that if we could stockpile top wide receivers in the draft for about a decade, our passing game would be unstoppable....Offensive linemen? Quarterbacks? Well, yes, but we do have a bunch of great receivers."

Look, perhaps Larry English will turn out to be a great player. I hope he does. But even if he does, this first-round pick still makes no sense.

Of course, some would say that English will make for a great insurance policy if Merriman is not healthy...or if Merriman is let go after his contract runs out next season.

Maybe so. But I say that Merriman will be back, and with him back, Phillips will regain his mojo on the other side. And if that happens, how exactly is English going to contribute this season?

Other teams may feel like they have the luxury to let a first-round pick rot on the bench for a season and learn. But when you're the Chargers, and your window to the Super Bowl is quickly closing, you need to add a player who can help you now.

And I don't think there's much argument that the Chargers have plenty of holes that need repair -- inside linebacker, defensive end, safety, offensive line just to name a few.

Pass-rushing outside linebacker, to me, did not seem to be that desperate of a need. Of course, the Chargers (who think they know everything) think differently.

I guess I just don't understand English.

Stuff that doesn't matter, some that does...Ello, Apr. 18

"The new phone book is here! The new phone book is here!"...The lines are from the
(not-quite-a) classic Steve Martin comedy, "The Jerk"...(caught some of it STARZ last night, by the way).

The idea of the scene is that what matters little to most -- or all -- or us, means the world to "The Jerk," his name actually being in print finally validating his existence.

Same goes with the release of the NFL schedule...only in this case, you're all "The Jerks," and I'm the one who understands (correctly) that is means little...."The NFL Schedule is here! The NFL Schedule is here!"

Yeah...so what?

Now we know the Chargers will open their 2009 quest in Oakland, against the Raiders...Then they're home for Baltimore and Miami...Then there's a whole bunch of more games before the regular season ends January 3rd at home against Washington. (By the way, if they keep ending the season later and later, the Super Bowl one day will be played on the 4th of July).

And now we have all of the "experts" in the NFL world breaking down every team's schedule and determining what it all means. "The Chargers have to play Dallas, the New York Giants and Pittsburgh!".....Oooooooohh! "And they play at Philadelphia, and play at Cleveland in December where it will be cold!"....Oh, oh!

My goodness, what are they going to do??...Well, my best guess, is that they'll show up every Sunday or Monday wherever the schedule tells them to, and they'll try to win the games.

End of story. Or is it?

Breathlessly, the experts have figured out which team has the hardest schedule (Miami) and which has the easiest (N.Y. Giants)...and that means, well, what exactly?

Not much. If it did then why bother figuring out who supposedly had the toughest schedule in the NFL last year? Answer: the Super Bowl champion Steelers.


Speaking of things that don't matter, the NFL draft is now just a week away, and all of the
draft-niks are warming up their projection sheets....Who will go No. 1 to the Lions? Who'll be picked 19th? Or 27th?

When somebody can tell me who'll get the next Tom Brady in the 6th round, or tell me which team will by savvy enough to sign (defensive player of the year) James Harrison as a free agent because he's not drafted at all...then maybe I'll start paying attention.

Until then, the whole affair is like trying to pick numbers in a lottery. Teams could do just as well closing their eyes and pointing to names in Steve Martin's phone book.


I do have one draft prediction, however: the team that will improve most from last season to next season will be the Chargers...Not because of anybody they draft next weekend, but because they will welcome back a supposedly healthy Shawne Merriman for '09.

No team will find anybody with that much impact in the draft, no matter how hard they look or how much attention they pay to Mel Kiper.


You can go ahead and continue to love Lance Armstrong if you want to, but one of these days you will get your heart broken. (Just like Sheryl Crow).

Armstrong says he may be barred from this summer's Tour de France because -- his explanation -- the people over in Europe can't stand him. (If true, by the way, kudos to the people over in Europe).

But here's the real reason why Armstrong may not be allowed to compete: Tour officials showed up unannounced at Armstrong's residence and asked him to take a drug test (completely legal, under the rules that govern the sport).

Armstrong said "sure," then disappeared for over 20 minutes, spending most of that time in the shower. Did he just want to look squeaky-clean for the authorities? Or was he increasing his chances of testing squeaky-clean?

You go ahead and decide. Me? I already decided a long time ago on Armstrong. In a sport where every single decent Tour competitor has flunked drug tests over the past decade, I simply can not believe that Armstrong was the only top-flight cyclist who was riding clean.

He has never tested positive for anything (and he reminds of this fact constantly)...but neither has Barry Bonds.


As is always the case, the NBA will get exactly what it wants for this year's NBA Finals -- Kobe and the Lakers versus LeBron and the Cavs. Can it possibly turn out any other way?

