Oakland Raiders Versus The AFC West: Offensive Line
By Kevin Saito
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks downfield for his receiver during overtime against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers’ offensive line has its share of question marks. With just 1,367 total yards on the ground, the team ranked 30th in the run game last season, but that could be thanks, in part, to a cast of running backs who aren’t exactly All Pros. Ryan Matthews was the best of the bunch, but had a hard time staying healthy. And let’s face it, Brandien Oliver and Donald Brown don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.
But the Chargers have retooled their offensive line, and are getting a couple of guys back from injury that should help this to be a pretty solid unit in 2015. In fact, on paper, the Chargers could have the best offensive line in the AFC West. That fact alone should help rookie running back Melvin Gordon hit the ground running as he transitions to the NFL.
That’s not to say that the Bolts’ offensive line is perfect. It has some flaws such as the center position. The Bolts unbelievably used five different centers in 2014 thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness. With Nick Hardwick finally hanging them up, it looks like second year pro Chris Watt is going to hang on to the job – he gained a little experience last season and wasn’t to terrible, so in lieu of something better, he’s the man.
The right guard spot is also in flux. At the moment, Kenny Wiggins is penciled in to be the starter, but former starter Johnnie Troutman is back from a knee injury and may challenge Wiggins for the spot. Until that position is settled, the spot will remain in flux and a question mark for the Chargers.
But D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap return from injury and will lock down the tackle positions. Those immediately become positions of strength for San Diego. Orlando Franklin – imported from Denver – will nail down the left guard position and be another solid piece to San Diego’s offensive line. If they can get solid play out of Watt and whoever wins the right guard battle, the Chargers will have a lethal offensive line that can blow open holes for Gordon, and protect QB Philip Rivers, giving him the time he needs to dissect a defense.
A lot of the success of San Diego’s offensive line is going to depend on Watt and whoever wins that right guard battle. They have some real maulers on the line, but the center and right guard positions are going to loom large.
Regardless though, with the returning players and the acquisition of Franklin, San Diego’s offensive line immediately gets much, much better.