Charger DBs to blitz this year. (1 Viewer)

[Gr00vus]

From today's SD Union Tribune:

Defense to put its backfield in motion

Secondary likely to blitz more

By Kevin Acee

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 28, 2007

At some point in this offseason, someone got the idea and then it spread and became almost gospel in some corners, that new coordinator Ted Cottrell would take this team's attacking defense and tame it.

First-year Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will let his defensive backs get into the blitzing action.

Now, Wade Phillips deserves much credit for installing the 3-4 defense here in 2004 and making it work for three seasons and for the adjustments he would make and his calming influence and the confidence he instilled. Players lamented his departure. In fact, his leaving was the final shove out the door for Marty Schottenheimer.

But Cottrell would have to be certifiably insane to put the clamps on Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, et al, a group that led the league with 61 sacks in 2006.

And after watching training camp and even seeing certain plays in preseason games, such a notion is laughable. The 2007 defense, if anything, will be more aggressive than the '06 version.

Cottrell even laughed when asked about it.

But he wasn't chuckling solely because it was a silly notion, but because football coaches are loath to discuss any sort of scheming even when it is obvious.

“It remains to be seen,” he said.

He paused, and finally said, “Yeah, we're working on some things.”

Already in preseason games, while such regular pass rushers as Merriman and Luis Castillo have been typically restrained, the Chargers have blitzed a few times with a defensive back. That will increase immensely once the season starts.

Such strategy was a rarity in three seasons with Wade Phillips. Cottrell's reasoning is that if teams are going to concentrate on his front so much, his back will be freed up at times.

The defensive backs are ecstatic. As praise has been heaped on the Chargers' front seven the past couple of seasons, the members of the secondary have felt at times like the ugly stepchildren.

While the Chargers' run defense ranks as the league's best over the past three seasons, the Chargers pass defense has faced the most passes of any NFL team in that span. Chargers opponents have essentially reasoned, “Why bother running?” and rushed a league-low average of 23 times a game over the past three seasons.

The secondary felt as if it were ducks in a carnival game at times, sitting back there waiting to get shot.

“Wade's big philosophy was you're strong up front, you stop the run, you rush the passer, you play the game up front and the secondary is you just play blanket coverage, just don't let big plays happen,” safety Bhawoh Jue said. “As long as you can keep everything in front of you, put pressure, you're going to win with your front.

“It kind of breeds separation between the front and back end. That's what we had. Now when you get a chance with safeties blitzing, corners blitzing, nickel blitzing, we're running all kinds of packages in the back. It brings the whole defense together. Everyone is going to be involved in making plays.”

Cornerback Drayton Florence gained about 10 pounds in the offseason, in part because Cottrell told the defensive backs they would be going after the quarterback more.

“I've got to do a lot more blitzing this year,” Florence said. “I've got to bulk up.”

There is no doubt teams will continue to pass more than they run against the Chargers. But the defensive backs feel better equipped and more powerful. It is the new schemes, the new secondary coached by Bill Bradley and Kevin Ross, Cottrell's schemes and another year of experience that have them confident.

The Chargers secondary certainly had its breakdowns in Saturday's third preseason game – with a wide-eyed Quentin Jammer leaving his post and getting burned for an 80-yard touchdown and the starting safeties not staying deep and letting Bryant Johnson slip behind them for a 41-yard gain that set up another score.

Both those bombs came on plays in which Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart had to scramble. Jammer thought Leinart would throw to Johnson underneath and tried to jump that route. The safeties simply needed to get/stay deep when they saw Leinart get out of the pocket.

Almost any secondary is going to have trouble with the combination of a mobile quarterback – and Leinart is more agile than perceived – and a stellar receiving corps. The Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, whom the Chargers played on Aug. 16, have two of the best receiving trios in the league.

Still, the defensive backs have to get better.

“We've worked real hard on that; it's something we just can't do,” head coach Norv Turner said. “Leinart did a good job moving around and buying time. It's something we may not have addressed as much as we needed to. We'll start doing the scramble drills and movement drills.”

