Morning Dump

It is closing day at Del Mar today and you better go get your final fix in.

Why is TJ Simers so sure of himself!?!? Now, I don’t want the Bolts to move to Los Angeles so that TJ Simers is wrong (and a host of other reasons). Here is your morning dump, I would say enjoy, but I added the TJ Simers article:

You’re going to love General Manager A.J. Smith when he brings his Chargers to Los Angeles next year.

The San Diego Chargers led the league in offense and defense and ranked second in scoring last season, but thanks to horrendous special-teams play, failed to make the playoffs.

For years, when Sanders was able to be on the field, the Indianapolis Colts defense was transformed from mediocre to good. That combined with a Super Bowl caliber offense made Indianapolis always a formidable AFC contender.

The San Diego Chargers (the highest-ranked team in the AFC West) are ranked 10th. That ranking caught the eye of Chris Sprow in an ESPN Insider piece. Sprow thinks the ranking is way too low. Sprow gives his reasoning why the Chargers — who underachieved at 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005 — should be ranked No. 4.

Last game vs. Chargers: Minnesota won 35-17 on Nov. 4, 2007, as RB Adrian Peterson shredded the Bolts’ defense for 296 yards and three touchdowns. His rushing total set an NFL record for most yards in a game.

Consider this season a wake-up call for the Chargers and coach Norv Turner. They have quarterback Philip Rivers, tight end Antonio Gates, wide receiver Vincent Jackson, wide receiver Malcom Floyd and running back Ryan Matthews against a division that simply cannot match their firepower. Despite glaring questions on special teams, where the Chargers saw one blocked punt gaffe after another last season, the mistakes should be easy enough to patch up come Week 1. Add this to a schedule that should provide at least five wins in their first seven games, and you could be looking at one of the hottest teams in football come Nov. 6, when the defending champion Green Bay Packers roll into town.

The NFL season is upon us, and to use that phrase from mouthy New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott: “Can’t wait.”

“I actually did (request No. 16) jokingly,” Tolzien said. “I walked in there and said I want 16 and they said, ‘No, you can’t.’ And I said, ‘No, I want 16!’ But I understand.”

The Chargers anxiously await Wednesday’s practice to see how long outside linebackers Shaun Phillips and Larry English and nose tackle Antonio Garay can go.

The countdown is finally down to one — one day until the 2011 NFL season begins. For the San Diego Chargers, who open their season Sunday at home against the Vikings, the number one represents where they finished last season in both total offense and total defense.

Robinson, who caught 34 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers last season, signed a one-year, $685,000 contract. The Cowboys will need to make a corresponding move to keep the roster at 53 players.