Aug 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Five year old San Diego Chargers fan Ceasar Villa (center) watches Chargers practice through a fence during training camp at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Ahhhh.. remember what it was like to be a young Charger fan? Maybe some don’t, but it was an amazing thing! My Dad and I would anxiously await kick-off on Sundays, and sing along to the “Super Chargers” song.. which was pretty new back then, actually (Yep, I’m old). I loved the Chargers, because my Dad loved the Chargers. My Mum loved the Chargers, my brothers loved the Chargers, and we were San Diegans! It was a beautiful time when the late great Chuck Muncie ran like a wild man from the backfield. When Dan Fouts fearlessly slung the rock like an NFL version of Grizzly Adams. When Kellen Winslow & Charlie Joiner were lighting up the scoreboard in the famous Air Coryell era. It was an exciting time for Charger fans, and San Diego.

Well, although I will always have very fond memories of those Chargers… my Father’s Chargers.. these are not your Father’s Chargers. They aren’t even my Chargers. In fact, they are more like your niece’s & nephew’s Chargers…  your son’s & daughter’s Chargers. The next generation of Chargers.

On Boltbeat today, while I was commenting back and forth with “High Voltage” (thanks for the inspiration ahead of time, btw), he brought up an excellent point. We were actually disagreeing on the Jammer topic, but he brought up a very interesting observation. He basically said that getting rid of veterans like Jammer leaves nobody who can tell the rookies, and newly signed players what it means to be a Charger. At first, I thought to myself “OK, so we cut Jammer.. so what? There are still veterans on this roster who are Charger lifers, right? There’s Rivers, Gates, Hardwick, Weddle, Floyd, Scifres… and.. and… wait a second! That’s about it. Hmmm”. Never noticed that. I mean I watched our best talent do the “AJ shuffle” out the door, but it just sunk in today.

OK, so there were some Chargers Veterans let go this season. Martin, Garay, Vasquez, Greene, Cason, But, even that isn’t a heck of a lot of players. Furthermore, with exception to Martin & Vasquez, (who were the most talented of the bunch), they all had sub-par seasons last year.. possibly the year before as well. Which leads me to this realization. AJ let a lot of veteran leadership walk out that door, and kept the mediocre players. The only two players I really give him a pass on are Dielman, and McNeill, as that is just football, unfortunately. This is no big epiphany, by all means. However, on top of leaving us with the worst salary cap situation… he left us with no more than a handful of good veteran players that can show these young players what it means to be a Charger. In fact, some of the aforementioned talent isn’t far off of retirement themselves. That makes me a little sad, honestly. This team deserved better than Norv “run it up the gut” Turner, and AJ”show em’ the door” Smith. Not that I think that we should hang onto veterans simply because they are veterans.. because I don’t. But, wow! AJ really stuck it to us, didn’t he?

Anyway, I am not going to sit here, and cry over spilled milk. Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise. You could also look at it like this. These new players will have a unique opportunity that many don’t. An opportunity to mold this team into something that is theirs. Something that the next generation of Charger fans can be proud of. This team is bursting with youth! Not just on the field, but at the head coach, and GM position. They have a chance to take this team out of the darkness that Norv and AJ left behind. Out of the status quo, the mediocrity, the complacency.. what I call “the chill pill era” of Chargers football. This group still has veteran leadership, whether it has been wearing lightning bolts for long, or not. Players like Double J, Dwight Freeney, and Ronnie Brown will all need to embrace being a Charger. These new rookies need mentoring. They need to step up, and take ownership of THEIR team. They need to redefine what it means “to be a Charger”.

We… and most importantly, the next generation of Charger fans… are counting on them.

Keep Bolting Toward Excellence.

Thanks for reading.

November 18, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers tackle Jeromey Clary (66) during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

There is some love coming out of Chargers training camp and from the fans about Jeromey Clary moving over to right guard and how it would be a better fit for him. It probably is a better fit for Clary, but let me pose this hypothetical question to you.

Would you trade Jeromey Clary for Brandon Moore?

Even better… Would you trade Jeromey Clary, Eddie Royal, LeRon McClain for Brandon Moore, Max Starks and a little more depth around the roster?

It makes too much sense! I don’t know why Brandon Moore is still available, but the fact that he is means that we have a chance to add more protection for Philip Rivers. Moore is one of the top run blocking guards out there and he would be able to line up next to big DJ Fluker to plow over some people like Shaun Phillips and Von Miller. Now that sounds like a much better option than hoping that Clary or Johnnie Troutman can cut it.

I understand people want to see Troutman be the starting guard, but you don’t just hand a 5th round pick the starting job without him ever playing a snap in the NFL. Make him earn it and until then he can get some experience behind a player like Brandon Moore.

On June 1, the Chargers can save even more dough on the salary cap by cutting these guys. Cutting Jeromey Clary alone on the 1st would free up $4M instead of $2.3M. Eddie Royal would free up another $3M and LeRon McClain would free up an extra $2M+. That is up around $9M+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moore probably wants $3-4M and Starks probably around $2-3M. If you want that protection for Philip Rivers, then cutting Clary and those other dudes just makes sense.

Dec 2, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Danario Alexander (right) talks to wide receiver Malcom Floyd (80) on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

With an offense that has continuously had Antonio Gates as its number 1 option, the realistic expectation has to be this team will carry 5 WR’s at the most 6, if you look at Richard Goodman as a WR and not as special teams player.

As it currently stands:

WR 1 Malcom Floyd
WR 2 Danario Alexander
WR 3 Vincent Brown
WR 4 Robert Meachem
WR 5 Keenan Allen
WR 6 Eddie Royal
WR 7 Richard Goodman

Looking at this depth chart we can easily make the argument that Eddie Royal’s days in a charger uniform are numbered, and the only reason Robert Meachem will make this team is that he’s very well paid and would figure a minimal cap relief if cut.

To make matters worse for Robert Meachem, the offense sure seems to be moving away from the vertical stretch role he had in New Orleans he had some success in.

A recent report from Peter King makes it quite clear the chargers are going to a short dink & dunk offense which has a high percentage of its throws near the line of scrimmage, from monday’s morning QB article: “McCoy said he thinks Philip Rivers, who has never completed more than 66 percent of his throws in seven starting seasons, can be a 70-percent passer in his new offense. ‘I’ve been blown away by his anticipation and willingness to learn,” McCoy said. That Rivers has 35 interceptions in the last two years is an indication to many who watch the Chargers that he can get too confident in his ability to fit balls downfield into small holes. McCoy will harp on trusting the system that has a myriad of answers, always including one short one — thus his belief the completion percentage can improve.

That type offense figures to help the more instinctive Allen & Brown get on the field, than the better athlete than player that Meachem has proven so far; plus should make the life of whoever play Left Tackle a whole lot easier than Norv’s love of 7 step drops.

By the end of the season barring injuries the active WR’s should be:

WR 1 Malcom Floyd
WR 2 Danario Alexander
WR 3 Vincent Brown
WR 4 Keenan Allen
WR 5 Richard Goodman (Kickoff returns)

Inactive:

WR 6 Robert Meachem

Cut in preseason or June 1:

WR 7 Eddie Royal

A.J. Smith horrible offseason of 2012 just keeps on tormenting this franchise, but I have true faith that both Vincent Brown & Keenan Allen will be stars soon for the Bolts. And they will be the starters on opening day of 2014 for the chargers.

So guys time to accept the modern offenses of 35-45 throws, high percentage get the ball out of your QB’s hand, and to say goodbye to the long throws we got under Norval.