Another thing the secondary has worked on and will continue to hone is some shifts in what quarterbacks are shown before the snap. And those disguises will likely affect the secondary's play more than improved coverage skills – because the reality is their coverage skills aren't going to improve all that much.

Not under Phillips and not yet this preseason have the Chargers shown the disguises they will this season.

“Ted is a big guy on not showing our hand,” safety Marlon McCree said. “He's a poker guy. Wade is a checkers guy. You see what you got in checkers. With Ted, he's not going to let you know what we're in. We're doing a lot of stuff we didn't do last year. I think it's going to help us. It's going to give teams a problem to pick up what we're doing.

“Wade didn't disguise. Wade said, 'Hey, we've got the best front seven in the world. Third down. We're in cover 4. Beat us. If you can block us, you win.' Ted is saying, 'We've got the best front seven in the league, but you're going to have to figure out what we're doing. And while you're figuring what coverage we're in, Shawne Merriman or Shaun Phillips is going to be down your throat, and Jamal Williams is going to be down your neck.' ”

On the one hand I'm happy Cottrell is going to continue to be aggressive, as some around here have warned that he'd go too conservative. Also good is attempting to disguise the defensive set - as long as people don't end up out of position.On the other hand I don't know that it's such a great idea having DBs who can barely cover as is, and tend to give up way too many big plays already, blitzing. Sounds like you're just asking for more trouble. It's not like the front 7 wasn't getting enough pressure already, so what are we gaining here by doing this?

Like I said before, start your QBs and WRs against the Chargers, you should get some nice days and some big plays for FF purposes.

 

[BoltzNBrew]

Sounds like a ploy to motivate Shawn Merriman.

 

[Banger]

On the one hand I'm happy Cottrell is going to continue to be aggressive, as some around here have warned that he'd go too conservative. Also good is attempting to disguise the defensive set - as long as people don't end up out of position.On the other hand I don't know that it's such a great idea having DBs who can barely cover as is, and tend to give up way too many big plays already, blitzing. Sounds like you're just asking for more trouble. It's not like the front 7 wasn't getting enough pressure already, so what are we gaining here by doing this?Like I said before, start your QBs and WRs against the Chargers, you should get some nice days and some big plays for FF purposes.

Agreed. If ain't broke don't fix it. You tinker around the edges and try improve it a little but there's no need IMO for lots of creative schemes and wholesale philosophy changes. They have the players and the talent to dictate their will on most teams but as soon as you start getting cute blitzing a corner and he gets picked up/misses it leaves you vulnerable like Boldin the other night. Their talent is in the front 7 much moreso than their secondary and that should what the focus should revolve around.

 

[LILB811]

Like I said before, start your QBs and WRs against the Chargers, you should get some nice days and some big plays for FF purposes.

Considering the Chargers will most likely be playing from in front more often than not, this seems pretty reasonable.

 

[massraider]

Blitzing is probably the best use of Quentin Jammer.

Has Cromartie taken that job yet, btw?

 

[PSILOCYBIN]

So where are people drafting the SD DEF and are they considered a top 5? Obviously, CHI and BALT are #1a & #1b

 

[massraider]

So where are people drafting the SD DEF and are they considered a top 5?

High and 'yes'.

 

[Banger]

So where are people drafting the SD DEF and are they considered a top 5? Obviously, CHI and BALT are #1a & #1b

I say they're definitely top 5. They've been 3rd/4th off the board in most drafts I've been part of. NE is the other team that seems to flip flop with them.

 

[CalBear]

Turner has 9 years of experience as a head coach; in those 9 years, his defenses finished below #20 six times, including both his years in Oakland. His team's defense finished above #16 only once--and that was Washington in 2000, when Turner got fired during the season.

The year after Turner led the Raiders to a #25 defensive ranking, they wound up #3.

