May 3, 2016

Highlighted Year: Wes Chandler, 1982

Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers


Age: 26
5th season in pro football, 2nd with Chargers (1st complete)
College: Florida
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 183

Prelude:
Playing wide receiver in a wishbone offense in college, Chandler caught 93 passes for 1994 yards (21.4 avg.) and 22 touchdowns, adding 353 rushing yards and six TDs in his senior season of 1977. He received some All-American recognition after both the 1976 and ’77 seasons and was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (third overall) of the 1978 NFL draft. Chandler caught 35 passes for 472 yards (13.5 avg.) as a rookie and broke out in 1979 with 65 receptions for 1069 yards (16.4 avg.) and six TDs, gaining selection to the Pro Bowl as well as second-team All-NFL honors from NEA. He followed up with another solid year in ’80, catching 65 passes for 975 yards (15.0 avg.) and six touchdowns. The Chargers obtained him during the 1981 season after having dealt disgruntled WR John Jefferson to Green Bay, and Chandler proved to fit perfectly in the high-powered “Air Coryell” (for Head Coach Don Coryell) passing offense. Of his 69 catches for 1142 yards and six TDs, 52 for 857 yards (16.5 avg.) and five scores came with San Diego.

1982 Season Summary
Appeared in 8 of 9 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 49 [4, tied with Cris Collinsworth & Ozzie Newsome]  
Most receptions, game – 10 (for 260 yds.) vs. Cincinnati 12/20
Yards – 1032 [1]
Most yards, game – 260 (on 10 catches) vs. Cincinnati 12/20
Average gain – 21.1 [2]
TDs – 9 [1]
200-yard receiving games – 1
100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing
Attempts – 5
Yards – 32
Average gain – 6.4
TDs – 0

Scoring
TDs – 9 [4, tied with Wilbert Montgomery & Chuck Muncie]
Points – 54 [15, tied with Wilbert Montgomery, Chuck Muncie & Joe Danelo]

Postseason: 2 G
Pass receptions – 11
Most pass receptions, game – 9 at Pittsburgh, AFC First Round playoff
Pass receiving yards – 162
Most pass receiving yards, game – 124 at Pittsburgh, AFC First Round playoff
Average yards per reception – 14.7
Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl

Chargers went 6-3 in the strike-shortened season and were fifth seed in the AFC playoff tournament that replaced the usual postseason format while leading the NFL in total yards (4048), passing yards (2927), touchdowns (34), and scoring (288 points). Won First Round playoff over Pittsburgh Steelers (31-28). Lost Second Round playoff to Miami Dolphins (34-13).

Aftermath:
Although hampered by a sprained foot, Chandler caught 58 passes for 845 yards (14.6 avg.) and five touchdowns in 1983 and was again selected for the Pro Bowl. He slipped further in ’84 but bounced back with 67 catches for a career-high 1199 yards (17.9 avg.) and 10 TDs in 1985, earning another Pro Bowl trip. Following lesser seasons in 1986 and ’87, and with the team in decline, Chandler was traded to San Francisco in 1988 where he caught four passes in four games in his last year. Overall, Chandler caught 559 passes for 8966 yards (16.0 avg.) and 56 touchdowns, with 373 of those receptions for 6132 yards (16.4 avg.) and 41 TDs coming with the Chargers. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received second-team honors after one other season, and was chosen to four Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1 comment:

  1. I've always thought Chandler to be a better receiver than Jefferson, who I consider somewhat overrated. Jefferson was a beast during the regular season when he was with the Chargers, but seemed to fade come playoff time, particularly in the 1980 championship game vs Oakland, where a couple of costly drops might have made a difference in the outcome. The most notable contrast between the two was the fact that Chandler, already very good with the hapless Saints, went to San Diego and flourished, while Jefferson went to Green Bay and all but disappeared after a couple years. Had Chandler had a few more productive years on good teams, he may well have been a Hall of Famer contender.

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