His wife surprised him before the Chargers' game against the Eagles with some fantastic news about a positive pregnancy test, and Tomlinson carried that emotion onto the field as he ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-23 victory over the Eagles.

While it was evident that he no longer has the burst that made him one of the greatest players in the history of the NFL, he did display some characteristics of his game that have been missing all season.

On Sunday, Tomlinson ran with heart, picking up yards after contact and playing through an ankle injury that might have sidelined him in weeks past.

Additionally, he seemed to have regained his field vision, and was finding open holes to run through all game. Since he no longer has the speed he once had, this was a huge key to his season-best effort.

And against a Philadelphia defense that ranks in the top ten in nearly every category, Tomlinson shouldered some of the offensive load for the first time all season, taking the pressure off of Philip Rivers.

Proving doubters wrong and getting the victory was an added bonus, but for the first time all season, it seems that LaDainian Tomlinson may have found the spark he needed to get back to top form.

In the end, nothing could top the news that his wife was pregnant with what will be their first child.

"It's a special thing about having a child," Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I can't explain it."

Allow me to try: After a year filled with skepticism and doubts about his abilities and his future with the San Diego Chargers, LaDainian Tomlinson has regained his love for the game.

All it took was the discovery of his newest fan.

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That play got me thinking about how many undrafted NFL standouts have gotten their first opportunity at glory with the Chargers. The results are quite amazing.

Along with Camarillo, who caught everything in sight during a dominant performance in the Chargers' 2007 training camp but fell victim to the Chargers' depth at wide receiver, New England's slot-receiver extraordinaire Wes Welker also got his first opportunity out of college in San Diego.

Most people know the story at this point of Steelers linebacker James Harrison, an undrafted player who became the Defensive Player of the Year last season and registered the longest play in Super Bowl history in the Steelers' victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

But right now, the Chargers are setting the bar quite high in getting contributions from undrafted talent.

This season, the Chargers feature five regular starters - TE Antonio Gates, G Kris Dielman, LB Stephen Cooper, DE Jacques Cesaire, and DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo - who entered the NFL as undrafted free agents.

Additionally, the Chargers found undrafted gems in key role players FB Mike Tolbert (who was a starter as a rookie), WR Malcolm Floyd (who just ascended to a starting role last week), OLB Jyles Tucker, OLB Antwan Applewhite and CB/S Steve Gregory along with special teams ace and team captain Kassim Osgood.

These 11 players have combined to represent the Chargers in nine Pro Bowls, which is astounding considering every single one was bypassed multiple times by every single team in the NFL.

While many people (myself definitely included ) have begun to question A.J. Smith's talent evaluation ability when it comes to the NFL Draft, this could be his ace in the hole when answering his detractors. He has found studs in the refuse of the NFL's undrafted free agent pool and has turned afterthoughts into starters, Pro Bowlers, and even a possible Hall of Famer.

Every football player wants to get his shot to play professional football; when it comes to the NFL, it seems to me that San Diego is the true land of opportunity.

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After arriving over three seasons ago at the trade deadline from the Miami Dolphins, Chambers' production dipped in each season with the Chargers.

After amassing 35 catches for 555 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games in 2007, he had 33 catches for 462 yards and five TDs in 14 games in 2008.

This season, he only had nine receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown in what has been a largely invisible season.

According to coach Norv Turner, the Chargers released Chambers due to the emergence of Malcolm Floyd and the need to sign a replacement for injured linebacker Tim Dobbins.

Expect the Miami Dolphins to be major players in trying to sign Chambers if he clears waivers, as they need significant help at wide receiver and he is very familiar with the team, having played for them from 2001-2007. The St. Louis Rams could also be involved and would be the most likely team to pick him up off of waivers due to their record.

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Norv Turner made his first significant lineup change of the season Sunday by inserting Malcolm Floyd in the starting lineup in place of the ineffective Chris Chambers. At 6-feet-5-inches, Floyd is a nightmare to cover for opposing defensive backs, especially when paired with the similarly-sized Vincent Jackson.

While built similarly, the Chargers' twin towers at wide receiver have different skill sets. Jackson is a complete receiver who is quickly becoming one of the best at his position in the NFL, while Floyd is much more one-dimensional.

However, they are both dangerous weapons when it comes to the deep passing game, which fits in perfectly with Philip Rivers' skill set.

While he has an unorthodox throwing motion, there may not be a better quarterback in the NFL right now than Rivers when it comes to throwing the deep ball. He has an incredible rapport with Jackson and can seem to drop it in to him streaking 50 yards down the field at will.

