San Diego Chargers 2013 Schedule

Here is the official 2013 schedule for the Chargers.

Preseason
August 8th: vs Seattle
August 15th: at Chicago  ESPN
August 24th: at Arizona
August 29: vs San Francisco

Regular Season
September 9th: vs Houston  ESPN
September 15th: at Philadelphia  CBS
September 22th: at Tennessee   CBS
September 29th: vs Dallas  FOX
October 6th: at Oakland  CBS
October 14th: vs Indianapolis  ESPN
October 20th: at Jacksonville  CBS
November 3rd: at Washington  CBS
November 10th: vs Denver  CBS
November 17th: at Miami  CBS
November 24th: at Kansas City  CBS
December 1st: vs Cincinnati  CBS
December 8th: vs Giants  FOX
December 12th: at Denver  NFL NETWORK
December 22nd: vs Oakland  CBS
December 29th: vs Kansas City  CBS 

Why is Don Coryell Not in the Hall of Fame?

The NFL Hall of Fame is where the league places those individuals who have achieved a superior level of greatness at their position or have revolutionized the game. It is a way to honor the achievements and success of these people while acknowledging what they have meant to the NFL. When looking at the members of the Hall of Fame, one can't help but feel amazed and in awe. Yet when examining the list of coaches in the Hall of Fame, one name seems to be missing. It makes no real sense as to why it wouldn't be there. Don Coryell is not in the Hall of Fame.

Coryell was an inovative genius. While not the creator of the I formation, Coryell was a pioneer of it, helping John McKay run the offense at USC in 1960. He is given credit for developing the vertical passing game into what it has become today, with the likes of Joe Gibbs, Mike Martz, and Ernie Zampese winning Super Bowls employing similar systems. He also tutored Al Saunders, Jim Hanifan, and Rod Dowhower. Even further down the line comes Norv Turner and Dan Henning, who tutored under Zampese and Gibbs respectively. John Madden was a student of Coryell while he coached at San Diego State and considered Don to be one of the biggest influences on him as a coach.

Coryell's Chargers were one of the most successful offensive teams that the NFL has ever seen. Quarterback Dan Fouts spearheaded Coryell's devastating passing attack with the likes of Kellen Winslow and Charlie Joiner. All three are in the Hall of Fame today in part because of the system that Coryell brought to the team. Winslow revolutionized the tight end position to what we are seeing today with the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham.

The simple fact that Coryell is not in the Hall of Fame is unfathomable. We are talking about a man who revolutionized the game of football not once, but twice. As Dan Fouts stated, "He influenced offiensive and defensive football because if you were going to have three or four receivers out there, you better have an answer for it on the other side of the ball". The system that Coryell created forced teams to devlop new ways to handle the situations presented by the Chargers offense. Fouts brought up a great point by asking who had really heard of a nickel or dime defensive package before Air Coryell?

Some will argue that Coryell doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame because of his 3-6 playoff record and the way his defenses performed, but those are things that can be overlooked. I know that there are players who deserve to get in that have been waiting for some time now, but Coryell deserves a spot for all of the ideas and concepts that he contributed to the NFL that make it so successful today. His influence as a coach cannot be ignored anymore. The man was far to successful to not be in the Hall of Fame. The best news was that he finally did make the final 15 cut in 2010, but he has yet to advance farther than that. Former coaches and players like Madden, Gibbs, and Fouts will continue to lobby for his placement in the Hall of Fame.

Seau's 55 to be Retired

The San Diego Chargers have announced that Junior Seau's number 55 will be retired. Seau, who tragically ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, is the most accomplished and decorated defensive player in Charger history. Seau, who was drafted 5th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, played for the Chargers until 2003. Seau had an outstanding 20 year career and ranks only behind Clay Matthews at the linebacker position for most career games. He is a sure fired first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame. Seau went to 12 straight Pro Bowls as a Charger. Seau joins Lance Alworth and Dan Fouts as the only Chargers to have their numbers retired. Fouts wore 14 while Alworth wore 19. Seau's number will be retired September 16th.

AFC West Quarterback Rankings

Chargers fans get to see this matchup twice a year now.