Expect the San Diego defense to take a step back. For that matter, expect the offense to take a step back.

 

[Banger]

Turner has 9 years of experience as a head coach; in those 9 years, his defenses finished below #20 six times, including both his years in Oakland. His team's defense finished above #16 only once--and that was Washington in 2000, when Turner got fired during the season.The year after Turner led the Raiders to a #25 defensive ranking, they wound up #3.Expect the San Diego defense to take a step back. For that matter, expect the offense to take a step back.

Those are nice stats but mean very little to me. Has he ever had the defensive personnel that this team does?From everything I've read Turner doesn't even talk to the defense so it's not as if he is going to mess them up. If it gets messed up it will be Cotrell not Turner. Turner focus's strictly on the offense and I really don't see how you'd expect the offense to take a step back. Not that this team has much room to increase since they were the best last year but I definitely think they will improve with the additional explosiveness at the wr position/Rivers maturity.

 

[CalBear]

Turner has 9 years of experience as a head coach; in those 9 years, his defenses finished below #20 six times, including both his years in Oakland. His team's defense finished above #16 only once--and that was Washington in 2000, when Turner got fired during the season.The year after Turner led the Raiders to a #25 defensive ranking, they wound up #3.Expect the San Diego defense to take a step back. For that matter, expect the offense to take a step back.

Those are nice stats but mean very little to me. Has he ever had the defensive personnel that this team does?From everything I've read Turner doesn't even talk to the defense so it's not as if he is going to mess them up. If it gets messed up it will be Cotrell not Turner. Turner focus's strictly on the offense and I really don't see how you'd expect the offense to take a step back. Not that this team has much room to increase since they were the best last year but I definitely think they will improve with the additional explosiveness at the wr position/Rivers maturity.

With Washington he led a team that included Champ Bailey, Darrell Green, and Dana Stubblefield to the #29 overall defensive ranking.I expect the offense to take a step back because Schottenheimer is a much better coach than Turner.

 

[reg]

ted cottrell = speed

 

[Banger]

Turner has 9 years of experience as a head coach; in those 9 years, his defenses finished below #20 six times, including both his years in Oakland. His team's defense finished above #16 only once--and that was Washington in 2000, when Turner got fired during the season.The year after Turner led the Raiders to a #25 defensive ranking, they wound up #3.Expect the San Diego defense to take a step back. For that matter, expect the offense to take a step back.

Those are nice stats but mean very little to me. Has he ever had the defensive personnel that this team does?From everything I've read Turner doesn't even talk to the defense so it's not as if he is going to mess them up. If it gets messed up it will be Cotrell not Turner. Turner focus's strictly on the offense and I really don't see how you'd expect the offense to take a step back. Not that this team has much room to increase since they were the best last year but I definitely think they will improve with the additional explosiveness at the wr position/Rivers maturity.

With Washington he led a team that included Champ Bailey, Darrell Green, and Dana Stubblefield to the #29 overall defensive ranking.I expect the offense to take a step back because Schottenheimer is a much better coach than Turner.

The Chargers were using Turner's system under Cam Cameron for the past few years since Turner had left so I don't see why having the guy that created the system would negatively impact the offense. He will get the ball into his playmakers hands, LT and Gates so they'll be fine. I have 100% confidence that this offense will be nearly unstoppable, the defense is another issue.

 

[B Maverick]

The SD DBs cant cover anyone so why not see if they can hit or hurry the QB instead?

 

[CalBear]

The Chargers were using Turner's system under Cam Cameron for the past few years since Turner had left so I don't see why having the guy that created the system would negatively impact the offense.

How about, because he's a bad coach?Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system. He was there for one year, six years ago; there's no way Cameron and Schottenheimer just left "Norv's" system in place without changing it.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

The Chargers were using Turner's system under Cam Cameron for the past few years since Turner had left so I don't see why having the guy that created the system would negatively impact the offense.