Floyd has also shown himself to be adept at making the big play when he has been given the opportunity, but he has seen far fewer snaps than Jackson because he is a bit of a one-trick pony.

He is not much of a route-runner when it comes to the short-to-intermediate passing game, but is extremely dangerous when it comes to the deep ball. Even on poorly-thrown passes, he and Jackson have the size, strength, and athleticism to take the ball away from defenders more often than not.

Turner made a smart move in replacing Chambers in the starting lineup, as he has been largely ineffective this season. He has been a very reliable option when it comes to making the occasional first-down grab along the sideline, but he has had difficulties getting open this season, and his numbers are down significantly.

By giving Floyd an opportunity to play more snaps, Turner has made the Chargers offense much more dangerous while giving the veteran Chambers an opportunity to contribute more in spot duty than he has lately as a starter.

This switch also opens up more opportunities for the dangerous Legedu Naanee or even (gasp!) Buster Davis as slot receivers. With Jackson and Floyd stretching the field vertically, the underneath passing game should get a huge boost from the quickness of Naanee and Davis playing the role that Wes Welker fills for the explosive Patriots offense.

While it did not make a significant difference against a woeful Raiders squad that somehow plays its best against the Chargers, this move will play dividends over the rest of the season and create a Bolts' offense worthy of the Air Coryell days in San Diego.

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Does Turner really have that much of a say on Smith's drafting decisions? There have been several curious picks since he was hired, and it may be time to evaluate Turner's player scouting skills in light of the last few years' draft blunders.

In the 2007 NFL Draft, Turner got off to a rough start to his tenure as head coach with the first round selection of Craig "Buster" Davis, a wide receiver out of LSU.

On talent alone he was a debatable first-rounder, and durability concerns (which have since been confirmed many times over) made him a solid first-day pick who had no business being selected in the first round.

Davis has been a total bust in his time with the Chargers, and is not expected to be retained beyond his rookie contract.

While second-rounder Eric Weddle was a talented player in college, the Chargers may have reached in trading up to pick him so early in the second round. He has seemed to regress in every season since he joined the team, and his potential may have been mis-evaluated during the pre-draft process.

With other wasted picks such as Clemson's Anthony Waters and Iowa's Scott Chandler, the only picks of substance in 2007 were Boise State's Legedu Naanee and Florida's Brandon Siler, role players for much of their careers who are slowly gaining more experience and playing time.

In 2008, the Chargers drafted cornerback Antoine Cason out of Arizona, another good player who was deemed a borderline first-rounder.

But after a solid rookie season at nickelback, Cason was recently demoted from the role, ostensibly because he has not made the progress expected of him by the Chargers coaching staff.

In addition to Cason, the Chargers again traded up to reach for fullback Jacob Hester, who has done little to get the running game on track, along with running back Marcus Thomas and cornerback DeJuan Tribble, neither of whom are in the NFL only a year later.

It is still too early to evaluate Smith and Turner's most recent draft haul, but the results again look like a mixed bag, with Larry English leading the pack as a solid contributor thus far in the season.

Thus far, it seems apparent that A.J. Smith's recent draft struggles have seemed to coincide with his hiring of Norv Turner as head coach of the Chargers.

Since Smith appears to be beyond reluctant to fire Turner despite his struggles at leading one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, at the very least it seems necessary for him to relieve Turner of his power in the decision-making process when it comes to the draft in order to bring in more talent from the college ranks.

Norv Turner may be a "great offensive coordinator," but as a head coach and talent evaluator, he just can't seem to make the right calls.

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After notching the most sacks in the NFL over his first three seasons, turmoil has seemed to follow the fifth-year pro at every turn.

A positive test for a banned supplement in 2006 drew the ire from the rest of the league, and to this day he is viewed as a "juicer" by most NFL fans outside of San Diego.

While sitting out last season with an injured knee sustained in 2007 (after ignoring the Chargers' medical advice, of course), many in the organization worried that his mind was focused more on his off-the-field exploits, including his own line of energy drinks.

Just a few weeks ago, he was embroiled in a controversy involving reality TV "star" Tila Tequila, who accused him of beating and choking her during a confrontation at his house. While it seems now that those accusations may have been false, it did little to repair the image of the polarizing pass-rusher.

Merriman promised improvement this week against the undefeated Broncos, and this game may do much to determine the course of his career in San Diego.

