Offseason Check-in February 16, 2011

There hasn’t been an abundance of Chargers news to discuss, as only a few major things (in my opinion, at least) have happened with the team since the season ended.

First: Ron Rivera has left to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.  This came as no big surprise, as the Panthers needed a new coach and Rivera had been looking to fill such a role before coming to the Chargers in 2007 as the linebackers coach.  His replacement Greg Manusky left the defensive coordinator spot of the San Fransisco 49ers after the 2010 season.  While the Chargers’ defense ranked #1 in terms of yards allowed, they certainly did not dominate consistently and there is always room for improvement.  I am not sure who else was available for the position, and the hiring was most likely for the sake of familiarity.  Manusky was once the Chargers’ linebackers coach, his last year with the team being 2006.

Second: Vincent Jackson has been franchise tagged.  For those who don’t understand what this means, it simply keeps him from entering free agency and is a sign that the Chargers indeed wish to keep him on board for at least this coming year.  With the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players’ association coming to an end, it will be interesting to see how the Chargers will sign VJ to a contract, if at all.  It would seem a certainty that he would hold out of camp for a long-term deal if one is not made, as he had no problem sitting out most of the 2010 season.  I feel optimistic that he won’t have to, but I don’t know how optimistic I am about a new cba being completed any time soon.