How about, because he's a bad coach?Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system. He was there for one year, six years ago; there's no way Cameron and Schottenheimer just left "Norv's" system in place without changing it.

I think the O overall will be better, but the D and especially the Run D will be worse, as will the teams record. I dont expect 14-2 but I expect this team to be division and wildcard contenders

 

[Banger]

The Chargers were using Turner's system under Cam Cameron for the past few years since Turner had left so I don't see why having the guy that created the system would negatively impact the offense.

How about, because he's a bad coach?Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system. He was there for one year, six years ago; there's no way Cameron and Schottenheimer just left "Norv's" system in place without changing it.

linkI think the main reason they hired Turner as head coach is because they wanted to keep the same system that is already in place. Turner as offensive coordinator with the Bolts in 2001 installed the offense the Chargers still use today. Cam Cameron(who just recently left the Chargers to go be head coach at Miami) worked under Turner while in Wash.D.C. and maintained the offense when Turner left the Chargers. Turner had been up for the head coaching position in 2002, but left because the Chargers had hired Schottenheimer.

The big difference since then has been the o-line improvement as well as the ascension of Gates/LT. They'll be awesome on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[CalBear]

Again, Cam Cameron was the QB coach for the Redskins from 1994-1996; you think he was still running "Norv's System" (whatever that means) in 2006? Norv Turner was WR coach under John Robinson in 1986, is he running Robinson's system?

I don't think there's any meaningful way that the 2006 San Diego offense was related to the 2001 San Diego offense. The 2007 offense will be closer to 2006 than 2001, but I think it will not finish #1 in scoring and may not finish as high as #7 as yardage.

 

[Gr00vus]

Blitzing is probably the best use of Quentin Jammer.Has Cromartie taken that job yet, btw?

Cromartie got beat as bad as anyone last week, I was very disappointed to see he hasn't progressed further. For some reason Quentin is inviolate - they refuse to even consider benching him. He must have some dirt on someone in the front office. He's great at run support, but as a cover DB he's miserable.

 

[Gr00vus]

Again, Cam Cameron was the QB coach for the Redskins from 1994-1996; you think he was still running "Norv's System" (whatever that means) in 2006? Norv Turner was WR coach under John Robinson in 1986, is he running Robinson's system? I don't think there's any meaningful way that the 2006 San Diego offense was related to the 2001 San Diego offense. The 2007 offense will be closer to 2006 than 2001, but I think it will not finish #1 in scoring and may not finish as high as #7 as yardage.

No offense, but you're just flat out wrong here. It's been the same system since Norv was the OC, with almost no change. Go ahead and watch game tape from each year if have access/the time. That's the proof right there if you're not willing to take the word of all the Charger fans who've been following the team over that whole stretch (and some of us for much longer than that).As for their prospects I'm pretty confident that as long as there are no significant injuries they will be the #1 offense in most categories this year.Their defense is overrated right now though.

 

[Banger]

Again, Cam Cameron was the QB coach for the Redskins from 1994-1996; you think he was still running "Norv's System" (whatever that means) in 2006? Norv Turner was WR coach under John Robinson in 1986, is he running Robinson's system? I don't think there's any meaningful way that the 2006 San Diego offense was related to the 2001 San Diego offense. The 2007 offense will be closer to 2006 than 2001, but I think it will not finish #1 in scoring and may not finish as high as #7 as yardage.

Not to be a jerk but you're wrong. I've read quotes from LT/Gates/Rivers etc. talking about the seemlessness of the transition to Turner since they are using the same system. Granted they are adding wrinkles and plan to get Gates more involved and get LT more involved in the passing game but generally things will be the same. Last year they had a rookie left tackle, a "rookie" qb and injured/inconsistent wr's all year and this year they return all starters except at the wr (which is a good thing and will be MUCH more explosive than last year) and you think they will get worse solely because of Turner? I could probably coach this offense to finish top 5 based on their talent. Run left, run left, run left, pass to Gates, run left, TD.

