Chargers have the 8th most talented roster according to PFF

[Steve]

If Hayward continues to shine, he will need to get paid, too. I am really surprised he hasn't raised a fuss already. Must be a really good guy.

TG

He knows the deal. He just signed a new deal, so he has to wait a bit. He was smart in that the deal he signed last year was only a 3-year gig, so he is already playing for the next deal. If we are smart, provided he plays well this year, we sign him to an extension, because he did not sign a very long deal to begin with. He is only signed through 2018, and if he is really outplaying his deal, then it almost forces him to look for huge bucks if he hits FA. Better to lock up the deal next year, or at least show him we are serious then let him hit the street.

[BoltBacker]

With Philip Rivers being 35 yrs old and the style of QB he is I don't see why 4-5 years can't be expected. Sports medicine and conditioning being what it is there is no reason for him not to make it to that neighborhood.

Brees is 38 and showing little signs of slowing down.
Brady at 39 is still the tops in the game.
Aaron Rodgers is 33, only two years younger and know one is even talking about his age. He may be more athletic but that brings higher chance of injury and he uses his athleticism which will fade faster.

Romo and Carson Palmer may be the other side of the coin but they have both dealt with injuries for years. Rivers has stayed relatively healthy similar to the QB's above.

[Steve]

Rivers has never been the problem. We have to get the talent around him to improve. We were close at the end of the Marty/beginning of the Norv era, but we missed a couple of pieces and the rest just never came together.

If some of the younger players can develop into key contributors quickly and we add a couple of OT, then I think we have a pretty good chance to be a serious contender.

[Panamamike]

Rivers has never had an above average graded pass protection OL in any of the last 10 seasons. I hope the interior of the line is much improved tbis season.

[floydefisher]

Rivers has never had an above average graded pass protection OL in any of the last 10 seasons. I hope the interior of the line is much improved tbis season.

It had better be...or his new address might be Loma Linda Hospital.

[Steve]

Quick passing teams will sometimes favor getting better players at OG than OT. New Orleans pays their OG as much as anyone in football. The thinking is that a good OG or C can not only stop the instant penetration and allow the QB to step up in the pocket, but would also improve the running game.

Since we are keeping much of the same offensive scheme, which has a lot of short throws in it, this makes sense for us. It also explains why we drafted Freeney and Lamp, although that may be as much about it being a horrible draft for OT, and getting some of the best player available as it is player personnel ideology.

[floydefisher]

So if we have the 8th best roster, does that mean playoffs are a reasonable expectation?

Apparently not. The two teams with supposedly less talent actually finished ahead of the Chargers.

[Panamamike]

Apparently not. The two teams with supposedly less talent actually finished ahead of the Chargers.

U do realize that they are evaluating the roster at the start of the season. Not the one with 23 players on IR.

[SDFan]

U do realize that they are evaluating the roster at the start of the season. Not the one with 23 players on IR.

and also without the 3 interior OL positions nailed down (likely with 2 of 3 being rookies) and Verrett a ? coming back from surgery and no proven upgrade over Lowery....

[Steve]

Talent is only part of what makes teams win. Teamwork and discipline are not usually grouped in as part of talent.

The question will be if the new coaches can develop the other important qualities so that the team can take advantage of the talent they have.

[blueman]

I'm excited for the coaching staff to not be a liability!

(it's okay I set my expectations kinda low, right?)