No position can be as big of a game changer as quarterback. How well a quarterback plays often determines who wins and loses. Here is the breakdown on the starting quarterback situations for each AFC West team.

1) San Diego Chargers

There is no doubt that Rivers is the cream of the crop in the AFC West. I know that Peyton Manning has been added, but until we know for sure how he throws in a game situation, Rivers is still the best. Last season was a rough one for Rivers, but it happens. He may have the best supporting cast in the AFC West around him too. The offensive line will return all of the pieces that protected him so well at the end of last season. Better yet, they added quality depth to the line. Look for Rivers to have 2 great duals against new Bronco Peyton Manning and return to form.

2) Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning is the guy that Elway wanted. Tebow got thrown under the bus and now Peyton is in charge. If he fully recovers from the neck surgeries, look out. He may not have the best supporting cast around him, but he will have control of the offense like he had in Indy. With young developing players like Eric Decker and Demaryious Thomas to work with, Manning isn't in a talent vacuum.

3) Oakland Raiders

Carson Palmer is a real unknown. What does he even have left? He was all over the place last year, so a full off-season with the team can certainly help. His supporting cast is not very strong at all, especially at tight end, but he is a veteran with good experience. It will be interesting to see how this pans out with a full season. It is critical that Mcfadden stays healthy all year.

4) Kansas City Chiefs

How many more chances is Cassel going to get? He has been hit and miss the last few years, and is most likely on a short leash. He does have great talent around him with Baldwin, Bowe, and company. Cassel has to show that he can be the franchise quarterback he was thought to be. Expect the pressure to be on him from the get go.

Remembering Seau

The death of Junior Seau is nothing but tragic, regardless of how you look at it. A man gone in the prime of his life. Seau will be remembered for his tough play but kind and compassionate heart. His charity involvement has impacted the lives of many. He became a fan favorite wherever he went, wether that be San Diego, Miami, or New England.

There is no way to know yet if Seau suffered brain injuries due to football that may have contributed to his suicide. It is a question that has been weighing heavily on everyone as of late, and rightfully so. Brain injuries are having a terrible effect on former players. Just stop and think how many lawsuits the NFL is facing due to the issues associated with these brain injuries. The league waited far to long to act on information and is now paying a price for it. I do have to commend them for stepping things up now, but the damage has already been done. Countless players are going to have to face very tough times as they cope with these injuries. It is very likely that Seau had issues that we didn't know about. He was a tough and fierce competitor. Until the facts are in though, we know very little as to what happened.

Yet even with all of the uncertainty, all of the confusion, we still don't know the truth yet. For the time being, let us focus on the memory of Seau and let the data come to us. Remember the man who helped so many in the San Diego area. Remember the man who played football for 20 years, who everyday approched the game with a love and a passion that most of us only wish we could have for our job. This is a time to grieve and a time to reflect. You will be missed Junior.

A Look Ahead: Biggest Games on the Chargers Schedule

While the official schedule has not been set, teams do know who they will be playing. With that in mind, here are 5 games to watch this season.

1) Denver at San Diego

I know that this game will happen twice this year, so lets go with the Chargers home game against the Broncos. This game has serious draw. With the exception of the Patriots, no team vexed Manning more while in Indy than the Chargers. Rivers gets to dual with Manning at home. Denver is possibly the only team in the league that will look so different and is a division rival. What is there not to like?

2) Baltimore at San Diego

The Ravens are one of the most physical teams in the NFL. This game will be brutal, regardless of the final score. The Ravens are one of 6 teams the Chargers play that were playoff teams last year. The Ravens advanced the farthest of any of the 6. With the influx of former Ravens on the team, expect this to be a great battle.

3) San Diego at New Orleans

I know that the Saints defense is going to be hindered during at least part of the season, but we don't yet know when the Chargers will be playing the Saints. What we will have is two great offenses going toe to toe. This game should be an offensive highlight reel waiting to happen. New Charger Robert Meachem gets a homecoming game against his former team and the Chargers face former quarterback Drew Brees.