 

[Banger]

Again, Cam Cameron was the QB coach for the Redskins from 1994-1996; you think he was still running "Norv's System" (whatever that means) in 2006? Norv Turner was WR coach under John Robinson in 1986, is he running Robinson's system? I don't think there's any meaningful way that the 2006 San Diego offense was related to the 2001 San Diego offense. The 2007 offense will be closer to 2006 than 2001, but I think it will not finish #1 in scoring and may not finish as high as #7 as yardage.

No offense, but you're just flat out wrong here. It's been the same system since Norv was the OC, with almost no change. Go ahead and watch game tape from each year if have access/the time. That's the proof right there if you're not willing to take the word of all the Charger fans who've been following the team over that whole stretch (and some of us for much longer than that).As for their prospects I'm pretty confident that as long as there are no significant injuries they will be the #1 offense in most categories this year.Their defense is overrated right now though.

lol, beat me to it....

 

[BoltBacker]

Blitzing is probably the best use of Quentin Jammer.Has Cromartie taken that job yet, btw?

Cromartie got beat as bad as anyone last week, I was very disappointed to see he hasn't progressed further. For some reason Quentin is inviolate - they refuse to even consider benching him. He must have some dirt on someone in the front office. He's great at run support, but as a cover DB he's miserable.

I'm as big a detractor of Jammer as anyone but even I think it's unfair to call him miserable. He's better than average 90% of the time but the problem is you always have that feeling the big play or two are coming that are going to cost SD the game. I just knew Caldwell would eventually burn him in that NE playoff game in a big situation... and he did.Cromortie still makes big mistakes but he's practically a rookie still considering the limited playing time he had last season. For some reason seeing him make rookie mistakes in coverage doesn't bother me nearly as much as watching Jammer still making rookie mistakes after all these seasons. PHI has had great success disguising blitzes and bring corners on occasion. Seems to me Jammer/Cromartie would be perfect CB's to blitz on occasion especially with a safety smart enough and with enough ball skills to cover(Weddle). I'd like to see them occasionally blitz either of them.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system.

Suit yourself, but it really is Turner's system. Turner put the offense in in 2001. Cam Cameron took over in 2002 and kept the same system in place. Cam had coached under Turner in Washington, so that's the system Cam had worked in. A big reason for hiring Norv this year was that they were already running his system, so the scheme would not have to change.

 

[tommyGunZ]

bring on the corner and safety blitzes. i think the Bolts secondary will be much improved this season with the additions of Weddle and Oliver, Cromartie being a full year recovered from the knee injury, and McCree being the leader from the jump. DFlo and Hart have played well this preseason IMO, despite the Chargers running bland defenses.

 

[BoltBacker]

Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system.

Suit yourself, but it really is Turner's system. Turner put the offense in in 2001. Cam Cameron took over in 2002 and kept the same system in place. Cam had coached under Turner in Washington, so that's the system Cam had worked in. A big reason for hiring Norv this year was that they were already running his system, so the scheme would not have to change.

C'mon thought MT, you have to admit while Cameron may have been running Turner's system it was the nuances that Cameron added, the pass/rush balance he called and his use of the talent on that offense that made that offense one of the best in the NFL. It was Turners system, but Cameron took it up another few notches. Now Cameron is leaving Turner with more talent than Turner left Cameron so it's entirely possible Turner can do more with these players than his last stint in SD but that's yet to be seen. I think CalBear's point is the foundation may be the same but that doesn't mean it's automatically going to be just as succesful. IMO it's a fair point. Turner isn't starting from scratch but it's going to be tough to match last years productivity even with the same players.

 

[Gr00vus]

Turner isn't starting from scratch but it's going to be tough to match last years productivity even with the same players.

Why?Actually I think this year's core offensive players are better than last year's, some due to addition, some due to subtraction and some due to gaining more experience.