The trade deadline is this Tuesday, and the Chargers' GM is undoubtedly willing to listen to any trade offers for Merriman. The issue, however, will be as to his value, as no one seems to know if he will ever get back to his previously fearsome form.

Even if he does not get traded, Merriman is in the last year of his contract, and the Chargers ostensibly drafted his replacement in April in rookie Larry English. If Merriman shows some signs of life against the Broncos on national television, he could prove himself worthy of a big new contract, possibly in San Diego or more likely elsewhere.

But if he does not exhibit much of his trademark explosion against the surprising Broncos, Merriman could be hampering his earning potential while also making it much more difficult for the Chargers to move him before his contract expires.

With English slowly becoming more and more comfortable in the Chargers' defensive scheme, it would not be surprising for this to be Merriman's last week in San Diego if another team steps up with an appropriate offer; but that offer will likely hinge on Merriman's performance on Monday night.

Shawne Merriman would be wise to dress to impress at Qualcomm Stadium on Monday Night Football; he needs to make a good impression in this job interview for a better chance at future success.

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A second-year starter, Hart received a large contract extension midway through 2008, making his release all the more surprising. However, his limitations in coverage and tackling struggles may have contributed to his release.

Hart has also struggled with injuries, as a neck stinger kept him out of the lineup for several games last season, during which time the Chargers' defense did not seem to skip a beat in his absence.

It is not known yet if rookie Kevin Ellison or veteran Steve Gregory will get the starting nod on Monday Night Football versus the 5-0 Broncos, but the smart money is probably on Ellison. A.J. Smith seems to believe that he has someone on the roster capable of filling Hart's vacated position, and if Gregory was that man, he would have been in the starting lineup long ago.

Ellison's physical presence, along with his increasing comfort level in Ron Rivera's defensive scheme as his rookie season progresses, seems to make the most sense as the team's first choice.

The bye week most likely gave them a chance to further evaluate the development of the sixth-round pick tabbed with eventually taking over in the starting lineup, and Norv Turner and the Chargers' coaching staff must have liked what they saw.

The Chargers re-signed defensive tackle Ian Scott to fill Hart's spot on the roster and bolster their depth along the injury-plagued defensive line.

This is likely only the first of several moves Smith and the Chargers will make before Tuesday's trade deadline, as there are still several glaring weaknesses on this team that must be addressed.

Look for the Chargers to be in the market for help along the offensive and defensive lines, especially now that they have additional financial flexibility with the release of the underperforming Hart.

It is also possible that the team will explore a trade of Shawne Merriman, as rookie Larry English is improving every week and Merriman has yet to make any sort of significant impact this season.

If another team steps up and offers Smith a second-round pick, it might be "Lights Out" for Merriman's time in San Diego.

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Early in the second quarter of that game, Titans quarterback Vince Young rolled out after handing the ball off to Chris Brown. Depending on whose fans you ask, what happened next was either a dirty play or an innocent mistake by Shawne Merriman.

On film, it looked like Merriman was blocked into Young, but that of course is open to interpretation (the Titans fans in attendance sure didn't see it that way).

But regardless of how it happened, Young left the game for the rest of the series, igniting the vitriol of the Titans and their fanbase. Later in the second quarter, Titans linemen Kevin Mawae and David Stewart took out their frustrations on the Bolts' star pass-rusher, combining to injure his knee on a downfield block.

The Titans claimed that there was no intention behind the hit, but several Chargers were of the belief that Titans coach Jeff Fisher had ordered the hit in retaliation for injuring Young. The NFL sided with the Chargers, fining Mawae and Stewart for late hits on the play.

Merriman was originally diagnosed with sprained knee ligaments, but as the season went on it was obvious that he was not himself on the field. He was later discovered to have two torn ligaments in his left knee, on which he decided to try to play without the recommended surgery.

I don't need to remind you about how that worked out.

The Chargers defense was a shell of its old self with their emotional and physical leader sidelined for all but one game last season, and it is obvious that even today he is not close to full health.

Without the explosive Merriman wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, the Chargers' defense no longer seems to inspire fear in opposing offenses. And thanks to his desire to try to play on without the surgery last year, he is still not fully recovered from the injury two seasons later.

The key to defensive coordinator Ron Rivera's defensive scheme is an aggressive pass rush, but it remains toothless with Merriman still struggling to reach full strength.

It's amazing how a single play can have such a profound effect on a team's season; just look at Bernard Pollard's hit on Tom Brady in week one last season. It's even more amazing when that play impacts a team's fortunes for two whole years.