Of course, it can't.

And just in case Kevin Garnett does try to make a comeback at some point during the
post-season, believe me when I tell you that David Stern has Jeff Gillooly's phone number on speed dial. One good whack on the knee from Tonya Harding's former husband, and the Celtics will be finished.


We know you don't care much about hockey, but at least the Stanley Cup Playoffs aren't rigged. Sure some teams are better than others, but there's really no way of knowing which two teams will meet in the finals.

My guess is Detroit versus New Jersey...Two teams that have goaltenders that have been there many times before....(By the way, it's too bad you're not watching the playoffs -- or don't know where to find them -- because the Chicago-Calgary game on Thursday night was a blast).


Just how long will the Padres be able to keep this magical early-season run going? My best bet is mid-May or so...the good news is that just as the Friars are falling, the NCAA college baseball tournament will be getting underway.

Don't look now, but both San Diego State (No. 15) and USD (No. 24) are ranked and have a good shot at post-season play. My wish would be for both to win their opening-round regionals and then face-off head-to-head in a 2-out-of-3 Super Regional...with the winner going to the College World Series.

For guys like me who care about the minor sports in San Diego -- and enjoy following them -- an SDSU-USD showdown with everything at stake would be fantastic.

One More Run

Well, thank goodness.  I did not want to see it end like that.  Ladanian Tomlinson has been too special as a San Diego Charger, too great, to just see his career end with an injury, a release, a new team and a new uniform, a Chunky Soup re-shoot in different colors.  In a time when the word loyalty has been replaced by restructuring (as in, we are restructuring as a company so we no longer have loyalty to you, here's the door), it was LT's loyalty to his city and his team which led him to swallow some financial pride and restructure his contract.  

Is it any surprise to see that this deal gets done with LT and Dean Spanos coming to an agreement, and then dragging along the kids who have been battling in the playpen (Smith, Condon)?  The former wear their hearts on their sleeves, the latter both battle ultimately for the bottom line.  This time, heart wins.

But I think the head wins here too.  To me, objectively evaluating the San Diego Chargers' championship chances in 2009-2010, they are closer to the goal with LT and Sproles at running back than they are with an unknown draft pick and Darren Sproles.  Tomlinson has a lot to prove next season, and so do the Chargers.  Both are set for a bounce back year, and for those who believe that LT is washed up and the Bolts are making a mistake, I suggest you continue reading. 

Tomlinson's 2008 was a season of struggle not because he was a step slow, but because his step was slowed by a toe injury which he never let heal.  Right when he was back to himself, exploding from the line against the Broncos, he suffered a detached tendon.  If LT had sat for 4-6 weeks after the opening week injury against the Panthers, he undoubtedly would have run for a higher average, and performed at a higher level.  But LT at that time sublimated his personal interest for the team's interest, believing that they needed him in order to succeed.  

In the weeks that followed he suffered; both the pain of the injury, and the barbs of the critics and loudmouth fans/callers who said he had lost his mojo and was washed up as a running back.  I heard it every week after the Chargers lost, back when they used to let me go on the radio every day.  Amazingly, people called HIM selfish for playing in pain.  A selfish player would absolutely have sat down and smiled as his team struggled without him.  LT grimaced and continued, even as the team clanked and stumbled through a 4-8 start.  

At their lowest point, LT got mad.  He said quite famously and hilariously that he would be "God-dogged" if a team of his quit.  Four days later, the patsy Raiders came to town and let LT and the boys run all over them.  Four weeks after that, the Chargers were beating the Colts in the playoffs, with LT breaking away on the first play of the game for a 14-yard run, grimacing once again, this time on a detached tendon.  Darren Sproles took it from there, but he couldn't take it all the way to the Super Bowl.  The Chargers will need LT for that.

Next season's roster and salary cap choices will be tougher than this year's, and the Bolts have already had to jump through some hoops to keep their backfield intact.  Shawne Merriman might not be a Charger in 2010, Cromartie might be gone, and that's just the start of it.  This intriguing, electric, aggravating, and varied collection of talent is here for one more run, and then it may scatter to the wind.  For all we know, by 2011, the Chargers could be in the City of Industry.  

This is no time to part ways with a legend in a cold-hearted salary cap move.  This is the time to get everyone together, read them Henry V's speech about "once more unto the breech dear friends", and then do everything humanly possible as an organization to win the Super Bowl in 2009.  The championship window for this team, this time, is still open, thanks to bringing back Ladanian Tomlinson.  The window WILL close at the end of the year.  It may reopen again soon, or it may not.  But we Charger fans, we happy few, should celebrate the fact that indeed, we will have one more run at the top.  Let's hope that this time they get it right.