 

[BoltBacker]

bring on the corner and safety blitzes. i think the Bolts secondary will be much improved this season with the additions of Weddle and Oliver, Cromartie being a full year recovered from the knee injury, and McCree being the leader from the jump. DFlo and Hart have played well this preseason IMO, despite the Chargers running bland defenses.

The first thing I thought when reading this article is "Great, NOW we're willing to use the safety to blitz.... yet we ran Harrison out of town because he didn't fit the mold of the coverage safety". Not that they've had a single safety that could cover since he left anyway. At the time I was higly critical of that move and still am. When you have a playmaker and leader the caliber of a Harrison you tweak your system to better utilize the talent, you don't jettison him so you can draft some guy and cross your fingers he'll pan out and fit in your precious system better. Yes Kiel I'm talking about you.

 

[stbugs]

bring on the corner and safety blitzes. i think the Bolts secondary will be much improved this season with the additions of Weddle and Oliver, Cromartie being a full year recovered from the knee injury, and McCree being the leader from the jump. DFlo and Hart have played well this preseason IMO, despite the Chargers running bland defenses.

Did you watch the Arizona pre-season game this weekend? Week 3 pre-season is as close to the real season that you ever get, i.e. the players (not LT) that play in the pre-season usually get well more than 1 half of work. I barely watched the game, but seemed like every time I did Boldin or Johnson was 5 steps behind the defense. If you are playing Arizona and Edge plays 0 plays, who else is there to even cover? Are they triple covering Fitz and leaving 1 DB on Boldin and Johnson.All I know is that SD defense looked horrible from what little I saw. They reminded me of a couple years ago when SD was a pass defense that you readily started your FF players against.

 

[BoltBacker]

Turner isn't starting from scratch but it's going to be tough to match last years productivity even with the same players.

Why?Actually I think this year's core offensive players are better than last year's, some due to addition, some due to subtraction and some due to gaining more experience.

Offensive continuity. I'll grant you that the key cogs in the offense should improve with experience.... so given that what's your o/u # for SD points scored this year? The # you'd actually wager $ on? They scored 492 points last year.

 

[BoltBacker]

bring on the corner and safety blitzes. i think the Bolts secondary will be much improved this season with the additions of Weddle and Oliver, Cromartie being a full year recovered from the knee injury, and McCree being the leader from the jump. DFlo and Hart have played well this preseason IMO, despite the Chargers running bland defenses.

Did you watch the Arizona pre-season game this weekend? Week 3 pre-season is as close to the real season that you ever get, i.e. the players (not LT) that play in the pre-season usually get well more than 1 half of work. I barely watched the game, but seemed like every time I did Boldin or Johnson was 5 steps behind the defense. If you are playing Arizona and Edge plays 0 plays, who else is there to even cover? Are they triple covering Fitz and leaving 1 DB on Boldin and Johnson.All I know is that SD defense looked horrible from what little I saw. They reminded me of a couple years ago when SD was a pass defense that you readily started your FF players against.

Actually their pass coverage hasn't been that much better as a whole the entire time, they just started getting enough pressure on the QB to hide their deficiencies in coverage the past few years. But I'm also willing to be Boldin and Fitzgerald make plenty of DB's look bad this year. You're talking about covering two of the best WR's in the game at the same time, and they were playing well into the third quarter if I remember correctly. That's what stood out to me. If either of these guys gets hurt playing in the second half of a preseason game this coaching regime is going to get off to a very, very shaky start with fans.

 

[stbugs]

bring on the corner and safety blitzes. i think the Bolts secondary will be much improved this season with the additions of Weddle and Oliver, Cromartie being a full year recovered from the knee injury, and McCree being the leader from the jump. DFlo and Hart have played well this preseason IMO, despite the Chargers running bland defenses.

