Chargers / This team has fallen flat, fast

[stevo]

This team has fallen flat, fast
11:01 p.m. October 19, 2009

SAN DIEGO – The mathematicians may as well call a summit, even if it's premature, and tell us what we already suspect. While some hardened scientists may look at the real numbers and say the Chargers haven't been eliminated from the playoffs, those sitting at the rational table should believe they have.

The Chargers do not add up.

If Monday night's nationally televised sitcom proved anything beyond the 34-23 score in unbeaten Denver's favor, it became obvious the Chargers no longer are even pretenders in the AFC West. San Diego has slipped from being a fine NFL team to being dead-flat average.

At times they don't even seem competitive, and there is no worse sign than that. Maybe it's not their fault. When the other guy is better than you, it isn't your fault. Used to be, not long ago, these guys could line up and take on anybody. That's gone now. Strange, because so many names remain the same.

Winning the AFC West is out. They're 3½ games behind Denver now, and the Broncos, improbable as it seemed just weeks ago, are better than they are. And I've seen nothing to tell me the Chargers are smart enough, good enough, physical enough and coached enough to even think of contending for a wild-card spot.

Not this way. Not the way they're playing, and if it continues, General Manager A.J. Smith had better start thinking of a massive makeover similar to what Denver has gone through. The Broncos have become a fast, physical, opportunistic club right before the Chargers' wondering eyes.

Quarterback Philip Rivers, who Monday night spent more time on his back than Michelangelo, knows any chance of catching Denver in the West was dashed, but that doesn't mean he's going to stop his season at 2-3.

“It's going to be tough,” said Rivers, who, after a brilliant start – 139 first-quarter passing yards – found himself looking like a drunk in a subway. “We have to get a hold of this one quick or we'll be in trouble.”

That alarm has gone off. They are in trouble.

“We've got to worry about us; we can't worry about Denver,” said Rivers, who would complete 20-of-33 passes for 274 yards and a score but was sacked five times and hit more than a bad heavyweight. He fumbled three times and the one he lost was critical.

“Denver is a different Denver team; they're not going to fall apart (like they did last year). We can control us; we can't control them.”

Well, they're kind of 0-for-2 in the control department. They can't control themselves, either.

You win up front, and the Chargers simply aren't close to being stout enough on both sides of the ball to be a playoff contender. I can't even say they're average there, although I'm sure head coach Norv Turner will come out and give us all the positives, as he did following the humiliation in Pittsburgh.

Their offensive line may have run-blocked a bit better Monday night than it has against a very good run defense (LaDainian Tomlinson found enough creases to gain 70 yards), but their quarterback is starting to get drilled, and if Rivers goes down for any length of time, they won't be able to beat an old throw rug.

As for the defensive front seven, I don't know what to say. What a few years ago was the best in football now couldn't get to the quarterback with a Marine escort. It isn't going to work this way. It can't.

Denver's Kyle Orton may not be a great quarterback, but he isn't bad, and when he continuously has time to throw – and we're talking Chargers rushers not getting within shouting distance of him – he's going to beat you, and that's just what he did.

The outside rush once provided with a fury by linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, is gone. Rookie first-round draft choice Larry English provided his team's only sack, and it was of the coverage variety. The Chargers have allowed 15 sacks and have but seven of their own.

The defense can't get off the field. Denver's did. The Broncos converted 9-of-16 third-down tries. The Chargers were 2-of-11, which is beyond putrid.

“We had some penalties, some plays we should have made,” Merriman said. “We should have been in position to make them and we didn't.”

It's gotten so bad, special teams, perhaps the Chargers' greatest strength this season other than their passing game, allowed Eddie Royal to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. Nothing in this sport is more demoralizing than a kick return, although the Broncos managed to get past Darren Sproles' dandy, 77-yard punt return for a score that put the hosts up at the half (20-17) for the first time this season.

“The difference in the game was their ability to pressure Philip,” Turner would say. “He got beat on pretty good. They did a good job with the pass rush and we didn't do as well as we could.”

How does he know that? The Chargers very well may be playing as well as they can.

It's a very rational thought.

This team has fallen flat, fast - SignOnSanDiego.com

[jefff]

NORV!


and LT is slow, old and a weak RB. give more carries to Sproles

[moonandstar666]

wtf happened to l.t. he is slugggish and ineffective.

[stevo]

Originally Posted by jefff

NORV!


and LT is slow, old and a weak RB. give more carries to Sproles

He threw a little hissy fit on sidelines when he wasnt in on a goaline situation too. Threw his helmut and seperated himself from team.

I probably use Sproles too.

