The first week of March has come and gone. The news has been all about releases and free agency so far so I would like to take this Sunday opportunity to take a peek into the future of the organization.

Of course, I could only be talking about the NFL Draft.

I always wait until the combine results come in before I start thinking about the draft. Everyone should have figured out where I’m going right now. It’s time to start talking about running backs for obvious reasons. Two of our veterans have already been released and Darren Sproles is being allowed to test free agency, so there is a ton of space on the roster. Let’s face it, folks. The position is thin. Of course I will continue to track LaDainian Tomlinson, wherever he may go, and I will keep an outside eye on free agent running backs. However, we all know that we always draft ours young and prepare our workhorse for the way we like to do things. We need to think younger certain positions in order to stay on top.

You may have noticed the poll that I put up asking you to vote for your favorite potential Chargers runner. (Then again, you may not have, so feel free to voice your opinions in the comment section that can be found at the bottom of each individual blog.) I would love to hear your opinions and questions. I love the opportunity to expand on my writing and give some personalized answers or rebuttals.

Unless I hear a cry or two for another contender, I am just going to touch on the main people that I would like to see wearing Charger blue for the foreseeable future.

Let’s take a look at the guy everybody seems to be talking about. Of course I mean C.J. Spiller.

The upside: Spiller is flat out dangerous. He is explosive enough to get big plays and score, and with the team being as pass happy as they are, this will take loads of pressure off of the arm of Phillip Rivers. With our Pro-Bowl quarterback, tight end, and receivers, and a runner like Spiller in the back field, we will be Super Bowl contenders for years and years to come. C.J. shows great hands out of the back field, as well the patience and nose for the hole that he needs to stay upright on his way through the gap. Not to mention that he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. Second only to Jahvid Best in speed.

The downside: Sometimes Spiller takes just a little too long to find the hole and ends up losing yardage. He also weighs in at just 196 lbs. He needs to bulk up and maybe that would erase his weaknesses in pass protection.

Another thing to note is that the Seattle Seahawks DESPERATELY need a running back and they will most likely take Spiller with the 14th overall pick. It is most likely that we will take either Ryan Matthews, Jahvid Best, or possibly Ben Tate with the 28th overall pick of the draft. Both would be fantastic additions. We could use big strong runners like either of them.

Let’s look at Ryan Matthews first.

Upside: He has good speed, but needs to work on sustaining it over long distances. I list this as a plus because he is very strong. Strong enough to stiff arm his way out of a tackle and fight for extra yardage. If he works on greater speed and endurance as well then he could be a big play threat. Overall he is a VERY productive runner.

Downside: Needs to learn how to play out in space, once he gets to it, and needs to work on catching the ball and pass protection. Mostly picking up the blitz. This must be a priority at the next level.

Moving on to Jahvid Best.

Upside: Incredible speed. He turned in a time of 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was the fastest of all of the running backs. He is incredibly elusive, with an ability to get through smaller lanes, and despite being just 199 lbs. is not afraid to get physical and fight for extra yardage. Also very productive as a receiver.

Downside: It has to be his size. Despite not being afraid of the contact he wont be able to push the pile in the NFL unless he bulks up and get stronger. That is the only way he would be an every-down kind of back.

Last, but not least, Ben Tate.

Upside: Loves to run downhill and does not waste time. You will rarely get negative yardage out of this guy. He is a wonderful balance of size and speed. He has the potential to be great and a workhorse for many seasons. If he gets even faster and more powerful then he will be a monster.

Downside: Not particularly elusive out on the edge. Needs to get stronger if he is going to survive with that style. He has great speed but needs to work on his cuts and he needs to learn how to make people miss. Otherwise, he has wonderful potential.

I hope this helps you guys stay excited up until draft day. I know I will. Feel free to blow up the comments section. I would love to see this blog get more interactive with you guys.

It hasn’t been more than two days since the Chargers announced that they would not be retaining Kassim Osgood,in accordance with his wishes, and the special team star is finally getting what he wants. He will be a wide receiver instead of the special teams gem that he has been for us through the past five of his 7 total seasons in San Diego. There was simply no room for him in the offense with players like Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, and Malcolm Floyd leading the team in receiving.

The Jacksonville Jaguars is getting an Osgood with relatively low mileage, which is an incredible find as he is incredibly athletic and a two-time Pro Bowler on top of that. Sadly, he will be leaving his home. He even played at San Diego State University. It’s sad that he wasn’t as involved in the offense as he was in his early years. This past season, he only had one reception for 17 yards against the Washington Redskins.