Did you watch the Arizona pre-season game this weekend? Week 3 pre-season is as close to the real season that you ever get, i.e. the players (not LT) that play in the pre-season usually get well more than 1 half of work. I barely watched the game, but seemed like every time I did Boldin or Johnson was 5 steps behind the defense. If you are playing Arizona and Edge plays 0 plays, who else is there to even cover? Are they triple covering Fitz and leaving 1 DB on Boldin and Johnson.All I know is that SD defense looked horrible from what little I saw. They reminded me of a couple years ago when SD was a pass defense that you readily started your FF players against.

Actually their pass coverage hasn't been that much better as a whole the entire time, they just started getting enough pressure on the QB to hide their deficiencies in coverage the past few years. But I'm also willing to be Boldin and Fitzgerald make plenty of DB's look bad this year. You're talking about covering two of the best WR's in the game at the same time, and they were playing well into the third quarter if I remember correctly. That's what stood out to me. If either of these guys gets hurt playing in the second half of a preseason game this coaching regime is going to get off to a very, very shaky start with fans.

You are probably correct that the pressure helped. I think as late as 2005, SD pass defense was one of those defenses you start guys against. I was just replying to TGunz's post about the pass defense being better. The little I saw of them gave me the exact opposite impression.I also agree that Boldin and Fitz are great WRs, but no way that Boldin (twice) and Johnson should be ridiculously wide open. The first pass, it looked like Boldin was 10 yards behind the defense. Leinart didn't seem to have much pressure on him at all, so that screams broken assignments/confusion to me. So, it seems to me like the OP's concern about changing the defense is warranted.

 

[Gr00vus]

so given that what's your o/u # for SD points scored this year? The # you'd actually wager $ on? They scored 492 points last year.

I think there's more than enough continuity.I realize it's a high number, but I'd take the over on 492 this year barring significant injuries.

 

[BoltBacker]

so given that what's your o/u # for SD points scored this year? The # you'd actually wager $ on? They scored 492 points last year.

I think there's more than enough continuity.I realize it's a high number, but I'd take the over on 492 this year barring significant injuries.

And how much are you willing to wager if an agreed upon party holds the $?

 

[Gr00vus]

Leinart didn't seem to have much pressure on him at all, so that screams broken assignments/confusion to me. So, it seems to me like the OP's concern about changing the defense is warranted.

Actually there was pressure on Leinart, he was getting flushed and his mobility allowed him to make a great play. Even so the coverage was blown about as bad as it is possible to blow a coverage by Toast Jammer. And this kind of thing has been going on all preseason. And this example directly speaks to how bad idea the DB blitzing is - they got pressure and still gave up a ginormous play due to bad coverage.On the one hand I guess you could say since they're blowing coverages anyway, you may as well send the DBs on blitzes. But honestly it seems like a sure fire recipe for disaster to either try and cover with one less DB, or try and cover with an LB instead - especially now that they let Edwards go. I mean really, you think it's a good idea to start putting these guys on an island? Maybe you get an extra sack or hurry per game, but I don't think it's worth it, especially when they'll be playing Brady, Manning and Favre who will take advantage often of the resulting man coverage by sub par DBs.

 

[Gr00vus]

so given that what's your o/u # for SD points scored this year? The # you'd actually wager $ on? They scored 492 points last year.

I think there's more than enough continuity.I realize it's a high number, but I'd take the over on 492 this year barring significant injuries.

And how much are you willing to wager if an agreed upon party holds the $?

Zero - you can't guarantee avoidance of significant injuries. And besides that it's not worth it to me to be "right." If they get 480 points, I'm just as happy if it's enough to win. My only point is I don't see a significant drop off, and I actually expect an improvement. Winning games as a result is all the reward I need.