[nino brown]

i release lt and keep m turner. whoops

[niltes]

actually the problem this year is talent or more specifically talent depth.
when the chargers played the raiders opening night, even though they won, they were physically dominated by the raiders on both sides of the ball.
when the raiders can do this to you, it is not a good sign. then jamal williams goes out for the season and now teams can run on san diego. combine
that with their inability to generate a pass rush and you can see why their
defense can't get off the field. now for their offensive line. hardwick +
vasquez (he's back now) got hurt ealy in the season, poof their goes
the running game. monday night was the first game i saw where they actually
opened holes for their running back. this really shows itself in the
red zone where the chargers can't run it in and have had to settle for too
many field goals. it has allowed the opposing defenses to ignore the run and
put more pressure on rivers which has hurt the passing game. overall
this team is underachieving due to injuries, lack of talent or talented reserves, and a defense that is not that good. i blame ted cottrell for the
defensive problems. oops, they already did that and fired him last year.
i believe the real problem isn't norv, but AJ SMITH doing a poor job in
overestimating his veterans' abilities and not bringing in enough new talent.
this was always his strength, but this year he has underachieved.

[Crony]

As others have stated in the thread, massive decline in talent.
More of a decline from 2 years ago, i believe they were over rated last year.

LT went from a hall of fame back to below average, Sproles is a scat back decent but not the answer. All Pro caliber RB back up gone as well.

Merriman went from double digit sack player to 0 sacks in 5 games.

Jamal Williams huge loss.

Offensive line banged up.

Only are of improvement seems to be Gates is healthy and playing at old levels and Vincent Jackson is a little better. Rivers better last year and this year, probably only reason they were able to not slip faster.

[niltes]

i was very impressed by the chargers coaching staff's and rivers' ability
to keep the chargers close and almost win the game against the ravens.
the chargers in that game could not run, could not stop the ravens pass rush
when it mattered, could barely contain the ravens ground game, and as
usual had no pressure on flacco. if the chargers could of somewhat contained
the ravens blitzes in the red zone or made a play down there; they could
of won a game in which they were totally physically dominated. yet i'm sure
norv will take the blame even though he is not the problem.

[Uncle B]

I thought Rivers and LT both looked pretty good against Denver...Better than i'd seen them the rest of the year anyways.

Their defense has gotten pretty mweak and easy though, imo...And their offensive line is a disgrace.

[chairibofjustice]

LT's production went down as soon as he lost his FB Lorenzo Neal. Look at the numbers.

He had one of the best ever to lead block of him, and it kept him healthy.

Once opposing defenses didn't have to respect the SD running game, all they had to do is pin their ears back and tee off on Philip Rivers. Nobody on defense is worried about covering the flats anymore.

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by chairibofjustice

LT's production went down as soon as he lost his FB Lorenzo Neal. Look at the numbers.

He had one of the best ever to lead block of him, and it kept him healthy.

Once opposing defenses didn't have to respect the SD running game, all they had to do is pin their ears back and tee off on Philip Rivers. Nobody on defense is worried about covering the flats anymore.

Rivers ain't gonna last much longer, with all the hits he's taking these days...

[Uncle B]

It's a good thing they are playing KC this week....They seem banged to shit.

Chargers' Cromartie questionable for Sunday

San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie is questionable for Sunday's contest at Kansas City with a knee injury.

The four-year pro out of Florida State was a limited participant in practice on Friday and will likely be a game-time decision for the matchup against the Chiefs.

Also listed on the injury report is linebacker Kevin Burnett (ankle), who is doubtful and wide receiver Craig Davis (illness), running back Jacob Hester (illness) and defensive end Travis Johnson (groin) all listed as questionable.

Center Nick Hardwick (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game.

[StarnetGypsy]

Originally Posted by Uncle B

It's a good thing they are playing KC this week....They seem banged to shit.

Chiefs wont cut them much slack .... Chiefs & pts

Bolts are the worst clusterfuck i've seen in a long time ....

[stevo]

Rooting for Chargers this week as opposed to past weeks.

I think they can do it if Sproles does well and Rivers stays upright.

[Uncle B]

I don't have any stake in it, but, i think KC has a good shot at takin this one...Just think they are headed in opposite direction right now, KC seems to be making some progress, while SD seems to be just falling apart at the seams.

[Uncle B]

Chargers release WR Chris Chambers

The San Diego Chargers have released wide receiver Chris Chambers a day after he had a key catch in a 24-16 win over the Oakland Raiders.

Coach Norv Turner said the Chargers released Chambers because of the emergence of Malcom Floyd and the need to sign a linebacker because of an injury to Tim Dobbins on Sunday.

Chambers was demoted Sunday in favor of Floyd, yet still had a big catch in the win over the Raiders, which lifted the Chargers to 4-3.

Chambers was obtained at the trading deadline in 2007 from Miami for a second-round draft pick, and helped the Chargers reach the AFC championship game that season.

His production dropped off dramatically this season

[nino brown]

sf should pick him up

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by nino brown

sf should pick him up

Someone will take him, no doubt about it.

[Uncle B]

LaDainian Tomlinson likely playing last season with Chargers

LaDainian Tomlinson is still a player who can help the Chargers win, but it seems clear he can no longer win games for them and is likely closing out his final season in San Diego.

The Chargers are averaging 3.1 yards a carry, worst in the NFL. And unless they can start getting some leads and let Tomlinson and others pound the ball while the line gets in a rhythm, that doesn't look to get much better.

Sunday was the fourth time this season the Chargers rushed 21 times or fewer.

They are on pace to rush just 364 times, which would be their fewest since 2000 and third-lowest total ever. -- San Diego Union-Tribune