The SB Nation NFL team sites are continuing to do Theme Weeks after starting the trend during the 2017 season. This week’s theme is: “What if?”Ask any San Diego Chargers fan (I’ll get to you http://www.authenticlosangeleschargers.com/cheap-joe-barksdale-jersey , L.A.) what the biggest mistake in franchise history was and you’re bound to hear the same answer 100% of the time: Ryan LeafWith the #2 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected QB Ryan Leaf from Washington State. You could hear a million arguments at the time of why the Indianapolis Colts should, and should not, draft Peyton Manning with the #1 pick. Many thought Ryan Leaf had a better future because he had a better arm. Leaf, who wanted to follow in the footsteps of Dan Fouts, had made his mind up. He worked with his agent to anger Colts Head Coach Jim Mora Sr. and worked behind the scenes to let the Chargers know that he was doing so to ensure he could be the next Chargers QB. He may have been the 2nd pick in the draft, but Ryan ended up with his #1 choice.Read here about how Leaf was not what you would call a “draft bust” early in his career. In fact, it wasn’t until he faced a serious shoulder injury followed by a serious wrist injury that things really went sideways for the former Cougar.Why is that important? After three years, Leaf’s body was so beat up that he couldn’t throw a football. A real shame for a guy who some still talk about having one of the biggest arms in college football history. A real shame for a guy that wanted to come to the Chargers so that he could show off that arm with big passes and big plays down the field.That 1-15 record, the one that sunk Mike Riley’s career as an NFL head coach Color Rush Joey Bosa Jersey , was a direct result of an injured QB and a misdiagnosis at the hands of a reckless team doctor. It was also the end of Leaf’s time in San Diego.What if things had gone differently?The most notable difference for the Chargers, had Leaf stayed healthy, is not that they potentially have their franchise QB. That’s a minor blip...(Also, here is where I point out that it’s really difficult to predict Leaf could’ve been playing in Pro Bowls when the guy could barely crack 50% completion percentage in a league that was amping up the importance of exactly that skill/stat.)Leaf’s injuries lead to the 1-15 season that changed the team’s course forever. It led to the firing of the front office and coaching staff, replacing them with John Butler (and A.J. Smith) from Buffalo and famed Chiefs/Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer.It also leads to the team trading away the #1 overall pick and getting back a package that helped them build a core of:LaDainian TomlinsonDrew BreesReche CaldwellTim DwightThat’s two Hall of Famers and two very good NFL players that probably never play a down for the Chargers if Leaf stays healthy and is at least a league-average QB through his early 20s, which is/was entirely possible.If you’re the type to look for silver linings, as I am, don’t think of Ryan Leaf as the failed draft pick. Think of Ryan Leaf as exactly the type of player the Chargers needed to end up drafting two Hall of Fame players in the same draft class and be thankful that things turned out the way they did.What do you think would have happened? Did things turn out better or worse than they would have?Top Ten Offensive Performance of 2017: #10: Tyrell Williams, week 4 against the Eagles Michael Peterson started the Top 10 defensive performances yesterday. Searching through the box scores there were so many highlight performances on offense. It’s tough to narrow it down and I’m still not sure we have it correct. You won’t see Melvin Gordon against the Patriots due to an 87-yard run that was the meat and potatoes of that performance. You will not see Austin Ekeler’s 2 touchdown performance against the Jags. There were a few Hunter Henry performances we had to leave off as well just because some guys put up gaudy numbers. Against the Raiders in the first match-up Henry had 5 catches for 90 yards. He had a big drop on 3rd & 10 however when the team was driving into the red zone. What you will see is Keenan Allen early and often. Same with El Captain. He had some games later in the season that were about as good as anyone at the position this year. Tyrell Williams had some sneaky good games as well but he also was propped up statistically by a couple 75-yard bombs. Don’t get me wrong, big plays are great! Consistency matters Color Rush Keenan Allen Jersey , though.What else matters is winning. Which is another reason some of these performances might seem out of order to you. If a guy put up big numbers but it hardly contributed to a win, it’ll be low or you might not even see it. Vice versa. Tyrell’s 5 catch, 115 yard performance comes in ahead of Allen because he did it more efficiently. Allen had 5-138 but on 11 targets. Williams took 6. More importantly, Williams gave the offense a spark plug. He was timely. Allen did have the huge play in the 4th for 50 yards but his damage came when Philly was playing soft.Up until Williams caught the 75-yard touchdown midway through the 2nd quarter, the Chargers hadn’t done anything offensively. The opening drive seemed promising but was cut short by a sack fumble. Next two possessions were punts. The team takes over down 13-0 after giving up a field goal. One thing you cannot do is come out and punt for a 3rd time in a row. They didn’t have to worry about that.The Chargers had the perfect call on for the defense the Eagles were in. What appeared to be an “Invert Cover 2.” So there was no safety help and with how fast Williams is, all Rivers had to do was let the speedster run under it.The offense wasn’t able to generate points out of this next play, but it’s a 3rd & 14. You can’t help but appreciate the effort on this play. Chips the defensive end to ensure the deeper routes have time to get open. Ends up with the ball and makes a guy miss for a gain of 20 yards.To give you an idea of how the team Chargers’d this one, Branden Oliver had 2 targets before Tyrell had another target. Which, his next one went for seven yards and kept them ahead of the chains and allowed them to pick up another first down.It was an efficient day for Williams. He put the team on the scoreboard early. That kept them in it. That’s why he’s 10 on the list.