*** Official 2014 San Diego Chargers **** (1 Viewer)

[Tau837]

Disagree strongly with those who are suggesting the Chargers "aren't as good as their 5-1 record suggests". They've outplayed every opponent, including the Cardinals, IMO.

Division games on the road are never gimmies. The Raiders are not completely devoid of talent and they were rested and highly motivated yesterday.

10 win formula is 4 road wins and winning 6 out of 8 at home. We are half way to both 6 games in, despite being absolutely crushed by injuries. Even if the team fell apart and played .500 ball moving fwd we're likely a wild card.

How about now?

Looks like they are headed to 8-8 and missing the playoffs.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

OOOOF

 

[BoltBacker]

Disagree strongly with those who are suggesting the Chargers "aren't as good as their 5-1 record suggests". They've outplayed every opponent, including the Cardinals, IMO.

Division games on the road are never gimmies. The Raiders are not completely devoid of talent and they were rested and highly motivated yesterday.

10 win formula is 4 road wins and winning 6 out of 8 at home. We are half way to both 6 games in, despite being absolutely crushed by injuries. Even if the team fell apart and played .500 ball moving fwd we're likely a wild card.

10 wins looks like a minimum to me - KC, @MIA, Oak, STL, and @KC (admittedly that's always tough).

I think 'Gunz has reason to be optimistic, but while SD may be favored in those 5 I'm not expecting SD to win all of them. SD swept KC last year, but by the skin of their teeth playing one game vs the varsity team and one game against the JV team. I am glad the STL game is at home because the Rams may not be a great team but I think they present matchup problems for SD. The Chargers lost in MIA last year(West coast teams usually have trouble with early starts on the east coast) and you never know when the coin is going to fall and the new offense starts working in MIA. They have the weapons to score a lot of points. At least they have a lot more weapons than oak did on Sunday.

Er, 9 win minimum.

The way the OL is playing, raise your hand if you are 100% confident they beat oak? Who would of guessed the OL would be this bad?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Hello??

Sounds like we are getting some pieces back this week, Manti, Flowers, Ryan Mathews maybe even Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu.

Verrett maybe another week away.

have to win these two "easy" home games vs Oak & STL to have a chance at a wildcard, then AT Balt, NE, DEN at SF, at KC.

Ugh 9 wins is gonna be tough

 

[Tau837]

Hello??

Sounds like we are getting some pieces back this week, Manti, Flowers, Ryan Mathews maybe even Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu.

Verrett maybe another week away.

have to win these two "easy" home games vs Oak & STL to have a chance at a wildcard, then AT Balt, NE, DEN at SF, at KC.

Ugh 9 wins is gonna be tough

Will 9 wins be enough this year? I was thinking it will probably take 10. Which seems very unlikely.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

thursday practice update

San Diego Chargers S DT Sean Lissemore (quadriceps) and CB Jason Verrett (shoulder) did not practice Thursday, Nov. 13.

S Jahleel Addae (concussion), WR Seyi Ajirotutu (non-injury related), LB Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring), LB Dwight Freeney (non-injury related), C Richard Ohrnberger (back) and LB Manti Te'o (foot) were full participants.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Hello??

Sounds like we are getting some pieces back this week, Manti, Flowers, Ryan Mathews maybe even Melvin Ingram and Jeremiah Attaochu.

Verrett maybe another week away.

have to win these two "easy" home games vs Oak & STL to have a chance at a wildcard, then AT Balt, NE, DEN at SF, at KC.

Ugh 9 wins is gonna be tough

Will 9 wins be enough this year? I was thinking it will probably take 10. Which seems very unlikely.

Yeah I really didnt see the whole AFC north being over .500 or the Bills & Dolphins being there either.

Goes to show ya, you never know, you think you know but you really, dont know.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Jason Verrett Rookie CB -first round picks season is over as has shoulder surgery and goes on IR

Jason Verrett out for season Sat Nov 15, 04:54 PM

San Diego Chargers CB Jason Verrett (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder Wednesday, Nov. 19. He was placed on Reserve/Injured Saturday, Nov. 15.

 

[Riversco]

The biggest concern is that when they started to roll last year, they had become a run-first team. The Chargers NEED to be a run first team. I was really worried Frank Reich would come in and forget to run the ball when he replaced Whisenhunt. Unfortunately, this has happened. The pass run ratio is getting really out of whack, 2:1 or 3:1 in favor of the pass lately.

