Final 53

[SDFan]

Just looked at that list again and noticed McCoil is missing. There was a lot of talk about him before TC and he looked good on return teams in the PS game Saturday- and the dude is BIG for a DB. I'm thinking he sticks at bottom of roster for ST skills alone, and backfills the role Stuckey and Phillips played the last couple years as it seems those 2 are going to get more game reps now than just playing STs. Unless he's already hit his ceiling in practice and sucks his way off the roster in the next 3 PS games

[TTK]

Just looked at that list again and noticed McCoil is missing. There was a lot of talk about him before TC and he looked good on return teams in the PS game Saturday- and the dude is BIG for a DB. I'm thinking he sticks at bottom of roster for ST skills alone, and backfills the role Stuckey and Phillips played the last couple years as it seems those 2 are going to get more game reps now than just playing STs. Unless he's already hit his ceiling in practice and sucks his way off the roster in the next 3 PS games

I really hope not. I thought Stuckey looked bad at safety. He was the one who allowed that huge TD run. He's Osgood 2.0. Just stick to special teams.

[OhioBolt]

I really hope not. I thought Stuckey looked bad at safety. He was the one who allowed that huge TD run. He's Osgood 2.0. Just stick to special teams.

He took a terrible angle at Murray and actually created the space Murray needed. Yeah that was a bad play!

[Formula 21]

Projecting WR James Jones' role with the Chargers
James Jones brings plenty of experience to the Chargers' wide receiving group, but he doesn't bring special-teams versatility. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
9:49 AM PT

Eric D. WilliamsESPN Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO -- It’s game week.

While the first two preseason games are mostly about evaluating players competing for spots on the back end of the roster, the third exhibition game traditionally serves as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.

That likely will be the case for the San Diego Chargers when they hit the road to face the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday in preseason game No. 3.

A trendy pick to win the NFC North for a second straight season, the Vikings provide another good preview for what the Chargers will see during the regular season -- a physical, fast defense coupled with a strong running game, led by Adrian Peterson.

Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said his team will focus more on itself during Monday and Tuesday’s practices and then switch to more of a conventional game-week preparation later in the week, with the Chargers traveling to Minnesota on Saturday instead of Friday.

“I’m more concerned about us right now,” McCoy said. “There’s game-planning involved in every game. But we’ve got to get better as a team, and that’s going to be my message from here until the rest of the year.”

That said, let’s get to a couple questions from our weekly Chargers mailbag:

@eric_d_williams: The Chargers kept six players at wide receiver last season, in part to protect Tyrell Williams from being snatched up on the waiver wire.

And although San Diego wants to run more two-tight-end and two-running-back sets, they could be in a similar situation this season.

Dontrelle Inman suffered a big hit over the weekend but was not diagnosed with a concussion. Along with that, Williams (groin) and Travis Benjamin (hamstring) are nursing minor injuries, so the Chargers might need to keep around more depth at wide receiver.

James Jones is an obvious choice to stay on the roster for depth because of his lengthy NFL playing experience.

It’s one of the reasons Chargers general manager Tom Telesco decided to sign Jones in August after the team realized Stevie Johnson (knee) could be done for the season. Finding a player like Jones on the free-agent market in Week 3 of the regular season would be difficult.

Jones is valuable because he can play inside and outside, has experience playing in pressure situations and consistently wins 50-50 balls in close coverage.

However, Jones does not play special teams. So if he is the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver on the 53-man roster, the Chargers will lose some versatility on the back end, and might need to keep another receiver who can play special teams and can be active on game days like Isaiah Burse or Javontee Herndon, if he gets healthy.

To sum it up, which players are healthy when the Chargers make roster cuts and how the team wants to play during the regular season will determine the number of players San Diego retains at receiver.

@eric_d_williams: First, we should acknowledge Damion Square’s improvement over the past year. The Alabama product started to come on at the end of last season, earning the role as San Diego’s early-down run stuffer during the final quarter of the 2015 season.

Square has been even more consistent and developed into a playmaker this preseason, with two sacks and a tackle for loss in two exhibition games.

But while Ryan Carrethers has not had the flashy plays like Square, I have seen progress in his play. The key for both has been having a veteran presence like Brandon Mebane on the roster, along with the addition of defensive line coach Giff Smith and coaching intern Jamal Williams.

Square and Carrethers are getting a first-hand look from Mebane how to play the nose tackle position each day in practice, including hand placement and anticipation of where the ball is going to go.

Along with that, the young players get to ask Mebane, Williams and Smith questions during meetings and on the field -- which only helps to further their development.

With Joey Bosa unsigned, Sean Lissemore placed on injured reserve and Tenny Palepoi still working his way back from a foot injury, Carrethers’ case for making the roster is helped.

The Chargers need as many healthy defensive linemen as possible heading into the regular season. And if Carrethers can show he can be counted on to fill a role as a rotational player along the defensive line while Bosa gets into football shape once he signs, Carrethers could find himself on the 53-man roster to begin the season.

[Formula 21]

I never thought much of Damion Square last year. So he really surprised me with his play this preseason. He appears to have good movement skills for a big guy. I hope he and Carrethers make the team.

[blueman]

Agreed on Square. Always thought he was on the roster cuz somebody better got hurt. He's the somebody better now, way to get it done.

