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The Chargers have signed 33-year old linebacker Derek Smith. Smith played in 15 games last season with the 49ers and he made 78 tackles, defensed 4 passes and had a interception. Smith has now played in 168 games in his NFL career and he has made 1,092 tackles, defensed 35 passes, has 13.5 sacks, forced 5 fumbles and picked off 4 passes. Smith might be a little long in tooth but he should do a good job as a backup in 2008 for the Chargers.
The Chargers rode LaDainian Tomlinson hard in 2007 and it showed in the playoffs as he was too dinged up to make an impact. Tomlinson played in 16 games (all starts) last season for the Chargers and he carried the ball 315 times for 1,474 yards (4.7 ypc) with 15 TD runs. He also caught 60 passes for 475 yards (7.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs. Tomlinson has now played in 111 games (all starts) in his NFL career and he has carried ball 2,365 times for 10,650 yards (4.5 ypc) with 115 TD runs. He has also caught 458 passes for 3,375 yards (7.4 avg) with 14 TD grabs. The Chargers need to lessen the workload on Tomlinson a little bit during the regular season so L.T. will be fresh for the playoffs next season.
Michael Turner will likely leave the Chargers as a free agent this off-season and that will hurt them if Tomlinson goes down to injury. Turner played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Chargers last season and he carried the ball 71 times for 316 yards (4.5 ypc) with 1 TD run. He also caught 4 passes for 16 yards (4.0 avg). Turner has now played in 59 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 228 times for 1,257 yards (5.5 ypc) with 6 TD runs. He also has caught 11 passes for 71 yards (6.5 avg).
Darren Sproles might work his way up the depth chart if Turner leaves as a free agent. He finally got to show the Chargers what he could do as a running back last season. Sproles played in 15 games (0 starts) last season for the Chargers and he carried the ball 37 times for 164 yards (4.4 ypc) with 2 TD runs. He also caught 10 passes for 31 yards (3.1 avg). Sproles has now played in 30 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 45 times for 214 yards (4.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs. He also has caught 13 passes for 41 yards (3.2 avg).
Fullback Lorenzo Neal did his usual good job of leading the way for the tailback in the Chargers offense. Neal played in 13 games (8 starts) last season for the Chargers and he carried the ball 13 times for 32 yards (2.5 ypc). He also caught 8 passes for 23 yards (2.9 avg) with 1 TD grab. Neal has now played in 223 games (126 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 214 times for 782 yards (3.7 ypc) with 6 TD runs. He also has caught 192 passes for 1,051 yards (5.5 avg) with 12 TD grabs.
Andrew Pinnock did a lot of blocking when Lorenzo Neal was not available. Pinnock played in 10 games (3 starts) for the Chargers last season and he carried the ball 4 times for 1 yard (0.3 ypc). He also caught 1 pass for 5 yards (5.0 avg). Pinnock has now played in 42 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 18 times for 56 yards (3.1 ypc). He also has caught 4 passes for 31 yards (7.8 avg).