I wish Whisenhunt stayed.

Whisenhunt will probably eventually get his backfield sorted out in Tennessee and get Sankey going in the second half of the year. Not sure he should be a head coach though.

 

[tommyGunZ]

The biggest concern is that when they started to roll last year, they had become a run-first team. The Chargers NEED to be a run first team. I was really worried Frank Reich would come in and forget to run the ball when he replaced Whisenhunt. Unfortunately, this has happened. The pass run ratio is getting really out of whack, 2:1 or 3:1 in favor of the pass lately.

I wish Whisenhunt stayed.

Whisenhunt will probably eventually get his backfield sorted out in Tennessee and get Sankey going in the second half of the year. Not sure he should be a head coach though.

Perhaps the injuries to Mathews, Woodhead, and Brown affected the play calling?

 

[Riversco]

The biggest concern is that when they started to roll last year, they had become a run-first team. The Chargers NEED to be a run first team. I was really worried Frank Reich would come in and forget to run the ball when he replaced Whisenhunt. Unfortunately, this has happened. The pass run ratio is getting really out of whack, 2:1 or 3:1 in favor of the pass lately.

I wish Whisenhunt stayed.

Whisenhunt will probably eventually get his backfield sorted out in Tennessee and get Sankey going in the second half of the year. Not sure he should be a head coach though.

Perhaps the injuries to Mathews, Woodhead, and Brown affected the play calling?

I never really believe that. I think teams have a set and they run it regardless of injuries.

 

[Riversco]

Division has to be wide open at this point. Broncos look pathetic.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Division has to be wide open at this point. Broncos look pathetic.

except SD has the worst secondarydefense in the division

 

[Riversco]

Gotta be proud of this team. Biggest victory of the season. Running a gauntlet to end the year and pulling out the east coast comeback road win right at the start!

 

[Tau837]

Huge win. I expect they still have to win at least two more to get into the playoffs.

 

[Riversco]

Huge win. I expect they still have to win at least two more to get into the playoffs.

Patriots in San Diego: Patriots are running a gauntlet themselves and will not be sharp after the Packer game.

Broncos in San Diego: No longer look formidable.

@ San Fran: Kapernick is not getting it done. 49ers have scored 20 points only once in their last 6 games.

@ KC: I'm not scared.

The Ravens game was the one I thought for sure they'd lose!

 

[Riversco]

The NFL just flexed the Chargers-49ers game to Saturday nite at 8:25 PM eastern.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-flexes-chargers-niners-saturday-night-001201726--nfl.html

2 of the last 4 games are on national TV.

 

[Bucky86]

The NFL just flexed the Chargers-49ers game to Saturday nite at 8:25 PM eastern.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-flexes-chargers-niners-saturday-night-001201726--nfl.html

2 of the last 4 games are on national TV.

I hope they don't embarrass us

 

[Gr00vus]

Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Man I would love to beat NE next week.

They are going to be coming into the game super pissed as well, ugh

 

[tommyGunZ]

Man I would love to beat NE next week.

They are going to be coming into the game super pissed as well, ugh

They'll be even more pissed on their long flight back to Boston after we beat their asses Sunday night.

BOLT UP!

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in.

This is Rivers for me. What a performance vs Baltimore.

How do Charger fans see him FF-wise next 3 weeks, starting with NE? Very happy he gets Pats and Broncs at home, but SF on the road week 16 seems like a possible problem.

 

[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]

Up front, I will share I am a Mathews owner. Watched most of yesterday's game and have to say I am puzzled by his lack of usage in the passing game. It was clear he was their best running option, yet they had Brown and Oliver in there quite a bit. Was this the expected rotation (obviously Woodhead in lieu of Oliver), still letting Mathews get back into full shape, or other? They lose that game, they are basically done for the season, so you would think you would want your best players out there.

Know that the run wasn't big part of the plan yesterday, but even more the reason to leverage Mathews in the passing game, no?

 

[Tau837]

Up front, I will share I am a Mathews owner. Watched most of yesterday's game and have to say I am puzzled by his lack of usage in the passing game. It was clear he was their best running option, yet they had Brown and Oliver in there quite a bit. Was this the expected rotation (obviously Woodhead in lieu of Oliver), still letting Mathews get back into full shape, or other? They lose that game, they are basically done for the season, so you would think you would want your best players out there.

