Chargers Lineup
The San Diego Chargers got to the 53-man roster limit this weekend, with a couple of surprising cuts, and a realistic chance what is the roster this morning, will not all be on the roster next Monday night when they open the season in Arizona against the Cardinals.
The Bolts list of waived players included injured WR-Vincent Brown, who was waived injured after missing 5-weeks and all the preseasosn games, with a calf injury. By being waived injured, he could come back in 6-weeks to San Diego, rather than having been put on the injured reserve list for the year, or using a valuable spot on the 8-week IR list.
Also cut was OT-Mike Harris, a former starter at left tackle as a rookie, who was injured last year, and just never really played with any consistency this preseason. Willie Smith, a journeyman, will at least start the season as the swing left and right tackle.
Young linebacker Thomas Keiser was pink-slipped, and could wind up with another team, looking for a special team gunner, or he could come back to San Diego if injuries take a toll, though the position is really deep.
Young quarterback Brad Sorensen, who had two poor preseason games, was taken off the active roster, but might resurface on the 10-man developmental squad to run the scout team practices again..
The numbers game was the real interesting storyline as the cuts were made. The Chargers kept five running backs, though that might be a procedural move. Once every team is down to 53, the Chargers could then put Brandon Oliver or Marion Grice on waivers, figuring another team would not claim an untested rookie and have to put the player on their own roster. Therefore, once cleared thru waivers, Oliver or Grice could wind up on the Bolts practice squad.
They kept 4-tight ends, though David Johnson, the ex-Steeler, is as much fullback as he is H-back or tight end. Ex-Cowboy John Phillips closed preseason fast, and probably saved his job by catching passes and blocking.
On defense, this number cannot be what they expect to open the season with. The Chargers have only 6-defensive lineman, and two of them are nicked up, in Sean Lissimore and Lawrence Guy, and one is a raw rookie Ryan Carrethers. Of course, you could always put Dwight Freeney back down with his hand in the dirt as an end in the defense.
The Chargers kept 10-linebackers, including Tourek Williams, the small college talent, who has had an active preseason, and the ex-Colt Kavell Connor, who may replace Manti Te’o if those foot problems linger.
In the secondary, the Chargers seem thin at cornerback. lst round pick Jason Verrett will play in sub packages, with Brandon Flowers as the starter. The surprise was the decision to hold onto Stevie Williams, who was skewered in games in coverage, as well as rookie Chris Davis.
The Bolts have 5-corners, and 5-safeties, though Richard Marshall could jump back from safety to corner if one of the kids falters.
Still to be determined is whether the numbers change, if the Chargers find somebody they think can play at nose-tackle in place of the injured Kwame Gaethers. That might be a reach for very few true nose tackles were put on the waiver lists, meaning the Chargers will be young, thin, and a bit beat up in the defensive front as the season starts.
But keep in mind, what is on the roster today, might not be all their by next Monday night kickoff in Arizona.
Chargers final cuts: Most notable names:
Vincent Brown-WR..Brad Sorensen-OB..Thomas Keiser-LB..Mike Harris-OT..Tavin Reese-WR..Crezdon Butler-CB…Corrado Law-DE…Doug Worthington-DE…Joe Kruger-DE…Alden Darby-CB…Jevontee Herndon-WR.
Chargers 53-Man Active Roster-10 Developmental Squad players still to be signed.
QB (2)
Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens
RB (5)
Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown, Branden Oliver, Marion Grice
OL (8)
King Dunlap, Chad Rinehart, Nick Hardwick, Johnnie Troutman, D.J. Fluker, Chris Watt, Rich Ohrnberger, Willie Smith
WR (5)
Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Eddie Royal, Dontrelle Inman, Seyi Ajirotutu
TE (4)
Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green, David Johnson, John Phillips
DL (6)
Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes, Sean Lissemore, Lawrence Guy, Ryan Carrethers, Tenny Palepoi
OLB (5)
Melvin Ingram, Jarret Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jerry Attaochu, Tourek Williams
ILB (5)
Donald Butler, Manti Te’o, Kavell Conner, Reggie Walker, Andrew Gachkar
CB (5)
Shareece Wright, Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Steve Williams, Chris Davis
Safety (5)
Eric Weddle, Marcus Gilchrist, Jahleel Addae, Darrell Stuckey, Richard Marshall
Kicker (1)
Nick Novak
Punter (1)
Mike Scifres
Long snapper (1)
Mike Windt
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