4) San Diego at New York Jets

These two teams have produced some good games the last few years, and there is a bit of bad blood. We get to hear Rex Ryan run his big trap for a whole week about this game, which is always entertaining. What is most intriging is that San Diego just may end up facing Tebow this year after all.

5) San Diego at Tampa Bay

This game has been on the radar ever since Vincent Jackson signed with the Bucs. While the Bucs took a step back last year, this is still a very talented team with plenty of youth. The Chargers should be looking forward to this one, especially after all of the headaches that Jackson caused the last two years.

ESPN Power Rankings: Where is San Diego?

ESPN has put up the first power-rankings of the new year. San Diego came in at 15th overall. Here is a link to the ESPN article.

 http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/56065/espn-coms-nfl-pre-draft-power-rankings

How does the AFC West stack up in ESPN's power rankings?

Some of the rankings have me a bit confused, like with Carolina and Kansas City being ranked higher than Cincinnati,  but I think that San Diego is checking in about where they should be. This isn't to say that they are worse than the Broncos (8th), Eagles (12th), or Dallas (14th), or that we are any better. Rather, with all of the losses San Diego has suffered and the uncertainty that comes with signing free agents, these rankings are rough. As the draft approaches and teams continue to address issues, expect these ranking to fluctuate. San Diego still controls the division, but Denver is going to be a handful if Manning stays healthy.

Here is how the AFC West stacks up.

8) Denver Broncos
15) San Diego Chargers
17) Kansas City Chiefs
26) Oakland Raiders

Chargers Draft Prospects: Robert Turbin

San Diego lost Mike Tolbert to the Carolina Panthers, leaving them to return closer to home for a reduced offer. San Diego has been rumored to be looking at 4 free agents to replace him, but it is very possible that the Chargers may target a back in the draft as a replacement for Tolbert. It is possible that Utah State running back Robert Turbin may be considered by the Chargers.

Position: RB
Height: 5' 10''
Weight: 222 pounds

Pros: Turbin has been turning heads at Utah State for several years. He is not a one year wonder. Turbin possesses great upper body strength, which he uses to excel at running between the tackles as well as picking up blitzes. He has strong leg drive and surprising agility and acceleration when heading upfield for a back his size. Turbin can also catch the ball out of the backfield, adding another skill to what he can bring to the team. His ability to deliver a strong impact may very well help him contribute on special teams as well.

Cons: While Turbin does possess good speed for a back his size, he still doesn't have great top end speed. He also doesn't possess lateral agility, but that is to be expected with a bigger back. it very well is something that he could improve over time. What is most concerning is Turbin's injury report. He missed all of 2010 with an ACL injury and had a foot injury in 2007. These injuries are much easier to recover from today, but it will still be enough for a team to consult with their doctors extensively.

Turbin brings several skill sets to the table, filling the role of goal-line back, receiver out of the backfield, at minimum a good spell back, and possibly contribute on special teams. Turbin is a back who may be drafted later in the draft due to the limited value placed on running backs in the now pass happy NFL. Adding Turbin for a minimal investment could pay huge dividends for the team. It will be interesting to see how San Diego approaches the draft and the remaining free agency class.

AFC West Free Agency Review

San Diego Chargers

Lost: Vincent Jackson (Bucs), Steve Gregory (Patriots), Billy Volek (Released), Marcus McNeill (Cut), Luis Castillo (Released)

Signed: Robert Meachem, Atari Bigby, Jarret Johnson, Le'Ron McClain, Jared Gaither, Eddie Royal, Charlie Whitehurst

Denver Broncos

Lost: Eddie Royal (Chargers)

Signed: Mike Adams (Browns)

Kansas City Chiefs

Lost: Brandon Carr (Cowboys), Kyle Orton (Cowboys), Le'Ron McClain (Chargers)

Signed: Kevin Boss (Raiders), Peyton Hillis (Browns)

Oakland Raiders

Lost: Kevin Boss (Chiefs), Chaz Schiliens (Jets),  Rock Cartwright (49ers), Jason Campbell (Bears)

Signed: Ron Bartell (Rams), Mike Brisiel (Texans)

Each team has numerous free agents who have not signed with anybody yet, so for the time being, these are just the moves we know have happened for sure.