FanHouse SanDiego

All off-season long, we heard about how the Chargers defensive backfield and offensive line were going to be huge question marks in 2006. Those question marks have since turned into exclamation points, and in a good way.

AJ Smith and the Chargers front office went out this off-season and acquired a quietly stellar player in Marlon McCree, a veteran safety who is known for contributing everywhere he has played. He is a smart guy who has an excellent understanding of the game, and has really assumed a leadership role on the team.

Come draft time the Chargers leaped on the chance to get Antonio Cromartie 19th overall, a player who many feel was the most athletically gifted cornerback since Deion Sanders.

The team also resigned Quentin Jammer long-term, and hope that he and Drayton Florence can continue to progress into physical cover corners. Terrence Kiel, the safety opposite McCree, has become fully healthy and brings a great physical play to the strong safety position in Wade Philips 3-4 defense.

All of the sudden, the secondary is much improved with a few key acquisitions and progressive improvement among the veterans.

Two games into the season and the Chargers possess one of the stingiest defensive backfields in the league. Jammer has an interception (his big knock against him, low INT totals) and the unit as a whole has many broken up passes, due mainly to some heavy hitting. If anything, they could continue to work on improving their hands, because some potential INTs have been dropped. Overall, the unit that used to play timidly and afraid to make a mistake is now flying around aggressively and eager to make a play.

As for the offensive line in San Diego, they have kept Rivers from being sacked and paved the way for an offense that has averaged 217.5 yards a game rushing and has totaled 5 rushing touchdowns.

Marcus McNeil, the Chargers rookie starting Left Tackle, has been tremendous. He was an absolute steal in the second round...Marcus had a first round grade during college but teams were scared away by a permanent back condition that he has. Regardless, it has not slowed him down and McNeil may very well have the best year of any rookie lineman. He plays with great confidence and the NFL does not seem to be overwhelming him in the least bit. He absolutely negates pass rushers and has great speed getting downfield in run blocks. The Chargers exploit his abilities well...LT may have found a new best friend.

Center Nick Hardwick took it upon himself to gain weight during the off-season and comes into this year 25lbs heaver. He was resigned long-term along with Right Tackle Shane Olivea. Both players were starters as rookies in 2004 and will continue to improve. Thus far, the unit as a whole has been impressive and has dominated the line of scrimmage - allowing Philip Rivers time to find receivers and the running game to consistently function at a high level.

Looking for problems in the offensive line or defensive backfield? You won't find them in San Diego.

At a Tuesday press-conference, Shawne Merriman said he wasn't fully satisfied with his play:

"You look at little things and think you could do a lot better. There was one time where I got up the field too far. I got called offsides on another. I have to correct those things."

After one game, Shawne Merriman is already tied for the league lead in sacks...he has three, along with six tackles. If he stays at this pace, he will end up with a whopping 48 sacks and 96 tackles! OK, kinda silly to project his numbers after just one game. But the guy is scary good and the defense around him is also very good.

Last week Derrick Burgess of the Raiders (2005 NFL sack leader) called Merriman

"the most dominant player I've seen since I've been in the league. He's exceptional. It takes a special player to be that big and fast and to have that mentality as a rookie."

Honestly, if he approaches 20 sacks this year and helps lead the Chargers to a playoff berth, Merriman could be a serious candidate for NFL MVP. He is as good at what he does as any player in the league. He certainly has the star power, has the drive to be the best, and could become the next face of the NFL. The Chargers are becoming a trendy team, as well they should be. They have elite players on all sides of the ball and the best uniforms in the NFL.

The last defensive player to win the NFL MVP award? Lawrence Taylor, 20 years ago. The original LT is the player Merriman is most often compared to. Taylor was also the defensive rookie of the year, and was the most dominant player at his position for years. I think Merriman has a legit shot, and frankly, its about time that the award went to someone other than a Quarterback or Running back.

Merriman's next victim? Kerry Collins. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher probably feels more comfortable about throwing the thirty-something year old to the wolves, rather than risking the health of Vince 'The Franchise' Young.

