CAMP CALENDAR

CAMP CALENDAR:

July 26: Rookies and select veterans report.
July 27: Rookies and select veterans work out.
July 30: Balance of the squad reports.
July 31: First full squad workout.
Aug. 5: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium.
Aug. 8: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium.
Aug. 12: Practice at Qualcomm Stadium

Anger Reigns for Raider Fans

The Chargers continue to Reign over the Raiders and it's just great fun to read what the Raider fans are writing about having to face playing the Chargers twice each year, at least it is fun to read if you are a real Charger fan. Below is another great article from a Raider fan discussing what it might take for the Raiders to defeat the Chargers. Push the title link below for the whole article:

Anger Reigns as Another Sweep Possibly Looms for the Oakland Raiders

I don't care what strategy you use, if the Indianapolis Colts can't beat the Chargers when they lose the turnover battle, the Raiders probably can't beat the Chargers without actually winning the turnover battle.

Going negative sixteen in the turnover battle over the last five years is the primary reason for the Raiders futility against the Bolts.

Marty Schottenheimer stressed two things when he was the head coach of the Chargers. DO NOT turn the ball over and score touchdowns rather than field goals in your opponents red zone.

If the Raiders want to ever compete with the current Chargers squad, they'll have to find a way to make the Chargers beat themselves. That will be a monumental task with the way the Raiders are currently drafting.

Speed guys? How much faster than the 4.3 running Antonio Cromartie can any guy they draft be? Can a 5'9" corner running 4.25 forty seriously out-leap or out-muscle 6'5" 240lbs Vincent Jackson (who runs a 4.4)? Can your speed rusher get by two time Pro Bowl LT Marcus McNeil consistently to rush Philip Rivers into a mistake?

Where are the tough S.O.B.s that the Raiders need to deal with linebackers Stephen Cooper, Shawne Merriman, and Shaun Phillips (and now Larry English). Can anyone frustrate LaDainian Tomlinson, push around Antonio Gates, or single block Jamal Williams?

They don't need more speed, they need more toughness - or better yet both if possible.

The Chargers have dominated the Raiders for 11 Straight Victories

The Chargers have ruled the game over the hapless Raiders for the last 11 games and they should continue that domination for the foreseeable future. Below is a quote from a Raider fan that wraps up the domination. I found it quite enjoyable to read as a Charger fan, I hope you do too: Here is the link:

The numbers are ugly and I suggest viewing them on an empty stomach. The Chargers have 11 straight victories over the Raiders. During that streak, LaDanian Tomlinson has out rushed the Oakland Raiders by himself with a sum of 1395 yards to 798. The Raiders have held LT below 100 yards 4 times out of the 11 meetings and have kept him out of the end zone just twice. Over the course of the streak, the Bolts have only started two quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Philip Rivers) while the Raiders have trotted out five different starters including Rich Gannon, Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks, Daunte Culepper and JaMarcus Russell.[U] Rivers has never lost to the Raiders; his record is currently 6-0[/U]. Al Davis has employed six head coaches while the Chargers have had just two, one of which was Norv Turner who jumped ship leaving Oakland for San Diego in an attempt to become the new Mike Shanahan.

Michael Mitchell, you’d better have Tomlinson’s face on your dart board.

Personally, I haven’t been able to bear attending these games any longer. The last Raider/Charger affair I saw in person was back in 2005. LT had a game right out of fantasy football geek’s wet dream as he ran for a touchdown, caught one and even threw for one. The pain was unbearable and I knew that I was at my breaking point. Getting heckled by bandwagon fans is as dumbfounding as being called a douche bag by Tony Romo.

The Chargers have beaten the Raiders in every way possible. They’ve blown us out. Made epic comebacks like those twenty five 4th quarter points they hung on the scoreboard just this past season. They’ve even had help from the zebras. Remember that horrific “illegal forward pass” call in 2006 that resurrected the ghosts of the “tuck rule”?

The Chargers OTA's and Mandatory Minicamp

May 1-3 (rookie and mandatory minicamp); May 18-21, June 1-3, June 9-11, June 15-18 (OTAs)

2009 Chargers Free Agent Signings

Chargers add 18 free agent signings

Samuel Allen, T, Grand Valley State

Darry Beckwith, LB, Louisiana State

Curtis Brinkley, RB, Syracuse

Greg Carr, WR, Florida State

Jeremy Childs, WR, Boise State

Anthony Felder, LB, California

Dan Gay, T, Baylor

James Holt, LB, Kansas

Rashaad Jackson, NT, Clemson

Charles Martin, WR, West Texas A&M

Ryan McDonald, C, Illinois

Ben Muth, G, Stanford

Wopamo Osaisai, CB, Stanford

William Rentmeester, FB, Wisconsin

Rodgeriqus Smith, WR, Auburn

Kory Sperry, TE, Colorado State

Claude Spillman, S, Marshall

Jerimiah Wurzbacher, TE, North Dakota State

The 2009 Chargers Outstanding Draft

First Round: Larry English DE/OLB Northern Illinois

Third Round: Louis Vasquez OG Texas Tech

Fourth Round (1): Vaughn Martin DT Western University (Ontario)

Fourth Round (2): Tyronne Green OG/C Auburn

Fourth Round (3): Gartrell Johnson RB Colorado State

Fifth Round Brandon Hughes CB Oregon State

Sixth Round Kevin Ellison S/OLB USC

Seventh Round Demetrius Byrd WR LSU

This is my dream draft for the Chargers.

1st round - Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose St.--- A trade down nets a second round choice and the Chargers choose Jarron Gilbert DT/DE with their lower first round choice. The Chargers will start Gilbert at DE replacing Igor in the first game, and with Gilbert and Merriman the opposing Olines will have real trouble double teaming both. (I think AJ Smith can pull off a trade with the Patriots, and get the Chargers second round choice right back. The Patriots will likely want to trade up if possible and they have already said so, because they feel they have two many choices, so why not trade up.)

2nd round- Patrick Chung, SS, Oregon---- The Chargers got their SS with their choice in the second round from the trade down. (This choice from the trade down with the Patriots landing the Chargers own second round choice right back. AJ Smith traded down our first for the Patriots but also gave the Patriots Osgood, after all the Patriots have another UDFA the Chargers found at WR in Welker and looked how that turned out for the Patriots. So the Patriots were more than pleased to make the trade.)

3rd round- Andre Brown RB, NCS---Philip Rivers has been pushing for AJ Smith to draft Andre Brown from NCS, and Rivers gets his RB.

4th round - Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly--- One of the biggest most imposing WR's in the draft.

4th round- Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon--- Tupou is the left Tackle that helped his team lead the Pac Ten in offense.

4th round - Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State.--- Levitre is a steal in the 4th round and too good to pass up.

5th round - Kaluka Maiava, OLB, USC--- Undersized, but a great player. AJ Smith loves LBers and finds Maiava still available in the fifth round.

6th round-Johnny Knox, WR, Abiline Christian. Blazing speed and natural hands, also returns kicks and punts.

7th round -Vaugn Martin, DT, University of Western Onterio, Canada. AJ Smith can't pass up a chance to land a true prospect that could be the Nose Tackle the Chargers have been looking for to eventually replace Jamal Williams. AJ Smith gets his sleeper pick.