The San Diego Chargers hope for improvement in 2012 and beyond from their 2011 rookie class.  Here is a look at how well the 2011 rookie class did in their first taste of NFL action:

21-year old DE Corey Liuget was the Chargers’ first round pick last April.  He played in 15 games for the Chargers last year and he had 19 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 2 passes defensed.  He will likely be a starter for the Chargers in the near future.

23-year old CB Marcus Gilchrist was a 2nd round pick for the Chargers last April.  He played in 14 games for the Chargers last year and he had 34 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 passes defensed.  Like Liuget, Gilchrist will likely be a starter in the near future for the Chargers.

23-year old LB James Mouton was picked in the 2nd round last April.  He missed his whole rookie season due to a shoulder injury.

22-year old WR Vincent Brown was a 3rd round pick last April.  He played in 14 games for the Chargers and he caught 19 passes for 329 yards (17.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Brown has a nice upside and his role should increase in 2012 and beyond.

24-year old CB Shareece Wright was also a 3rd round pick for the Chargers.  He played in 7 games and he had 4 tackles.

21-year old Jordan Todman was a sixth round pick for the Chargers.  He was cut early in the season and he was picked up by the Vikings, but, he didn’t get into any games for them.

23-year old OG Steve Schilling was a sixth round pick for the Chargers.  He played in 9 games (2 starts) as a rookie last year.  Schilling showed enough to get a chance for more P.T. in 2012.

23-year old LB Andrew Gachkar was picked in the 7th round for the Chargers.  He played in all 16 games and he had 15 tackles.  Look for Gachkar to get more P.T. as his career goes on.

GRADE FOR 2011:  C-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B

30-year old QB Philip Rivers’ play was a big reason that the Chargers finished 8-8 this year and missed the playoffs.  Rivers played in 16 games (all starts) for the Chargers last year and he completed 366 of 582 passes (62.9%) for 4,624 yards with 27 TD passes and 20 INTs (88.7 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 26 times for 36 yards (1.4 ypc) with 1 TD run last night.  Rivers has now played in 100 games (96 starts) in his career with the Chargers and he has completed 1,930 of 3,037 passes (63.5%) for 24,285 yards with 163 TD passes and 78 INTs (95.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 194 times for 298 yards (1.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his NFL career.  Rivers is now 63-33 (65.6%) as the Chargers’ starting QB during the regular season.  I look for Rivers to bounce back big time in 2012 for the Chargers.

The Chargers took it to the Raiders offensively last Sunday in Oakland.  Philip Rivers was very efficient in this game as he completed 19 of 26 passes for 310 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 INT.  Mike Tolbert led the way on the ground in this game for the Chargers with 58 yards rushing on 9 carries (6.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Curtis Brinkley pitched in with 52 yards rushing on 16 carries (3.3 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg) in this game.  WR Malcom Floyd (7 rec, 127 yards, 1 TD grab) and TE Antonio Gates (5 rec, 106 yards, 1 TD) led the way for the Chargers in the passing game.  WR Vincent Jackson pitched in with 2 receptions for 29 yards (14.5 avg) with 1 TD grab and he also carried the ball 1 time for 41 yards.  The Chargers finished up with 153 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 26 passes (73.1%) for 310 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:27.

The Chargers had a huge play on special teams in this game, but the defense didn’t play too well.  Backup WR Richard Goodman returned 6 kickoffs for 215 yards (35.8 avg), including one that he took 105 yards to the house for a TD.  Defensively, LB Donald Butler led the way for the Chargers with 10 tackles and 1 QB hit.  LB Takeo Spikes (8 tackles) and CB Antoine Cason (6 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception) also pitched in for the Chargers last weekend.  The Raiders finished up with 103 yards rushing on 24 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 43 passes (65.1%) for 417 yards.  The Chargers finished the 2011 season with a 8-8 record.