If the Titans were trying to get payback with that play, they certainly accomplished their goal, and then some. That hit not only temporarily crippled Merriman, but it also may have crippled the Chargers' chances at a Super Bowl when their roster was best built for such a run.

Retaliation is a common occurrence in professional sports, from fighting in hockey to throwing at the batter in baseball; but the intent should be to send a message, not to injure.

Sounds like Mawae and Stewart never got that memo.

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Be it through trades, demotions, or shuffling responsibilities, it seems like something big could be looming on the horizon. The trading deadline is Oct. 20, and all signs point toward some sort of major shake-up before then.

At this point, there are improvements that could be made at nearly every position, but here is an analysis of which Chargers defenders will need to step up most in order to keep their jobs:

Antonio Cromartie

All offseason, the news out of Chargers Park was that Cro was in for a bounce-back season after having a chance to heal both physically (a broken hip limited him all last season) and emotionally (at least five paternity suits in the past two years). But he still looks hesitant out on the field, giving opposing wide receivers enormous cushions off the line and committing an inordinate amount of penalties (including one that nullified his interception and touchdown last week).

He has a flair for the spectacular, but often finds himself out of position as he gambles to make game-changing interceptions. Right now, the Chargers defense needs consistency more than anything else, and he is not helping his own cause.

Coupled with the fact that 2008 No. 1 pick Antoine Cason has looked fantastic in his nickel corner role this season, Cromartie could soon lose his starting spot to his fellow first-round pick.

Shawne Merriman

Still recovering from a knee injury, it seems like someone has pulled the plug on "Lights Out." He is still nowhere near his previously explosive self, and he is now struggling with a sore groin that is hampering his recovery even more.

The Chargers' 3-4 scheme is predicated on pressuring the quarterback, and Merriman has barely sniffed an opposing backfield all season. He has mustered only eight tackles all season without a single play behind the line of scrimmage, and he is no longer the feared sackmaster he once was.

The fact that he is in the last year of his contract does not help his cause one bit, as the Chargers will likely balk at paying him the sort of money he believes he deserves. With several other players' contracts up at the end of this season, Merriman is quickly becoming a lower and lower priority on Smith's list.

2009 first-rounder Larry English has seemed to progress more with every game, which may soon make Merriman expendable. Do not be surprised to see Smith dangle him in trade talks over the next two weeks if he thinks he can get good value for the former Pro Bowler.

Jacques Cesaire

The seven-year veteran entered this season as the unquestioned starter at defensive end for the first time in his career, but has done little so far to put Chargers fans at ease. He has struggled with injuries and (along with the rest of the defensive line) has struggled to hold his ground and anchor against the run.

With Jamal Williams out for the season, it seems that they are no longer able to mask their deficiencies as well as they did when he was clogging up the middle of the line every week.

The Chargers like what they have seen so far with raw rookie Vaughn Martin, but he is nowhere near a finished product. Additionally, they traded for Travis Johnson to bolster their depth at all three positions, only to have him on the sideline for most of the time with injuries.

It is possible that the trade for Johnson might prevent Smith for making a play for another body at defensive tackle, but it is not out of the question for him to try to bring in some competition at defensive end to push Cesaire (and to a lesser extent, Luis Castillo).

Clinton Hart

Having previously been put on notice after his disappointing season last year and the drafting of Kevin Ellison out of USC, Hart managed to beat out Ellison and several younger veterans for the starting role to open the season. However, he has recently been seen as more of a caretaker for the position until Ellison (or perhaps Steve Gregory or Paul Oliver) is ready to take over as the starter later in the season.

He tends to be out of position quite a bit, and suffers major lapses in concentration and communication that lead to plays like Louis Murphy's fourth quarter touchdown reception in the Chargers' narrow victory against a woeful Raiders squad.

If no move is made here before the trading deadline, this is a position to watch in the NFL Draft, as there are several elite safeties who will be attractive to the Chargers (and just about every other team in the NFL, for that matter). It may take a significant trade, but do not be surprised if Smith tries to move heaven and earth for the right to move up and draft Tennessee's Eric Barry or USC's Taylor Mays.

When A.J. Smith makes a comment to the media, it is almost never in vain. He has left the door open for the Chargers to bring in some impact additions to the defensive lineup, and it will be a key storyline to watch for the next two weeks. But there are already some options on the Chargers' roster who may get a shot at increased playing time, so it remains to be seen how exactly Smith will shake up the roster.

But this much is obvious: The Chargers defense needs a serious shot in the arm, and this may be just the way to do so.

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