After seeing what the Jets did to Collins, imagine the day Merriman and the Chargers defense will have with him - at San Diego no less. You can be sure Merriman and crew will be looking to put on a show for the hometown crowd. Do yourself and favor and watch this game (and thank your lucky stars you aren't playing QB for the Titans).

Ten wins and a wild card berth. Heck, sign me up! Like AJ Smith says, just get in the tournament.

2. * San Diego, 10-6. I really loved the defense -- until Steve Foley got shot three times after being chased by a cop Saturday night. Foley's a physical, 265-pound pass- and run-stopping fiend who was perfect in Marty Schottenheimer's heavy defense, and now we don't know if he'll play this year. Until Foley's incident, the biggest worry was whether Philip Rivers could reprise Brees' last two seasons. I'm bullish on Rivers, but he hasn't done it yet.

Finishing 9-7 and missing the playoffs last year may have been a blessing in disguise for the Chargers. As a result of coming in third in the AFC West, The Chargers play in the toughest division in football, with three playoff contending teams in it. A split between the Broncos and Chiefs would put them right at 2-2 and if they can sweep the Raiders, you are looking at 4-2 in the division. Let's take a look at the schedule and try to guess how it will all play out:

Sep 11 @ Oakland W

There really is no reason to expect anything else but a win in this game. Marty's track record against the Raiders is crazy.

Sep 17 Tennessee W

This is a good win to have. Coming home to San Diego, the Chargers will put on a show for the fans and light the Titans up.

Week 3 BYE

I don't think having bye week come in week 3 is a good thing. This team needs to start fast and this bye messes with momentum.

Oct 1 @ Baltimore L

Very tough team. They have enough playmakers on defense to cover the Chargers. It will be up to Rivers to beat this defense, and that may be asking too much.

Oct 8 Pittsburgh W

Another tough team with playmakers on Defense. However, using the lessons learned from the previous week, and with Rivers vs. Big Ben on the marquee, the Chargers pull off the win.

Oct 15 @ San Francisco W

Easy win. Alex Smith, a San Diego native, gets to met Shawne Merriman, a Maryland native. What does this mean? Not much, other lots of 'Lights Out!' dances.

Oct 22 @ Kansas City L

Starting @ Arrowhead for the first time will be an experience for Rivers. But its one place he will have to get used to. Larry Johnson, still fresh, wins the game on the ground.

Oct 29 St. Louis W

The Chargers are one of the few teams that can shut down Steven Jackson this year. 'The Predator' will have a big year, but not on this week.

Nov 5 Cleveland W

The Chargers will show the Browns how to run the 3-4. The Browns take notes. San Diego native Kellen Winslow Jr. comes home but is shut down.

Nov 12 @ Cincinnati L

Palmer shreds an otherwise solid Chargers secondary. The Bengals won't run on the Chargers, but they won't have to. Cinci wins in a shootout.

Nov 19 @ Denver L

Tough loss at Cincinnati and then the Chargers have to go to Invesco Field. The Broncos always play the Chargers tough, and hand them a close loss.

Nov 26 Oakland W

The closest thing to a guaranteed victory on the schedule. Chargers destroy the Raiders at home.

Dec 3 @ Buffalo W

The Chargers D shuts down the Buffalo run game, and makes JP Losman want to quit football altogether.

Dec 10 Denver W

Broncos lose to the Chargers in a blow out. They will use the lessons they learned from their first meeting and combine that with the momentum of wins they have gained, and destroy Denver.

Dec 17 Kansas City W

Close game, Larry Johnson is a handful. But he is held to 98 yards and the Chargers remain the best run D in the league.

Dec 24 @ Seattle W

This is an important win as it could decide the division. The Chargers will need the last 2 wins to finish 12-4 and take the AFC West crown.

Dec 31 Arizona W

The Chargers cannot afford to rest their starters because the AFC West Championship is on the line between them and Denver. So the Chargers hand it to the Cards, who can't run the ball at all and cant protect their QB from all of the pass rushers.

In my view, I can see 4 maybe 5 potential losses on the schedule. The Chargers really are this good. A 12-4 finish, even with Rivers at the helm, is well within reach. Having a punishing defense, the best player in football, and a head coach who knows how to win games can carry a team a long way.