Annie Heilbrunn is an anchor/host/reporter/writer and one-woman band. She’s covered the San Diego Chargers for the past five years for The San Diego Union-Tribune, NBC and Fox Sports. She is well-known for her off-the-field features, which profile a player’s personality and passions. You can follow her at twitter.com/annieheilbrunn.
To get you ready for the Chargers’ big game tomorrow against the Cincinnati Bengals, Annie answered some questions about the team! Here is what she had to say:
The Chargers won in dramatic fashion to make the playoffs! Do you think they have a shot at making a deep playoff run?
They definitely have a shot. Once a team makes it in the playoffs, anything goes. The Chargers are a team no one wants to face. Philip Rivers is having one of his best seasons (4,478 yards; 32 touchdowns; QBR of 105.5), the offense has been able to put up big numbers (fifth in the NFL) and the defense is not as unpredictable as it was earlier in the season. They found their stride in December and are headed into the postseason healthy and hungry, having won the last four consecutive games.
What, in your opinion, would need to happen for them to be serious contenders in the playoffs?
They have to minimize their mistakes. They’ve been somewhat inconsistent this season, mostly on defense, and in order for them to go deep in the playoffs they can’t give up big plays or lose yards on turnovers or penalties. Also, they need to show up. The last time they faced the Bengals, they played somewhat flat … and against the Chiefs in their final regular-season game, players admit they didn’t play their best football. In addition, they need to capitalize on trips to the red zone and score touchdowns rather than field goals, something they’ve struggled with at times during the regular season.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen has had a phenomenal rookie year. Do you think he has a shot at rookie of the year? Why or why not?
I think it’s between Keenan Allen and Eddie Lacy. Allen has had a spectacular rookie year. He was called on early in the season after veteran wide receivers Malcom Floyd and Danario Alexander were injured, and Allen delivered. He quickly earned the trust of quarterback Philip Rivers and became his go-to receiver. Allen started 14 games this season and set the new team record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a season (1,046). He finished the regular season with 71 receptions and eight touchdowns. He’s been a big part of the team’s success this season.
What’s even more remarkable is that Allen, 21, considered leaving the league during training camp.
What/Who do you think has helped quarterback Phillip Rivers rejuvenate his career?
I think Rivers wasn’t as “broken” as people thought. He had been playing behind an often injured and demoralized offensive line and had lost many offensive weapons throughout the years. That being said, I think offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt has been a great addition to the Chargers, and I think the two of them have a good connection and a strong understanding of what works in this offense. The scheme is also different this year (more quick, short passes) and there is actually a run game – two things that have helped Rivers and the rest of this offense.
How would rate head coach Mike McCoy’s first year in San Diego?
He did well. He took over a team that was deficient in almost every position on the roster, and he capitalized and made the most of his players’ talent. The Chargers had many holes on this roster and lost playmakers early in the season (Dwight Freeney and Malcom Floyd being two of them) and McCoy was still able to squeak out enough wins to get the team to the postseason and end the regular season with a winning record (9-7). Although he’s made some rookie head coaching mistakes — (game management, challenges and inactive list errors) — McCoy seems to get more comfortable each week and that should translate to an even stronger sophomore year
With the current core group on this team, (Rivers, Allen, Gates, and Matthews) can the Chargers compete with the best in the AFC for years to come?
They certainly have the potential to compete. Ryan Mathews is finally becoming the running back he was drafted to be (six 100-yard games this season and a career-best 1,254 rushing yards) and as I said earlier, Rivers is back in business. Antonio Gates is still a threat in this league and his chemistry with Philip Rivers is unmatchable. With the addition of players like running back Danny Woodhead and rookies Keenan Allen (wide receiver) and D.J. Fluker (right tackle), the Chargers have improved on offense. They need to get some more playmakers on defense (particularly pass-rushers and secondary) in order to round out their roster.
What is one thing you would like to see the Chargers improve on in the season?
In the offseason, I hope they improve on pass rush and secondary. As an overall team, I hope they improve on consistency. That’s the one thing they really need. There’s the “good chargers” (who beat the Eagles, Chiefs and Broncos on the road this season and the Colts at home) and the “not so good Chargers,” who lost to the Raiders, Titans and Redskins with silly mistakes.
[…] The Chargers have a very balanced offense making them a tougher team to defend. With the outstanding year rookie Keenan Allen has had, Rivers has a viable deep threat as well as his trusted target, tight end Antonio Gates. To learn more about what has helped San Diego make it back to the playoffs, check out my interview with San Diego Chargers reporter Annie Heilbrunn. […]