The San Diego Chargers are on high alert. After a disappointing season, the team is attempting to start fresh. Several players are fighting for their jobs in 2013 including quarterback Philip Rivers. After making key moves in the offseason signing free agents to beef up the offense and grabbing rookies to help protect Rivers, the training camp headlines could feature the wide receivers. Several players will be fighting for Rivers' attention on the field, making for an exciting preseason.
The wide receivers group is highlighted by Malcom Floyd who will be the No. 1 guy come the start of the season. Then the competition will come down to the likes of Vincent Brown, Eddie Royal, Keenan Allen and Robert Meachem. It is a battle that will make the preseason months somewhat exciting for Chargers' fans.
Rookie Allen has been very vocal about his intentions to be a starter come Week 1 for San Diego. The rookie has been compared to the likes of A.J. Green and Hakeem Nicks which makes expectations surrounding him pretty high. When he returns to the field come July 25, his one goal is to be at the top of the depth chart.
"I want to be a starter. I don't want to watch. I want to be part of the moment. I don't want to watch it," Allen said.
Allen is the youngest in the receiver corps which is the deepest position group on the Chargers' roster. Eddie Royal has gotten an extensive amount of reps in the offseason with the first-team offense. Pairing him with Floyd makes sense. Allen got his fair share of first-team reps as well, showing great speed and route-running abilities. Allen has stressed that he is ready for anything with San Diego. Head coach Mike McCoy has been complimentary of the rookie, but that does not mean he is a true starter just yet.
Meachem will likely also be high up in the starting rotation based on salary alone. Meachem did not exactly have a great first year in San Diego. He was expected to fill the void of Vincent Jackson; instead he was more of a disappointment. Meachem only put up 207 yards on 14 catches for two touchdowns. Not exactly the season San Diego was hoping for from him.
There was a thought the Chargers would try and trade him considering he is signed to a four-year, $25.5 million deal but that did not happen. Instead, Meachem will be back in lineup fighting for time. The depth at the receiver's position bodes well for Rivers. He will have plenty of targets and zero excuses to give if things do not go well.