 

[bostonfred]

So where are people drafting the SD DEF and are they considered a top 5? Obviously, CHI and BALT are #1a & #1b

Chicago is my #1, but New England is my #2. Then Baltimore and San Diego. Baltimore has slipped in and out of the top defensive ranking, and they lost their leading pass rusher this offseason, so I'm a little leery. To New England. New England's got arguably the best defensive line in the league, has Thomas and Colvin at linebacker, along with Bruschi, Vrabel and Seau. They also bring back the league leader in INTs from last year, have much better depth at DB than in the past, took a CB/safety in the first round, and improved at the kick/punt return positions. Plus they improved on offense, which should allow them to play more situational football, which is where Belichick is best. Chicago seems to have the best kick return unit in the league, they have one of the best defenses in the league, and they get to play Favre, the Martz QB, and Tarvardis Jackson twice each, including a very nice looking playoff schedule. If the Briggs thing pans out badly, I might bump them down a little, but right now I'm very high on them.

 

[CalBear]

Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system.

Suit yourself, but it really is Turner's system. Turner put the offense in in 2001. Cam Cameron took over in 2002 and kept the same system in place. Cam had coached under Turner in Washington, so that's the system Cam had worked in. A big reason for hiring Norv this year was that they were already running his system, so the scheme would not have to change.

Cameron was the QB coach under Turner in Washington from 1994-1996--a time when the Redskins finished #19, #16, and #16 on offense. Before that, he'd worked for 9 years for Bo Schembechler, and since then, he's been a college head coach (for 5 years), and then worked for Schottenheimer for five years. Norv Turner isn't fit to sniff the jockstraps of either Schembechler or Schottenheimer, yet the three years Cameron had under Turner, 10 years ago, in a mediocre offense, have defined the offense he (Cameron) is running today?In 2001, San Diego had 548 pass attempts and 435 rush attempts; in 2006 they had 466 pass attempts and 522 rush attempts. Maybe the 2006 Chargers run some of the same plays as the 2001 Chargers. That doesn't mean much; most NFL teams run many of the same plays.

 

[Gr00vus]

In 2001, San Diego had 548 pass attempts and 435 rush attempts; in 2006 they had 466 pass attempts and 522 rush attempts.

In 2005 they had 526 passing attempts and 465 rushing attempts.2001 was LaDainian's rookie year in which the Chargers had neither Michael Turner (who had 80 rushes last year) or Lorenzo Neal - the only other running back with significant carries in 2001 was Terrell Fletcher who had 29, all other running back rushes totalled 3 because all the running backs besides LaDainian were uselesss. Different personnel usually means a different play distribution. The Chargers also didn't have a top defense and lost more games than they won in 2001 (5-11) - meaning they were playing from behind more, meaning they needed to pass more. A different play distribution and dealing with different game situations doesn't mean you're not running the same offense year to year.You really don't know what you're talking about here.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Norv Turner isn't fit to sniff the jockstraps of either Schembechler or Schottenheimer, yet the three years Cameron had under Turner, 10 years ago, in a mediocre offense, have defined the offense he (Cameron) is running today?

Not the offense he's running today, but the offense he ran last year. Yes, that is correct.

Maybe the 2006 Chargers run some of the same plays as the 2001 Chargers. That doesn't mean much; most NFL teams run many of the same plays.

The same plays with the same terminology = the same system.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Anyway, I don't buy the argument that they're using Turner's system.

Suit yourself, but it really is Turner's system. Turner put the offense in in 2001. Cam Cameron took over in 2002 and kept the same system in place. Cam had coached under Turner in Washington, so that's the system Cam had worked in. A big reason for hiring Norv this year was that they were already running his system, so the scheme would not have to change.

C'mon thought MT, you have to admit while Cameron may have been running Turner's system it was the nuances that Cameron added, the pass/rush balance he called and his use of the talent on that offense that made that offense one of the best in the NFL. It was Turners system, but Cameron took it up another few notches. Now Cameron is leaving Turner with more talent than Turner left Cameron so it's entirely possible Turner can do more with these players than his last stint in SD but that's yet to be seen. I think CalBear's point is the foundation may be the same but that doesn't mean it's automatically going to be just as succesful. IMO it's a fair point. Turner isn't starting from scratch but it's going to be tough to match last years productivity even with the same players.

If he'd said that, I wouldn't have had anything to argue with.