Know that the run wasn't big part of the plan yesterday, but even more the reason to leverage Mathews in the passing game, no?

Snap count:

32 Mathews

31 Brown

7 Oliver

So Mathews got less than half of the offensive snaps. I agree this is disappointing and doesn't seem to make sense. Part of it is that Brown is a better pass blocker than Mathews. Per PFF, of his 31 snaps, Brown stayed in to pass block 13 times, compared to 0 times for Mathews. Oliver also had 2 pass blocking snaps, which really seems odd. I don't believe at his size and experience level he could be a better pass blocker than Mathews.

As for production, Mathews got 7 carries in 1Q, then 2 carries and 1 target in each of the 2Q and 3Q, then 1 carry (the TD) in 4Q. He wasn't touched on the TD run, but on his other 11 carries, he had 26 yards, with 20 of those yards coming after contact. The Chargers OL was overmatched in the run game by the Ravens defense. I think that's why they went away from the running game. Despite the snaps above, Brown had 0 carries and Oliver had just 1.

Mathews also had a bad drop in the 3Q. That doesn't really help him to get more involved in the passing game. Though it should be pointed out that he has caught all 8 of his other targets this season, for 65 yards (8.1 ypr), including 58 YAC. He has proven in the past that he is a solid receiving back (not saying he is Marshall Faulk...). I don't know why they don't give him more opportunities there.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Man I would love to beat NE next week.

They are going to be coming into the game super pissed as well, ugh

They'll be even more pissed on their long flight back to Boston after we beat their asses Sunday night.

BOLT UP!

man I hope so

 

[Gr00vus]

Up front, I will share I am a Mathews owner. Watched most of yesterday's game and have to say I am puzzled by his lack of usage in the passing game. It was clear he was their best running option, yet they had Brown and Oliver in there quite a bit. Was this the expected rotation (obviously Woodhead in lieu of Oliver), still letting Mathews get back into full shape, or other? They lose that game, they are basically done for the season, so you would think you would want your best players out there.

Know that the run wasn't big part of the plan yesterday, but even more the reason to leverage Mathews in the passing game, no?

Snap count:

I think that's an important phrase when it comes to Mathews. The guy's so fragile, they've probably got a limit on how many plays a game they'll use him.

 

[BRONG]

I kind of like the Chargers (when they're not playing the Broncos). I feel bad for them. Good fans. Screwed, so many times. San Diego is such a great place and they deserve more in this pro sports whore house than what they've received, but oh well...

And now, just when hope hits another high note again, a team like the Patriots, angry no less, has to come in and smash it all to pieces. Again. Total bummer.

 

[Tau837]

Up front, I will share I am a Mathews owner. Watched most of yesterday's game and have to say I am puzzled by his lack of usage in the passing game. It was clear he was their best running option, yet they had Brown and Oliver in there quite a bit. Was this the expected rotation (obviously Woodhead in lieu of Oliver), still letting Mathews get back into full shape, or other? They lose that game, they are basically done for the season, so you would think you would want your best players out there.

Know that the run wasn't big part of the plan yesterday, but even more the reason to leverage Mathews in the passing game, no?

Snap count:

I think that's an important phrase when it comes to Mathews. The guy's so fragile, they've probably got a limit on how many plays a game they'll use him.

Maybe they do. I don't personally think that is the right approach, though. It is clear he is the best RB on the team, and I don't think it is particularly close. The Chargers' usage of their RBs under McCoy has been too compartmentalized IMO and thus tips the defense to some degree on what is coming based on which RB is in the game.

I think they'd be better off using Mathews as a feature back, using the others simply to give him a breather when needed. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt.

 

[Tau837]

So the Pats flew to San Diego on Sunday and are practicing there all week. Is this common? I don't recall hearing much about this before. It seems this will essentially mitigate negatives of the cross country trip.

Maybe the Chargers should consider this sometimes when going to the east coast, particularly for 1 pm EST games.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

So the Pats flew to San Diego on Sunday and are practicing there all week. Is this common? I don't recall hearing much about this before. It seems this will essentially mitigate negatives of the cross country trip.

Maybe the Chargers should consider this sometimes when going to the east coast, particularly for 1 pm EST games.

Smart move by the hoodie.

