New York Giants Official Website

  Chargers Scouting Report
   By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -The Giants will attempt to break their three-game losing streak and enter their bye week on a high note when they host the San Diego Chargers this week in Giants Stadium. A loss in Philadelphia on Sunday left the Giants with a 5-3 record, a half-game behind the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East. San Diego is 4-3 after victories the last two weeks over Kansas City and Oakland, two teams the Giants also defeated. The Giants lead the series, 5-4. The teams last faced each other on Sept. 25, 2005, a 45-23 Chargers victory in San Diego. Their most recent meeting here was way back on Dec. 23, 1995, when the Chargers won, 27-17.

Offense

San Diego is ranked 12th in the NFL in offense with 351.0 yards a game. Like recent Giants' opponents New Orleans and Arizona, the Chargers prefer to move the ball through the air. They are fourth in the league in passing yards (276.3 a game) and 31st on the ground (74.7). San Diego's 3.1-yard average per carry is the NFL's lowest. The Chargers are 10th in the league with an average of 26.4 points a game. The Giants are ninth at 26.5.

Quarterback Philip Rivers was the fourth overall selection by the Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft before being sent about an hour later to the Chargers in the trade that delivered Eli Manning to New Jersey. Rivers is San Diego's most indispensible player and one of the league's best quarterbacks. He has completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 2,036 yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 95.9 passer rating. In 2008, Rivers topped the NFL with a 105.5 rating. He has led the Chargers to three straight AFC West titles and playoff victories in each of the last two seasons. Rivers is a strong-armed quarterback who throws with velocity, touch and accuracy to all areas of the field. He can deliver throws off-balance while taking a hit. Few quarterbacks are better at keeping their eyes downfield and directing receivers on the fly. Rivers' backup is former Tennessee Titan Billy Volek.

Although the Chargers have had trouble running the ball, they have two backs that can scare defenses in LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. Tomlinson rushed for 56 yards in the Chargers' 24-16 win against Oakland. That increased his career total to 12,027 yards. He reached the 12,000-yard mark in his 132nd game, the fourth-fastest in NFL history. A six-time Pro Bowler, Tomlinson has outstanding run vision, body control and balance. He is adept at following his blockers and then bouncing outside. Tomlinson has thrown seven touchdown passes, including one against the Giants in 2005. Sproles is San Diego's second-leading rusher (169 yards) and third-leading receiver (20 catches). Sproles often enters the game on third down and is an explosive playmaker who is dangerous any time he touches the ball. He has six plays of 50 or more yards this season, including touchdown receptions of 81 and 58 yards. At 5-6, Sproles is short enough to hide behind his offensive line, then burst through small cracks to daylight. He and Tomlinson have combined for four rushing touchdowns this season - all against the Raiders.

Fullbacks Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert split playing time. Hester is the superior blocker. He can latch on to defenders in the run game and on blitz pickup. Tolbert is the better receiver - he has three catches in the last three games. Rivers looks for him on screen passes and Tolbert has good run skills after catching the ball.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates are tied for the team lead with 37 catches. The 6-5 Jackson has four 100- yard games this season. He is a
big target with very good athletic ability, solid coverage awareness and receiving skills. Jackson can make sharp cuts and he frequently out-jumps shorter defenders for passes. On the other side is another 6- 5 receiver in Malcolm Floyd, who has a knack for finding soft spots in pass coverage. Floyd can also accelerate down the field and has big, strong hands. The third wideout is Legedu Naanee, who has picked up seven first downs on 13 catches. He has good straight-line speed and long arms that enable him to scoop up low passes on the run. Kassim Osgood is a two-time Pro Bowl coverage specialist who will get more playing time after this week's release of Chris Chambers. Buster Davis has played in every game.

Gates is one of the NFL's premier tight ends, playing in the last five Pro Bowls. He is San Diego's most targeted receiver and the player Rivers looks for most often on third down. A superb athlete (he was a basketball star at Kent State), Gates has a huge strike zone and good hands. He has made a living shielding defenders from the ball, catching a pass and taking off downfield. Gates is also a willing and competitive blocker. Brandon Manumaleuna is the move tight end. He sometimes lines up at tight end. Kris Wilson also plays.

