Chargers all set to be turnaround team of 2017

Look out, Los Angeles. The Chargers are coming in hot.

After a disappointing, injury-filled season in 2016, the tides are turning for the Chargers as they leave San Diego for the bright lights of Hollywood.

It's been seven seasons since the Chargers put up double-digit wins, with only one playoff appearance occurring in that stretch. Records of 4-12 and 5-11 in the past two campaigns marked the first time since 2000-2001 that the Chargers had back-to-back losing seasons.

But the turnaround is on its way and the timing couldn't be better.

Last year, the Los Angeles Rams fumbled away the novelty of football in the City of Angels by being incredibly boring and incompetent, even banning team legend Eric Dickerson from the sidelines after his (fair) criticism of the club. Now the Chargers will get a chance to really capture the hearts of football-mad citizens in the United States' second-largest media market.

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While many aspects of the Chargers organization may endear it to Los Angeles, it's the on-field product that gives the team an edge over the Rams and a case to stage the biggest turnaround of the 2017 season.

Had it not been for injuries, the Chargers may have got the comeback going last season, though they should be happy to get so many contributors healthy again.

On Sunday, the Chargers tied off their biggest loose end by agreeing with Melvin Ingram on a four-year contract that will solidify one of the best rising pass-rushing duos. Ingram and 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa will line up as bookends in Gus Bradley's 4-3 defense that will look to go from an NFL-average unit to a leading group.

The Chargers managed to produce the 16th-best defense in 2016 without Bosa at full health for five games, and now add Bradley, who is credited with building the Seattle Seahawks' top-notch unit, as coordinator. Linebacker Denzel Perryman has emerged as the voice of the defense through two seasons, and sophomore Jatavis Brown is following his lead.

In the secondary, 2016 NFL interception leader Casey Hayward proved to be a great free-agent pick up. Pairing him with a healthy Jason Verrett is as solid of a cornerback pairing as the Chargers have ever had. Fifth-round steal Desmond King is also an undervalued ball hawk who could do damage in his first season.

The offensive line got a makeover at the draft through the selection of arguably the two best guards available in Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney in the second and third rounds. They also replaced King Dunlap with Russell Okung at left tackle. While Okung is not the player he once was in Seattle, the 29-year-old is definitely an upgrade and has taken on a role as a team leader this spring.

After putting up 33 touchdowns with a depleted set of weapons in 2016, Philip Rivers has one of the deepest receiver groups in the league. Top receiver Keenan Allen is back from his ACL tear. Mike Williams was added with the seventh overall pick. Speedster Travis Benjamin will be stretching the field deep. 2016 breakout players Dontrelle Inman and Tyrell Williams are both back in lesser roles. The veteran-youngster tight end combination of Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry will be a major factor in the red zone and on third downs.

Rivers is also expected to get a boost from the running game as Melvin Gordon continues improving behind an upgraded offensive line.

Related: Chargers giving Rivers chance to end career with shot at championship

Of course, injuries can derail any team - a fact the Chargers know all too well - but that argument can be made against any club, in any year, and the Chargers did a good job of improving depth at several positions.

Players of Rivers' status, talent, and age generally don't tolerate a streak of losing seasons, and he knows that type of performance won't keep the interest of fans in the always-moving city of Los Angeles. With Ingram's contract wrapped up, a new set of coaches, and a revamped receiving corps, it's easy to see how the Chargers will escape their losing skid in 2017.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)