I have a feeling that in his new city and new gear, we will see Osgood be very productive with that new team fire in his belly. He will want to make an impression so that he can be taken seriously as a receiver and keep that role in his years to come. He has the potential and he is an incredible athlete. Look for him to give his all out there.

It is very sad that all we can talk about lately is Chargers that are leaving. Just stay classy, and things will look up. Hopefully this off-season will not end as depressing as it began. There will be some new faces this season. This team is getting younger so we can contend with the best of them for years to come. We will move on from all of these well loved faces and wish them the best. For the moments and pain they gave us while they were here, they deserve nothing less.

More breaking free agency news today. This one is going to make the NFC a little more interesting. Former Chargers tight end, Brandon Manumaleuna has signed with the Chicago Bearsand he isn’t the only new face heading to the windy city. The Bears have also signed Chester Taylor, who was the counter punch to Adrian Peterson on the Vikings, but that isn’t the biggest news for Chicago either.

Chicago has won the Julius Peppers sweepstakes which will mean loads to the hearts of Bears fans after the early death of Gaines Adams. My heart goes out to NFL fans everywhere who loved him.

What surprises me the most is how big of a spending spree the unlikely Bears have embarked on. Manumaleuna will enjoy $6 million in guaranteed salary to be a blocking tight end while Chester Taylor grabs $7 million in guarantees but most likely wont be the starting tail back. Julius Peppers is looking like he will get a whopping $40 million guaranteed, and $72 million total, for six years of his sack-services. I can’t wait to see him and a healthy Brian Urlacher disrupt some offenses.

Best of luck to you, Brandon, Chester, and Julius. Enjoy your new home.

Cromartie-Scope has ended! Antonio Cromartie was traded to the New York Jets just hours ago for an undisclosed draft choice in the 2011 draft. I hope this works out well for both sides, so far Charger fans are either upset because they feel like he (or we) got a raw deal while others are completely indifferent.

Cromartie was once full of promise, but that story is now myth. After a phenomenal 2007 season in which he had ten interceptions, he has a grand total of five in the past two seasons. It goes to show that if you complain enough about your defensive scheme, nobody will want to listen anymore and you will be traded off for a pick that’s far from having its value determined anyways. He loved to complain that the Chargers “play too much zone” and his talent was wasted.

Personally, I believe that the low stats say it all. He has been way too distracted over the past two seasons and who could argue with that? The man has seven children in five states and has been on the wrong end of several paternity/child support related lawsuits.

Enjoy, New York. Things are going to get interesting if he starts complaining about an elite defense or starts a crop of east coast paternity nightmares. Funnily enough, Jets fans seem to be excited about this deal. I wonder how long that is going to last if Cromartie doesn’t clean up his act. I don’t know if there is enough room for such a drama king with Rex Ryan mulling about. Offenses beware, though. Cromartie is a great player when he is not distracted and the already scary Jets secondary just got a little scarier.

Free agency begins and we have some work to do. Fortunately, we are very prapared for this off season. Maybe not emotionally, but we have a good handle on things on the business side of the game.

Personally, I’m still realing from the realization that LaDainian Tomlinson is not a Charger anymore, now I find out that Jamal Williams is on his way out the door as well after a disappointing, and injury ridden, season in which he saw limited playing time. Veteran running back Michael Bennet has also been released.

It’s a very sad offseason this year. This is the hardest part of running an organization like the Chargers. Tough decisions must be made as we get ever closer to that elusive first NFL championship.

There is work to be done, because as of 9PM Pacific Time, 21 player contracts are set to expire. Including seven Unrestricted free agents (UFA), twelve Restricted free agents (RFA) and two Exclusive Rights free agents (ERFA). The Chargers have placed tenders on all but three of the fourteen players that will be either Restricted or Exclusive Rights free agents. These tenders give San Diego the right to match offers from other teams in order to keep certain players, or recieve draft compensation for any players that sign with another team.

Tick tock…

Think back to a few blogs ago to Free Agency Priorities 2010. Remember all of those big names on that list? Let’s look at a few of them as they stand right now.

The biggest restricted free agent names to look at are Vincent Jackson (WR), Malcom Floyd (WR), Marcus McNeill (LT), Shawne Merriman (LOLB), and Darren Sproles(RB). All of these players recieved that maximum possible tender and the bargaining chips are in place for some shrewd moves to be made. Free agency is now upon us, people. Lets enjoy the show.