ESPN Jeremy Green
Chargers D suddenly a big question mark
posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers' loss in Kansas City this week looks like it's going to be a lot more costly than one game in the loss column.
The Chargers lost OLB Shaun Phillips for the next four-to-six weeks with a calf injury. Phillips is the Chargers' season leader in sacks with six. He was filling in for Steve Foley, who will miss the rest of the season after an off-the-field incident in which he was shot.
Then, after the game, the shocker: As reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen, star OLB Shawne Merriman will be suspended the next four games due to a violation of the NFL's steroids and related substances policy.
Suddenly, the Chargers could be without their top three pass rushers for the next month. DE Igor Olshansky is going to miss the next month after knee surgery, too. All of a sudden, one of the deepest defenses in the NFL is thinning in a hurry.
The Chargers still have some solid depth at LB, but most of it is on the inside, where Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm are their two top backups. The first train of thought is potentially to move Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey outside, but then you would be affecting four positions instead of two. Whatever the options are, they must figure them out quickly.
The Chargers, who have had a cream puff schedule up until this road trip to Kansas City, are getting ready for a tough stretch, too. Three of San Diego's next four games are against potential playoff teams (St. Louis, at Cincinnati, at Denver).
I think the biggest thing to point out with the loss of these players is it will now have an affect on the entire defense. Not only does it hurt the OLB position and the Chargers' ability to play the run, but it is going to have a profound effect on the secondary.
The secondary is the weak link of this Chargers team and that reared its ugly head Sunday when it could not get pressure on the QB. Kansas City's Damon Huard was sacked only two times, had a ton of time in the pocket, and picked this Chargers secondary apart.
Earlier Sunday we talked about the Chargers potentially having the best defense in the NFL. Twelve hours later, we're trying to figure out how this team is going to get lined up next weekend.
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I'll take your word for it.
