OK, let's just get right down to it. The Chargers can't make the playoffs so, as we mentioned before, it's time to start tinkering. Here's the list of inactives for Sunday's game against the Chiefs:
S Adrian Phillips
CB Greg Ducre
ILB Kavell Conner
DT Damion Square
OT Tyreek Burwell
WR Malcom Floyd
OLB Cordarro Law
That means tight end Ladarius Green is active. So here are, not so much players to watch, but players I'd like to see get a long look in certain roles on Sunday against Kansas City:
Ladarius Green, WR
No that is not a typo. Green is 6'6" and might be the fastest player on the Chargers offense. He can jump, he can run, but he has trouble getting himself open against bigger defenders (the safeties and linebackers a tight end is usually matched up agaisnt). With Malcom Floyd retiring at the end of the season and Green in the final year of his contract I'd love to see if Ladarius can be successful on the outside. It would be great to have him line up at wide receiver, split wide for half the snaps and let him be a matchup nightmare for the KC defensive backs. The four WR the Bolts have active, Stevie Johnson, Dontrelle Inman, Javontee Herndon and Tyrell Williams, have a combined 44 catches this season, 31 of those from Johnson. Philip Rivers needs another deep target anyway so let's see if the answer is in-house and deserves a new contract moving forward.
Kyle Emanuel, DE
No that is not a typo. Emanuel has been solid as a rookie outside linebacker but not gotten all that many snaps due to the fact Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu are entrenched as starters. Emanuel played with his hand on the ground all four years at North Dakota State so he's used to playing on the line. The Chargers have gotten zero from Kendall Reyes and Corey Liuget is dinged up (although he is active) so why not see if Emanuel can make something happen? He's 6'3" and 255 pounds, making him just about 10 pounds lighter than Chandler Jones, who is among the NFL leaders in sacks as a defensive end. Plus, if Emanuel shows the ability to create plays as a lineman it might get the Chargers thinking about switching to a 4-3 in the off-season like so many people have talked about.
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Kellen Clemens, QB
No that is not a typo. At this point it is imperative to protect the health of Philip Rivers. The Chiefs have a pass rush that can be outright scary so I would have no problem with letting Rivers take a few series off and get Clemens in there to run the offense.
Derek's Prediction
The Chiefs have something to play for. The Chargers don't. Kansas City has won three straight. San Diego has dropped five in a row. The Chiefs have Andy Reid. The Bolts have Mike McCoy.
Final score: Chiefs 27, Chargers 20
