Every team dreams of having top five players in every position group, and while the Chargers may not have a top five guy in every single positions group, they have more than their fair share.
For years we have seen teams with combos like the “Killer B’s” in Pittsburgh, “Sacksonville” with the Jaguars. The “No Fly Zone” and the “Legion of Boom” were great secondaries not that long ago. What if the Chargers have their own version of all of these plus more at the exact same time.
The Chargers offense might be the deepest and most talented in all of football. Philip Rivers is having an MVP season this year with over 2,000 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions with a passer rating of 117.3. He is top ten in each category, including being second behind Brees with that passer rating. Melvin Gordon missed week eight with a hamstring but is still fifth in the league in rushing yards with 466. His yards per carry is over five, which seems crazy for a guy who is under four y/c for his career. His six rushing touchdowns are tied with Alvin Kamara for third in the league. That doesn’t even include his above average receiving numbers.
Pair Gordon with Austin Ekeler and you are talking about a duo resembling the Kamara and Mark Ingram duo of last season. Atlanta gets tons of praise for their three talented wide receivers and an above average tight end, as do the Los Angeles Rams. But who is their WR4? The Chargers have Keenan Allen, Mike and Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin. Their tight end position is currently filled by Virgil Green and the G.O.A.T Antonio Gates. That also goes without saying that their best tight end, Hunter Henry, is currently on the PUP list recovering from a torn ACL. Best receiving core in the league?
The offensive line is much improved from last season, in large part to Pouncey filling in at center. The Chargers offense has the stars like the “Killer B’s” but has the depth to match any team in the league. The Chargers offense has taken some of the best components of powerhouse teams in recent years and made it happen on one team.
The defensive line is the best in football. You have two of the five best pass rushers in the NFL, and a great run-stopper in Brandon Mebane. Joey Bosa returning after the bye week makes the Melvin Ingram more dangerous. Corey Luiget is a quiet danger on the line. Jatavius Brown and Denzel Perryman manning the middle are two great tacklers. The secondary is very dangerous with Derwin James flying all over the field. Casey Heyward and Trevor Williams have been great in coverage. That goes without saying the best corner in the league (According to Pro Football Focus) has been Desmond King. They may not be as talented as the “No Fly Zone” or the “Legion of Boom” but they are among the best in the NFL right now.
The Steelers never had a key defensive position group to go with the “Killer B’s”, but the Chargers have stars at nearly every position group. The Chargers are the most well rounded team in football right now. This offseason the only thing the Chargers really needed was a kicker, which they are still struggling with.
Can the Chargers run the table with all of the stars on this team? They are the best team on paper, lets hope they can produce.
Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