San Diego's offensive line has been weakened by the loss of center and leader Nick Hardwick, who had surgery on Sept. 24 to repair a torn ligament in his ankle. He resumed practicing last week but isn't expected to play until late in the month. Scott Mruczkowski has started in Hardwick's place. He is a strong cut blocker who delivers accurate no-look shotgun snaps to Rivers. Left guard Kris Dielman has played in three straight Pro Bowls. He is a mauler with an aggressive, attacking style up front. But he is also athletic enough to pull out in front of the running backs. Right guard Louis Vasquez is a rookie third- round draft choice who has started from day one. He moves and locates well and takes good angles in space. Left tackle Marcus McNeill checks in at almost 6-8 and 340 pounds. He is quick off the ball at the snap, has long arms and is smart and alert, taking on all pass rushers. Right tackle Jeromey Clary is a tough, hard-nosed player. Brandyn Dombrowski is used as an extra tight end in goal line situations, where Dennis Norman also takes some snaps.

Defense

The Chargers' 3-4 defense is ranked 13th in the NFL, yielding 310.6 yards a game. They are 27th against the run (132.1) and sixth vs. the pass (178.4). San Diego is 21st in scoring defense, allowing 22.7 points per game. The Chargers are 28th in third-down defense, when their opponents have converted 44.1 percent of their opportunities.

The defensive line suffered two significant losses when nose tackle Jamal Williams (torn triceps) and end/tackle Ryon Bingham (torn biceps) were placed on injured reserve. As a result, Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Travis Johnson and Ian Scott have all increased their snaps in the rotation. In addition, the Chargers have become more of a blitzing team without Williams and Bingham. End Luis Castillo rarely leaves the field and is a snap-to-whistle hustler. He is tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks. On the other side, Jacques Cesaire is smart and aware, reads schemes quickly and moves well along the line of scrimmage. Nwagbuo, a first-year starter, has good upper body strength and is a sturdy anchor. Johnson, obtained in a trade with Houston, has a powerful initial burst on his pass rush and pursues with high effort. Scott, a former three-year starter, is a now a tough and competitive substitute. Alfonso Boone could also get some backup snaps.

Shawne Merriman, a three-time Pro Bowler, is just now reaching peak condition after last year's knee surgery. He had his first two sacks of the season last week vs. Oakland. Merriman is a powerful pass rusher with a plan. He is quick on takeoff and has strong hands to shed blockers. The Giants must account for him on every snap. Shaun Phillips has participated in more plays than anyone on the Chargers' defense and is tied with Castillo for the team lead with 4.0 sacks. The most physically gifted of San Diego's linebackers, Phillips plays at a high speed and is very difficult to fool. Inside linebacker Kevin Burnett attacks blockers and is a good open field tackler. Stephen Cooper has battled ankle and knee injuries, but like the Giants' Antonio Pierce, he is the leader of the defense, gets everyone lined up and is the team's top tackler. Brandon Siler is a productive reserve, particularly when he's blitzing the quarterback.

The Chargers were 31st in the NFL last season in passing yards allowed and have been revamping their secondary ever since. The most recent change occurred during their bye week, when Kevin Ellison was inserted at strong safety. Ellison plays well against the run and is replaced in the sub packages by Paul Oliver. Free safety Eric Weddle locates the ball well against the run and pass and is a good open-field tackler. Left cornerback Quentin Jammer plays more snaps than anyone in the secondary and has good recognition in all types of coverages. He is also a physical run-support corner who has picked up his game this season. Antonio Cromartie was a first-team All-Pro in 2007, when he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. He is an athletic, fast corner who is best in bump-and-run coverage. He is also competitive against the run. Antoine Cason also contributes. When the Chargers go to their nickel, they bring in another safety, Steve Gregory, and Nwagbuo leaves the game.

Special Teams

Sproles is one of the NFL's most dangerous return men. He is averaging 25.4 yards on 30 kickoff returns, with a long of 66, and is sixth in the NFL with a 12.5-yard average on 11 punt returns, including a 77-yard touchdown. Punter Mike Scifres frequently gives the Chargers a field position advantage with his booming kicks. His gross average of 47.5 yards is fifth in the league and his net average of 40.5 yards is sixth. Kicker Nate Kaeding has made 86 percent of his career field goal attempts and is 15-for-18 this year with a long of 50. Siler and Tolbert are tied for the team lead with 10 special teams tackles.

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