I want to believe in the bolts this week, but with the great secondary that NE has and the terrible secondary the bolts have, im nervous & scared

 

[Gr00vus]

So the Pats flew to San Diego on Sunday and are practicing there all week. Is this common? I don't recall hearing much about this before. It seems this will essentially mitigate negatives of the cross country trip.

Maybe the Chargers should consider this sometimes when going to the east coast, particularly for 1 pm EST games.

Smart move by the hoodie.

I want to believe in the bolts this week, but with the great secondary that NE has and the terrible secondary the bolts have, im nervous & scared

I'm counting this one as a loss. The key games left are the Broncos and Chiefs. Problem is, with the bad secondary, the Broncos game is probably a loss also.

 

[Riversco]

The biggest concern is that when they started to roll last year, they had become a run-first team. The Chargers NEED to be a run first team. I was really worried Frank Reich would come in and forget to run the ball when he replaced Whisenhunt. Unfortunately, this has happened. The pass run ratio is getting really out of whack, 2:1 or 3:1 in favor of the pass lately.

I wish Whisenhunt stayed.

Whisenhunt will probably eventually get his backfield sorted out in Tennessee and get Sankey going in the second half of the year. Not sure he should be a head coach though.

I'm still here. They need to establish the run, but Reich seems pass-first. They were turning into contenders a year ago and unfortunately we lost the OC.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

well another 8-8 season

 

[Gr00vus]

well another 8-8 season

Unfortunately, that seems about right for this roster, particularly given all the injuries they've experienced. They can't afford to neglect the lines in the offseason, they're just not good enough.

 

[B Maverick]

well another 8-8 season

Unfortunately, that seems about right for this roster, particularly given all the injuries they've experienced. They can't afford to neglect the lines in the offseason, they're just not good enough.

I agree but I think they can beat KC and possible SF. Hopefully Fragile Matty can get in there since the o is so much better with him in there. Without him I am not sure they can do it.

Oline and RB is a need in the offseason. Duke Johnson will look good in the powder blues!

 

[Gr00vus]

All they have to do is beat KC in KC. That'll happen.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Well a great comeback, however they cant stop the run and KC is great vs the pass so not a good matchup, lets see if Phil has some majik left

 

[tommyGunZ]

Immediate moves:

- Re-sign Dunlap, he's been excellent.

- Move Fluker inside.

- Move Watt back to the other guard spot

- Target a RT or C in free agency. Use a 1st (RT) or 2nd © round pick on whichever you don't acquire in FA.

- Use high pick on a CB - either our 1st or 2nd rounder.

- Convince JJohnson to come back for another year.

- Get Ingram and Attaochu on the field more. They are both defensive studs waiting to happen.

- Re-sign Flowers if he's reasonable. If he wants franchise corner money, let him walk.

- Draft a power RB in the 4th or 5th round to come in and play with BO and Woodhead. Let Mathews walk unless he wants a cheap deal loaded with incentives.

- Bring Inman back. He's a keeper.

- Re-sign Royal as long as it's reasonable. If not, let him walk.

- Trade a couple of 2016 picks for additional 2015 picks. Chargers need to win NOW, so that there is momentum for the stadium vote in 2016. All in next year.

 

[cstu]

All in next year.

Adrian Peterson.

 

[Tau837]

Pretty great offseason last year. The Chargers traded in Norv and AJ for McCoy and Telesco. They had a terrific draft (Fluker, Teo, Allen, S.Williams [who I think would have been the team's best corner this year], and a potential developmental guy in Sorensen. Tourek Williams made the active roster about half the time as well, so no complete misses.) They scored some bargains in free agency (Danny Woodhead, King Dunlap).

And then the way the team played over the final month+ of the season, you have to like the direction they are heading, right?

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but 3 years have passed since this post, and we can now see how off base it was:

• From the time of this post, McCoy went 18-30 with zero playoff appearances before getting fired.
  
• Telesco has been mediocre at best. He and McCoy (and Spanos) have combined to take the Chargers to the bottom of the division. Prior to McCoy and Telesco taking over, the team had not finished lower than 2nd in its division in the 7 previous seasons. Granted, the other teams in the division have improved, but that just highlights how relatively poor a job Telesco has done.
  
• The "terrific draft" mentioned here yielded exactly one above average player, Allen, and he has missed 25 of the team's past 34 games.
  
• From the time of this post, free agency bargains Dunlap and Woodhead each had 1 very good season out of 3.
  
