About the San Diego Chargers

2008-09 San Diego Chargers

The 2009 San Diego chargers are looking to improve on their 8-8 record from last season.  Although they won the AFC West, the team did not perform to par and had some injuries to include LaDainian Tomlinson and OLB Shawne Merriman.  While both are expected to recover in time for training camp, the team took steps to help.  With their first pick in the 2009 Draft, the Chargers chose DE/OLB Larry English out of Northern Illinois university. With the 5th choice, they picked Colorado State RB Gartrell Johnson and WR Demetrius Byrd with their final draft pick (224th overall).

Look for the Chargers to sell out early and often so be sure to purchase your San Diego Charger Football tickets before they do!

San Diego Charger History

The San Diego Chargers have been in the NFL since 1970, and over those 30-plus years, they’ve won six division championships and made eight playoff appearances. Their only Super Bowl appearance came back in 1994 when they featured players like linebacker Junior Seau who for many years was the heart and soul of the franchise. The team was matched up with the San Francisco 49ers that starred quarterback Steve Young and wide receiver Jerry Rice. The 49ers had demolished everything in their path that season and easily disposed of the Chargers by one of the largest margins of victory in Super Bowl history. The Chargers hadn’t made the playoffs in ten years before last season, but the 2004 bunch shocked a lot of people by finishing 12-4 and winning the AFC West. The team, which improved on defense in almost every aspect, saw its quarterback step up and make plays in a way that hasn’t been done since hall of fame QB Dan Fouts was leading the team years ago.

Marty Schottenheimer, the head coach of the Chargers, didn’t really have to handle the responsibility of tutoring Rivers in his first year because Rivers didn’t see much of the field. Drew Brees stepped up and led the team while throwing 27 touchdowns compared to only 7 interceptions. Brees earned the franchise tag from the team in the off-season but knows he’ll need another outstanding season or Rivers will likely take over the starting spot in 2006. LaDainian Tomlinson might be the best running back in the league, but he gets absolutely no coverage playing in San Diego. Tomlinson rushed for 1,335 yards on 3.9 yards per carry average with 17 touchdowns. He also caught 53 balls out of the backfield for another 441 yards and another score. “LT” has been amazing over the last few seasons, but he won’t need to be quite so amazing because the team finally seems to have a reliable receiver it can depend on in the form of tight end Antonio Gates. Gates played basketball almost his whole life growing up and is a physical specimen standing 6’4” and weighing in at 260 pounds. Gates plays similarly to Tony Gonzalez, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who is arguably one of the top tight ends in the league, and both create match-up problems for any defense.

Donnie Edwards led a rejuvenated defense during the 2004 season with his 151 tackles (106 solo). Amazingly, he also recorded a team high five interceptions and was among the leaders in tackles for loss and forced fumbles. Those two categories were led by big Steve Foley who also recorded a team leading ten sacks. The Chargers were relatively successful with their draft picks in 2004 and 2005 was big for the organization because they walked in to it holding two first round selections. The team took linebacker Shawne Merriman from Maryland with the 12th overall pick while landing defensive tackle Luis Castillo from Northwestern with the 28th pick of the first round. The team picked up backups at skill position with their next two picks by selecting Northern Colorado wide receiver Vincent Jackson in the second round and Kansas State running back Darren Sproles in the fourth. Jackson could realistically jump into the season as a starting receiver for the Chargers while Sproles will give the team a change of pace scat back that can let LT rest for a play or two.

Chargers fans in 2007 believe their team to have the most talent in the NFL. And this season looks good - San Diego did a very smart thing by adding Phillip Rivers a strong leader and an amazing passer, and who will be backed-up by the talented Billy Volek.  Jamal Williams keeps getting better, and  Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillip combined for a record 28.5 sacks last year – and they are still young enough to take a couple of hits. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates continue to lead on offense.  Chargers ticket buyers are ready for an exciting season, in a very stacked AFC. If you are looking for Charger tickets for this exciting season, you are definitely in the right place.

In 2008, quarterback Phil Rivers completed the season as the highest rated QB in the NFL touting 34 touchdown passes, a 105.5 Passer Rating and a league leading 8.4 yards per pass attempt.  Although the team finished at 8-8, they did manage to win the AFC West and became the first team in the league to begin the season at 4-8 and still make the playoffs and actually didn’t have a winning record until after the first round of the playoffs.  The team would fall to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  The team lost a number of players to free agency to include CB Drayton Florence, RB Michael Turner, SS Marlon McCree and RT Shane Olivea.

The 2009 San Diego Chargers are looking to improve on their 8-8 record from last season.  Although they won the AFC West, the team did not perform to par and had some injuries to include LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman.  While both are expected to recover in time for training camp, the team took steps to help.  With their first pick in the 2009 draft, the Chargers chose DE/OLB Larry English out of Northern Illinois University.  With the 5th choice, they picked Colorado Sate RB Gartrell Johnson and WR Demetrius Byrd.