Know Your Enemy: San Diego Chargers

A big reason the Chargers lost to the Patriots last Sunday was because Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee were hurt. So, obviously, having Jackson would help in terms of depth. However, the offense has been putting up numbers that equal or are better to the last few years…..so the passing game has been fine without him.

I’ve always stressed, and will continue to stress, that it’s the QB that makes the WR and not the other way around.

He has only been injured for one week. He was injured in the Rams game and missed 2 quarters before coming back. He played against the Patriots but was obviously slow/hobbled, and the team kept him away from blocking assignments and gave him breaks on the sidelines.

Who knows if another week will help him get closer to full strength, but last week I’d say he was about 50% as effective as he normally is.

No. Steve Crosby has been with the Chargers since the Marty Schottenheimer days and is personally responsible for a ton of great special teams players (Kaeding, Scifres, Osgood, Milligan, etc.). They cut a few guys that were making mistakes and replaced them with new guys, and the problems are mostly gone. The last two weeks there has been 1 “long” punt return in each game but they were both due to missed tackles. It’s getting better.

And if the person sacrificed is Justin Gage it may answer two questions.

-Look at the offenses they’ve played. Seattle, Arizona, Jacksonville, Oakland, etc. I think the numbers are a little skewed because of this.
-Antonio Garay went from a nobody to playing like a Pro Bowl NT seemingly overnight. He’s the biggest reason. He has freed up the other linemen and the LBs.
-Kevin Ellison/Clinton Hart were killing the Chargers in coverage last season, and they’ve been replaced with guys who don’t.
-Many good defenses don’t have any star players. Who do the Titans have? The only guy I can name off the top of my head is Finnegan. It has a lot to do with having a good scheme and guys buying into playing their role.
-Kevin Burnett is a great MLB who was buried on Dallas’ depth chart for years and missed a lot of last season with neck injuries. He’s healthy this year and making a huge difference.

The two wins have huge point differentials. The losses are all close. Is this year’s Chargers team just the best-worst team or is it something else entirely?

Plain and simple, the offense is great. When they hold onto the ball and the Special Teams doesn’t blow the game, they’re going to blow out anybody. When they turn the ball over or Special Teams puts them behind, they’re good enough to come back and make it close when they really should have no business.

Also, what is your take on the running game

First, Tomlinson. Tomlinson is not having a better season because the Jets are better. Tomlinson is having a better season because, as he has said clearly, he is healthy for the first time in 3 seasons and is splitting carries to keep his mileage low (something he refused to do in San Diego). Also, seeing that his career was riding on this season has probably helped motivate him.

As for the running game, it’s sortof a tack on to the previous answer. The running game has been quite good. Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are both average decent yards per carry, and the team has 7 rushing TDs in 7 games. The issue is that fumbles and/or special teams has put the team in such a hole in so many games that they have to abandon the run in the 2nd half. In victories, the Chargers run it about 30 times. In losses, it’s closer to 10-12 with an incredible number of passes in the fourth quarter. It’s a solid running game, it’s just been somewhat hidden by the other problems on the team.

In the past, why do you think the Chargers have continued to own this team?

I have no idea. My best guess is that in a division of 4 teams that play the 4-3 defense, the Titans QBs struggle to read 3-4 defenses as well or as quickly. This would be the same reason the Chargers have had great success against the Colts and Jaguars as well.

but not for anything except his ability to hang on to the football. He went entire seasons without fumbling once, while carrying 300+ times. This season I think Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert can match him in terms of picking up yards on the ground, but both have had their difficulties with fumbling the ball this season.

Cromartie is not a good CB. I’m surprised everyone hasn’t figured this out yet with the way he’s been consistently getting burned in NY.

Also, the person this teams misses more than either of those guys is Kassim Osgood.

Legedu Naanee: 6’2"
Patrick Crayton: 6’0"
Buster Davis 6’1"

However, there’s always Gates (6’4") and Seyi Ajirotutu (6’3").

Especially with this team. They could win by 20 or lose by 6 and turn the ball over 4 times. There’s an equal chance of either happening.

but you’re absolutely right. If they lose, they season is a waste.

Charger fans are coming around on him. He has taken a few years to find his role, but this season he’s turned into a solid FB and a decent HB.

Are the weak against the Power Rushers or the Speed Rushers

Power rushers are not a problem. Speed rushers were eating up Dombrowski, but McNeill handles them well. Speed rushers against Clary can be a problem. The line in general is great at protecting the QB.

Who is the biggest liability on the line for run and pass blocking.

Jeromey Clary might be the answer for both, which is why Brandyn Dombrowski is slated to take the RT job after the Titans game (during the bye week).

How big is your O-line on average in weight and Height

About 6’5" or 6’6" and 320-330 lbs.

How is blitz pick-up?

Offensive line does a good job with it, but the only RB that seems to be able to handle it is Darren Sproles.

Why’d you guys release Dave Ball?

Same reason the Jets got rid of him: He wasn’t very good.

So, is the opposite true for SD? That is to say, that in spite of a rough season, fans feel like a win is coming on Sunday because of the recent history between these two teams?

No. After 3 straight losses, there is very limited optimism amongst Charger fans right now.

however, aren’t they like 16th against the RUN?

Incorrect. The Chargers are 4th in rushing yards given up per game, and 3rd in rushing yards given up per attempt. This is a very, very good run defense and I am confident that they’ll keep Chris Johnson from having a huge day…..which isn’t to say he won’t still have a good or very good game.

I’m currently unsettled on my view of Norv Turner as a head coach. The optimistic fan in me wants to believe that a lot of the issues this season have come from inexperience at the RB position, with the #1 and #2 RB being guys that have struggled to hold onto the football. However, I don’t know whether or not that’s Norv fault. I think he’s a great OC, although his play-calling seems to be a little stale to start most games and doesn’t really pick up until the second half. As far as him being a HC, I wouldn’t call him terrible….but at this moment I don’t know that I’d refer to him as anything more than “average”.

Clarence Shelmon is the OC in title only. Norv is the real OC.

Ron Rivera is interesting. He was well-respected in Chicago and came to San Diego to 1) get away from Lovie Smith and 2) learn the 3-4 defense. His transition into a 3-4 DC has had it’s bumps along the way, but it seems with each game that passes he gets a little bit better/comfortable with it.

I think the Chargers have a better chance of forcing Young to make a mistake than they do Collins.

wasnt blacked out.

They own us.