The San Diego Chargers still have weapons on offense

Published: 21^st Mar 12 9:23 am

by Kenny Gardner
San Diego Chargers

RANT It!

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

The San Diego Chargers lost a third of their three headed monster on offense when Vincent Jackson signed a five year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson’s 60 receptions for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns will more than likely be replaced collectively with Robert Meachem, Malcom Floyd and Antonio Gates assuming the latter two can avoid missing games as they did in 2010 and 2011. In 11 games during the 2010 NFL season, Floyd was second on San Diego in receiving yards, receiving yards per game and TD receptions. Floyd led the NFL in yards per reception, led the Lightning Bolts with 71 yards per game, was second on the team with 856 receiving yards and third with five TD receptions in 12 games played during the 2011 NFL season.

Gates appeared in 10 games during the 2010 season and led San Diego in receiving yards, TD receptions and receiving yards per game. He was also second on the team in receptions. Gates played 13 games in 2011 and led the team in receptions, was second in TD receptions, third in yards and third in yards per game. Meachem averaged 43 receptions and about seven TDs per season from 2009-2011 with New Orleans. Meachem may have been overshadowed by other players on the Saints, but he will get his chance to be a primary option on the Chargers.

San Diego still has two thirds of their three headed monster in Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews. Rivers struggled in the first 11 games of 2011 throwing 16 TDs and 17 interceptions. However, he finished the last five games with 11 TDs and only three INTs. Rivers finished 2011 at sixth in passing yards, seventh in completion percentage and eighth in TD passes among NFL QBs. Mathews missed two games in 2011, but still finished 10th in the NFL with 1,091 rushing yards and had the highest yards per attempt average among RBs in the top 10 for rushing yards.