A Call to Ball

Reserves must step up in the wake of Merriman’s shutdown

I talked earlier this week about the Chargers' lack of defense in their loss to Carolina in week one. Then the lights went out. Literally. On Tuesday, it was announced All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman will miss the rest of the season after opting to shut it down and have surgery on his injured knee.

It’s probably the best move, both for the player and the team. I know, you’re asking, “How can taking someone who has had more sacks in his first three years than anyone in the history of the league out of the lineup be a GOOD thing for the team?” OK, maybe you’re not asking that. And if you are, you certainly would have said it more succinctly than I wrote it.

Let me explain:

A not-healthy Merriman doesn’t bring the same attention. He doesn’t need to be double-teamed, which allowed everyone else to take advantage. He doesn’t bring the same fear and intensity. Whether he would admit it or not, further damaging his knee would have been on his mind, and he may not have come out with the same “Lights Out” mentality that we’re used to seeing. He certainly didn’t bring the fire against Carolina, registering only two tackles for the game.

Taking a year to get healthy will make him a better player, and make the Bolts a better team in the long run.

Which brings us to who will take over? Second-year pro Jyles Tucker will step in and be productive. No, he won’t bring the 14-plus sacks that we’re used to seeing, but he played well in the games he got into last year (12 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in only six games). The team thinks he’s ready to take it to the next level too, as the recently signed him to a five-year contract extension. He’ll operate well and let Shaun Phillips do his thing on the left side.

Sunday’s game vs. Denver will have an added dimension for San Diego. After winning the last four against the Broncos, the Chargers could fall two games behind their rivals with a loss, something that doesn’t bode well this early in the season.

Expect a more focused, more polished Chargers team. LaDainian Tomlinson has rested his sore toe at practice this week and is expected to carry a heavy load. The secondary will have to show renewed passion and intensity as it faces Denver’s talented wide receivers in Brandon Marshall (102 catches, 1,325 yards in 2007) and rookie Eddie Royal. The speedster from Virginia Tech torched the Raiders last week to the tune of nine catches, 146 yards and a TD (he had another TD negated on a penalty.)

Invesco Field at Mile High is always a tough place to play, but the Chargers know what is at stake, and should come out and do what they always do to the Broncos: dominate.

Prediction: San Diego 34, Denver 21

Eric Yates, much like the rest of the city, isn’t a native San Diegan. He’s been here for the past eight years and has adopted the Padres and Chargers as his own. Serving as a full-time and freelance sportswriter while in San Diego, he’s covered the beat for both the Padres and Chargers. A sports fanatic, his crowning achievement as a fan was appearing on the ESPN game show Stump the Schwab and coming within one question of toppling the big guy.

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