[OhioBolt]

WR position is interesting the locks are

1. Allen
2. Benjamin
3. Tyrell Williams
4. James Jones

Next in line

5. Inman (not my choice, but seems this staff has vet loyalty, remember how they keep Donald Brown) I would look at keeping someone who can perform on special teams, I think Benjamin is going to miss a game or two he is only like a 175lbs


6. If we go 6 Isaiah Burse because he does offer special team ability, but I haven't seen anything spectacular out of him in the games, but has shown well in practice


Then the rest

Dom Williams -showed well in Arizona, but I don't think he offers special teams ability-practice squad maybe active roster if Inman gets cut
Javontee Herndon - injuried now, and when had opportunity last year didn't do anything special could be cut
Torrence Allen - practice squad or cut little playing time in pre-season
Rasheed Bailey- just picked up in time to be cut in a few weeks
DeAndre Reaves - I know nothing about him and have heard nothing about him in camp so I am saying he gets cut

[Formula 21]

WR position is interesting the locks are

1. Allen
2. Benjamin
3. Tyrell Williams
4. James Jones

Next in line

5. Inman (not my choice, but seems this staff has vet loyalty, remember how they keep Donald Brown) I would look at keeping someone who can perform on special teams, I think Benjamin is going to miss a game or two he is only like a 175lbs


6. If we go 6 Isaiah Burse because he does offer special team ability, but I haven't seen anything spectacular out of him in the games, but has shown well in practice


Then the rest

Dom Williams -showed well in Arizona, but I don't think he offers special teams ability-practice squad maybe active roster if Inman gets cut
Javontee Herndon - injuried now, and when had opportunity last year didn't do anything special could be cut
Torrence Allen - practice squad or cut little playing time in pre-season
Rasheed Bailey- just picked up in time to be cut in a few weeks
DeAndre Reaves - I know nothing about him and have heard nothing about him in camp so I am saying he gets cut

agree with everything. I'm not even keeping a #6 right now. Keep an OL

[OhioBolt]

agree with everything. I'm not even keeping a #6 right now. Keep an OL

Right with breaking news with Fluker now. Opps I probably shouldn't use the word breaking

[Formula 21]

Somewhere, on somebody's PS, there will be a little gem of a receiver that the team and fans love for the future and are scared of losing. A Tyrell Williams type. That's who I want for our future #6 wr.

[OhioBolt]

Somewhere, on somebody's PS, there will be a little gem of a receiver that the team and fans love for the future and are scared of losing. A Tyrell Williams type. That's who I want for our future #6 wr.

Could that be another Williams as in Dom Williams?

[zoom]

Eric Williams latest (ESPN):

http://www.espn.com/blog/san-diego-chargers/post/_/id/17128/chargers-53-man-roster-projection-includes-ex-cfl-standout-dexter-mccoil

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers must cut their roster to 75 by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday and to 53 by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here’s a final 53-man roster projection:

QUARTERBACK (2): Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens

Undrafted rookie Mike Bercovici has performed better than Zach Mettenberger, making the Arizona State product worth keeping around on the practice squad.

RUNNING BACK (4): Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead, Dreamius Smith, Derek Watt

Losing all-purpose running back Branden Oliver to an Achilles tendon tear is a crushing blow. Chris Swain is pushing Watt for the starting fullback job. Both Swain and Kenneth Farrow are candidates for the practice squad. Farrow has proven to be a physical runner and capable performer in preseason action.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, Dontrelle Inman, Tyrell Williams, James Jones, Isaiah Burse

Burse has been a solid performer, knows all three receiver positions and can also help in a pinch in the return game. Unfortunately Javontee Herndon could never get healthy.

TIGHT END (3): Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry, Sean McGrath

Tim Semisch or Asante Cleveland could be possibilities if the Chargers want to keep four tight ends. San Diego will run more two-tight-end sets this season. McGrath has shown promise as a blocker in the running game.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): King Dunlap, Orlando Franklin, Matt Slauson, D.J. Fluker, Joe Barksdale, Chris Hairston, Kenny Wiggins, Spencer Pulley, Max Tuerk

The loss of seventh-round pick Donavon Clark for the season with an ACL injury hurts the depth here. Marcel Jones, an undrafted rookie out of Nebraska, is a possibility if the Chargers want to keep another player on the active roster for depth. Center Chris Watt should begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.

DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Brandon Mebane, Corey Liuget, Joey Bosa, Darius Philon, Ryan Carrethers, Tenny Palepoi, Chuka Ndulue

Because of the Bosa situation, the Chargers will need to keep more depth here. Damion Square will begin the season on the reserved/suspended list.

LINEBACKER (9): Melvin Ingram, Manti Te'o, Denzel Perryman, Jeremiah Attaochu, Kyle Emanuel, Nick Dzubnar, Tourek Williams, Joshua Perry, Jatavis Brown

Ben Gardner and Chris Landrum have also shone promise, but the Chargers might look to add more depth from the waiver wire during final roster cuts.

DEFENSIVE BACK (10): Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Casey Hayward, Craig Mager, Steve Williams, Jahleel Addae, Dwight Lowery, Adrian Phillips, Darrell Stuckey, Dexter McCoil

This is probably the deepest position group on the team. Undrafted rookie Trevor Williams also has made plays and could be a consideration, although former CFL standout Dexter McCoil makes the cut here.

SPECIALISTS (3): K Josh Lambo, P Drew Kaser, LS Mike Windt.

Kaser has looked like he belongs from the start. His 44.7-yard net punting average is No. 4 in the NFL for exhibition play. Kaser also is tied for third in the league during preseason play with six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.