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2010 Offensive Line Analysis - San Diego Chargers

2010 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Marcus McNeill / Tra Thomas
Left Guard: Kris Dielman
Center: Nick Hardwick
Right Guard: Louis Vasquez
Right Tackle: Jeromey Clary

2009 Injuries:
T Jeromey Clary: Weeks 11-17
G Louis Vasquez: Weeks 2-3
C Nick Hardwick: Weeks 2-15

2009 Statistics:

Overview:
The San Diego Chargers made the playoffs for the fourth straight year in 2009 despite having the league’s worst running game with an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The 2010 season will mark the end of the decade-long LaDainian Tomlinson era and the Chargers are hoping that first round pick Ryan Mathews will have a successful career like Tomlinson.

Marcus McNeill has been the starting left tackle for the Chargers since being drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft but things could change this year. McNeill has refused to sign his one-year tender and is apparently prepared to holdout for the first ten weeks of the season. The 6’7” and 335 lbs tackle was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007 but has somewhat struggled in the past two years and probably doesn’t deserve the money that he is asking for. He has been responsible for a respectable 10 sacks in 30 starts in the past two years but has been below average in run blocking. Despite that, the Chargers must find a way to get him on the field because their only other option is Tra Thomas whom they recently signed to a one-year deal. Thomas struggled in his three starts with the Jaguars last year and is below average in both run blocking and pass protection at 35 years old. The right tackle position is in much better shape with the 26-year old Jeromey Clary. Clary struggled in pass protection in his first year as a full-time starter in 2008 allowing ten sacks but bounced back in 2009 allowing only three in his ten starts. He was also much improved in run blocking but unfortunately suffered a season-ending ankle injury in week 11. He should continue to improve this year and could be an above average starting right tackle this season. Brandyn Dombrowski, who replaced Clary late last year, is the top backup at tackle.

Starting at left guard for the sixth consecutive season for the Chargers will be Kris Dielman. Dielman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chargers in 2003 and has been quite impressive since then. The 6’4” and 320 lbs guard has been selected to three straight Pro Bowls. He is known for his very physical play and will be intense on every single play. He is especially impressive as a run blocker in part because has the agility to pull to the outside to block. Most would agree that Dielman is the best player on this line and he should continue his solid play this season. 2009 third round pick Louis Vasquez will return as the starting right guard after an impressive rookie campaign. Vasquez is big and strong at 6’5” and 325 lbs and has made tremendous improvement to his technique in his first year. For now he is still slightly below average but he improved throughout the 2009 season and could be a very good starter for the Chargers in years to come. Fourth round pick in 2009 Tyronne Green adds depth.

Nick Hardwick will return s the starting center after playing in only three games in 2009 because of a leg injury. Hardwick has been the starter for the past five seasons since being drafted in the third round in 2004 but has only managed to stay injury-free once in his career. He is a very important center and the Chargers will be very glad to have him back in 2010. Scott Mruczkowski was impressive when he replaced Hardwick last season and gained some very valuable experience that will make him an excellent backup at both guard and center this season. Mruczkowski has never been a full-time starter despite being 28 years old, but he will certainly get an opportunity within the next year or two based on his play last year.

2010 Outlook:
The Chargers offensive line was pretty good in pass protection last year but awful in run blocking and it seems like they may be without their most important player in pass protection in 2010. Run blocking was awful all year long so it’s hard to blame the injuries to Clary or Vasquez but the injury to Hardwick certainly hurt. Pass protection in 2010 will either be very similar to last year or much worse depending on the Marcus McNeill situation. Mruczkowski and Dombrowski both gained some starting experience last year and will provide very good depth this year. Overall, this line will be better in run blocking but will still be below average, and pass protection is up in the air right now until the McNeill situation is resolved.

See all of our 2010 Offensive Line Analysis Articles