• Of the 8 players named in the post, only Allen is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2017.
  

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but 3 years have passed since this post, and we can now see how off base it was:

• From the time of this post, McCoy went 18-30 with zero playoff appearances before getting fired.
  
• Telesco has been mediocre at best. He and McCoy (and Spanos) have combined to take the Chargers to the bottom of the division. Prior to McCoy and Telesco taking over, the team had not finished lower than 2nd in its division in the 7 previous seasons. Granted, the other teams in the division have improved, but that just highlights how relatively poor a job Telesco has done.
  
• The "terrific draft" mentioned here yielded exactly one above average player, Allen, and he has missed 25 of the team's past 34 games.
  
• From the time of this post, free agency bargains Dunlap and Woodhead each had 1 very good season out of 3.
  
• Of the 8 players named in the post, only Allen is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2017.
  

• Yeah, McCoy didn't work out very well (though I'd say he was still better than Norv). The Chargers had an awful lot of problems over the last few years and I don't know how many of them can fairly be laid at McCoy's feet (injuries, spectacularly ill-timed turnovers, etc.); but probably enough of them that firing him was the correct decision.
  
• I think Telesco has been above average on the whole, but there's room for disagreement about that.
  
• Yes, that draft looks a lot less impressive now. Allen is still great when healthy. Fluker has been very helpful at times, but I don't see him as important going forward, and the rest of the draft was forgettable.
  
• Woodhead's a great player for the price the Chargers paid. I don't think it's fair to hold injuries against the GM.
  
• Agreed: that doesn't reflect well on Telesco. It does seem, however, that his drafts have improved each year since then: 2014 was pretty similar to 2013 in that it netted just one star, but Verrett is pretty darn good. From 2015, Gordon, Perryman, and (to a lesser extent) Emanuel are all solid contributors. From 2016, Bosa, Henry, & J. Brown all look great.
  

 

[BoltBacker]

• Woodhead's a great player for the price the Chargers paid. I don't think it's fair to hold injuries against the GM.
  
• Agreed: that doesn't reflect well on Telesco. It does seem, however, that his drafts have improved each year since then: 2014 was pretty similar to 2013 in that it netted just one star, but Verrett is pretty darn good. From 2015, Gordon, Perryman, and (to a lesser extent) Emanuel are all solid contributors. From 2016, Bosa, Henry, & J. Brown all look great.
  

While the bolded part is a fair statement I believe you 100% can and should hold a lack of depth against a GM. Not only has this team had a chronic lack of depth year after year after year but it hasn't even been able to field a team with legitimate starters at several positions. I've never seen a GM as reactionary as Telesco. It makes me chuckle when I see everyone projecting a S to LA, ummmm because they never made a move to get a S when they correctly chose not to re-sign a declining Weddle. But you knew Weddle was going to have his contract come up TWO years ago. Some GM's might draft and develop a guy to take over. Not Telesco. Telesco waits until a year after you have been playing the dregs of the league at a position for at least a year before he addresses the position. Maybe two years from now he'll decide Dunlap isn't going to cut it anymore and find his replacement.

Even when you mention Gordon and a couple of LB's playing well you have to take into consideration the cost to get those players. When considering the resources SD gave up for Gordon I would hope for a guy that gets at least 4y/c and finishes one year on the field. LA should have one of the best LB corps in the league when you consider all the draft capital and money they have spent on the position. Maybe part of the reason they have a chronic lack of depth is because of all the draft picks and $ they have poured into the RB and LB positions.

He's someone else's problem now so I hope Telesco gets a lifetime contract at this point. Hopefully, we'll eventually be able to tell if Telesco is a competent GM or not. I would think the fact that he took a team that habitually hovered around .500 and has built a team that is now consistently losing more than 10 games a season would be a pretty clear indicator. But we can blame every problem on "injuries" if we choose. You know plenty of teams around the NFL has had a QB miss a start over the past four years and Telesco has actually had an incredible string of luck considering the OL's he's put in front of Rivers. Just imagine what this team would look like if Rivers had just missed a handful of games. I'm sure Matt Millen had some injuries during his time in DET. Too early to tell. Can't hold injuries against him. Madness.

 

[Tau837]

Yeah, McCoy didn't work out very well (though I'd say he was still better than Norv)

How was McCoy better than Norv?