Glen Cieske
All-Star
With the pre-season well underway it is time to take a look at what is in store for the San Diego Chargers in 2017.
Stadium
This is the Chargers inaugural year in there new stadium. It was finished just in time for the first pre-season game of the season when the Chargers took on the Indianapolis Colts and came out with their first win in their new stadium. The atmosphere was electric and the players responded winning by the score of 20-3.
New Look Defense
The buzz around the Chargers extends beyond the new stadium. The Chargers are boasting a new look defense, a hybrid defense, a mix of the 3-4 and 4-3. The front office has been working towards this from Day 1 when they took over 2 years ago and they went out and completed that task this year by signing free agent NT Phil Taylor and OLB Adrian Hubbard. Then selecting MLB Avery Arnold and DE Sam Rivera. (More on the Rookies in a bit). Eric Weddle made the transition to SS seem effortless and the coaches believe by moving Chris Cook to FS that gives them the best chance to prevent the long pass, something that hurt them all season and ended up being what ended their season in the playoffs against the Steelers.
Slight changes on offense
Now that Aerion Hunter has made it through his Rookie year, the coaches are going to expect more out of him in the upcoming season. Expect the Chargers to air it out more frequently, while the run is still a very important part of the offense, they want Hunter to push closer to 4,000 yards passing and lower the amount of interception compared to last year.
Melvin Gordon and Aundre Frazier will split carries once again. Frazier is off to a hot start in the pre-season and will push for even more carries during the course of the season.
Ben Hall, the do it all WR will move into the #2 role in the offense. Keenan Allen is still the man in San Diego but Ben Hall will be leaned on to take the load off of him.
The Rookies
This rookie class could be the best one of yet. The Chargers traded up from 24 to 14 to select Avery Arnold, the 6'1 244lb MLB was exactly what the Chargers were looking for in this draft. His speed (86) pursuit (84) Zone Coverage (72) and Tackling (90) make him the day one starter.
In the second round the Chargers got, arguably, the best player in the draft - Sam Rivera. 6'1" 297lb RE, The Chargers really liked his athleticism, Speed (76) Acceleration (88) Agility (80) Strength (93). Rivera could end up being the Chargers version of JJ Watt.
In the Third, the Chargers selected DE DeAndre Gordon, a developmental pick showed great ability to tackle (87), great hit power (81) and superb strength (91). Gordon is expected to get some playing time during the year.
In the fourth the Chargers selected RG John Reed, the 6'4" 312 lineman may not have been the flashy pick but shined when he got to camp and that is when Chargers realized what they had, (Ovr 76) John Reed's potential (Superstar dev) shined during Rookie camp as he took on fellow rookie Sam Rivera in one on one drills. Reed could end up being the starter after a few years,
The last notable pick pick came in the 7th round when the Chargers selected Kicker Harris Russell, Russell has the Power (93) and Accuracy (88) to come in and make an impact immediately.
